No Platform for the IOM

bristol | protests | event notice Monday June 16, 2008 20:08 by No borders - Bristol No Borders bristolnoborders at riseup dot net

Deportation group at refugee week

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is holding a introduction day on 19th June as part of Bristol Refugee week. With glossy NGO style photos and short films it aims to project itself as another NGO helping asylum seekers. This is not true: in reality it is another arm of the governments deportation machine.

Come and join the protest from 10am - 6pm - No Platform for the IOM

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) claims to assist migrants. However, in reality it’s primary function is help rich western governments meet their deportation targets.

In March this year, news was leaked to the press that the Borders and Immigration Agency would be seeking the return of 1,400 ‘failed’ asylum seekers to Iraq. The memo read:

“We consider that voluntary returns are by far the more dignified way of making a return, but if individuals fail to leave, their removal may be enforced.”

The IOM despite their continued protestations, are part of the forced removal system. The claim that the system they operate is voluntary in nature is undermined by the UK’s policy of withdrawing even minimum financial support from those Iraqis who fail to sign up for the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VARRP). Faced with the alternative of destitution, no access to healthcare and homelessness several thousand Iraqis have therefore returned through VARRP, despite the IOM’s representative in Iraq admitting:

“Many returnees do not have adequate food or health care while their homes have often been damaged or are being lived in by other families. The situation for those returning is grim... many returnees are unemployed while only a fraction have received any form of humanitarian assistance other than some food rations.”

Those who do volunteer to return are required to sign a waiver that reads:

“the IOM has no responsibility for me and my dependents once I return to Iraqi
territory and I hereby release IOM from any liability in this respect.”

In this way, countries like the UK who want to be rid of refugees from war torn
countries and unsafe countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Somalia are shielded from any responsibility of what happens to those who are returned.