Rome, September 23, 2008

The case of Annociate Nimpagaritse: let us stop her deportation from the United Kingdom, because the woman meets the requirements for obtaining political asylum

Annociate Nimpagaritse, from Sheffield is being held in Dungavel IRC and is due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Thursday 25th
September on Kenya Airways flight KQ101 from Heathrow @ 20:00hrs to Nairobi and KQ470 onwards to Bujumbura, Burundi.

We are also sending this appeal for the attention of: the Home Office, the Minister of Immigration Mr. Liam Byrne, the European Commission, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Amnesty International and other human rights organizations

Dear British Ambassador in Rome,

the decision to deport Annonciate to Burundi is a grave mistake and the United Kingdom, by refusing to grant her political asylum, would be stained by a shameful verdict that would be hard to erase.
Each and every one of us can contribute to stopping an injustice. Let us remember that 65 years ago, again on September 25th , Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Kappler, the SS commander stationed in Rome, received the order from Berlin to proceed with the roundup in the Jewish Ghetto of Rome.

Let us make sure this September 25th is not an anniversary of yet another violation of human rights!
EveryOne Group is aware that in 2006 a truce was established between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi. However not everyone knows (due to the international press showing little interest in the political situation in African countries) that in April 2008 the hostilities and massacres have started up again, as can seen in the article attached. In any case, even if the sides were to reach a new truce, we have to take into account that the political situation in Burundi is very unstable and the periods of quiet short-lived. If Annonciate were to be sent back to her country, her life would be in danger and the United Kingdom would be committing an abuse towards a refugee who has a right to political asylum.

It is important that the United Kingdom, well-known for its attention to human rights, does not make this mistake; that it places itself in Europe and in the world as an example of a civilized nation, far from the xenophobia that afflicts our times and which, unfortunately, Italy is in the grips of.
EveryOne Group stresses that in April 2008 the conflicts in Bujumbura, in the African country flared up again, with dozens of victims, and the Tutsi woman’s life would be in danger if she were to be deported to her homeland.

We are sure you will listen to the cry for justice rising from people in your country and will not allow the fight against immigration to become an instrument of repression against innocent people who have taken refuge in the United Kingdom in order to survive.

Thank you for your attention and the sensibility you decide to show towards this case.
Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro, Dario Picciau – EveryOne Group
Contact:

EveryOne Group

Tel: (+ 39) 334 3449180- (+ 39) 331 3585406 - (+ 39) 334 8429527


www.everyonegroup.com ::  info@everyonegroup.com

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Burundi rebels shell capital
BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI
Apr 23 2008 15:50

Burundian rebels fired a dozen shells at the capital, Bujumbura, overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, hitting the residence of the Vatican's ambassador, an army spokesperson said.

The attack by the National Liberation Forces (FNL) -- the third in less than a week -- came the day after the Burundian military bombed rebel strongholds north of the capital.

There was no immediate casualty count from the overnight shelling, but at least 33 people have died since the FNL began an offensive on April 15.

"The FNL fired around a dozen shells for three hours up to midnight on Tuesday evening from the hills overlooking Bujumbura .... we don't yet have a toll for this new attack," said army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Adolphe Manirakiza.

"One of the shells fell on the building of the nunciature [the office of the Holy See's envoy to Burundi], but there were no casualties, although the building was damaged," an anonymous Western diplomat in the capital said.

"The nuncio has already returned to his residence above the mission," the source added.

According to military sources, the nunciature was hit by a Katyusha rocket. The FNL rebels were uncontactable on Wednesday morning.

Heavy gunfire and loud explosions were heard across the city during the night.

On Tuesday, a military plane from the Burundi air force was seen by witnesses bombing rebel hideouts in the Rukoko marshes, about 20km north of the capital. That was in return for an FNL attack on Monday on the town of Gihanga, which left six rebels and a soldier dead.

"Both parties promised the international community on Monday to cease their hostilities ... they have not kept their word whilst the fighting seems to have hardened since then," said the same diplomat, saying he was "disappointed".

The rebels accuse the government of sabotaging a ceasefire, while several sources agree that the real death toll in the past week has been far higher than the 33 officially announced.

On Sunday, the United Nations postponed a planned peace mission to Burundi in the wake of the clashes, although it gave no official reason for the delay.

The high-level mission was due to have been led by Norway's ambassador to the UN, Johan Lovald, but will now go at a later, unspecified date.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon last week denounced the new violence, calling for an immediate end to the fighting and for both sides to resume dialogue and conclude the peace process.

In September 2006, three years after a civil war that claimed 300 000 lives, the FNL signed a second peace deal with newly elected authorities, but it has yet to be implemented.

The Central African country is still emerging, with difficulty, from the conflict that began in 1993, mainly pitting rebels from the Hutu majority population against the Tutsi minority, which then dominated the army.

A power-sharing government was formed in 2001, while clashes were still taking place. South Africa mediated among the different sides until almost all the rebel groups agreed to a ceasefire. -- Sapa-AFP


Contact:

EveryOne Group

Tel: (+ 39) 334 3449180- (+ 39) 331 3585406 - (+ 39) 334 8429527

www.everyonegroup.com ::  info@everyonegroup.com

...........

Rome, September 23, 2008

Annociate Belongs in Sheffield / Second attempt to remove



Annociate Nimpagaritse from Sheffield is being held in Dungavel IRC and is due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Thursday 25th September on Kenya Airways flight KQ101 from Heathrow @ 20:00hrs to Nairobi and KQ470 onwards to Bujumbura, Burundi.

A previous attempt to deport Annociate to Burundi on 5th March failed as she was refused entry into Burundi by the authorities there and brought back to the UK.

Annociate is from the minority Tutsi ethnic group and was born in Bujumbura, the capital city. She says that various family members were killed by Hutus in 1993. Annociate says that in 2004 a number of armed men, who she believes to have been from the FNL (Forces nationals de liberation), a Hutu rebel group, shot and killed her parents at the family home. Annociate says that she and her siblings managed to escape from the house and fled to a refugee camp but she became separated from them and does not know their whereabouts. Annociate fled to the UK in 2005.

Annociate has been part of life in Sheffield as a member of St Marie's Cathedral Church, and the choir, Ephaphatha. She suffers from post traumatic stress after her experiences in Burundi, but has slowly been recovering with support from her counsellor and friends. She has gradually been able to get involved in the charity ASSIST, helping
destitute asylum seekers in Sheffield.

Please take urgent action now to help us get Annociate back to Sheffield where she belongs.

Background: There is a brand new on-line petition at  http://www.petitiononline.com/25092008/petition.html
Battle to halt charity worker's deportation
 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Battle-to-halt-charity-worker39s.4504174.jp
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszin98/Annociate.html

What you can do to Help:

1. Email/Fax/Phone Sam Okwulehie, Group Area Manager Kenya Airways asking him not to carry Annociate. Point out that The UK Home Office says it is up to the carrier, whether they carry deportees! You can use model letter AnnociateAirline.doc which you can copy/amend, or write your own. Include following details; Annociate Nimpagaritse is due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Wednesday 25th September on Kenya Airways flight KQ101 from Heathrow @ 20:00hrs to Nairobi and KQ470 onwards to Bujumbura, Burundi.

Let Kenya Airways know that it is not acceptable to call themselves 'the pride of Africa' and participate in the removal of people seeking sanctuary within the UK or anywhere in the world.
Fax: 020 8745 5027 - from outside the UK + 44 20 8745 5027

2. Fax the Rt Hon Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration asking that Annociate is allowed to stay in the UK. You can use the attached Model letter "AnnociateMinister.doc" which you can copy/amend, or write own version (in which case, please remember to include Annociate Nimpagaritse's Home Office ref. no. N1111367)

Fax: 020 8760 3132(00 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK)
Email:  Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Please notify the campaign of any faxes sent:
Friends of Annociate Nimpagaritse
Myra Davis /  mwd2020@talktalk.net
Graham Wroe /  gswroe@yahoo.co.uk / 077 5247 3190

Source for this Message:
Friends of Annociate Nimpagaritse

Contact:
EveryOne Group

Tel: (+ 39) 334 3449180- (+ 39) 331 3585406 - (+ 39) 334 8429527

www.everyonegroup.com ::  info@everyonegroup.com