[noborders-brum] [Fwd: [nbuk] Call-out for day of action: Shut Down BMI Day- 20th Oct]

[Shiar]

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [nbuk] Call-out for day of action: Shut Down BMI Day- 20th Oct
From:    noborderswales at riseup.net
Date:    Sun, October 12, 2008 1:48 am
To:      "list" <noborderswales at lists.riseup.net>
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Call-out leaflet:
http://noborderswales.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/shutdown-bmi-day-leaflet1.pdf

Shut down BMI Airlines day! Starting 20th October 2008
http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/shut-down-bmi-airlines-day-20th-october/

In 2007 the UK government deported 63,140 migrants. Airline companies are
a key link in the deportation industry. Without them it would be very
difficult, if not impossible, for the state to implement this aspect of
the migration regime and there can be no migration controls without
deportations.

People who are being deported are often handcuffed on the flight and there
have been a number reports of physical assaults on deportees by the
security personnel who escort them.

On 20th September 2008, No Borders South Wales activist Babi Badalov was
deported on a BMI flight to Azerbaijan, where has experienced physical
abuse and state persecution. Despite hundreds of telephone calls, emails
and faxes to BMI raising objections to the removal, BMI chose to ignore
this and ensured the deportation took place.

BMI is the UK’s second largest full service airline with reported profits
of £15.5 million in 2007. The airline is responsible for carrying migrants
who are being deported from the UK against their will by the British
Government.

BMI employees told those ringing on the day that BMI could not refuse to
fly Babi and it was out of their control. However, other airlines have
refused to fly deportees in the past including XL Airways who announced in
2007 that they would no longer carry failed asylum-seekers who were being
forcibly removed from the UK.

BMI must be made aware of the impact of their actions on the lives of the
people they deport and how their image and business will be affected if
they continue this practice. We need to let them know that they can not
take part in such activities without consequences.

No Borders South Wales are calling for a sustained campaign against BMI.
We call on BMI to no longer take part in the forced deportation of
migrants.

Contact BMI and register your disapproval at their role in deporting
people back to places they do not wish to go back to, for whatever the
reason this may be. Urge BMI to follow the other airlines who have taken
an ethical stance and who refuse to carry out any more deportations.

On the 20th October let’s hit BMI with everything we’ve got! Then let’s do
this on the 20th of every month until BMI see sense.

BMI Contact Details:

BMI Contact Details
Head office: Donington Hall, Castle Donington, Derby. DE74 2SB

Switchboard
Telephone: 01334 854 000
Open Mon-Fro 8am-6pm

Customer Relations
Tel: 01332 854 321
Fax: 01332 854 875
Open: Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm

Group Reservations
Tel: 01332 854500
Open: Mon-Fri 9am- 5:30pm

Baggage Claims
Tel: 0115 8517 005
Open: Mon-Sun 8am- 8pm

Highflyers
Tel: 01332 854454
Fax: 01332 854 238

Special Assistance
Tel: 0131 3445600
Textphone: 01332 854015
Open: Mon-Sun 7am-9pm

Diamond Club
Tel: 01332 854 274
Fax: 01623 724099
Open: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm

Refunds
Tel: 01332 854 534
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-3:30pm

Technical Support
Tel: 01509 686 628
Open: Mon-Sat 8am- 7pm

Charter Dept
Tel: 01332 854 656
Open Mon-Fri 9am-pm

BMI Baby Reservations
Tel: 01332 648 181
Mon-Sun 8am-8pm

BMI flights operate from the following UK Airports:
Aberdeen, Belfast (City), Birmingham, Bristol, Durham Tees Valley, East
Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Leeds Bradford, London City, London
Gatwick, London, Heathrow, Manchester, Newcastle Intl, Norwich

STOP DEPORTATIONS!