Belfast Picket Against Recent Deportations
antrim |
rights, freedoms and repression |
opinion/analysis 
Wednesday March 23, 2005 15:52
by Davy Carlin - Street Seen
Very sucessful picket against deportations
Over sixty people attended the Belfast picket today, seeing representatives of between twenty five to thirty of the major organisations from around Belfast standing in a firm show of solidarity.
Over sixty people attended the Belfast picket today seeing representatives of between twenty five to thirty of the major organisations from around Belfast standing in a firm show of solidarity.
Those in attendance included various leading trade union, student union, and political representatives.
Also were many of the major human and civil rights organisations who stood with representatives of major solidarity, women’s, community and campaign organisations from around the city.
Several political parties showed their support from Sinn Fein councillors to SWP activists, Anarchists groups stood beside key environmental groups. Human rights organisations stood beside the various Minority Ethnic campaign groups - from the ARN to the MCRC.
Those involved at the forefront in major progressive social projects stood beside key anti poverty campaigners - and many more.
Everyone was appalled at the Deportations and where asking for these protests to intensify.
The representation at the picket was superb and sends out a very clear message.
The phones have not stopped ringing from the media and TV stations looking interviews.
This issue is on the map - big time in the North -with many raising the issue and the comparison of the Southern government with the British Conservative Parties now intensified attacks in relation to Immigration.
Comments (3 of 3)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3Getting absolutely loads of quieries - re - Street Seen - from all around the country.
Promise we will reply to you all in time.
Just to let people know such is the interest in the Ideas and Ideologies column that it may be a regular feature.
Already people have came back wanting to reply to my article. This is what we are about and welcome such open debate and welcome those who want to make a point or reply to something raised..
Also we will now have a person specifically working on the poetry section -such is the interest.
Keep the e-mails and phone calls coming to Street Seen - We promise we will be to a street near you soon. D
The Power of Protest - Build the momentum -Build a movement.
Today’s Daily Ireland {March 26th} again does another excellent front page story {there was another front page story yesterday} -this time on the Six Nigerian children forced to go 'on the run' against deportation.
With the campaign under way in Castleblayney - a campaign has also been organised in Athlone.
Spokesman for Athlone Friends Against Racism, Mr Denis Rohan said,
'It was only last week Bertie Ahern was in America asking President Bush about 'illegal' Irish in America'.
He went on to say, 'that they hope to co ordinate with other people across the country - in terms of developing a movement,
- 'we have tremendous support from the people of Athlone', Mr Rohan added.
Earlier this week {Daily Ireland} -Michael McDowell was forced to allow 19 year old Palmerstown Community College student Olunkunle Eluhanla to return to Ireland after hundred of protesters flooded the streets of Dublin and Belfast in protest at his decision to deport the teenager at just months before he was due to sit his Leaving Certificate examinations-
Much more in the articles - today and yesterday - good stuff.
Like Denis says - A movement and momentum needs to be built around this issue - similar as was done to stand against the raise of brutal racist attacks in the North. We need to push this issue forward
Pasted here in full as I reckon their links go dead fierce quick
This is the first picture of another teenage schoolboy who was deported from Ireland to Nigeria. His case mirrors that of Palmerstown College student Olunkunle Eluhanla who was yesterday granted a visa to allow him to return to Ireland to sit his Leaving Certificate.
15-year-old Castleblayney College student Ike Okolie and his family are living in fear since being deported to Nigeria two weeks ago.
Now the teenager and his family are at the centre of a campaign to have them returned to their home in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan. The move to bring Ike, his mother Nkechie, his sister Chidinima (9) and little brother Chukka (6) comes after justice minister Michael McDowell reversed a previous decision and gave the green light for 19-year-old Olunkunle Eluhanla to return to Ireland.
The popular teenager was just weeks away from sitting his Leaving Certificate examinations at Palmerstown Community College in Dublin when he was deported.
The embarrassing climbdown from Michael McDowell came as hundreds of protesters flooded the streets of Dublin and Belfast to voice their anger after the minister ordered the deportation of 35 Nigerian nationals just days before St Patrick’s Day.
Ike and his family are currently in hiding at a secret location several miles outside the Nigerian city of Lagos. Fears for the family’s welfare were rising last night after it emerged that the youngest child, Chukka, has been struck down by a series of crippling asthma attacks in recent days. Stress is a well-known trigger for the potentially deadly respiratory condition.
Last night dozens of people from across North Monaghan crammed into Castleblayney College, where Ike was a fourth year student, to organise a campaign to help bring the family back.
College Principal Gerry Hand told Daily Ireland that local people have taken heart from the government’s decision to allow Olunkunle to return to Ireland.
“So far a variety of groups have expressed their concern on this issue,” he said. “This meeting was about bringing all these people together and co-ordinating our efforts. There are 11 points on which the family can be given a reprieve and we believe they would have solid grounds on four or five of these. We know minister McDowell has said the issue of Olunkunle was a one-off but we are hopeful that we can bring Ike and his family back.
“I spoke to Ike’s mother on the phone yesterday. They are in hiding. They are devout Christians and they originally came from a Muslim area. The situation in the region is volatile and as a Christian woman Nkechie would stand out. The issue of genital mutilations, which is a problem for many women in Nigeria, is also causing her great concern. The youngest child has been suffering from serious asthma attacks. It’s all very worrying. Ike is an extremely bright and popular young boy and a pleasure to have in the school. The whole community wants this family back.”
Speaking to Daily Ireland from Lagos last night Olunkunle Eluhanla, known as Kunle to friends, could hardly contain his delight at being allowed to return to his home in Ireland.
“I couldn’t believe it when I was told I would have to leave,” he said. “I came [to Ireland] over three years ago and tried to build something, build a life and was then told all that was being taken away from me.
“When I heard that I was going to be allowed back I was in a state of shock, I still can’t believe it. When a government makes a decision it is very hard to convince them to change it. I am so glad to be back and so thankful to those who helped me.”
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