8th March 2007
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
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.
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
international agencies and NGOs to their plight ahead of any final judge's ruling. "We have l50 children of school-
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.
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 -
Basildon has hired Constant & Co., a bailiff company specialising 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.
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-
"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.
know nothing about living on the roadside -
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.
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.
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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.