Refugee report – May
Immigration, refugees and Rwanda still hot topics
May 2024
Immigration and asylum issues continue to exercise politicians and sections of the media and flights to Rwanda edge closer. We are grateful for this report produced by group member Andrew.
The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act finally became law on 25th April. Since then, two pre-action letters have been sent (i.e. indicating intent to take the matter to court) from the FDA Union (on the grounds that civil servants cannot be expected to break international law) and Asylum Aid (claiming the legislation breaks with international law.)
It is reported that the Home Office is already rounding up refugees to send to Rwanda. As a result many are going into missing or into hiding – or moving to Ireland. It has also been said that countries under investigation as possible destinations include Armenia, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica and Botswana. (Costa Rica has forcefully denied any such idea.)
A further aspect of the legislation is that Rwanda is a ‘monist’ country, meaning that it takes international law directly into domestic law. This could mean that, if it is recognised that the Act breaks international law, it will, therefore, break Rwanda domestic law.
The Oslo Peace Research Institute has surveyed the effect of warnings about migration rules as they affect third world countries. Knowledge of the situation to be faced in Europe varies, but most communities are aware of messaging not to travel. The effect on young adults has been minimal; indeed in some cases a better understanding of the bar on migrants has tended to raise expectations.
There has been a big increase this year in arrivals from Vietnam, higher even than among Afghans. Vietnam is known as one of the worst countries for modern slavery, so trafficking appears to be rife.
The All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Poverty and Migration combined this month to produce a report on the effect of recent migration laws. They considered that it was hard not to conclude that pushing claimants into poverty was a deliberate attempt at a deterrent. They recommended several changes to the processing of immigrants. The view that deterrence is not working is endorsed by this week’s report by some Calais-based charities, who note that heavy-handed action by French police to prevent the boats has encouraged the migrants to take to the boats more recklessly so as to avoid them, with dangerous consequences. This police action is funded by the British Government.
The latest numbers of arrivals have been reduced by bad weather – an increase is expected. 1st May saw 711 arrive by boat. The backlog of claimants awaiting processing was 83,000 in mid-April; the rate of processing has slowed in the last six months (the pre-2022 backlog, which the Prime Minister claimed had been cleared, still contains 2,300 people.) The Refugee Council anticipate that, under the new laws, 94,000 are likely to be in permanent limbo by the end of the year. Homelessness is also on the increase as asylum seekers are ejected from hotels after their claim is accepted. Finally, the conditions in the Bibby Stockholm have been described as ‘prison-like’ with severe overcrowding. An FOI request this week revealed that 1,871 children, who may be victims of modern slavery, have dropped off the register meant to support them up to the age of 18.
A depressing picture.
It was agreed the Group would monitor events for information on any proposed flights to Rwanda with a view to taking action, as previously, should Boscombe Down be the chosen airfield for departure.
The Salisbury group was established 50 years ago this year
May minutes
May 2024
We are pleased to attach the minutes of the May meeting thanks to group member Lesley for compiling them. We do not have a newsletter, partly because we have a regular series of posts on this site, so the minutes contain other material of interest to followers. Note that the group will have a presence in the People in the Park event on Saturday 18th May and if you are interested in our activities or thinking of joining, then would be a good time to say ‘hello’ and talk to one of us on the stand.
Death penalty report
May 2024
We are pleased to attach our latest monthly report covering the period mid April to mid May thanks to the work of group member Lesley in compiling it.
Urgent Action: Alabama
We attach details of an urgent action in Alabama, USA
May 2024
UPDATE:31 May 2024. Jamie Mills was executed yesterday.
We attach details of an urgent action and asking you to spare a few moments to write to protest at the injustice of this case. It concerns Jamie Mills convicted of murder but a key witness JoAnn Mills had agreed a plea deal prior to the trial. In this she implicated Jamie Mills and in return, the murder charge against her was dropped and she was given a life sentence with the prospect of parole. This deal was denied at trial which suggests the District Attorney lied to the court. Clearly, the presence or not of such a deal would influence the jury’s decision on how truthful the witness’s testimony was. The existence of the deal was subsequently admitted.
Nevertheless, the execution is due to go ahead on 30th of this month. The Alabama Reflector notes quotes the governor:
“Although I have no current plans to grant clemency in this case, I retain my authority under the Constitution of the state of Alabama to grant reprieve or commutation, if necessary, at any time before the execution is carried out,” in what amounts to a standard letter for an execution. Amnesty opposes the death penalty in all instances. This is an example of the high level of risk of miscarriage of justice because of the serious doubts over the witness testimony. After execution, nothing can be done to put it right.
If you have the time we ask that you write or email the governor (pictured).
21st Vigil video
The 21st Vigil took place on Saturday 27th April
May 2024
The conflict continues although it has largely dropped down the running order in recent weeks. The war in Gaza is causing great fury on US university campuses with close to riotous events taking place. It does not seem either productive or appropriate to perpetuate the violent behaviour in Gaza on the streets of American universities.
We attach a short video film of the last Salisbury vigil – the 21st – in which just over 30 took part, expertly put together by Peter Gloyns. The focus is on ending the violence and features images of weapons used by the Israelis which they purchase from western – mainly US but also UK companies – which cause so much damage in the territory.
As we write, President Netanyahu has said they are planning on a military attack on Rafah, currently packed with people who have fled other parts of Gaza because of the bombing. The current death toll stands at 34,000.
The Salisbury group was established 50 years ago this year
Repost on the subject of Rwanda
April 2024
Exeter conference
Salisbury group members take part in the regional conference in Exeter
April 2024
Members of the Salisbury group went to Exeter last Saturday, 20 April, to take part in the regional conference organised by the Exeter group. We heard presentations on the somewhat forgotten problems in Kashmir where the Indian government is committing a wide range of human rights violations. These include disappearances, indefinite detention, using financial laws to persecute and, by such means, closed Amnesty’s office in the country. And – in similarity with India itself – giving preference to Hindus over other faiths. The speaker drew similarities to the situation in Gaza. She also pointed out that JCB is selling construction equipment which is being used to demolish Kashmiri homes.
There was also a very informative talk on the issue of racism including the ‘7 pitfalls’. This was given by Peter Radford.
It was altogether an interesting event and it was good to meet other Amnesty groups from the region and all praise to the Exeter group for organising it.
Photo: Exeter Amnesty
Human Rights lecture
Human rights lecture in Southampton with Kate Adie
April 2024
We are delighted to tell you that Southampton group’s 10th Annual Human Rights lecture will be on Tuesday 14 May. The venue is the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the Avenue Campus of the University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ. The journalist Kate Adie, CBE DL, Chief News Correspondent for BBC News between 1989 and 2003, will be the speaker. The lecture is free to attend though you will be asked to book via Eventbrite. It will begin at 6.00 p.m. and refreshments will be available beforehand. They are still awaiting final details, including the link for booking.
Rwanda bill passes
Government succeeds in getting the Rwanda bill passed
April 2024
After what has seemed like a lifetime, the government has finally succeeded today, 23 April 2024, in getting its bill through both houses of parliament. The first flights are due to take off in 10 – 12 weeks that is in July. The airfield is as yet unknown but there is a possibility they will use Boscombe Down near Salisbury again as it is a military airfield surrounded by a high fence. There are some rumours to that effect.
Questions now are whether legal challenges will stand in the way. The government has declared Rwanda to be a safe country despite the evidence to the contrary. We do not know what the reaction of the European court will be. A robust challenge by them will renew calls by some politicians for us to depart from its jurisdiction.
This feels like a pivotal moment. Months have been spent on this problem and no doubt considerable civil service time has been spent on it as well. The cost has been considerable and the government has been reluctant to reveal the figures. An estimate is £370m with another £120m to come. There will be further sums for each asylum seeker despatched. There will be other administration and transport costs as well. The cost per person are difficult to estimate because it does depend on the numbers sent since some costs are fixed. As we move into what might be termed the ‘delivery’ phase of this project, issues of whether civil servants will be comfortable with the work they have to do and the response of the ECtHR are awaited.
The main purpose of the policy is to act as a deterrent. It is hoped – expected even – that news of the departures to Rwanda will deter those seeking to cross the Channel and seriously damage the business model of the smugglers. Whether this happens remains to be seen but with no end to wars and political instability in the world and the ease with which boats and outboard motors can be acquired from Turkey, suggests that this is a low risk, high reward activity unlikely to be deterred by a small percentage being sent to Rwanda.
Both local MPs, John Glen and Danny Kruger, voted for the bill.
Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire 