Why is the UK government terrorising Glasgow residents from Sri Lanka the day after Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, issues a statement of concern at the escalating violence in a war that has claimed at least 60,000 lives?
12 April 2006 – United Nations statement on Sri Lanka:
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a statement today that the UN is very concerned at the escalating violence and loss of life in Sri Lanka.
13 April 2006 - Tony McNulty's bootboys smash down the door of a Sri Lankan family in Glasgow, dragging a mother and her children off to prison. They have committed no crime. Their homeland is ravaged by an escalating war, and they sought refuge in Britain.
Echoing the Secretary-General’s concerns, the UN Resident Co-ordinator in Sri Lanka – who is also the head of humanitarian operations – said the latest killings, which included the deaths of two aid workers, “potentially threaten humanitarian operations in the most vulnerable areas affected by the tsunami and the conflict.”
Violence has continued in Sri Lanka despite a ceasefire agreement of February 2002 aimed at ending two decades of fighting between the Government and separatist forces that has claimed some 60,000 lives.
Efforts to rebuild after the devastation of the tsunami have been severely hampered as the fighting increases. Sri Lankans and aid workers are being killed. Populations are on the move to escape the war.
Meanwhile, in Britain, refugees from the conflict are being targeted by Tamil rebels, extorting money to pay for their “final war” in Sri Lanka. An inspector with the Metropolitan police told Human Rights Watch: "We know that extortion is going on, but this is not a priority for the British government."
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/03/16/slanka13011.htm
So what is the priority for the British government? How is New Labour helping the victims of war-torn and tsunami-devastated country? By launching dawn raids on Sri Lankan families, dragging children off to prison in an effort to send them back to the chaos they were lucky enough to escape. These terror tactics have to stop.
Today, 13 April 2006, an Immigration snatch squad carried out a dawn raid on a Sri Lankan family in Pollokshaws in the south side of Glasgow. The family had been up til 1am preparing food and sweets for friends and neighbours, in celebration of the new year, the most important event in the Hindu and Sinhala calendar. The father and one son were not at home. The mother managed to get a call out for help, but as No Borders supporters arrived, the van was leaving with her and the 
children handcuffed inside. Another van waited outside the tower block, snatch squad in the flat awating the fathers return. 
That van left on a tow truck, unable to drive off with all it's tyres deflated, but the damage was done: another raid, another family split up, more children imprisoned.
children handcuffed inside. Another van waited outside the tower block, snatch squad in the flat awating the fathers return. 
That van left on a tow truck, unable to drive off with all it's tyres deflated, but the damage was done: another raid, another family split up, more children imprisoned.This should not be happening. These attacks on our communities must be stopped.
Join the resistance – stop the dawn raids, end detention, no more deportations.
No Borders Glasgow - committed to practical solidarity, mutual aid and direct action.
Join the resistance – stop the dawn raids, end detention, no more deportations.
No Borders Glasgow - committed to practical solidarity, mutual aid and direct action.
