Welcome to Newport Refugees

Dancing on the Beach

(Written on the occasion of the Newport Asylum seekers outing to Porthcawl

16th August 2006, organised and funded by the Catholic Newport Deanery Justice and Peace Group)

1.

Mind crashes;

automatically deletes

all it cant process;

consigns to recycling,

patiently

waiting for recovery-

in another time....perhaps........

Under duress

it is forced centre screen,

bold and blood red,

into the glare

of home office inquisition

for a decision

of a man in suit.

So to avoid

the transition,

transportation,

deportation

into experience of

sights,

sounds

too unthinkable to articulate,

words buffer in the brain.

Imagination dies.

Feebly

we present our case.

In unfamiliar language

we give our reasons why

we seek permission

to stay,

leave to remain,

not to go back.

And while we wait

We dance on the beach

2

We saw our Mothers shot.

after they’d witnessed

the gang rape by soldiers

of daughters who fled with their children

to a place

of healing

of leaving

 just the scars

 the bruises;

and in time,

learning to hope ........

to forget.....

perhaps.....

A dream too much?

Of the decision

 for permission

to stay in this place.?

So we wait with our nightmares.

Wait for the letter,

the call from the man in the suit,

the knock on the door

and while we wait we play

with

the children on the beach.

3

Five years since,

we escaped

from the bullet and bomb;

five years since

 we came

with our hope

to see our children grow.

One’s starting school,

another plays football,

he shows promise they say.

So we hope and we wait

for the letter, the knock on the door,

for the decision from the man in the suit

to give permission

to stay,

to settle

to live

to work.

to hope........

Today it arrived from the man in the suit.

‘Go back and return

the guns are now silent.

Go back to the ruins of the schools and the homes.

There’s no-one alive,

there’s no one to kill

so you’ll be alright.’

And I’ll be alright ‘ says the man in the suit,

for my figures will tally,

my targets be met.

I’ll have sent back my quota

And that’ll be that’

The tide of hope turns

In the shallows

the children paddle

play ball

build sandcastles.

Curled up on a rug,

Mother sleeps on the beach.

Mary Anstey

 

 

 

 

December '06 - raising money to support 'Asylum Justice'

Asylum Justice is a movement to give asylum seekers the access to justice and basic legal support that they deserve. A unique project is starting in Wales and the people of Newport are helping this Christmas to bring the benefits to their city. This Christmas, from 16th to 23rd December, NDRSG supporters will be wrapping books for charity at Waterstones in Commercial Street.  Click here for more.

Newport Refugees

> June '06 - Refugee Week

Watch this space for a full report to follow later.
In the meantime you can view a photo album of the after event party at 'Mojo's', Newport's premier exclusive night

spot in Market Street. 
To see photographs of the after-event party Click here

> Summer '05: New funds for community education and allotment projects

The group has recently been given a £650 grant by NIACE Dysgu Cymru to run a short community education as part of the Sign Up Now campaign. This grant will allow us to create a newsletter about English courses for asylum seekers and refugees in Newport and also run some taster sessions. Please click here for more.

We have also been given a £400 grant by the Wales Churches Fund to purchase a secure shed for our allotment and additional tools. Please click here for more.