[noborders-brum] Minutes of Brum Noborders meeting on 15.03.2007

[Shiar]

1. DRC anti-deportation campaign
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Congolese communities all around the country are building up a campaign
against future 'charter flights' to DR Congo
(http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/02/363385.html). There have been
successful meetings in Manchester and Coventry. There was a well-attended
anti-deportation march through the city of Manchester the other day. Now
the campaign is coming to Birmingham. There will be a public meeting on DR
Congo deportations on Saturday 24th March 2007 at 4.30pm to 7.30pm -
Venue: Ladywood Art Leisure Centre (316 Monument Road, Ladywood,
Birmingham, B16 8TR). The campaign is initiated by the Central African
Development Action (CADA) in Birmingham and the Congo Support Project, and
is supported by the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns
(NCADC), African Community Connection (COCOA) and Cité Celeste
(French-Speaking Community).

It was agreed that Birmingham Noborders would support the campaign and get
involved/help out with future actions and protests (there might be one
soon at the immigration reporting centre in Solihull). Also we should
consider broadening the campaign to include other/all nationalities facing
mass deportation campaigns (Iraqis, Afghanis etc.) and build up towards a
self-organised refugee campaign like Glasgow's Unity
(http://www.unitycentreglasgow.org).

2. Solihull
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We kind of reviewed the deceased Solihull pickets and discussed the
possibility of starting doing that again. At the moment, however, that
seems quite unlikely (especially with so few people attending meetings and
doing anything at all!).

There was a proposal to do a leaflet about detention and deportation and
do a 'leafleting campaign' in Solihull for a week or so (that will sort of
cover most of the people signing on). The leaflet will basically be some
information and advice for asylum seekers signing on, possibly with a
phone number that they can ring before and after going there so that we
know when someone gets nicked and try to do something about it.

This will obviously be a full-time job, so it probably needs further
discussion and coordination with others (ARC, NCADC).

3. Liam Byrne picket
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We have been talking about doing a regular picket at Liam Byrne's surgery
for ages, and so have ARC, we hear. Liam Byrne is the Labour MP for Hodge
Hill and the honourable immigration minister. Many bad things have been
introduced since he became Immigration Minister about a year ago.

Phunkee to check out times and other logistics by next meeting. Shiar to
draw up a draft leaflet - same deadline. Need also to coordinate with ARC
on this.


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