Forthcoming events (click ‘Read more’ for details’):

• 8th April Who wants to be a Zimbabwean Trillionaire UK Citizenship Test, first prize 100 Trillion Zimbabwean dollars. Food* at 7pm Quiz at 8pm
• 22nd April African Night. Fundraiser for Nottingham Refugee Forum and Aegis Trust. Food* at 7pm Film 8pm
• 29th April Iranian Night. Fundraiser for Nottingham City of Sanctuary- Food* at 7pm Film 8pm

At 10am today, the No Borders network officially reopened the Kronstad Hangar in Calais to the migrant population. This follows the first public opening on Saturday 6th February, and the subsequent violent police eviction the following day .

The major of Calais ordered the eviction of the Hangar on alleged grounds that the hangar was not fit for public use, so the Kronstad Hangar is now open as a private space for members of SoS Soutien o Sans Papiers only. All migrants and activists inside the hangar have official membership.

The hangar is presently open to migrants from 10:00 until 18:00. The hangar is not just a humanitarian space but also a space for politicial discussion and debate, as well as various cultural and entertainment exchanges.

Marie Chautempts says “while the authorities are blocking any shelter proposals, migrants in Calais are facing one of the coldest winters in recent history and a constant ritual of police harrasement. The situation is degrading and goes against any common understanding of decent behaviour towards other human beings. Something has to be done, so we are fighting to
creating to a space for migrants to come and engage in activities at their leisure.”

It is to be noted that at the time of writing the circumstances regarding another police intervention are unknown. However, on the new front door of the hangar Article 1 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (4) has been painted. Any violent police intervention into the hangar is regarded as contrary to human rights law.

Tim Wallace says “another violent eviction will not deter us, we will not stand by and watch human beings being treated as animals. 8 years of violence and migrants are still in Calais because there is no recognition of the reasons behind migration from places such as Afghanistan, Darfur and Iran.”

Notes to editors

(1) The No Borders network is a global movement of individuals and groups fighting for the right to freedom of movement for people, not just for the Lorries that make sections of European society rich. Since the No Border Camp held in Calais in June 2009, No Borders activists have had a constant presence in Calais under the banner of Calais Migrant Solidarity. We have monitored and documented police abuse and violent, collectively resisted evictions, organised humanitarian aid distribution, and made direct
interventions for the rights of migrants.

(2) As a continued act of resistance and solidarity with undocumented migrants in Calais No Borders have rented the Kronstad Hangar for the months of february and march, together with SoS Soutients O Sans Papiers. The Hangar is in between the port and the centre of Calais.

(3) On Saturday evening, about 100 migrants came to the warehouse with the intention of entering. They were met by two separate lines of French police on either side of the hangar. Shouting “freedom! freedom!”, the migrants and No Borders activists pushed through the police lines and successfully
occupied the hangar. Donations of blankets, extra-clothes, basic
mattresses and hot tea were provided for the migrants.

However, after a safe and secure night, 75 CRS police arrived on Sunday afternoon and forcibly evicted the new space by smashing down the front glass doors. 12 activists were arrested, but later released, while one was taken to hospital.

(4) Article 1 reads:”All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Over 50 women have been on hunger strike at Yarls Wood Immigration
Prison near Bedford since Friday 5th February, demanding their
immediate release from indefinite detention.

More info, Read more and visit: http://london.noborders.org.uk

Serco, the company that runs Yarl’s Wood on behalf of the UK Border
Agency, has tried to brutally repress the hunger strike, most notably
on Monday 8th February when Serco guards locked the hunger strikers in
a corridor for 8 hours without access to water or toilet facilities.

London NoBorders calls for the immediate release of the hunger
strikers and an end to immigration prisons and is calling for a demo
in solidarity with the hungers strikers this Friday at 2.30pm outside
Serco’s offices at 18-22 Hand Court (off High Holborn), London, WC1V
6JF. Please bring banners and instruments.

Women’s struggle ongoing in one of UKBA’s detention centre’s run by Serco scumbags. Moved to mainstream prisons to try and keep them down. How you can help:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/02/445917.html

Written demands:


http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2010/02/report_from_the

Read more for poster:

F-word website: Report from the Yarl’s Wood hunger strike: By Jess McCabe | 8 February 2010, 16:54
http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2010/02/report_from_the

See also: National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaignshttp://www.ncadc.org.uk/

Future events – 4th March- Mongolian Night, 18th March- Algerian Night
** Please note Small World Cinema booked for Wednesday 27th January at the Sumac Centre has been cancelled

Selina Adda a national of Ghana and her two children aged five and nine years, residents of Nottingham for the last five years; are currently detained in Yarl’s Wood IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Wednesday 27th January 2010 @ 14:50 on British Airways flight BA0081 to Accra.
What you can do to help:

Full details are at this address: http://www.ncadc.org.uk/

1) Email/Phone Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer British Airways and urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Selina Adda and her children.

2) Email/Fax, Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that Selina Adda and her children, be granted protection in the UK. Model letter available for download.

3) Sign the Online petition.

Please let the campaign know of faxes/emails sent.