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Richard Howitt MEP Labour's Member Of The European Parliament [June 25th 2005]
Reinstall Ban On UK Zimbabwean Expulsions - MEP
Following this morning's (Saturday's) reports of cabinet disagreement on the expulsion of asylum seekers from the U.K. to Zimbabwe, Labour's European Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, who has up to 20 Zimbabweans on hunger strike at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre, Bedfordshire, in his constituency, has called on the Government to reinstall the ban on expulsions lifted last November.
Speaking on BBC Radio Four's Today Programme, Richard Howitt MEP said:
"At a time when the Mugabe regime is being vilified across the world for its mass evictions and house destruction of opponents, it is an unfortunate conjunction that Britain is undertaking expulsions of up to 100 such opponents to an uncertain fate on their return.
"The literal translation of Mugabe's programme is 'drive out the rubbish', and the U.K. cannot afford to be compromised by its own conduct in its justified criticisms of human rights abuse by Zimbabwe.
"The U.K. should also use its forthcoming Presidency of the European Union to strengthen sanctions to include Mugabe's business supporters and to consider a European sporting and cultural boycott."
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