-Caveat Lector- http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/21/stories/2005062104451600.htm
U.K. illegally detaining asylum-seekers, charges Amnesty International Hasan Suroor Children, pregnants and victims of torture were held in detention centres last year Criteria is so broad that "literally'' anybody could be taken into detention LONDON: Amnesty International has accused the British Government of "illegally'' locking up too many asylum-seekers in detention centres while their applications are considered. In a report on Monday to mark the "Refugee Week,'' it said an estimated 25,000 asylum-seekers, including children, pregnant women and victims of torture, were held in detention centres last year. Detained for years Some of them had been locked up for upto two years though there was no evidence that, if allowed to move around freely, they would abscond, it claimed. Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International (U.K.), questioned the criteria for detaining people in this manner saying it was so broad that "literally'' anybody could be taken into detention. "All the people we talked to and met in the duration of our research were abiding by Home Office reporting restrictions they had no intention of absconding. There were families with young children, there were pregnant women, there were women who had been raped. There were people who'd been in the most appalling of situations, and there was no evidence that these people were about to abscond,'' she said. Even as the Government defended the policy, Amnesty's findings were supported by other rights groups, including the Refugee Council which said that people were being detained "arbitrarily'' and without "appropriate consideration''. "It can't be right to lock people up simply because they have asked for safety here seeking asylum is not a crime," said a spokesperson for the Council. Home Office Minister Tony McNulty disputed Amnesty's figures in a BBC interview but acknowledged that the detention period should be as short as possible. Action defended A Home Office spokesperson described detention as "an essential part of protecting the integrity and effectiveness of our immigration controls." However, it was also essential that who were detained "should be treated with humanity and dignity'', he said adding that the Government was committed to ensuring that. www.ctrl.org DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substanceânot soap-boxingâplease! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'âwith its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright fraudsâis used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ <A HREF="http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
