Rejection by the UK Government of final appeals from residents at Dale Farm has set the scene for a showdown
in this five-year siege of Britain's biggest Travellers' community.
Throughout the past winter a hundred families waited anxiously for the results from Communities Minister Ruth Kelly - while
anti-Gypsy protests led by MP John Baron continued unabated.
anti-
These demonstrations, in which supporters of the neo-facist British National Party have taken a leading part, have resulted
in increased racist attacks on Travellers, including children.
in increased racist attacks on Travellers, including children.
No attempt at eviction is likely pending the hearing of a judicial review of Basildon council's decision to spent five million
euro bulldozing Dale Farm. This is not expected until July.
euro bulldozing Dale Farm. This is not expected until July.
But after the review, the way will be clear for Basildon to call in Constant & Co., the private bailiff company which
specializes in the eviction of Gypsies. In recent months, it has been used to destroy a number of small, private yards, some
belonging to Romanies, in the Basildon district.
specializes in the eviction of Gypsies. In recent months, it has been used to destroy a number of small, private yards, some
belonging to Romanies, in the Basildon district.
These activities, together with legal and planning hearing expenses, have so far cost the council some one million euros out of
their total ethnic-cleansing budget.
their total ethnic-
In rejecting the right of Travellers to residee on their own land, Kelly at the same time draws attention to the fact that if
evicted they will be forced to live on the roadside.
evicted they will be forced to live on the roadside.
*************************
HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORS
Needed to witness and record the activities of bailiffs and police - with a view to legal action - when eviction of Dale Farm
and the bulldozing of the homes there is attempted. PLEASE EMAIL dale.farm@btinternet.com
with you name and phone number if you are able to act as a Monitor.
and the bulldozing of the homes there is attempted. PLEASE EMAIL
with you name and phone number if you are able to act as a Monitor.
24th Feb.2007
DALE FARM FACES FINAL SHOWDOWN
By Grattan Puxon
