Action group “Getting the Voice Out” says inmates at Caricole transit centre in Steenokkerzeel (Flemish Brabant) have launched a series of protests following several incidents involving what they say was police violence. The group claims detainees are refusing to eat, are not taking part in activities and are giving a hand of applause to fellow inmates. People without the necessary legal documents to stay in Belgium are detained at Caricole.
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No evidence of protest at Caricole transit centre says immigration department
Colin Clapson
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What the detainees call “the heavy-handed treatment” of a detainee, who refused to cooperate in her removal, triggered the protest. According to activists at “Getting the Voice Out” police officers cuffed the woman’s hands and feet. In response she then started shouting: “After this attempt at removal the woman returned to the centre with a broken hand and holes in her shoes”.
Police say the woman threatened officers, but the detainees reject this explanation.
According to “Getting the Voice Out” it’s not only police violence that is an issue. The inmates are not receiving legal and medical support either. Illnesses are doing the rounds, but the inmates rarely see a doctor. The centre is equipped with nursing staff but the detainees claim that’s not sufficient.
There are more complaints: lawyers are quickly allotted to inmates, but it's argued that the lawyers don’t have sufficient time to provide adequate support. “Lawyers say they don’t have the time to organise appeals and refuse to initiate the procedure. They are only there to complete formalities” notes “Getting the Voice Out”.
The Belgian immigration department has responded to the allegations made by “Getting The Voice Out”. It says its officials conducted two rounds of checks at the centre and noticed nothing of the protests. It says the complaints cited by action group “Getting The Voice Out” including violence and poor medical assistance are unfounded.
It claims the incident that triggered the protest was “somewhat exaggerated". “According to the medical report, there is no question of a broken hand" says immigration spokesperson Paulien Blondeel. "The woman in question has meanwhile been deported to her country of origin."
Belgium boasts six closed removal centres: the Caricole transit centre and the 127bis repatriation centre at Steenokkerzeel near Brussels Airport as well as centres in Bruges, Holsbeek, Merksplas and Vottem.