SOCIALIST UNITY

Ayodeji Omotade has been charged with threatening/disorderly behaviour towards British Airways (BA) crew, as a result of intervening in the violent deportation of a fellow Nigerian. Despite widespread public and international protest the case against Mr Omotade is going ahead on Thursday 18 September.

Supporters of Mr Omotade have already held a peaceful protest at British Airways ’s Lagos headquarters, and held discussions with British Airways  Executives in Nigeria, they have written to BA shareholders here London and lobbied the BA shareholders’ AGM. Indeed, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and some ministers of his government have intervened with British Airways, but have also been rebuffed. There is now an internatioonal campaign by Nigerians to boycott British Airways.

The facts of the case are that Mr Omotade is being punished for his humane response to someone in distress, when he objected to a forced deportation of a passenger to Nigeria, as the Independent reports:

“The man, who was thought to be about 30, was being held down in his seat by four or five police officers as the other passengers filed on board, and was crying out in broken English that he was afraid he would die if he were sent back to Nigeria. The officers took him off the plane, then returned and arrested Ayodeji Omotade, one of the passengers who had complained about his treatment. When others on board protested noisily about Mr Omotade’s detention, the captain ordered them all off the flight. The only person who eventually flew economy class on flight BA0075 was the unidentified deportee who did not want to go.” (The Independent, 21 April 2008)

Campaigners say that humane objections like Mr Omotade’s are not uncommon, and many lives have been saved by passengers intervening in removals where women, children and men are being forced back, sometimes with extreme violence, to rape, other torture and even death. Other airlines – including Virgin Nigeria – have refused to carry unwilling deportees, and those who fear for their lives.

The prosecution by BA seems malicious and may be designed to deter others from showing the same humanity as Mr Omotade. It is also hard to avoid the conclusion that BA’s prosecution is informed by racism. Remember British Airways refused to carry every single passenger on the flight, except the victim of forced deportation. It is hard to believe that BA would have treated a planeload of white Americans in the same way.

If opposing violence is a crime, we are all on trial
Support Mr Ayodeji Omotade! Peaceful protest at BRITISH AIRWAYS PLC,
Waterside (HAA3) Harmondsworth UB7 0GB

12 noon, WEDNESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER, 2008
TRIAL at UXBRIDGE MAGISTRATES COURT

Harefield Rd Uxbridge UB8 1PQ

10am, THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER

Mr Omotade asks: “What would you do if someone on your flight was distressed and crying out for help? Would you stay silent or would you speak? I spoke and BA didn’t like it. This type of corporate tyranny must be challenged and stopped.”

All African Women’s Group and Women of Colour in the Global Women’s Strike are calling for support for Mr Ayodeji Omotade by attending both events. Please circulate our information as widely as you can. We hope to see you on Wednesday and Thursday – we must be present to defend Mr Omotade – otherwise none of us is safe.

More details: Respect Nigerians Coalition: http://www.respectnigerians.com/BoycottBA.pdf  www.respectnigerians.com  and www.nigeriavillagesquare.com

All African Women’s Group: centre@crossroadswomen.net

Women of Colour, GWS: womenofcolour@allwomencount.net  Tel: 020 7482 2496