Re: <nettime> [ICC] Some CARAVAN participants refused entry by brits. (fwd)

[David Reed <david@newsindex.co.uk>]

This is true.

The meeting in question took place in my street in London (at Kingley
Hall, Bow) - many there confirmed this refusal of entry despite the fact
that this meeting had been organised well in advance.


David

Patrice Riemens wrote:
> 
> ----- Forwarded message from Andreas Rockstein -----
> 
> >From root@news.gn.apc.org Fri May 28 09:52:37 1999
> Originator: j18discussion@gn.apc.org
> Subject: [ICC] Some CARAVAN participants refused entry by brits. (fwd)
> 
> ================================
> Date Posted: 05/27/1999
> Posted by: papadop@peak.org
> ================================
> 
> GUARDIAN (London) Thursday May 27, 1999
> 
> Indian farmers on protest tour refused entry to UK
> 
> John Vidal
> 
> More than 70 Indian peasant farmers and social activists claim to have
> been refused entry to Britain to demonstrate about the unfairness of the
> global trading system, despite being allowed into other European countries
> and having the backing of Labour MPs, MEPs, human rights and anti-racist
> organisations.
> 
> Only 37 farmers out of some 120 due to come to Britain as part of
> Intercontinental Caravan, a month-long tour of west and east Europe by
> more than 500 people from developing countries, have been given visas.
> 
> They arrive today on a converted bus and will spend three days holding
> public meetings, visiting the HQs of large companies and the Bank of
> England.
> 
> But yesterday the foreign office denied allegations that it was supressing
> free speech or that it was acting politically, claiming that many of the
> farmers had applied too late or not at all.
> 
> The farmers' version of events differs greatly from the government's. They
> claim that they had been treated "like untouchables" when they applied at
> the high commission in Madras.
> 
> "We were told to bring more and more documents, including our land deeds
> and titles, then our bank details. We all had letters from host
> organisations guaranteeing our conduct in Britain," said one farmer, who
> is now in Holland.
> 
> "When we protested, the embassy called the police and 19 of us were
> arrested. All we want to do is tell the British what is happening to the
> poorest in India. They still have the colonial mindset in Madras."
> 
> It was a similar story in Amsterdam, they said. Having been told to apply
> again when they arrived in Europe they were told yesterday to provide more
> papers and that "only three or four" applications could be processed. By
> late yesterday none had been granted.
> 
> Most of the delegation are thought to be members of the Karnataka state
> farmers' organisation, based in Bangalore. Claiming membership of up to 10
> million peasant farmers in the state, the leaders, who also have the
> backing of the Gandhi organisation, have long protested in a peaceful way
> against multinational companies and the international trading system.
> 
> Yesterday the foreign office said that the farmers had been treated like
> everyone else. "They were asked to make applications and to submit
> evidence to show who was funding their trip. Some refused and staged a
> demonstration. We tried to explain what was required," said a spokesman.
> 
> But Labour MEP Stan Newens said, "I will be very sorry if this group who
> want to raise important global issues cannot come."
> 
> ========
> 
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> ----- End of forwarded message from Andreas Rockstein -----
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E-mail: david@newsindex.co.uk

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