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'Friends of Christine Bibwireyesu' |
Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds? - Not for Christine
Bibwireyesu
To: NCADC and their supporters From: Action for Social Integration
(ASI) and Angolan Advice and Information Centre 'Friends of Christine Bibwireyesu' Christine Bibwireyesu has no other relatives in Rwanda. The Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) murdered her parents in 1996 when they were forced to return to Rwanda due to the invasion of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by Rwanda Patriotic Front. They were accused of having supported financially the Movement Revolutionnaire National pour le Development (MRND), the national party of late President Habyarimana (e.g. former regime). Many Hutus were killed when returning from Democratic Republic of Congo in 1996. Christine Bibwireyesu was tortured and raped by the soldiers from Rwanda Patriotic Front. Because of being a Hutu, she was raped by Tutsi as revenge for the Tutsi raped by Hutu Interahamwe. She fled Rwanda after having refused to testify against an innocent neighbour for his involvement in Rwanda genocide. She was also supposed to testify to the traditional courts known as Gacaca and after to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Arusha, Tanzania. During her asylum application process, she did not have copies of her appeal to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, statement of evidence (SEF) and all interviews records. Because Christine did not have the above documents, it is clear that she was unable to prepare adequately for her appeals. Furthermore, she does not speak English. But the judge felt that preparations were not necessary because they could have not changed the situation. She went to defend her case in courts without legal representation. Her legal representative and interpreters were appointed and paid by the Home Office. They were only present at the substantive interview with an immigration officer. Her friend had to pay £150 per hour for a solicitor to lodge an appeal for reconsideration. She appealed once and did not have money to pay solicitors to lodge further appeals. The judge was satisfied that there was someone who helped her to understand the content of the reasons for refusals and court decisions. In fact Christine Bibwireyesu had to go around in the detention centre asking her colleagues who can speak French, Kinyarwanda or Kirundi so that they can explain the content of the reasons of refusals and court decisions to her. Her colleagues have no experience and education backgrounds in law, but the judge assumes that this is ok. The judge assumes that Christine understands everything to be able to defend her case at the court. Unfortunately many arguments that she presented at the court were not considered as shown in the court decisions. Christine was just kept in the dark during the whole process of her asylum application under the fast track system. She couldn't think how to respond. She did not have time and contacts to look for evidence to support her case. Documents of refusals, court decisions and other instructions were passed on to her at nights. For example she was asked sign a document to confirm her identity so that the Home Office can contact the Rwandan Embassy to make arrangements for an emergency travel document. This was explained to her after she had finished signing. She has even no copy of the document that she signed. Christine has repeatedly said to the Centre's Doctor that she is sick. But no substantive treatment has been provided for her. We think that Christine is being used as a test to verify how the new fast track system works. Christine has no idea about how the UK looks like since she came. The Home Office are now preparing travel documents for Christine and as soon as this is done it is more than likely that they will book her onto a flight to take her back to Rwanda. I don't know what I can ask you to do to help Christine other than petitioning the Minister for Immigration, but help we need to help Christine, please get back to me with any other suggestions. Hilda Muzangwa, What you can do to Help: Download Model letter: Christine_Bibwireyesu.doc Download the Campaign Leaflet: Christine.pdf 'Friends of Christine Bibwireyesu' Angolan Advice and Information Centre Action for Social Integration (ASI) aims to advance social and
cultural integration practices, policies and strategies for disadvantaged
people from refugees and minority ethnic communities from all ethnic
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