Suffer the little children....

Here is the account of a dawn raid and detention as experienced by a 10 year old boy:-

We are scared to go back to XXXXXX because of what happened to us to be detained in various prisons. In XXXXXXX there are none who cared about us.

And now, about my age, size I'm scared they would force me to be a soldier. By help we managed to come to the UK in XXXX. I started to forget all persecution we met.

Unfortunately on [ date ] the police immigration came and kicked our door and they opened it themselves and there were more than eight policemen in the house. They came in and started shouting saying how many people are in the house. The first thing they done is handcuffed my dad and we were scared about that. Four went beside our dad and four went in our bedroom and we were scared. My sisters started crying and they came at 6 o'clock in the morning and then they put us in a van. We were separated from our parents and my sister started crying again. They took us to the reporting centre and took pictures of us. Then they took us in Manchester and we got some food to eat. We were scared because they locked us in a room and they they put us in the van.

[ THIS PART IS WRITTEN IN YARLS WOOD DETENTION CENTRE ]

And the food we get is horrible like the rice is not cooked well and lots of curry and desert is chemical and when we are sleeping the officers come and disturb us. We are worried because we don't go to school, we just play boring games. There are nothing we can like to do, it's just a boring place. If you lived in here you would be sick of this place. Our days are night. Help us Lord with comfort and bring us peace and freedom.

Comments

[lynn]

This account provokes upset, anger and deep disappointment in me. When speaking about the issue of removal at a public meeting, a Labour MP chastised me for comparing the dawn raid process to the removal of Jews in Nazi Germany. Having recently re-read Ann Frank's diary; an account written by a child of a similar age; there are striking similarities in the physical treatment of children when they are removed - father handcuffed; children separated from parents; bundled into separate vehicles; driven long distances alone with only immigration officials with them; photographed and then locked into a room.

I also raised child protection issues which Sandra White MSP promised to look into - I asked the question: do immigration officials have Enhanced Disclosures? Four of them charged into a bedroom while children were sleeping, forced them to get dressed and bundled some clothes into black bags.

I am embarrassed to be a UK citizen when I read this. What thoughts do others have?

[lynn]

http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1137141.0.un_attacks_government_over_new_asylum_tactics.php

Article on UN condemnation of dawn raids taking place in Scotland.

[Stuart]

There is a tremendous amount on the News at the present time over 'racism' in the light of the Celebrity Big Brother TV programme. In the News to-night it was said that the Police are going to speak to Jade and to her mother and to other contestants. Rightly people have spoken about their abhorrence to treating people differently on the basis of their race. Talk is of 'Citizenship Classes' that will help educate people with Brotish values against racism such as tolerance. MMM, I forsee a difficulty of tackling inherent racism in society if inhumane practices - such as that experienced by this child - are tolerated and justified as acceptable expressions of behaviour against people because essentially they are of a different 'race'.

[Brodie]

There's just so much about this story that disturbs that it's actually hard to put into words what I feel!

[Guacamole Girl]

Guys, thanks for posting this & bringing the issue to the surface. I would like to write to my MP / MSP about this - is it devolved or reserved? Do you have any sample letters that would help me get started? many thanks

[lynn]

Hi Guacamole Girl :
Immigration and asylum are reserved matters - along with others such as terrorism and fiscal policy. Interesting, eh?!?

You can write to your MSP as well though as there has long been a motion (initally from the SSP) that the removal of asylum seekers on scottish soil should be a devolved matter. I personally have found Sandra White MSP (SNP) to be incredibly supportive; so also has been the Greens and a number of Lib Dem MPs. I also heard a Tory MSP speak passionately against the removal of asylum seekers at a public meeting. His name escapes me.

If you'd like to email me I will send you a copy of my letter(s) and you can doctor them if you wish.