[removed] a national of Cameroon and resident of Manchester, is currently detained in Colnbrook IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Kenya Airways flight KQ101 on Thursday at 19:00.



This will be the second attempt to remove [r], a previous attempt in November 2008 failed after vigorous campaigning.

[r] sought asylum in UK on 9/5/05. His asylum claim was based on his political problems in his country Cameroon. He was involved in the Social Democratic Front political party in Cameroon, and prior to seeking asylum in UK, he suffered persecution and detention in his country because of his political views and associations with SDF. Home Office rejected his claim for asylum and deemed him to have exhausted his case in November 2005. Due to medical issues, he later asked Home Office Reporting Centre if he could refrain from reporting - Home Office had acknowledged this request by letter. On 11/12/09, Yves was arrested and taken to detention for the second time in 12 months.

Home Office on 20/11/08 issued a letter stating their reasons for refusing to grant asylum. Home Office also claim that his political activities in UK as SDF and CDC regional co-ordinator / activist and also in Cameroon do not put him at risk of being targeted by the authorities on return to Cameroon. Immigration authorities in UK also dismiss evidence provided by CDC UK-based leadership, saying it is neither objective nor impartial, and as such cannot be relied on as credible evidence in this case. However a judge previously stated they accept that Yves had been arrested and detained and escaped as claimed in his account about his problems in Cameroon forcing him to flee. Yet Home Office dismiss his claim saying that it is not accepted that being in "attendance at a demonstration in this country does not give rise to a reasonable fear of persecution" on return to Cameroon.

Despite the constitution and laws of Cameroon prohibiting the practice of torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments, according to US Department of State Human Rights Report 2008 (published 25/2/09) however, "there were credible reports that security forces tortured, beat, and otherwise abused prisoners and detainees, including demonstrators and a human rights worker arrested during the February riots. The government rarely investigated or punished any of the officials involved."

[r] has submitted new evidences to show he has been an active registered member of SDF, and that he has been actively political for CDC group in UK . [r] has medical issues stemming from his experiences of being detained and abused in Cameroon, and also from the stress endured to date through the UK asylum system. He has been here for more than 4years now - he has tried to keep himself busy and active in his local community in Manchester area where he is known to various action groups. He was also involved in organising publicity for demonstrations against deportations to Cameroon, the most recent one being 4th September 09. He is terrified of being returned to Cameroon where he suffered torture and detention due to his political associations and activities.

Please urge Home Secretary Alan Johnson MP to cancel the planned removal and to release Yves immediately so he can be back in his local community where he belongs. After his contributions to UK migrant and host community, as well as his political activities here and in Cameroon, time spent here, good character and medical issues - it is time for UKBA to consider granting Yves the right to settle here under the legacy status programme rather than condemning him to the great risk of being persecuted in Cameroon.