CRACKDOWN AFTER DEATH IN DETENTION CENTRE

Asylum seekers in Oakington Detention Centre have reported that protests over the cover-up of the death of a Kenyan man caused riot police to descend on the centre and make 60 arrests and removals.

Detainees managed to contact Cambridge Migrant Solidarity following a solidarity demo on Sunday (18th). They claimed on April 15th detention centre staff denied the Kenyan medical treatment and even turned away an ambulance called by the inmates. Trouble flared when the detainees tried to prevent the removal of his body, fearful of a cover-up.

In the confrontation that followed, police made arbitrary arrests, including the detainees closest to the dead man. They now can’t be contacted.

A number of those arrested were sent to prison in Birmingham. The sister of one of the men was told by his lawyer, who had been in touch with immigration officials, that he and the others were in prison because “there is nowhere else for them to go” and they were there “just to calm the situation”.

Many of those still inside the centre say they have been handed the dates for their deportation. The ‘removal directions’ have been issued despite on-going legal cases.

* See www.ncadc.org.uk