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Ill treatment in a deportation prison - testimony of a former inmate

01 May 2004

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PRESS RELEASE 24-05-2004-05-24
Publication Autonomous Centre Amsterdam

'ILL-TREATMENT IN A DEPORTATION-PRISON - Testimony of a former inmate'

A detained refugee walking around for three days with a broken wrist and put off with painkillers; a woman far advanced in pregnancy who is transferred being handcuffed to another prison with an extra severe regime, separated from her husband, being alone in a cell for weeks almost 24 hours a day; a brother and sister, sharing together one cell, resisting a transfer from one of them, being visited by the riot police and then - after the other detainees have heard them crying for ten minutes - are being carried unconsciously to an isolation cell. It is only just a handful of what has taken place in the detention-prison Tafelbergweg in Amsterdam at the end of 2002 and the beginning of 2003.

In the deportation prison there are not convicted persons or criminals detained but refugees and migrants, detained because they don't have or don't have the right documents. This detention doesn't have a maximum term. The Netherlands don't search for a solution to forced migration but answer it with
exclusion, detention and deportation.

A refused asylum seeker who has been detained in this prison for half a year, has put in writing some of his experiences. And the Autonomous Centre publishes his story with an extensive explanation in this brochure 'Ill-treatment in a deportation-prison - testimony of a former inmate'.

The witness prefers to stay anonymous because he fears for reprisals from the Dutch government or those from his country of origin. He does want to testify confidentially to a human rights organisation and will declare then dates and names of persons and countries. The Autonomous Centre is informed of the identity of the witness and got acquainted with him as a very reliable person.

You can find the full text of the brochure [english and dutch version] at: www.autonoomcentrum.nl
For further information you can contact Autonomous Centre, Rens den Hollander
phone 00-31-20-6126172

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web: www.autonoomcentrum.nl
e-mail: ac@autonoomcentrum.nl
telefoon: 020-6126172
opgeven voor maillijst:
http://tetter.xs4all.nl/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ac-berichten
giften welkom op giro 6131418 St Afval Amsterdam
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