Meanwhile in Austria ...
Where is Marcus Omofuma?? - The trial against the three Aliens Police officers who killed Marcus Omofuma begins on 4th of March
26.Feb.02 - Racism kills! Almost three years after Marcus Omofuma's death, the trial of
three Aliens Police officers will commence on 4 March 2002 in the District
Court at Korneuburg near Vienna. The three Aliens Police officers are being
accused of "cruelty to a prisoner resulting in his death". This offence carries
a penalty of between one and ten years' imprisonment. The dates scheduled for
the trial are 4, 6, 7, 11, 13 and 14 March, and 10, 11 and 15 April.
Observers will be present at the trial of the three Aliens Police officers.
Up-to-date news of each day in court will be available in German and English on
www.no-racism.net and on Radio Orange 94.0 MHz in Vienna.
What went before
Marcus Omofuma died on Saturday, 1 May. He was being escorted by three
Aliens Police officers who had been given the order to deport him. In so doing,
they used adhesive tape to tie Marcus Omofuma to his seat and to seal his mouth
as well as partially seal his nostrils. He suffocated even before the
stopover at Sofia. Marcus Omofuma became a victim of the racist policies of Austria
and the EU. The only offence Marcus Omofuma had been "guilty" of was to be
illegally resident in Austria. Within a few hours, the news of his death was
greeted by spontaneous demonstrations. During the following days and months
there was widespread protest by immigrants and indigenous Austrians alike,
demanding the immediate resignation of the politicians and officials responsible,
the introduction of antidiscriminatory legislation, an immediate halt to
further deportation and the abolition of all racist laws.
"Operation Spring"
We did not have to wait long for the Austrian state's repressive response to
the vociferous protest against Austrian deportation methods, the police and
the then Minister of the Interior, Karl Schlgl. On 27 May and 27 September
1999, just before an election on each occasion, police raids were carried out
throughout Austria.
Almost 200 people, largely of African descent and including some antiracist
activists, were criminalised as drug dealers on the flimsiest of evidence. As
a result, public actions by immigrants against state racism tailed off
rapidly. This practice is supported or accepted by official politics, the
commercial media and large sections of the population. In addition to "Operation
Spring", a number of further racist raids were carried out.
Not an isolated case
Marcus Omofuma's death in the course of forcible deportation is not an
isolated case. A report by the Council of Europe states that at least 10 persons
have died since 1998 in EU countries in the course of forcible deportation.
This tally does not include the consequences suffered by deportees in the
countries of destination. The report particularly criticises those techniques
which involve partial or complete blockage of the respiratory tract, but also
gagging by means of adhesive tape, the use of poison gas or tear gas,
administration of sedatives without the consent of the person concerned, any
restriction of movement except by means of handcuffs on the wrists, and the wearing of
masks or hoods by escorting officers. Nor, according to the report, do
transgressions by police officers constitute isolated cases. The
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed a resolution
demanding an absolute ban on the arbitrary and disproportionate use of force in the
course of deportations. The member states were unable to bring themselves to
banning the practice of enforced deportation as such. Indeed, they are
building up the walls of Fortress Europe, applying European isolationist and
exclusionary policies to national legislation.
For freedom of movement
All persons living here shall have equal political and social rights -
irrespective of origin, colour, religion, social status and gender.
Differentiating instruments such as pre-deportation detention, deportation, racist laws and
practices are incapable of being improved - the only solution is to prevent
and abolish them.
They ensure that some are excluded while others benefit. They are
existentially grounded in racism. Making deportations impossible and actively
supporting refugees and migrants is one aspect of civil disobedience against
institutional racism and constitutes practical solidarity with persecuted human
beings.
rrrrrrr eine Welt ohne Rassismus (For A World Without Racism)
more information: The Omofuma Deportation | contact For A World Without Racism | more info on noracism.net