Pauline Must Stay
Pauline Necua Ndombele fled war torn Angola in March 1996 with her
two sons, then aged three and eight. Her husband had gone into hiding
three years earlier soon after the birth of their younger son, and
she has not seen or heard from him since. Indeed she does not even
know whether he is still alive.
Pauline and her children were sheltered by the pastor of her husband's
church for the next three years, until he was able to help them make
their escape to England. She asked for asylum as soon as she arrived
in England, because she fears for her own and her children's safety
if she is made to return to Angola. Her request for asylum was turned
down in August 1996. Although the civil war which has raged for many
years is officially over and elections have been held, in fact the
fighting continues and in Pauline's province, she hears that there
are killings every day. Recent television programmes have shown us
the ravages caused by land mines in Angola. Most of the victims are
innocent women and children. Her children are pupils at Newfield Primary
School in the London Borough of Brent, where they are flourishing.
'Jimmy' is in Year 5, 'Romaric' is in the nursery. She is appealing
against the Home Office decision and hopes that she will be granted
leave to stay, that her children will be allowed to grow up in safety
in this country, and that she too can make a new life for herself
here. Britain claims a reputation for tolerance and for giving asylum
to those fleeing persecution. Her appeal hearing is in November 1997.
Please help us build support for her and her children so that they
can win that appeal and stay here with us, their friends. Sponsored
by the Brent Teachers' Association (National Union of Teachers).
Please collect signatures for our petition and return it to the school
and let us know if we can add your name or that of your organisation
to the list of sponsors of our campaign from: Sarah Cox (Nursery Teacher),
Pete Murtlew (Headteacher) Claire de Casparis (Chair of Governors)
Newfield School.
If you want to write to the Home Secretary to support Pauline's appeal,
her Hom. Office Reference no is: N213066, her file i: being dealt
with by The Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Asylum Directorate
Team 9, Module 5, Home Office, Luna House, Wellesley Rd, Croydon CR9
2BY '
Pauline Must Stay' Campaigr
c/o Newfield Primary School Longstone Avenue London NW 10
Lloyd Bent Must
Stay Campaign
Lloyd sues for damages after alleged assault at Rochester Prison
The case of Lloyd Bent, a Jamaican citizen imprisoned in Winson
Green, Birmingham, under Britain's harsh immigration laws, received
national publicity after he took part in a three week long hunger
strike along with fifteen other detainees.
With his health deteriorating, Lloyd ended his protest after three
weeks, but Lloyd feels that his action has helped publicise the
continuing scandal of detentions and deportations.
Lloyd's hunger strike was to protest at his continued detention
in poor conditions in a high security prison. Yet this is only the
latest example of Lloyd's appaling treatment since he was detained,
originally at Rochester prison in February 1997.
Lloyd has now been granted legal aid to commence proceedings for
damages for assault and battery after an alleged incident that took
place at Rochester Prison on the day he was being transferred to
Winson Green Prison in, Birmingham
Martin Powell-Davies, from the Lloyd Bent Must Stay Campaign, explains:
"The Prison Service have got some serious questions to answer.
It is bad enough that Lloyd and hundreds of others being investigated
under immigration laws are being detained at all. If
Lloyd's allegations are typical of what is happening to these detainees
then this is an absolute scandal that the Government must investigate
immediately".
Marcia Bent, Lloyd's wife, says, "All I want is for Lloyd to
be reunited with me and our family. The Home Office are trying to
discredit my husband saying Lloyd would "abscond" if he
was released! Where to exactly? All he wants to do is to come home.
It is the Home Office and prison authorities that really have the
questions to answer. I want justice for my husband and action taken
against the officers responsible for the cowardly assault on my
husband".
For more information, contact:
Lloyd Bent Must Stay Campaign, clo NUT Office, Town Hall, Catford,
SE6 4RU. ho: 0181 690-1320 Fax: 0181 690 -7925 |
