Racial violence: the buried issue

Research published by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) today, reveals dangerously high levels of racial violence in the UK – a violence which is spreading into new areas.

As mainstream parties compete as to which can reduce immigration fastest – ostensibly to defuse community fears – no one asks who actually bears the immediate fall-out of such tensions – Black and Minority Ethnic, asylum-seeker/refugee and migrant communities.

As far as the authorities are concerned the Macpherson inquiry (set up in the wake of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993) has dealt with racial violence. It no longer exists, it is no longer a problem issue. But the IRR’s report, Racial violence: the buried issue, reveals that, on average, five people a year in the UK have lost their lives to racial violence since Stephen’s death – a total of eight-nine victims in seventeen years.

And analysis of 660 racial attacks in 2009 reveals that certain groups of people are particularly at risk: ‘dispersed’ asylum seekers, newly-arrived migrant workers, those who look Muslim and/or work in isolating trades such as taxi-cabbing, food take-aways, small shops and eateries.

The map of violence has changed quite dramatically since studies were first done a generation ago, when primarily areas like Southall, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham witnessed the most racial attacks and racist murders. Such areas are now, in part through struggles against racism, more ‘at ease’ with their diversity. Today racial violence is on the rise in towns, cities and villages which are only now beginning to change demographically – with the arrival of asylum seekers, migrant workers, overseas students, and the natural movement of settled BME families from the larger conurbations.

According to the report’s authors: ‘The governments’ line that community tension is based solely on new immigration to the UK is partial and opportunistic. The UK is now witnessing an ever-expanding mosaic of different racisms based on different local conditions. And politicians themselves are responsible, through their neglect of poor disadvantaged areas, policies including the demonisation of certain groups and rhetoric around the war on terror, for creating, particularly in areas where competition over scarce resources is keenest, a climate in which racial violence will flourish. The drastic economic cuts of the new government can only make things worse.’

Key statistics

* 89 people have lost their lives in attacks with a racial element since the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993.

* Victims of attacks are overwhelmingly Asian (45%); Black (18%); Migrant workers (10%). Men are usually the victims of attacks (80%).

* Attacks take place on the street (37.6%); in the home (12%), taxi/taxi offices (10%), takeaways, restaurants, pubs and bars (8.6%); shops (8%); religious institutions/people in their vicinity (4.3%).

* 34% of attacks took place at the weekend when perpetrators are often under the influence of drink and drugs.

Download the IRR’s Briefing Paper: Racial violence: the buried issue here (http://www.irr.org.uk/pdf2/IRR_Briefing_No.6.pdf) (pdf file, 300kb).

Read the IRR’s Factfile on the Racially Motivated Murders (Known or Suspected) 2000 onwards (http://www.irr.org.uk/2002/november/ak000008.html)

Read the IRR’s Factfile on the Racially Motivated Murders (Known or Suspected) 1991-1999 (http://www.irr.org.uk/2002/november/ak000002.html)

Immigration officials are failing victims

By Colin Yeo

The culture of disbelief prevalent among officials shows a lack of understanding of the private nature of domestic violence.

The stated intention of the domestic violence immigration rule is to prevent a woman from being trapped in an abusive relationship in order to get status in the UK. Normally, she must remain in the relationship in order to get permanent leave to remain in the UK. This rule provides an escape route. It is a noble and well-intentioned rule but the unlawful, restrictive and plain ignorant approach of officials makes it virtually impossible for many genuine victims of domestic violence to succeed. And yet, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) routinely refuses immigration applications from women who are victims.

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Rights group says villagers flee violence in Shamva

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Zanu PF sets up liberation war zones

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Christians protest at attacks on Zimbabwe trade unionists

The World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) and its Zimbabwe Advocacy Office say they are shocked at recent attacks on trade union leaders by police and security forces in Zimbabwe during a period when the southern African country is trying to reconcile bitter divides – writes Peter Kenny.

In a statement sent to Ecumenical News International recently, the General Secretary of the student federation, the Rev Michael Wallace, and the coordinator of the Zimbabwe office in Geneva, Marlon Zakeyo, said that three days earlier, police raided and ransacked offices of the General Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union of Zimbabwe in Harare.

“These senseless attacks, together with the recent upsurge in general violence in the country, indicate clearly that Zimbabwe’s political crisis remains unresolved and that Zimbabwe’s Inclusive Government needs to do much more to deliver change,” the statement said.

The statement noted that the police forced the Secretary General of the agricultural workers’ union, Gertrude Hambira, to flee her home to South Africa, leaving her family behind.

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Violence hits Tsvangirai’s district

Times Live – Political violence has resurfaced in Zimbabwe, where up to 10 families have been left homeless after their huts were burned down.

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But police admitted it was getting out of hand, saying a local chief had sounded the alarm about increased political tensions in his area.

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Brown says Harare still has to do more

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Thursday said he was looking forward to Harare’s return to the Commonwealth fold following significant progress made by Zimbabwe’s unity government but stressed that there was still considerable ground to be covered.

“We all look forward to the time it can rejoin our family of nations because it will signify finally that the days of oppression, violence and economic catastrophe have been left behind,” Brown said in a statement, adding; “But there is still much progress to be made.”

President Robert Mugabe, his long term rival Morgan Tsvangirai and another opposition leader Arthur Mutambara in February formed a power-sharing government to end a political stalemate after inconclusive elections last year.

The unity government has undertaken to end the country’s international isolation and repair ties with Western countries including the European Union, the Commonwealth grouping of former British colonies, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for possible resumption of financial support.

Western nations – that continue to give humanitarian aid – have stressed they can only avail financial support to the Harare administration only if Mugabe implements comprehensive political and economic reforms that show that he is firmly on the route to restore democracy, rule of law and respect of human rights, a process that has been hampered by hardliners in the 85-year-old leader’s ZANU PF party.

“We stand ready to do more, once the Zimbabwean government shows that it is ready to implement the agreements it has made; to take actions to reverse the political, economic and social decline of the country; and to implement the Global Political Agreement,” the British Premier said.

“There are persistent and serious human rights violations; a continuing lack of judicial independence and an absence of the rule of law. And the constitutional reform process – a vital component for the free and fair elections essential to full international re-engagement with Zimbabwe – is already behind schedule.”

Mugabe, who withdrew Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth in 2003 calling it an “evil organisation”, is yet to fully implement last year’s power-sharing agreement that gave birth to the unity government.

Some of the outstanding issues that have threatened to derail the coalition government include Mugabe’s refusal to rescind his unilateral appointment of two of his top allies to head Zimbabwe’s central bank and the attorney general’s office.

Mugabe has also refused to swear in Tsvangirai ally Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister while the MDC-T is also unhappy by what it says is selective application of the law to target its activists and officials.

On the other hand ZANU PF, which insists that it has met all its obligations under the GPA, accuses the MDC-T of not living up to a promise to lead a campaign for lifting of Western sanctions against Mugabe and members of his inner circle.

But the British Premier said the international community wanted to see progress on reforms in security, justice and media, all culminating in free and fair elections.

“Such actions will drive the decision about whether to lift the EU asset freeze and travel ban against the 203 Zimbabweans involved in the violence and human rights abuses, and on 40 companies associated with them,” he said. – ZimOnline

Violence spikes after MDC’s withdrawal from government

Violence and intimidation against members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) increased sharply within days of the party “disengaging” from Zimbabwe’s unity government, MDC spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka told IRIN.

In one incident three armed men accosted MDC security official Edith Mashaire, 32, and tried to force her into a waiting vehicle as she walked towards her office in the capital, Harare, during working hours.

“Two other men, one brandishing an AK-47 rifle and another holding a pistol, approached me and threatened to shoot me. They started assaulting me with their weapons while telling me to get into the truck,” Mashaire told IRIN. She screamed to other pedestrians that she was an MDC official and frightened the men off.

“We have received reports of our supporters being beaten up and having their homes set on fire, allegedly by ZANU-PF supporters led by war veterans and members of the army,” Tamborinyoka said. President Robert Mugabe is the leader of ZANU-PF, the other wing of the unity government formed in February 2009.

Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC leader and Prime Minister, “disengaged” from the unity government on 16 October in protest over the re-arrest of the party’s treasurer and deputy agricultural minister designate, Roy Bennett, which had “brought home the fiction of the credibility and integrity of the transitional government”.

View full article here

Sudan church leader warns of escalating violence

Church group urges truth commission on country’s violence

HARARE – A grouping of church organizations and Christian leaders in Zimbabwe has called for the creation of a commission to hear cases of political violence and determine punishment for perpetrators, and compensation for victims. 

“Those involved in the designing, targeting, coordination and sponsoring of the violence must take ownership of their actions by a public acknowledgment of such actions,” said the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance in an August 7 statement.

The statement followed three days set aside in July by Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government for national healing and reconciliation after political violence that accompanied elections in 2008. The then main opposition Movement for Democratic Change party won the parliamentary vote and the first round of the presidential poll. The MDC had refused to take part in the presidential run-off, citing intimidation, and incumbent president, Robert Mugabe, won the election.

The Christian grouping that includes Roman Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans, Evangelicals and Pentecostals said the reconciliation campaign would be in vain without “full disclosure of what happened during the period of conflict and such information made public.”

The MDC, whose leader Morgan Tsvangirai became prime minister in a power-sharing government with his long-time enemy Mugabe, and with the head of an MDC breakaway faction, has said at least 150 of its supporters were killed by state security agents and pro-Mugabe militants. Mugabe in turn accused the MDC of violence including arson attacks on rural supporters of his party.

A Zimbabwean cleric said at the end of July that the church should have a key role if the national healing and reconciliation process was to succeed.

“There cannot be peace without the church being part of the peace process,” Goodwill Shana, chairperson of the Heads of Christian Denominations in Zimbabwe told hundreds of people at an interdenominational meeting at the end of the three-day reconciliation period.

“We believe the peace process cannot be done without involving the church as a significant player. We believe the church is the most qualified. It may not be the only player, but it is the most qualified to help spearhead the process of national healing in Zimbabwe,” said Shana.

The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance in its statement said there needed to be an independent commission, “composed of eminent men and women of integrity from various sectors of society including ministers of religion and former or practicing judges.” The commission would, “hear and consider each case on its own merits and decide on appropriate compensation to be paid on wronged ones and or due punishment.”
The alliance comprises church leaders and groups from various Christian denominations campaigning for a just society based on Christian values.

Zimbabwe’s neighbor South Africa had its Truth and Reconciliation Commission headed by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, after the demise of apartheid and the country’s first national universal suffrage elections in 1994.

Source: The Zimbabwean

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