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We
have seen the increase of the brutal and overt racist
attacks now being reflected around towns and cities
of Northern Ireland. I have spoken out in condemnation
of such on many occasions, as well as raising important
factors that need to be addressed in order to attempt
to tackle the increasing rise of racism and racist
attacks. These factors include that of ‘Fortress
Europe’; the issue of addressing the socio and
economic deprivation in working class areas; the ‘criminalising’
of people seeking asylum by being locked up and detained
in prisons; and the issue of paramilitarism etc. This
as well as the legislation, and at times the words,
used by some governmental leaders and political representatives
‘directed’ at the poor, the vulnerable and
at the minority ethnic communities, more especially
within and behind the ‘War on Terror’. This,
and much more, I have raised over the last several
months both local and internationally, and on many
occasions.
As
the Anti Racism Network (ARN), we have actively stood
against the still increasing and continuing racist
attacks, and have sought the mobilising of local communities
and trade unionists to stand firm against such. Apart
from city centre rallies, we have sought and seek
also a local response (which we have seen to date
initiated in some local communities). This is needed
in response to such attacks, as it both shows that
a local community is not only collectively opposed
to the attacks, but also as importantly that it will
stand shoulder to shoulder with the victims of them.
As
stated, the ARN has both raised and to date has been
involved in various campaign issues, all of which
are important. Yet I would like to take this chance
to raise a serious developing situation in relation
to a local family. The family is the Somasundram family
who are in real danger of being deported and have
a genuine and justified fear for their lives if they
are deported. This due to the break down of peace
talks in their ‘home country’ of Sri Lanka,
which still sees regular conflict-related murders.
This is especially important as the family, firstly,
had seen their son murdered, then they themselves
had been tortured, terrorised and threatened with
death by those same forces still doing the killing;
thus they had to flee for their lives.
Although
both personally and as Chair of the ARN being active
in support of this human rights issue, the campaign
is also supported across the political spectrum by
the main parties, by churches, human rights organisations
etc, with the family having much support and respect
across all sections of ‘our communities’.
I would urge those that believe in justice and human
rights to lend your support to this human rights case
and as stated, to stand shoulder to shoulder, in whatever
way, with them at this very difficult and worrying
time.
For
more information e-mail me at carlindavid@hotmail.com
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