No-Deportations - Residence Papers for All

                                                    News & Views - Monday 13th August to Sunday 19th August 2012

Urgent Christine Must Stay! Removal Monday 20th August

Christine Nakato Nankya is currently in detention at Yarl's Wood IRC. Due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Qatar Airways Flight QR006 to Doha on Monday 20th August 2012 at 15.05 hours for onward transit to Entebbe, Uganda on flight QR538.

Christine left Uganda in 2011, fleeing a campaign of sexual abuse, violence and intimidation at the hands of her family. Following the death of her father, her brothers, who are members of Uganda's Internal Security Organisation (ISO), began to dispute the ownership of land Christine's father had gifted to her. When they began to threaten to kill her, she decided that she was no longer safe for her in Uganda, and escaped to the UK.

Christine had begun to rebuild her life in Glasgow, with support from the Unity Women's Group, and counselling at Rape Crisis, when she was detained by the UK Border Agency and sent to Yarl's Wood IRC. Her health is now deteriorating fast, and she is suffering from depression and anxiety.

Christine claimed asylum almost immediately after arriving in the UK, and attended regular meetings at the Home Office on Brand Street. She did not use false documents nor did she attempt to work illegally whilst she was claiming asylum. People claiming asylum are expected to provide extensive documentary evidence from their home countries detailing their situation. Remarkably, Christine managed this; she has the land deeds, and letters from the Ugandan Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development which show that her father bought and then gifted her land after the birth of her son. However, the Home Office has dismissed this evidence as fake, on the grounds that 'the Ministry of Lands letter has as its address only 'P.O. Box 7096 when their website states that their address in Plot 13-15 Parliament Avenue P.O. Box 7096'.

To make matters worse, Christine has been denied legal representation and is the victim of a serious miscarriage of justice. Because of changes to Legal Aid in England, it's now incredibly difficult for people in Immigration Removal Centres to see a lawyer quickly. Because of a mix-up Christine has unable to access legal representation for several weeks whilst in Yarl's Wood detention centre.

Christine has done everything the UKBA ask of asylum seekers, and there is absolutely no reason to believe that she is not telling the truth about her ordeal in Uganda.

Christine has been in contact with community leaders in her hometown to try to gather more evidence of her ownership of the land, and the threat she faces from her brothers, but with removal directions of the 20th, she is now running out of time.

Christine urgently needs your help:

What you can do to help

(please let the campaign know of any actions taken, info@unitycentreglasgow.org)

1) Email/Fax, Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways. Urge him not to carry  Christine Nakato Nankya. Due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Qatar Airways Flight QR006 to Doha on Monday 20th August 2012 at 15.05 hours for onward transit to Entebbe, Uganda on flight QR538.

Download model letter ChristineNakatoNankyaQA.doc you can copy/amend/compose your own.

Put as much pressure on this airline as you can, to make them consider if it's worth the damage to their reputation to continue as one of UKBA's deportation airlines.

Fax: 0161 838 5398

Email: akbar@qatar.net.qa
tell-us@qatarairways.com.qa
loncustomerrelations@uk.qatarairways.com

2) Email/Fax Theresa May, Home Secretary
Ask her to exercise her discretionary powers to stay the removal and release Christine Nakato Nankya from detention and to grant her protection in the UK. Download model letter, ChristineNakatoNankya TM.doc or alternatively write your own one. Please remember to quote Christine's Home Office Reference number  N1172128 in any correspondence.

Fax: 020 7035 4745

Emails:
Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
pscorrespondence@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official" <CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk>

Source for this alert:
The UNITY Centre
30 Ibrox Street
Glasgow
G51 1AQ

0141 427 7992
<http://www.unitycentreglasgow.org>www.unitycentreglasgow.org
<mailto:info@unitycentreglasgow.org>info@unitycentreglasgow.org


Ediage Valerie Ekwedde - Removal Stayed Again
Just heard from his solicitor that a judge of the Upper Tribunal has found that Ediage should not be removed until there has been an opportunity for his renewed oral application for permission to be determined.

Many thanks, to all who responded to the alert.


Bernard Mboueyeu Back in Sheffield, Where he Belongs
Sheffield asylum-seeker Bernard Mboueyeu returned home to his wife on Friday after spending five weeks in detention pending deportation to Cameroon, as reported in the Guardian Northerner.

Mboueyeu, who fears persecution and jail if he is deported to Cameroon, was detained by the UK Border Agency on 10 July with a deportation flight booked for the 16 July. However, Mboueyeu's deportation was cancelled after he attempted suicide by drinking cleaning fluid the night before his flight.
Read more: The Northerner Blog, 13/08/12


Australia to Deport Boat Asylum seekers to Pacific Islands
Asylum seekers who try to arrive by boat in Australia will be deported to remote islands in the Pacific under tough new proposals to deter refugees from reaching the country by sea. In a significant U-turn for the ruling Labor party, Julia Gillard said her government had accepted the recommendations of a panel of experts to reopen processing camps on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.
Read more: Alison Rourke in Sydney, guardian.co.uk, 13/08/12


Commission on a Bill of Rights seeks further views from the public, posing a series of questions building on its 2011 Discussion Paper and on the views heard so far, about whether or not this country needs a UK Bill of Rights, and if so, what the form and content of any such Bill might be.
For more information click here . . . .


The Right to Help Each Other
The policy and discourse of human rights is mired in the dialectic of rights versus responsibilities. But this limited mode of thinking overlooks the synthesising power of one of our most important and uncodified freedoms: the right to cooperate.

Amongst all the rights defined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights there is no mention of our freedom to help each other. Nor has it been characterised as a human right since. Why not? The answer is simple: we have taken it for granted.
Posted on July 27, 2012 by Garden Court Chambers

Second Attempt to Removee Freda Nsumba

Removal Wednesday 15th August

Freda Nsumba a national of Uganda. Is currently detained in Yarl's Wood IRC and is due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Qatar Airways Flight QR12 to Doha on Wednesday 15th August 2012 at 15.05 hours for onward transit to Entebbe, Uganda.

(Background @ end of post)

What you can do to help

(please let the campaign know of any actions taken,
info@unitycentreglasgow.org)

1) Email/Fax, Akbar Al Baker CEO Qatar Airways. Urge him not to carry  Freda Nsumba. Due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Qatar Airways Flight QR12 to Doha on Wednesday 15th August 2012 at 15.05 hours for onward transit to Entebbe, Uganda.

Download model letter FredaNsumbaQA.doc or you can copy/amend/compose your own.

Put as much pressure on this airline as you can, to make them consider if it's worth the damage to their reputation to continue as one of UKBA's deportation airlines.

Fax: 0161 838 5398

Email: akbar@qatar.net.qa

2) Email/Fax Theresa May, Home Secretary
Ask her to exercise her discretionary powers to stay the removal and release Freda Nsumba from detention and to grant her protection in the UK. Download model letter, FredaNsumbaTM.doc or alternatively write your own one. Please remember to quote Freda's Home Office Reference number N1129180/2 in any correspondence.

Fax: 020 7035 4745

Emails:
Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
pscorrespondence@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official" <CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk>

Source for this alert:
The UNITY Centre
30 Ibrox Street
Glasgow
G51 1AQ

0141 427 7992
www.unitycentreglasgow.org
info@unitycentreglasgow.org

The UNITY Centre is run entirely by volunteers and funded completely by donations from our supporters. We need your help! If you would like to help by making a donation or by volunteering you can find more details on our website. Thank you! UNITY!

Freda came to the UK in 2007, leaving Uganda because of her sexuality. Homosexuality is criminalised in Uganda and violent homophobia is endemic in the country. Legislation to punish "repeat offenders" of consensual same-sex relations with the death penalty has been re-introduced to parliament, and harassment of LGBT people is widespread. The Home Office Country of Origin Information Report states that "In recent years, the harassment of Uganda's LGBT community has increased, including the arrests of members of the LGBT community … The proposed [Anti-Homosexuality] bill would likely lead to intensified violence and harassment toward anyone thought to be homosexual … many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons have been expelled, sacked from jobs and sent away from families. Many do not receive appropriate and necessary healthcare services for fear of revealing their sexual orientation, identity or preferences …Transgender individuals and lesbians have been subjected to 'curative' rape and the perpetrators in most of the cases recorded come from the victims' immediate families" Freda herself has suffered beatings and torture in Uganda due to her sexuality, and her family disowned her when they discovered she was gay.

Freda did not realise that she could claim asylum in the UK on the grounds of her sexuality, however, she found safety in London were she studied Health and Social Care at London College of Management Studies. When she graduated in 2010, she felt she could not return to Uganda safely. During this time, Freda had also met Annie* who she has been with for over a year. Even though Freda has been living Annie during this time, and despite showing evidence of her sexuality, and of the threat of persecution she faces should she be returned to Uganda, the Home Office refuse to accept her claim and have fast-tracked her claim for asylum. Even when Annie testified in court confirming their relationship, the judge dismissed her story.

Moreover, this week Freda has received a letter from the local representative of her local community in Uganda. Freda had contacted them asking for protection should she be returned, however, the letter gives evidence that Freda is at great risk and states that her sexuality will not be tolerated by the local people. It suggests that she is not welcome back in Uganda. Relocation within Uganda would not protect her, as homophobia is so widespread in Uganda. Freda has shown this letter to the Home Office but they appear to have ignored this evidence as well. Freda has now been issued with imminent removal directions.

Freda believes that she has not been given a fair trial and that her claim for asylum ha not been properly considered. Freda went to the Home Office in Croydon on the 25th June 2012 to claim asylum and was immediately detained and fast-tracked. The Home Office guards and staff did not explain to her what was happening and she was extremely frightened. She was not given any food to eat, was driven around for hours and eventually detained at Yarl's Wood at 2:00am on the 26th June. Since being detained, Freda's mental health condition has deteriorated sharply. She is anxious and now on anti-depressants to cope with stress.

Freda feels very isolated and scared. She really values the kindness which has been shown to her, and if you want to send a message of support, please send it to Unity and we will forward it to her. It would really make a difference and make her feel like she's not in this alone.


Removal has been Stayed Pending Further Legal Action

Third Attempt to Remove Ediage Valerie Ekwedde
Please can you help campaign against the removal of Ediage Valerie Ekwedde. Currently detained in Colnbrook IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Virgin Atlantic flight VS657 from Heathrow T3 @ 22:45 Tuesday 14th August 2012 to Accra for onward transport to Cameroon.

Valerie is a gay man who has been in no doubt about his sexual orientation since the time of his school days, when he was expelled for this very reason. He tried since then to hide his sexual identity but made the mistake of drinking too much at his birthday party in a bar in Yaounde, which resulted in a public embrace between him and his partner. They were attacked by an angry crowd and taken to the police station.

Full background here . . . .

What You Can Do To Help:

1) Please fax/phone/email, Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic and ask him not to carry Ediage Valerie Ekwedde on  Virgin Atlantic flight VS657 from Heathrow T3 @ 22:45 Tuesday 14th August to Accra for onward transport to Cameroon. Download model letter <EdiageValerieEkweddeVA.doc>.

Richard Branson
Virgin Atlantic Customer Relations
PO Box 747 Dunstable LU6 9AH
Head Office: 0844 811 0000
Fax: 0844 209 8708
customer.services@fly.virgin.com

2. Please fax/Email, Secretary of State for the Home Office, Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP. Ask her to exercise her discretionary powers to stop the flight, and release Ediage Valerie Ekwedde from detention and grant him protection in the UK. You can download model letter <EdiageValerieEkweddeTM.doc> or alternatively write your own one. Please remember to quote Ediage's Home Office Reference number in any correspondence: E1097317

Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office,
2 Marsham St
London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 7035 4745

Emails:
pscorrespondence@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Please let the campaign know of any actions:
no-deportations@no-deportations.org.uk

dgvalery@yahoo.co.uk


 

 

 

It's Never Over Until the plane Takes Off - Freda Nsumba, Still Here!
Freda had been taken to the airport and put on the plane yesterday. She even went so far as fastening her seat belt as the plane started to taxi to the runway before her lawyer phoned and told her that the injunction stopping her flight had gone through.

Thank you to everyone who helped stop her flight!

Unity!


Third Detainee Threatens To Jump From Detention Centre Rooftop
Nigerian man is brought down safely after seven hour protest against his immigration case and the length of time spent at Morton Hall in Lincolnshire. He is the third detainee in less than three weeks to protest about his prolonged detention at Morton Hall detention centre in Swinderby, Lincolnshire. He climbed the nine-meter high Fry building at 8:15 am Tuesday 14 August, and threatened to jump off the roof.
Read more: <>The Northerner Blog, 13/08/12


Are Kenya Airways, refusing to fly with UKBA escorts?
Unconfirmed reports are saying that Kenya Airways have refused to allow UKBA escorts accompanying detainees to board their flights, resulting in Removal Directions being cancelled.

If you are in contact with anyone who has been refused embarkation on any Kenya Airways flight because of accompanying UKBA escorts, please get back with details, SAP.

ARC: COI for LGBT Asylum Claims from Jamaica
ARC's new publication on Jamaica commissioned by UNHCR for its project 'Country-of-origin information to support the adjudication of asylum claims from
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex ('LGBTI') asylum-seekers' is now available on our website here . . . . :


Rally Against The Evictions of Refugees

Red Road
33 Petershill Drive
Glasgow

Friday 17 August
6.00 – 7.00pm (Assembling from 5.30)

In spite of the condemnation and protest of the Scottish Parliament, Glasgow City Council, the Church of Scotland, the Catholic Church and other religious bodies, the STUC, Glasgow Trades Council and numerous trade union bodies and community and campaigning organisations, the eviction, enforced homelessness and absolute destitution of some 50 or more refused refugees is going ahead. Many of them have received notices to quit from Ypeople and the Sheriff's Officers by 17 August. Further legal action may now take place to enact the evictions. This, days after the Crown Office has decided it is "not in the public interest" to hold a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of the Serykh family.

Join the protest called by Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees at the Red Road flats on Friday teatime. Bring banners, placards, friends and workmates. The campaign against this shameful abuse of vulnerable refugees from the world's most dangerous countries continues and will go on to challenge the government, UKBA and their new landlords, Serco and their agents, Orchard and Shipman.

Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees
Contacts: Margaret – 07870 286 632   /   Jock – 07896 877 315
From: Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees <glascamref@gmail.com>


Report on an unannounced short follow-up inspection of Dover IRC

Inspection by HMCIP, 3/5 April 2012, report compiled June 2012, published Wednesday 15th August 2012

"The two key areas that still needed to be addressed were the poor quality of information provided by UKBA to detainees and the lack of adequate support to help detainees prepare for release or removal." Nick Hardwick HMCIP

Dover IRC Contractor - HM Prison Service

Safety: At the last inspection in 2010, we judged that outcomes for detainees against this healthy establishment test were reasonably good. We made 45 previous recommendations of which 20 had been achieved, 10 partially achieved and 15 had not been achieved. We have made four further recommendations.

Respect: At the last inspection in 2010, we judged that outcomes for detainees against this healthy establishment test were reasonably good. We made 42 recommendations in this area, of which 19 had been achieved, 13 partially achieved and 10 had not been achieved. We have made two further recommendations.

Preparation for release: At the last inspection in 2010, we judged that outcomes for detainees against this healthy establishment test were not sufficiently good. We made 20 recommendations in this area, of which one had been achieved, two partially achieved and 17 had not been achieved. We have made three further recommendations.

Inspectors were concerned to find that:

- the high number of movements of detainees at night continued to be disruptive;

- there was a high level of strip searching and poor governance of it;

- the quality of information provided by immigration staff to detainees about their cases had not improved and remained inadequate;

- detainees were locked up for too long and experienced too many restrictions on their freedom of movement;

- welfare support remained inadequate despite attempts being made to improve it;

- detainees did not receive sufficient practical help prior to discharge.

- most of the living accommodation was still cramped and did not provide sufficient privacy

- Visiting arrangements were poor

Introduction from the report
Dover has operated as an immigration removal centre (IRC) since 2002, receiving a number of fairly positive inspection reports over that period. At our previous inspection in 2010, we reported that the centre provided a reasonably safe environment. During this short follow-up inspection, we found that considerable efforts had been made to carry out improvements and we identified progress in some key areas.

Improvements had been made to the treatment of detainees on reception and induction, but the high number of movements of detainees at night continued to be disruptive. The level of self-harming behaviour remained low and there was little evidence of bullying. We had concerns about the high level of strip-searching and poor governance.

The quality of information provided by immigration staff to detainees who were worried about their cases had not improved and remained inadequate. We were told that age dispute cases no longer arose at the centre, and that age assessments were no longer carried out as a result. This was not a credible position given that age disputes can arise at any time and should be assessed by children's professionals.

Some refurbishment of the residential areas had been carried out since the previous inspection but most of the living accommodation was still cramped and did not provide sufficient privacy. Apart from the quite intrusive physical security, we did not see evidence of the prison-like culture, which we had noted previously.

Relationships between staff and detainees were good and the support provided to minority groups had improved. A wider range of health services was now available and safer practices had been introduced to dispense medication. Better support was also available to detainees with drug problems and this now extended to detainees with alcohol problems.

There had been a modest increase in the number and range of education classes since the previous inspection and detainees had more access to the library. Restrictions which had previously delayed detainees starting work had been lifted, but a significant proportion of detainees were still not permitted to work because they failed to cooperate with the UK Border Agency (UKBA). Internet access and the facility to send emails had been introduced since the previous inspection and this made it much easier for detainees to maintain contact with their family and friends. However, detainees were locked up for too long and experienced too many restrictions on their freedom of movement.

Attempts were being made to improve welfare support but this remained inadequate. Visiting arrangements were poor and detainees did not receive sufficient practical help prior to discharge.

Dover IRC remained a reasonably safe place for detainees and we saw incremental improvements in the physical environment, the facilities and the culture in the centre. The two key areas that still needed to be addressed were the poor quality of information provided by UKBA to detainees and the lack of adequate support to help detainees prepare for release or removal.

Nick Hardwick

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons


 

 

Last updated 20 September, 2012