Nottingham Congolese Community demonstrated against continued deportations

Posted on 1 July 2007 by admin

On Saturday 30 June at 12 noon, The Nottingham Congolese Community assembed to demonstrated against continued deportations.

Starting from The Old Market Square, they marched through Nottingham, past the railway station and continued through the Meadows Queens Walk to the Meadows Park near the embankment.

They wanted to draw attention to continued deportations of their community to the Congo, in spite of the risks to them.

Is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) really independent? Since “independence was granted to the DRC on 30 June 1960, the country has been under the control of criminals and dictators, while its progress has been hindered by foreign interference, illegal exploitation and exportation of the Congo’s natural resources, and levels of repression, human rights abuses and conflict that have killed millions and produced hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, refugees and internally displaced persons.

Despite the so-called ‘ democratic’ elections last year, more than people were gunned down in February this year in the Bas- Congo region while protesting against local election results. Innocent men, women and children belonging to the politico-religious group Bundu dia Kongo were killed while they prayed in their church.

On 22 and 23 march, more than 700 people died in the capital when troops loyal to Joseph ‘ Kabila’ used heavy arms in an open street battle against those backing hi8s presidential contender Jean-Pierre Bemba. Hundreds more were seriously injured, thousands arrested and an unknown number were forcibly disappeared. In the east of the country, war between opposing groups of militias is still causing death, devastation, displacement and acute insecurity. Rape is endemic throughout the country and is used as a weapon of oppression punishment and torture.

Industrial loggers are being allowed to plunder the Congo’s remaining intact rainforest , upon which more than two thirds of the population depend for their livelihood. Eighty percent of the species found in the Congo cannot be found anywhere else on earth. People are being exploited for their land.

There is credible evidence of persecution of Congolese Asylum seekers who are forcibly returned to the DRC. A country Guidance tribunal due to start on July will aim to determine that it is unsafe to return people under present conditions.

Organised by: Nottingham Congolese Community.
Supported by: No Borders Nottingham, African Initiative Support, NCADC