[sheffield-noborders] RE: sheffield-noborders Digest, Vol 4, Issue 3

[Alison Higgins]

Hi, been on this list for a bit but not made a meeting so far (am
planning to come to next week's). I notice the group is planning a
'magical mystery tour' on 1st Oct - do people know about national demo
for Sukula family campaign on that day in Bolton - see below. 
Wouldn't it be good for Sheffield no borders to support the demo?
Alison

Please circulate widely and get support.  In solidarity Jason Travis,
Chair Sukula Family Must Stay, President Bolton NUT
 
Yesterday actor Julie Hesmendhough from Coronation Street called for an
emergency public demonstration of support in Bolton 12-1 (corner of
Knowsley St and Oxford St near Town Hall) against Section 9, to demand
that the Council (whose leader yesterday, in an interview with Radio 4's
Today program, condemned Section 9) gives a categorical assurance that
they will not evict the family, not take the children into care and will
meet the needs of the family as a whole and therefore honour the stance
the consortium of NW councils have taken in opposing Section 9.

In the light of the Children's Commisioner statement yesterday (August
9) in response to the Sukula case we ask for an urgent meeting with the
Children's Commisioner, the family, the Council and representatives of
Unison, NUT, BASW (at a national as well as local level) to ensure that
the family's needs are met.

The campaign is calling for a national demonstration on October 1st in
support of the Sukulas, for no deportations and against the brutal law
of Section 9 which brutally and we submit illegally traumatises families
by threatening to take children into care purely as a measure to
'persuade' people seeking asylum to 'voluntarily' return.  This is a
form of mental torture and child abuse: it has to stop!  We call on all
trade unionists and anti-racists to support this demonstration to
overturn this brutal law and to rush funds to support the Sukula Family
Must Stay campaign, fought on behalf of all people facing deportation
and in particular solidarity with all families targeted by Section 9.   

 

Note mother's name Lusukumu so sometimes referred to as Lusukumu family
but children's surname Sukala.

 

The family have had their benefits taken away under controversial new
asylum law, section 9 of the 2004 Act, condemned by British Association
of Social Workers, with the family facing evcition and children being
taken into care (as featured on Channel 4 news last Thursday and The
Guardian) 

 

Bolton NUT said in a press release,  August 9,"The decision to terminate
benefits for the Sukula family is a brutal act which is clearly against
the best interests of the children.  There is a lot of anger and concern
in Bolton over this case with over 2000 local people signing a petition
asking the Home Secretary to let the Sukalas stay.  The Sukulas and
people like them make a wonderful contributiuon to our community zand
wish to contribute economically (Flores is training to be a midwife,
Daniel wants to be a plumber).  Instead they are forced into
destitiution.  We call on the government to reverse this brutal policy
immediately and Bolton Council to provide for the family as a whole in
the best interests of the children.  The government claims Every Child
Matters: this should include asylum seekers as well."

 

Contact:  Jason Travis

07976476181