SWEDEN — strike against racist violence !
IN THE course of the last two months Sweden, and Stockholm in particular, has been shaken by an unprecedented wave of racist violence. In November shoot-to-kill attacks injured 5 immigrants and led to the death of an Iranian stu-
International Viewpoint #222 • February 17, 1992
EUROPE: Anti-racism people and not just asylum seekers. 4. Fingerprinting: In line with other European countries asylum seekers will be treated as criminals by being subjected to fingerprinting. There are no safeguards in the bill as to who the manual records can be dent. In late December/early January there was a campaign of bombings and passed on to. One of the reasons behind the bomb threats in connection with the trial of two members of VAM (White Aryan introduction of fingerprinting of asylum
In late January a series of 5 attacks within 5 days shocked Uppsala and seekers is the Dublin Convention signed by all EC countries. This says that a refusal of
Stockholm. The attacks, random in nature, seriously injured two Turks and a an asylum seeker in one EC country gives
Palestinian: three other immigrants were also shot. Meanwhile, around Sweall other EC countries the right to refuse den, there have been arson attacks and physical assaults on shopkeepers and
5. Housing: Asylum seekers will also be
This racist campaign of violence is now dominating the political debate and denied their full right to rehousing. Local atmosphere in Sweden. Stockholm is in a state of shock, and immigrants are in authorities will only be able to offer tempofear of their lives. Throughout the country, demonstrations have been orgarary accommodation, and then only if the nized in support of the immigrants. On the initiative of the Kurdish National asylum seeker has "no reasonable accom-
League, 15 immigrant organizations have called for a one hour strike between modation" to go to. However, at the same
10 and 11 am on Friday February 21. A committee has just been formed to time, the government has announced that it organize the strike, with the support of Riksförbundet Stoppa Rasismen (the will provide 300 detention places for asy-
"considered likely
The strike is being called a "manifestation of mourning". One of its declared abscond... and to enable those refused asyaims is to show what happens to the Swedish economy if immigrants do not lum to be detained while awaiting removwork. The first appeal of the strike committee, however, leaves the door open for any Swedish organization or individual to "give their support in the manner
6. Carriers Liability Act: In order to stop asylum seekers coming to the UK the
An indicator of the gravity of the situation is that the Minister of Social Affairs
(a member of the liberal People's Party in the four-party bourgeois coalition)
requirements for nationals whose countries has publicly supported the strike, while King Carl Gustav XIV has condemned
"produce" refugees, such as the Kurds from the violence and said that, "It is necessary for us all to come together and fight
Turkey. In order to stop people fleeing to the injustice of our society". Trade union leaders are divided, some in support the UK the Carriers Liability Act 1987 allows the government to fine airlines if
The Swedish employers federation (SAF) has described the strike as they bring passengers to the UK without
"unmodern" but has not openly condemned it. The Conservative Prime Minis-
"valid" documents. The government has ter, Carl Bildt, is under much pressure. He also has not openly opposed the increased the fines to f2000 per passenger strike, but has said that it is "perhaps not a good idea". Restricting his condemby mid-1991 they had earned £30 million nation of the attacks to saying, "We are of course against all types of criminalithrough such fines! The Asylum Bill ty", he has said that racism is a "peripheral problem" of society, and suggested extends airline liability to include passenthat the gun attacks might be connected with underworld rivalry.
In the Stockholm area, the Socialist Party (SP — Swedish section of the
7. The asylum seekers credibility: The
Fourth International) is pushing for the formation of "Guards Against Racism"
draft immigration rules contain a list of cristanding outside shops where immigrants work alone. The initiative has teria for refusing an asylum seeker - for already been taken in one suburb (Orminge), and has involved the SP, the Left instance an application will be treated as
Party and the Social Democrats. It has already been taken up by Stoppa Rasisdoubtful if the applicant has "made false representations... destroyed, damaged or
There is currently a debate on whether immigrants should individually arm disposed of a passport". The UN Commisthemselves in self-defence, given the inability/unwillingness of the police to sion on Refugees has indicated its opposiprotect them. While not condemning this, the SP is advocating collective tion to this paragraph. It should not be held against asylum seekers if they arrive with
The "21 February Committee" is calling for European-wide support for false documents or none at all, as is stated in their initiative, with broad demonstrations outside Swedish embassies the UN convention (Article 31).
on the evening of Friday February 21. The Committee can be contacted
8. Guilt by association: The draft rules state that actions by a person "acting on tel: 46-8-6528585 fax: 6502120. The person responsible for press conbehalf of the asylum applicant", whether or tacts and information is Kurdo Bahksi. * not with the applicant's express approval,
"may be taken into account". An asylum case can therefore be prejudiced by so- called "agents" in the country of origin or incompetent advisers in Britain.
9. Travelling as part of a group: The rules also state that if an asylum seeker "is a part of a group" their case is not to be considered individually. This is a denial of natural justice and a violation of the 1951 convention, which specifically provides that each applicant must have his/her case individually assessed.
10. The Asylum Act will become retrospective: Asylum decisions which have already been held up for several years with-
28 in the Home Office bureaveracy ail now
Resistance).
National League to Stop Racism).
they find suitable".
men and has spread to another suburb.
defence as a better method at this time. be considered under the proposed new laws.
So why is the government attacking asylum seekers? It is part of the creation of a Fortress Europe. The government wants to be seen as doing something to stop black people coming to Britain. In the imagina. tion of the Tory popular press "illegal" immigrants asylum are lumped together as costing the British taxpayer millions of pounds.
In the public debate about asylum rights all the political parties try to separate "economic" refugees from "political" refugees.
Labour's spokesperson on domestic affairs, Roy Hattersley, said in Parliament on November 5, 1991: "I have made it clear that I would not allow in the bogus asylum seeker... No one I know wants the open door policy on immigration"
But in the real world it is not possible to separate "economic" from "political" refugees. This is particularly so inasmuch as the economic and political devastation of those parts of the world producing refugees and immigrants was caused by the same coun tries now implementing immigration controls. *