Write a comment
A group of Newry City Community Associations held a Demonstration of Solidarity with the people of Ukraine at Newry Town Hall. Over 100 people turned out to the event which saw speakers talk on the current state of play in the War in Ukraine.
Colin Hanna, Chair of Barcroft Community Association and Vice Chair of Newry Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership introduced the speakers
"We’re all here today as gesture of solidarity with the people of the Ukraine, a sovereign democracy which is in the process of being destroyed by what can only be described as a predatory, gangster state."
"I’m representing a group of community associations based across Newry City Centre who have come together very at short notice to see what they can do as a co-ordinated response to the situation in the Ukraine – I need to pay tribute to the hard-working community volunteers who have already swung into action, these are the same people who always step up to the mark; working quietly, not seeking recognition or reward, as they always have done.
"Over the coming weeks and months our local community associations as well as other volunteer groups will be organising all sorts of appeals and events aimed at helping with the day to day needs of the displaced, as well as those who are trapped within combat zones, the women, children and the elderly who, as is always the case with conflicts, endure the worst of the suffering."
The Speakers
Speakers included Joanna Mazur, Polish Family Communities Group; Jacinta Curran, Chairperson of Chernobyl Aid Newry; Sarah Henry, Director of Immigration Services at Granite Immigration Law in Newry and Oksana McMahon, native of Kyiv and former Vice Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Joanna Mazur is heavily involved in the relief effort by the local Polish community which is helping to make a real difference on the ground, especially at the border crossings from the Ukraine to Poland.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction
Mazur said "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Our Grandparents did not pass it on to us in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on to the next generation to do the same. Freedom is the sure possesion of those alone who have the courage to defend it. Today Ukraine is fighting for its freedom and although they are fighting alone on Ukrainian soil they are not alone we are here for them."
Jacinta Curran has been working since 1997 in asylums, orphanages and the communities in the country worst affected by the Chernobyl disaster, it has been delivering aid, care and support for those whom the Belarusian government do not care for at all. They are hoping to use their experience to help and support the Ukrainian refugees as well as the people still living in Ukraine.
Curran explained "It's all to do with helping Ukraine to stand up against invasion and against tyranny." She along with two others are flying out on Tuesday with money collected in Newry which will be spent at the Ukraine border on items that are much needed by those fleeing the country.
Sarah Henry has practiced in immigration law for over twelve years in Dublin, Belfast and Newry providing advice to organisations and individuals on a wide range of immigration matters. Sarah has been actively involved in the campaign to have the UK government waive the visa restrictions which have effectively prevented any significant numbers of Ukrainian refugees being allowed into the UK.
Henry contrasted the UK approach of just approving 1300 visas (as of Saturday) to Ireland's approach. "On the 25th February the Irish government announced that it would lift visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens offering them entry to Ireland with a number of options for residency. Swift action was deemed necessary and now people who enter through Dublin Airport are immediately supported – housing, finances, medical card, a phone, consular support etc." she said.
The Granite Immigration Law Director added "And here we are – discussing numbers, security, the definition of a family member, the common travel area !!! – this does not reflect the will of the people here who have been lining up here to offer housing, cash, medical support – but the numbers aren’t here – the numbers are embarrassingly low. And I just want to point out – businesses here and I won’t name them as they have contacted me privately - are already helping families – they have been housed, accommodated, provided for but the fear is – what do they do around their immigration status – landlords ask are we doing the right thing? Can we contact GPs? What about the children who are presenting with obvious trauma?
"This week British government introduced further concessions for Ukrainians. People with family members in the UK can apply online for a visa and a ‘humanitarian route’ is to be established however that route is the same thing as the sponsorship route where organisations / people can ‘sponsor’ someone to come here."
Government Failure
While welcoming the easing of some restrictions Henry said that we cannot forget the absolute chaos, that continues as a result of the government’s failure to act swiftly." People fleeing their lives were quite literally passed from pillar to post. They queued for days to attend visa centres to provide their biometrics to later discover the centre is closed, they were refused for not having their documents translated, families were separated, no signposting existed, people travelled for miles to find processing centres that had not yet been set up. The list goes on but the mere concept of applying for a visa as an asylum seeker fleeing imminent danger is quite frankly, unfathomable. I know of children now separated from their father their only parent, who has to stay in the Ukraine who have been trying to get to UK family members for weeks now. Hopefully people experience relief as the rules relax.
"Why did this government choose this time to introduce a bespoke visa scheme for refugees who needed urgent safe passage and protection? Immigration should not have been the main topic of debate. People fleeing the Ukraine should not have needed legal advice before they entered the UK. Lawyers should not have needed to scramble and dedicate hours, days, weeks of their time to try and unravel this mess."
What we witnessed over the last few weeks flies in the face of humanitarian protection laws, international law and the Refugee Convention.
Henry said "it is clear the plan to operate a visa scheme was not working and is under review. But it was a deliberate decision to take this approach which may be seen as an example or ‘test’ roll out of the governments’ ‘New Immigration Plan’ the themes of which have been bandied about since before Brexit.
"The common thread of this plan is soon to become law. That law if passed will criminalise asylum seekers who have not entered the UK through a government designated route. And asylum seekers who did not apply for asylum in the first safe country they travelled through, will be deemed illegal and their case, inadmissible. How many Ukrainians passed through safe countries these last two weeks? How many have met with the UK’s hostile immigration policy before they even get here? So unless you are plucked at random from a refugee camp, or wait at home in your war torn country to get a visa – it will be pretty difficult to get refugee status.
"So when you hear the Nationality and Borders Bill being debated – take note. Remember this moment and how worse it will be if this bill becomes law. "
'We cannot forget those who are already forgotten'
Henry spoke about schemes that have been promised and have come to nought. She said "And while we should be proud of how we as a community have responded, how we have opened our hearts, and our homes to the people of the Ukraine, we cannot forget those who are already forgotten. The scheme promised to Afghan people fleeing the Taliban hasn’t even commenced here. I take calls from families in Kabul asking if there has been any word from the Home Office since they asked about protection last year. Persecution continues in Afghanistan, in Somalia, in Yemen, in Palestine and in Syria. There are people who for years have been desperately waiting to join their family here – mothers and fathers separated from their children, siblings, elderly parents who don’t have a chance to seek the support from their family living here.
"So yes, let’s make sure we do all we can to welcome families from the Ukraine who need our support and our hospitality but let’s hold this government to account as it continues to operate a hostile environment for the majority of migrants living here and if allowed will move forward to introduce a cruel and inhumane piece of legislation.
She concluded "Let’s use this moment to stand in solidarity with the people of the Ukraine and with all those who flee persecution. Let us stand together and let it be known that Refugees are Welcome here."
Oksana McMahon has lived in the Newry area for over 20 years, she is a former Councillor and Deputy Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. She is also a restorative justice practitioner and mediator with Community Restorative Justice Newry/Armagh based in Ballybot House. Oksana has taken a prominent role in challenging the untruths and misinformation emanating from Russia since Putin’s invasion of her country.
Speaking about her country McMahon said "As most of you would know, in the early hours of the 24th February, the Russian Federation launched an attack on Ukraine. This totally unprovoked aggression, changed the lives…forever, of everyone in my country and beyond. This was an attack on our democracy… freedom… and the right to self-determination on our culture and our people.
"Russian president Putin declared that my country was, and I quote, a ‘mistake created by the Bolsheviks and Lenin after the revolution in 1917’. This uneducated statement disregarded more than 1000 years of history of Ukraine. In his delusional mind, Ukraine became the epitome of what Russia is not. Our people are free, we have democracy and have the will to build our own future, without Russia, who still believe Ukraine is a part of the USSR."
Humanitarian Crisis
McMahon believes the events unfolding are a glogal catastrophe "What is happening right now in Ukraine is a global catastrophe, and is having immediate and real implications for the rest of the world. We are witnessing the biggest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War."
She continued "So far, more than 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes, to leave their lives and everything they hold dear, including family, behind. The majority of those fleeing are women and children, including my own mother who is thankfully here today, that were lucky enough to cross borders into neighbouring European countries, to seek refuge from brutal bombardment and indiscriminate killings.
"I would like to, on behalf of all my people, express immense gratitude to the people of Poland, our closest neighbours and our other bordering countries like Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova that welcomed our people with open arms, inducing my own best friend and her twin boys…providing needed shelter, food and moral support. We will never forget your kindness. "
Speaking of the local response McMahon said "And of course, the response from people here, who took our tragedy so close to their own hearts and provided so much humanitarian aid to Ukraine. I have visited many donation centres and the generosity shown by everyone, has been truly humbling. I have even had people text me to offer their homes for those fleeing. We are overwhelmed with all your support and all I can say is… thank you.
She added "Ukrainian people are proud and strong and will never give in to Putin’s demands. We will fight! And we will prevail!
"But in saying that, we need your continued and valued support and we want highlight the atrocities committed every day with indiscriminate bombardment of schools, kindergartens, maternity hospitals, just to name a few. The most disgusting thing of all, and most barbaric is the blatant murder of civilians trying to flee areas that have been captured by Russian troops after safe passage was agreed and then disregarded. Let me assure you and anyone else that needs to hear, all these atrocities are being recorded, for future trials and prosecution for these war crimes.
"The implication of Russian actions would be severe for the whole European continent as it also involves a nuclear threat. Not only by Putin threatening the whole world with nuclear war, but also the shelling and constant attacks on our nuclear power stations. Russian troops have continued to try to destabilise them, which as you will remember through the devastating aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, these horrific Russian actions could be even more devastating for us all. The minister of foreign affairs reported that the Chernobyl power plant has been de-energised and the only power leading the plant has been damaged. The minister pleaded with the international community to urge Russia to cease fire and allow repairs to regain power supply. This is why Ukraine is calling on NATO, every day, to introduce a no fly zone over at least these nuclear stations. Nuclear war doesn’t discriminate by country, and at this moment in time we are on the precipice of disaster."
We will not be subdued
She continued "Possibly the greatest tragedy of all, is our innocent children being traumatised and murdered by this madness. There isn’t an exact number of children victims of this war so far, but we think it’s over 50 killed and countless injured. This is as a direct result of someone else’s ambitions to subdue our nation. We will not be subdued and we will not give up. For the sake of our future, for the sake of our children, we will fight to the end.
"They will not break our spirit, we are fighting for our land and our right to exist. I would like to commend, all the brave volunteers who are risking their lives and those who have lost their lives trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine and across Europe."
Concluding McMahon added "I am so proud of our brave military and our territorial defence volunteers, standing in the face of the enemy…an enemy with one of the biggest army’s in the world…an enemy who has waged this violent and indiscriminate WAR on our country…an enemy that will not win the spirits of our people, and they should remember that. No matter how much they try, they will never break us! We will prevail and Ukraine will survive! Glory to Ukraine, slava Ukraini!!!"
Thanks
Closing the event Colin Hanna thanked his Barcroft community association colleague Ewan Morgan for his help in organising the event, Sean McKevitt and the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership, Padrig Harte for the PA system, local councillors, the PSNI, and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for the use of the City Hall.
The event ended with a minute’s silence for the victims of the conflict.
