Human Rights not Human Wrongs

Scrap the Voucher Scheme - End the forced dispersal of asylum seekers

Demonstration and Picket of NASS Head Office

Wednesday 27th June 2001, 2.00pm to 4.00pm

National Asylum Support Service (NASS)

11 Cross Road

Croydon

CR9 6EL.

     Since April 2000 NASS have sent hundreds of refugees to 'The Landmark' and 'The Inn on the Park', two tower blocks in Liverpool. The living conditions are deplorable - damp rooms, overcrowding, mistreatment, intimidation and manipulation by Landmark Ltd, the landlords of the tower blocks. The asylum seekers have been subjected to constant racist attacks (by some members of the community). The refugees biggest grievance is with the Home Office over the way their asylum claims are taking so long to process.

     Since being dispersed to Liverpool, the occupants of the tower blocks have made hundreds of complaints, held a demonstration and been on hunger strike. Their pleas and protests have been ignored for over a year by the authorities.  Numerous complaints have been made direct to the Home Office/NASS, Liverpool City Council and to MP's. Nobody would take responsibility.

     These are not isolated cases. Refugees dispersed to Leicester, Sunderland, Glasgow and numerous other towns and cities throughout the UK, are suffering the same.

  The refugees recent hunger strike was suspended when the local MP, Louise Ellman, promised to do everything in her power to bring about a satisfactory conclusion to their demands.

     The refugees at 'The Landmark' and 'The Inn on the Park' have called a picket of NASS, to demand decent homes and justice for all refugees and all those seeking asylum. The contract with Landmark Ltd must be cancelled and the occupants moved to accommodation in any part of the country they choose. They want no more Landmarks be it in Liverpool or any other part of the country. The Home Office/NASS must act now to provide all asylum seekers and refugees with decent housing where they choose to live, cash benefits and proper consideration of their asylum claims.

     People Not Profit (PNP) are supporting and helping the refugees in 'The Landmark' and 'The Inn on the Park'. PNP, a Liverpool based anti-capitalist collective, believe in promoting the ideas and principles of people not profit that is in direct conflict with the present global economic system. The treatment of refugees and asylum seekers is another example of the barbarism of this system. PNP say: "Enough is Enough. We demand change now. We show support, encourage and organise resistance, wherever the system oppresses or exploits us. We continue to support refugees and asylum seekers in whatever way we can. We believe that refugees have been neglected and treated brutally by the Government led body, which has so far ignored the terrible suffering they have been experiencing, and the protests and indignation this has aroused, both from the refugees and those who support them. We demand action from the Home Office/NASS".

     The residents of 'The Landmark' and 'The Inn On the Park' need all our support. We are calling on groups and all concerned individuals to join us on Wednesday 27th June, outside NASS.

Background

Further information: 0781 386 7082

Hunger Strikers e-mail address: landmark_hungerstrike@hotmail.com

People Not Profit

e-mail:  peoplenotprofit2001@hotmail.com

Website:  http://www.dustville.freeserve.co.uk/pnp.htm