Forwarded by Kayode Oladele

Protocol for the deportation of migrants to allow straightjackets and helmets

El País newspaper reported that the interior ministry has prepared a draft protocol of security norms regulating police officers' conduct in the course of repatriations that envisages that undocumented migrants may be forced to wear straightjackets and a helmet during deportation flights, for their own security and to stop migrants from causing themselves self-harm.

The protocol was deemed necessary to implement Council of Europe (CoE) directives, and as a result of the increasing numbers of deportations, 8,530 in 2007 in both chartered and commercial flights, particularly after the death of Osamuyia  Aikpitanhi of a cardio-respiratory failure resulting from asphyxia as he was gagged with tape and had his feet and hands tied, on an Iberia flight from Madrid to Lagos (Nigeria) on 9 June 2007 (see Statewatch vol. 17 no. 2).

 Aikpitanhi  relatives alleged that his death had resulted from him being been ill-treated by officers escorting him. Deportees will have to embark with a medical report detailing "any medical circumstance that may affect the expulsion" and the police officer in charge may suspend the expulsion if it does guarantee a "safe and dignified transfer". They will be handcuffed with laces (not rigid, unlike handcuffs), have their seatbelts fastened throughout the flight, except for when they go to the bathroom, in which case they will be escorted, and will be informed before the flight that resistance will not lead to the flight being cancelled. If they resist violently, "they may be immobilised by means that do not endanger their physical integrity or compromise their vital functions", using "proportional" force and respecting their "honour and dignity".

The use of "helmets for self-protection" to stop them from causing themselves harm (Aikpitanhi  is alleged to have banged his head against the aeroplane) and of "belts and authorised immobilisation clothing" (acting somewhat like straightjackets securing the arms to the body) is envisaged, although they are reported not to currently be part of the police force's regulatory equipment. The officer in charge will "direct operations to re-establish order", in communication with the captain, if there is unrest by passengers in the aircraft. The draft protocol provides for one unarmed officer to be sat on each side of the deportee, that they may not be photographed, and that they may not disembark in the countries they travel to, "particularly Nigeria", while local authorities will also be discouraged from boarding the aircraft. Repatriated migrants will disembark one by one, without handcuffs or other means of coercion, as a cosmetic measure not to make them look like prisoners, an image that could be used by opposition parties in countries of origin.

Criticism of these measures was voiced by Izquierda Unida (United Left), whose general co-ordinator Gaspar Llamazares accused the government of being willing to incur in "inhuman and degrading" treatment to deport migrants, allowing the policy of expulsions to prevail over "rights", the Andalusian ombudsman, who said that repatriations must be conducted while "respecting human rights" and without "misusing" means such as straightjackets, and Amnesty International, which criticised the absence of CoE recommendations such as "the absolute prohibition of adhesive tape and the use of helmets and straightjackets, which may cause postural asphyxia". This last claim is borne out by a precedent involving the death by asphyxia on 30 May 1999 of Aamir Mohamed Ageeb, a Sudanese asylum seeker who was embarked on an aeroplane flying from Germany to Cairo wearing a helmet, one of a number of people deported from EU countries to have died of asphyxia.

Thus, while European tourists are warned of the dangers of "economy class syndrome", EU governments continue to regulate the practices resulting from their restrictive immigration policies, decreeing that returning undocumented migrants to their countries in flights lasting several hours with their hands tied, belts buckled, and even wearing helmets or straightjackets, for their own well-being, is respectful of their dignity and safety. Concerns over the cosmetic impact of these practices in countries of origin are an example of how authorities themselves perceive the need to conceal the graphic image of how policies portrayed as neutral and uncontroversial are translated into practice.

Robot  # 1 | 11.11.2007 12:42

Forwarded by Kayode Oladele Protocol for the deportation of migrants to allow str...Read the full article.

Anon  # 2 | 11.11.2007 12:57

Please have they sent his body back home to his parents to give a befitting burial? That should be the first step, and of course paying restitution before they begin to try and white wash their image by claiming to change their deportation rules.

Mikky jaga  # 3 | 11.11.2007 13:46

This is a clear case of medicine after death, even though it is a big victory for the NVS. May we never see such inhumanity of man to fellow man again.

IZONERE  # 4 | 11.11.2007 13:54

=Mikky jaga;2091818975>This is a clear case of medicine after death, even though it is a big victory for the NVS. May we never see such inhumanity of man to fellow man again. Hmm, I don't think the new medicine is going to be less inhumane than the old.:confused: Why did they bother?

omaks  # 5 | 11.11.2007 14:34

.......that undocumented migrants may be forced to wear straightjackets and a helmet during deportation flights, for their own security and to stop migrants from causing themselves self-harm. First and foremost, it shouldn't have taken the death of Aikpitanhi for the Spanish authorities to discover the deficiency of their repatriation procedures. The thing to do is come out humbly and accept their culpability in the matter, and recompense adequately. Secondly, Straightjackets are for dangerously violent and psychiatric people. Moreover, resorting to this procedure will certainly breach the human rights of those people being deported, or in some ways breach the European Union laws. Why not just inform them of the decision to deport them, and make adequate, comfortable arrangements for them like other countries do?

truthsayer33  # 6 | 11.11.2007 18:23

=omakingbogun;2091818990>First and foremost, it shouldn't have taken the death of Aikpitanhi for the Spanish authorities to discover the deficiency of their repatriation procedures. The thing to do is come out humbly and accept their culpability in the matter, and recompense adequately. Secondly, Straightjackets are for dangerously violent and psychiatric people. Moreover, resorting to this procedure will certainly breach the human rights of those people being deported, or in some ways breach the European Union laws. Why not just inform them of the decision to deport them, and make adequate, comfortable arrangements for them like other countries do? the young man was offered the chance of returning to Nigeria without shackles or gags,he refused.To him the issue was a do or die affair and he got his way.He died rather than return to the hell hole of Nigeria. So why send his body to Nigeria?

Palamedes  # 7 | 12.11.2007 07:09

l País newspaper reported that the interior ministry has prepared a draft protocol of security norms regulating police officers' conduct in the course of repatriations that envisages that undocumented migrants may be forced to wear straightjackets and a helmet during deportation flights, for their own security and to stop migrants from causing themselves self-harm. Sir, lets be real, I don't think any European country would be too foolish to do such a thing. This would revive memory of African slaves in shackles. It would be an own goal; and would cause outrage around the world. Spain was once a poor country but now not so poor due to two decades of aids and subsidies (including my taxes) from her rich European neighbours. If Spain (or any country for that matter) decides to carry out such inhumane act on Nigerians, I should suggest that when the aircraft carrying the deportees arrives in Nigeria, that the Nigerian authorities arrest the aircraft, pilots, and accompanying Spanish officers(s) and charge them for barbarous, brutal, insensate, cruel, savage and vicious treatment on a Nigeria on African soil--where the deportee's inhumane treatment is carried into African airspace. No African government should be a party to such gross inhumane treatment on its citizens, otherwise they would be known as the new 'collaborators'.

Sincere Brillow  # 8 | 12.11.2007 07:30

This Newly introduced measures will definately not be the best solution.

Akinyi  # 9 | 12.11.2007 17:59

Spain makes changes because of the death of an illegal immigrant. When will Nigeria make changes for her dying and dead citizens? The difference is clear.

EezeeBee  # 10 | 13.11.2007 03:32

= Akinyi>Spain makes changes because of the death of an illegal immigrant. When will Nigeria make changes for her dying and dead citizens? The difference is clear. More importantly, when will Nigeria effect POSITIVE changes for her LIVING citizens? I am part of the change; are you?

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