Having found new evidence that she was personally at risk of persecution, J recently lodged a Fresh Claim. She had notification in January that her claim was received by the Home Office. She had heard nothing since.

It was therefore a tremendous shock when, on Sunday 9 September, J and her son N. aged nine, were suddenly seized by immigration officers and taken from their home in Swansea to Yarl's Wood detention centre. They are now due for removal this Thursday 13th September on flight KQ 0101 at 20.00 hours, to Nairobi, from where they will be sent on to Entebbe.

This decision has upset hundreds of people across South Wales who supported J's campaign in February 2007. J has suffered extreme mental and physical torture, has escaped army prison once, and this is why she ended up in UK, and claimed asylum.

J was never informed that her Fresh Claim was refused, yet those who detained her apparently informed her that her Fresh Claim was rejected in December 2006.

J's Acholi background (Acholi are an ethnic group from the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader in northern Uganda, perceived as supporters of the British colonization and rule of Uganda before independence) and her high-profile campaign to defend herself in the UK now place her in danger, should she be deported to Uganda. She is wrongly accused of 'political' opposition sympathies and risks imprisonment for up a year under Ugandan anti-terror laws. As a former victim of torture and rape by the army, J has no reason to feel safe in the hands of the authorities. We are concerned at the high risks of arbitrary arrest, illegal detention, torture and even death. N her young son would suffer greatly should his mother be detained in prison. We genuinely fear for the safety of both mother and child at Entebbe airport. We fear that J may simply 'disappear'.

One of the most popular members of the asylum and refugee community in South Wales, J has a kind and encouraging word for everyone. She helps everyone in whatever way she can, working with children on a voluntary basis, and making friends through language classes, church and sheer kind-hearted neighbourliness. All who know her recognise her enormous goodwill and her ability to contribute. Her young son is exceptionally gifted and doing brilliantly at school, and is very popular.

Both would be sorely missed in their community. Please do not allow the Home Office to deprive us of them.

J.A's Fresh Claim included evidence of her being personally at risk of persecution, should she be returned to Uganda. For some reason, she did not have a chance to present this fresh claim properly, and this seems most unfair. Instead she and her son have suddenly been detained and face removal. I do not believe that it would be safe to return this small family to any part of Uganda, since the authorities are looking for the mother. It seems those who detained her informed her that her Fresh Claim was rejected in December 2006. However, J was never informed of this.

Please do not allow the deportation of this small, innocent family.

What you can do to help:

1. Fax Liam Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP Secretary of State for the Home Office using the model fax /[removed]/ attached asking that the family are allowed to remain in the UK. You can copy, amend or write your own version - please quote the family's reference, Ms J. A and child N, Home Office Ref: [removed]

Fax: 020 7035 3262 (00 44 20 7035 3262 if you are faxing from outside UK)

2. Contact Kenya Airways and urge them not to carry out the forced removal of this family - you can use the model fax /[removed]/ attached. You can copy, amend or write your own version - please quote f Kenya Airways Flight KQ 0101 Thursday 13th September.

Please let the Campaign know of any faxes sent: email  jeninswan@hotmail.com

A Family Campaign
C/o Swansea Bay Asylum Seekers Support Group
The Retreat
2 Humphrey Street
Swansea
SA1 6BG

Inquiries/further information:
Keith Ross
 keithmalcolm@ntlworld.com

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
A Family Campaign