Activists target G4S over rights abuses

The demonstration was called jointly by anti-deportation, Palestine solidarity and anti-workfare groups as well as the Iraqi Refugee Council.

As part of the demonstration campaigners also published an alternative annual report detailing what they say is the company's abuse of basic rights in Britain and Palestine. 

In particular the report highlighted the firm's role in the deportation and detention of asylum-seekers and refugees and its role in the Israeli prison system.

The firm lost its contract to deport failed asylum-seekers from Britain last September after 773 complaints of abuse were made against the company and following the death of Jimmy Mubenga, an Angolan asylum-seeker who died after being "restrained" by G4S staff. 

The firm also holds contracts to provide equipment to the Israeli prisons in which Palestinian political prisoners, including child prisoners, are illegally held.

More than 1,600 Palestinian political prisoners recently held a mass hunger strike and several remain on hunger strike.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Sarah Colborne told the Star: "It is shameful that while this AGM is taking place, G4S is providing essential services to Israel's prisons, where Palestinians are still hunger striking for their basic human rights.

"Mahmoud Sarsak, a footballer who plays for the Palestinian national team, is on his 81st day of hunger strike - detained by Israel for almost three years without charge or trial.

"Over 40 per cent of Palestinian men in the West Bank have been imprisoned by Israel - and G4S is facilitating this."

G4S already runs a number of prisons, probation services and detention centres, is involved in the government's controversial Workfare scheme and has recently been awarded contracts to provide security to the Olympics.

Anti-poverty charity War on Want campaigns and policy director Ruth Tanner, who joined the protest, said: "As the official security provider for the Olympics, G4S fails to uphold the Games values of fair play and respect through its complicity in Israeli human rights abuses. If the company really wishes to represent these values, G4S must stop helping the Israeli authorities violate Palestinian rights."

paddym@peoples-press.com