STOP THAT FLIGHT- Lobbing a virtual spanner into the deportation machine
The first week of June 2010 is European Week of Action Against the Deportation Machine. NCADC is launching an online campaign targeting two key players that make forced removals possible - corporations which make a tidy profit from the damages done to 1000s of lives:
British Airways: the UK's flagship airline, and frequent flier of forced removals
Carlson Wagonlit: a multinational corporation organising deportation charter flights
What is the European deportation machine?
The “machine” is just one part of a complex social control system, designed to stop people who are fleeing poverty and persecution from reaching or settling in Europe. The European Union, also known as Fortress Europe, has a border enforcement agency called Frontex, a gulag of detention centres, outposts in Africa and Eurasia, and gunboats patrolling the seas. The system involves governments, police and military forces, NGOs, and many private companies making massive profits.
Why are we targeting flights?
Flights are key to making the deportation process run smoothly and a huge part of the deportation business. Some of the companies that book our holidays or fly us to foreign parts are also involved in imprisoning, transporting and deporting people to warzones, torture, death.
Flights are the end of the line of the system. In the rush to deport as many people as possible, migrants who are fleeing torture, rape or threat of death are routinely expelled on these flights back to extreme danger. In many cases deportees have appeals for their cases pending even as they are shuttled to the airport.
The mobile phone footage here shows a little of what a deportation looks like on a passenger flight.
How will this campaign help?
This is just the start of a campaign to raise awareness of the injustice and brutality of this system and to highlight the roles of these companies. It's to warn these companies that we know what they are up to, that we are sickened by their actions and hold them responsible.
How to get involved in the action?
We are asking people to contact these two agents of deportation on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th June 2010. See below for contact details and ideas of what you might want to say by phone, fax and email.
Friday 4th June,
BRITISH AIRWAYS: FLYING THE FLAG FOR UKBA
About British Airways: The flag-carrier airline for the United Kingdom, BA is famous for it's high standards, it's patriotic union jack insignia and it's constant battles against workers' rights.
In 2008 BA's standards became well-known to many Nigerians who launched a boycott after the airline ejected 136 passengers who complained about the treatment of deportee who was screaming for help. BA called the cops and even had one passenger, Ayodeji Omotade, arrested (in court he was found to have committed no crime, but he is still banned for life by BA).
BA treats it's workers and paying passengers like dirt, so it is no surprise that they are happy to transport shackled, terrified deportees. But BA is no longer “the world's favourite airline”. Their public image has become tarnished, so let's put some more pressure on and expose another of their dirty secrets: deporting survivors of persecution, torture and rape back to the danger they fled.
BA has claimed that they have no choice but to take money from the UK Border Agency to transport deportees, but this is simply not true. Other airlines have changed their ways after public campaigns. Last year, following an NCADC campaign, an Air Italy spokesperson explained the decision to withdraw from UKBA deportation contracts, saying: “the business sometimes must communicate with the conscience, and this was the reason, conscience.”
Friday 4th of June 2010 is our day to heap more pressure on beleaguered British Airways. Contact the Chief Executive, Willie Walsh, to let him know that it's not just workers' rights that we are angry about, but the basic human rights of people seeking sanctuary.
So what do we do about it?
On June 4, Get in touch with British Airways and let them know how you feel about their part in the deportation machine. You might want to contact Comic Relief too - BA's charity partners.
Click here for more information, contact details and a model letter >>>
Thursday 3rd June
THE BOOKING AGENTS: CARLSON WAGONLIT TRAVEL
CWT is a global leader specializing in business, government and military travel management. Part of a massive multinational, their Core Values include: Customer Care, Cultural Diversity, Integrity. They also specialize in assisting the UK government to arrange expulsions of refugees and migrants.
When migrants are deported from the UK, their airline tickets are booked through contracted booking agents. It is thanks to these 'business travel specialists' that deportations are made possible. In April 2010 CWT again won the bid to arrange deportations - a role they have held since 2004. We don't know exactly how much money they made from this deal, but in financial year 2004/5 their Home Office contract was worth almost £23million. Source
So what do we do about it?
On June 3 we can call and email Carlson Wagonlit Travel's the Executive Vice President, UK & Ireland, Andrew Waller and express our deep concern with their part in deportation.
Click here for more information, contact details and a model letter >>>