29/03/06 Direct action stops eviction!

Supporters rushed to the aid of Mr Bajaj and his family this morning, as Glasgow City Council tried again to evict the elderly disabled man and his family from their home in Cardonald, on the south side of the city.

The first time the council tried to put this family out onto the streets, a judge ruled against them in possession proceedings. That was overturned on appeal, and the council's Glasgow Asylum Seeker Support (sic) Project (GASSP) tried again last week. No Borders Glasgow put out a call for help, and the Director of Social Work was inundated with emails, faxes and phone calls. He instructed the GASSP team to postpone the eviction, pending a Community Care Assessment (CCA). The CCA was carried out, but Mr Bajaj was told there was no need to wait for a medical report from his doctor, as the council wouldn't be supporting him anyway, so the eviction was re-scheduled for today. Mr Bajaj has congenital kypho-scoliosis, an acute curvature of the spine. He has limited mobility and difficulty breathing. But he should be okay, according to the Council, sleeping on a good Glasgow pavement.

Supporters and solicitors tried to get the council to put a stop to the eviction until Mr Bajaj's care needs are fully explored, and, just as importantly, to fight for his human rights to remain in the relative safety of the UK with his wife, his sons and daughter (who, unlike Mr Bajaj, are not all facing deportation). But the council was not for turning, despite the clause in the legislation that states they MUST support any person if not to would be a breach of their human rights.

So, when needs must, direct action is used. Around 20 supporters barred entry to the Sheriff's Officers, explaining that Mr Bajaj was too ill to get out of bed. Eventually a doctor arrived on the scene, and declared Mr Bajaj too sick to be evicted. A call came through from the council, putting off the eviction again.

Mr Bajaj's son has asked No Borders Glasgow to thank everyone who helped - Rosie Kane, MSP, who was with the family throughout their ordeal this morning, Tommy Sheridan MSP, whose quick intervention, added to the piles of emails and faxes from the public apparently stopped last week's eviction, and all the other supporters who turned up in solidarity, or contacted the council and the Home Office on the family's behalf. The struggle for the Bajaj family's human rights has only just begun. Please keep on helping, please spread the word.

Please help keep the Bajaj family together and in the UK. Click here for the orginal call-out which gives details on how to write to the immigration minister for the right to stay in Britain, and to the Director of Social Work for Mr Bajaj to receive the care and support he needs in Glasgow.

27/03/06: McNulty not welcome here

Government Minister for Dawn Raids, Tony McNulty, visited Glasgow today, 27th March, to announce that his response to unrest in Scotland over his jackboots approach to refugee families is to appoint a regional Immigration Director and to impose on Scotland a new UK Immigration arrest force to take over from Police, who are unhappy at their role in traumatising children in dawn raids.

McNulty was treated to the welcome he deserves, when hundreds of Glaswegians, most of whom were refugees seeking asylum, followed him around the city, heckled him at his early morning press conference at a posh hotel, blockaded him in his car at the City Chambers, and shouted loud and clear: if you're not here to announce that us new Glaswegians are free to stay in Scotland, then YOU can go back to where you came from. Islington, probably.

McNulty also announced that a “lead professional” from social services or education will be a liaison point in the forcible removal of children born and brought up in Scotland to war-zones like Iraq or Afghanistan. That must be very comforting for the thousands of people living in constant fear of the dawn raid. A new Immigration Stasi, but with a cuddly lead professional on hand to, well, just to be on hand.

Such are the concessions won by Jack McConnell from his bosses at Westminster. Thanks Jack. Well done, wee man.

But perhaps a lead professional from Glasgow City Council’s social work department could explain why the same social worker who told disabled refugee Mr Kartar Singh Bajaj, of Cardonald, Glasgow, to go home to Afghanistan last time he interviewed him, was the very same social worker sent to assess his care needs again last week? And perhaps a lead professional could explain why the eviction that was postponed by the Director of Social Work is to be carried out by Sheriff’s Officers on Wednesday, while Mr Bajaj still awaits his medical report to go with the Community Care Assessment? And perhaps a lead professional could explain how the denial of shelter to a disabled elderly man who speaks little English does not amount to a breach of his rights under the European Convention of Human Rights?

Supporters of the family are desperately trying, once again, to prevent the council from evicting this vulnerable man and his family. We remind the council that they have the legal duty to provide housing and support to any person, regardless of their immigration status, if withholding such support would be breach that person’s human rights.

Glasgow: the Caring City? Aye, right. It’s about time the council stopped doing McNulty’s dirty work, and stopped turning their over-worked social workers into immigration police. Let Mr Bajaj stay in his home, and let him and his two sons stay in the country to work and to rebuild their lives. To put this family onto the streets or send them back to Afghanistan would be a human rights scandal.

McNulty made it quite clear that the dawn raids, the destitution, the detentions, and the deportations are to continue. The people of Scotland, the Glasgow No Border Network, The Campaign to Welcome Refugees and Unity, the Union of Asylum Seekers in Scotland, are stating louder each time: we will stand together against your racist migration controls. In unity is strength. No one is illegal.

McNulty meets the Scottish Induction Service.

And then dispersed to a civic reception at the City Chambers...

McNulty's had enough, and signs up for voluntary return.

Many thanks to Gareth for all photos. See http://www.photoecosse.net/

27March06 - Meet McNulty

Immigration Minister Tony McNulty is coming to Glasgow on Monday 27 March.

No Borders Glasgow, Unity, the Scottish Union of Asylum Seekers, and Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees are planning a reception party, and everyone is invited.

First up is McNulty's 8:30am press conference at the Radisson Hotel on Argyll Street, near Central Station.

McNulty will then be at the City Chambers to meet with Glasgow City Council’s Chief Executive, the new private landlords (including the Angel Group, under investigation for defrauding the Home Office during their last contract in England, and renowned for housing asylum seekers in sub-standard accommodation) at 10.30am.

Between 11am and 2pm, assorted fat cats and high heid yins will be treated to a Civic Reception in the City Chambers. Protestors will be meeting at Radissons at 8:30, then on to George Square from 9:30am to meet and greet McNulty and his cronies. Come and join us. If you can’t get time off work, come in tour lunch hour – we’ll be there til at least 2pm.

Dawn raids and abductions from Brand Street Immigration Reporting Centre have been stepped up in recent weeks. Detentions and deportations are on the rise. Now McNulty is coming to Glasgow to announce the new “target contracts” for housing asylum seekers.

Private landlord companies are to make millions from misery. The targets include evicting asylum seekers as soon as possible once their claim has been rejected by the “New Asylum Model” system, which will once again make it harder to get protection in this country. Come and join us on Monday to let McNulty and the fat cats know that the people of Glasgow say refugees are welcome here – McNulty is not.

16 March: Stop the eviction! - +Update+

Urgent call for help in Glasgow, Thursday 16th March
STOP THIS EVICTION – THE BAJAJ FAMILY MUST STAY!

Within hours of launching this appeal, dozens of emails and faxes were sent to the Immigration Minister and to the Director of Social Work at Glasgow City Council. Thanks to the efforts of supporters, the eviction has been called off - for now. A victory! the Bajaj family would like to thank everybody who has helped them. They were amazed at the support, and at the result.
But the campaign continues...

The Bajaj family campaign to stay in Scotland has only just begun. Please continue to email, fax and write to Tony McNulty (details below). We cannot allow the government to split up this family and send a vulnerable elderly couple back to Bush and Blair's warzone in Afghanistan. And please be ready to defend the family the next time the Sheriff's Officers come. That may be only 7 days from now. The campaign will be launched outside the family hone in Cardonald with a press call at 9am, Thursday 16th March.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Original call-out:

Urgent call for help in Glasgow, Thursday 16th March
STOP THIS EVICTION – THE BAJAJ FAMILY MUST STAY!

Please come to stop the Sheriff’s Officers tomorrow, and support the Bajaj family to stay in Scotland.

On Thursday 16th March, 61 year old Afghan Sikh Mr Kartar Singh Bajaj, his 55 year old wife and two sons (aged 25 and 21) are due to be evicted from their flat in Cardonald, on the south side of Glasgow. Barred from working, housing, and state benefits - despite Mr Bajaj’s support needs as a disabled person - they are to be made homeless and completely destitute.

After four years in Glasgow, the Bajaj family has nowhere left to turn. They need your help to stay in their flat and to appeal for leave to remain in the UK.

Previous possession proceedings by the Council were dismissed in Court due to Mr Bajaj’s obvious support needs, but the council has appealed and seems determined to evict. Mr Bajaj has congenital kypho-scoliosis, an acute curvature of the spine. He has limited mobility and difficulty breathing. A Community Care Assessment was carried out in 2004, but has been withheld from Mr Bajaj. His lawyer has arranged for a new assessment, but it looks like the family will evicted before this can be carried out, despite the Council’s powers to postpone the eviction. So much for “Glasgow the Caring City”.

The Bajaj family still fears persecution in lawless Afghanistan, which they fled in 2001, after Mr Bajaj’s eldest son was driven from his business and then murdered by the Taliban. The Home Office has refused protection, arguing that Afghanistan is now safe for Sikhs to return, despite a recent announcement of an extra 6000 British troops being deployed as the situation in that country continues to deteriorate with increasing violence.

One of Mr Bajaj’s son’s was deported in December. They lost contact in early January, and now have no idea where he is, if he is safe or still alive. Mr Bajaj’s daughter was granted Exceptional Leave to Remain and now lives in London. His eldest surviving son is pursuing his own asylum appeal. While Afghanistan is unsafe the family cannot and will not sign their own removal papers and leave their children behind. This means they cannot apply for basic Section 4 “Hard Case” support from the Home Office.

Glasgow City Council has the power to stop this eviction, provide support to Mr Bajaj, and keep the family together while an asylum appeal is pursued. The Home Secretary has the power to grant the family Humanitarian Protection to stay together in the UK.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

Stop the eviction.
There is an urgent need to keep this family off the streets. Please come and support the family throughout Thursday either coming to help delay the eviction if possible or to act as witnesses to the eviction. Address and directions below.

Appeal to the Council.
Please write to Glasgow City Council, to ask them to urgently carry out a Community Care Assessment and provide the support that Mr Bajaj needs, and to keep the family housed together while they appeal for Humanitarian Protection to stay in the country.
Write to:
David Comely
Director of Social Work
Nye Bevan House
20 India Street
Glasgow G2 4PF
email: David.Comley@sw.glasgow.gov.uk

Appeal to the Government.
Write/fax or email the Minister for Immigration and Asylum, Tony McNulty. Quote the Home Office Reference Number: B1107557
Ask the Minister to look urgently at this case, and to grant protection to the family.
Write to:
Tony McNulty, Immigration Minister
Home Office
3rd Floor, Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DF

Fax: 020 7219 2417 from outside the UK + 44 20 7219 2417
Email: mcnultyt@parliament.uk

Please copy letters, faxes and emails to:
Bajaj Campaign
The Unity Centre
31 Ibrox Street
Glasgow G51 1SN

Email: noborders-glasgow@riseup.net

Mr Bajaj lives in Queensland Court, Cardonald. The nearest railway station
(from Central Station) is Cardonald and the court is only a short walk from
the station. Map:
www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=55.852&lon=-4.343&scale=5000&icon=x

Please come along to spend an hour or longer if you can. We will be meeting
at the entrance of 5 Queensland Court from about 9am.

11/03/06: Brand St protest and Unity Centre opens

About 150 asylum seekers and sans-papiers* from the Red Road area of Glasgow joined the regular Saturday picket at the Immigration Reporting and Enforcement Centre in Ibrox. The demonstration was to protest at weekly signings, against deportations and for the right to work. It was called by the Red Road branch of Unity, the new union for asylum seekers and
sans-papiers in Scotland.

Saturday also saw the opening of the Unity Centre, in a vacant shop at 31 Ibrox Street, 50 yards from the Immigration Reporting Centre. The Unity Centre has been set up jointly by Unity and Glasgow No Border Network, and will function as an advice and information shop and a campaigning centre, fighting for the right to stay, the right to work, the right to live, for all asylum seekers and sans-papiers in Scotland.

*sans-papiers: people without immigration papers and those refused asylum.

UNITY calls demo at Brand St - 11 March

Glasgow: Demonstration for asylum rights

Saturday 11th March, 11am
Immigration Reporting Centre
Brand Street, Ibrox



UNITY: the Scottish Union of Asylum Seekers

Are you an asylum seeker?
Do you want your human rights?
Do you want to be treated with dignity?
Do you want the right to work?
Do you want the right to have education and training?
Do you want an end to weekly signing?

ALL ASYLUM SEEKERS & FRIENDS COME TO
Protest outside the Home Office Immigration Centre at Brand Street

Saturday 11th March
11.00am – 1.00pm
Brand Street Immigration Centre
(Near Cessnock Underground)

Organised by
UNITY: the Scottish Union of Asylum Seekers
&
Glasgow No Borders Network
- - - - - - - - -
No more dawn raids - No more detention