Остров Невезения - [300]

В этой газете они призывали писать им и звонить. Указывался номер телефона в Англии для бесплатных звонков. Я взял эту страницу и отправился в прихожую барака к телефону.

Указанный в рекламе номер функционировал. Ответила живая барышня.

— Могу ли я вам помочь? — спросила она.

— Я хотел бы узнать, известно ли вам о тысячах иностранцах, заключённых в тюрьмах Великобритании, без судебных приговоров? Это всего лишь нелегальные мигранты, не совершавшие уголовных преступлений, которых держат в тюрьмах без приговора и определённого срока… — вошёл я в роль активиста правозащитника.

— Да, нам известно об этом. Наша организация осуждает это, — вежливо и безразлично ответила девушка.

Вероятно, отвечая мне, она красила ногти на руках или ресницы. Я помешал ей. Она не сказала об этом, но я слышал её вопрос; «ну, а я здесь причём?!»

Мне расхотелось говорить с ней. Возникла пауза.

— Ещё какие-нибудь вопросы? — спросила она.

— Нет. Спасибо, — повесил я трубку.

Я вспомнил, что среди доноров этой неправительственной организации числятся британские музыканты Стинг и Питер Габриэл. У меня было достаточно времени, чтобы написать им об этом отстойнике для мигрантов. Но для этого надо было отыскать адреса для связи с ними. Без Интернета сделать это сложно.

Я не стал беспокоить своими издевательскими писульками слепого инвалида Министра внутренних дел Дэвида Бланкетта и его собачку-поводыря.

Спустя полтора года письмо об этом было написано некой общественной организацией, которая обратилась к администрации центра по перемещению мигрантов Хаслар и к министру внутренних дел Великобритании:

Hunger Strike at Haslar Immigration Removal Centre

^{Governor Mel Jones}

^{Haslar Immigration Removal Centre}

^{2 Dolphin Way}

^Gosport

^{Hants PO12 2AW}

^{Fax [phone]}

^{15 May 2003}

Dear Governor Jones

Re: Hunger Strike at Haslar Immigration Removal Centre

We are writing to urge you to address the concerns and demands of detainees who have been on hunger strike from Monday 12 May until Friday 16 May 2003.

Although Haslar is defined as a Removal Centre, it houses in prison conditions many asylum seekers and immigration detainees whose case are still pending and who will not be removed. People detained in this Centre come from all parts of the world escaping economic and political violence, many are Black, some are ill or have disabilities caused by the torture they suffered.

We are outraged that vulnerable people who have suffered persecution and torture are being held in such conditions. Detainees have already been on hunger strike between 22 to 24 April. Despite the many letters sent to the Home Office listing a number of grievances outstanding for a very long time, none have been resolved:

We support the detainees» demands for an end to:

• Bad and often not properly cooked food, poor choice of food and canteen facilities

• Inadequate medical services; poor quality and often broken hygienic equipment

• Only 50p a day pocket money

• Psychological conditions of Haslar: a prison environment which is very undermining when people have committed no crime; rude staff who rarely assist detainees to access particularly Home Office immigration officials on site; detainees are not kept informed of their situation and their claim.

The detainees» grievances have been confirmed by independent observers. In a damning report published on 8 April 2003, the Chief Inspector of Prisons has confirmed all the Haslar Visitor Group's criticisms of Haslar Removal Centre:

• Conditions in detention are abysmal — dirty, decayed and overcrowded buildings, broken furniture, «disengaged» staff.

• There is very poor access to lawyers and courts — men are sometimes not taken to their court hearings at all and often taken very late.

• Men are often removed to other countries in the clothes they stand up in with no opportunity to collect their property or sort out their affairs.

• «We could not conclude that detainees were treated with respect.

Staff appeared to lack understanding or concern for detainees and showed insufficient interest in their welfare»

• «We could not conclude that Haslar succeeded in making proper provision for detainees to keep in touch with the outside world through phone calls and visits, nor that they were able to make sufficient preparation for their release, transfer or removal.»

We know that these conditions have led to many detainees attempting self-harm and suicide. Ukrainian asylum seeker, 42-year-old Mikhail Bognarchuk, was found hanged by his shoelaces in a toilet at Haslar Removal Centre on 31 January 2003.

We also call on you not to use force to stop this legitimate protest against inhuman conditions. Many remember that on 10 September 2001, the prison authority sent in riot squads against detainees peacefully protesting against their conditions of detention.

The detention of people who have not committed a crime is against all natural justice. and we will continue to press for the end of all detention for asylum seekers and immigrant people. We urge you to take immediately all the necessary measures to respond positively to the detainees» demands.