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[Dale Farm]

Ustiben report
International Women's Day
WOMEN APPEAL AGAINST
BULLDOZING  OF  HOMES
by Grattan Puxon
 
 
     Over 250 women at Dale Farm, the largest
Gypsy community in Britain, are appealing to
the UN on International Women's Day (8 March)
to help stop the bulldozing of their homes.
 
     They say since UK Secretary of State Ruth Kelly
gave the green light last week for the destruction 
of 86 chalets and mobile-homes, their last resort
may be the United Nations.
 
     A report on their situation has gone this week 
to Miloon Kothari, special rapporteur on Housing, and
Gay McDoughall, special rapporteur on minority
issues. 
 
     It has also been taken up by the Advocacy
Project in Washington, and the International Alliance
of Inhabitants, in Italy.
 
     Although the issue is yet to come before the
High Court in a judicial review, the Dale Farm
mothers are alerting tese international
agencies and NGOs to their plight ahead of any final
judge's ruling.
 
     "We have l50 children of school-age," said
Mrs McCarthy, "and many small ones who need
protection. There are also five pregnant mothers."
 
     She said the decision to allow Basildon District
Council to evict all the families with no alternative
accommodation was inhuman and cruel. She fears
that children and sick persons may be injured
during any violent eviction attempt - or killed
on the roadside.
 
    Basildon has hired Constant & Co., a bailiff
company specilizing in the eviction of Gypsies, to
demolish the Dale Farm village, home of
600 Travellers. More than 5 million euro have been
set aside for the operation, described by Parish
Priest John Glenn as ethnic-cleansing.
 
    "We are Travellers," said Mary Ann McCarthy,
"but our children have been brought up here and
are going to school. They know nothing about
living on the roadside - yet where else can we go?"
 
    The women say they have the support of 
UN roving ambassador Vanessa Redgrave, whose
brother actor Corin Redgrave has twice visited
Dale Farm.
 
    The UK Association of Gypsy Women have
raised the issue at Strasbourh through the European
Roma and Travellers Forum.
 
    Yesterday North Norfolk Independent Cllr Mrs
Candy Sheridan, who is related to some of the Dale
Farm families, offered to assist in any fresh planning
applications and appeals which may be undertaken.
 
**************************
 HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS 
 
      A group of Human Rights
Monitors who will attend any
attempted eviction at Dale Farm
has been formed - and already
includes clergy, councillors, medical 
doctors and a Member of Parliament.
Please email this address if you
wish to be alerted to the bulldozing
operation and would be able to
be present.
 
dale.farm at btinternet.com
 
***************************
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