Here's the Guardian article I was referring to:
>GUARDIAN (London) Thursday May 27, 1999
>
>Indian farmers on protest tour refused entry to UK
>
>John Vidal
>
>More than 70 Indian peasant farmers and social activists claim to have been
>refused entry to Britain to demonstrate about the unfairness of the global
>trading system, despite being allowed into other European countries and
>having the backing of Labour MPs, MEPs, human rights and anti-racist
>organisations.
>
>Only 37 farmers out of some 120 due to come to Britain as part of
>Intercontinental Caravan, a month-long tour of west and east Europe by more
>than 500 people from developing countries, have been given visas.
>
>They arrive today on a converted bus and will spend three days holding
>public meetings, visiting the HQs of large companies and the Bank of
>England.
>
>But yesterday the foreign office denied allegations that it was supressing
>free speech or that it was acting politically, claiming that many of the
>farmers had applied too late or not at all.
>
>The farmers' version of events differs greatly from the government's. They
>claim that they had been treated "like untouchables" when they applied at
>the high commission in Madras.
>
>"We were told to bring more and more documents, including our land deeds
>and titles, then our bank details. We all had letters from host
>organisations guaranteeing our conduct in Britain," said one farmer, who is
>now in Holland.
>
>"When we protested, the embassy called the police and 19 of us were
>arrested. All we want to do is tell the British what is happening to the
>poorest in India. They still have the colonial mindset in Madras."
>
>It was a similar story in Amsterdam, they said. Having been told to apply
>again when they arrived in Europe they were told yesterday to provide more
>papers and that "only three or four" applications could be processed. By
>late yesterday none had been granted.
>
>Most of the delegation are thought to be members of the Karnataka state
>farmers' organisation, based in Bangalore. Claiming membership of up to 10
>million peasant farmers in the state, the leaders, who also have the
>backing of the Gandhi organisation, have long protested in a peaceful way
>against multinational companies and the international trading system.
>
>Yesterday the foreign office said that the farmers had been treated like
>everyone else. "They were asked to make applications and to submit evidence
>to show who was funding their trip. Some refused and staged a
>demonstration. We tried to explain what was required," said a spokesman.
>
>But Labour MEP Stan Newens said, "I will be very sorry if this group who
>want to raise important global issues cannot come."
>
David Wood
PhD Student ('The Rural Peace Dividend')
Department of Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
0191 222 5305
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