Stay the Deportation of Abdul Kasirye

Urgent cyber action required

Kent Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers (KCDAS) are asking for your help to stay the deportation of Abdul Kasirye

Abdu Kasirye fled Uganda four years ago, he is a wanted member of the opposition National Freedom Party in Uganda . Mr Kasirye has been subjected to imprisonment and torture on three occasions . His name has been printed in newspapers on a government list as recently as last week . If deported Abdu will probably face further torture and threats to his life. The Home Office is seeking to deport Abdu to Uganda on 31st of March, it is essential that we stop this deportation

While in Uganda, Abdu was the driver of the leader of an opposition party; Amani Ssemuji of the National Freedom party. Opposition parties are not tolerated in Uganda. A recent current affairs program, screened in February on the BBC called Hard Talk, gave a clear picture of the situation in Uganda, a prominent peace activist called Regan Okumu described a situation that is out of control: in the last few months six hundred and twenty people have been killed and two thousand eight hundred civilians have been abducted. As well as this over one million people have been displaced in the governments fighting with rebels. According to Mr Okumu a standard practice is for government forces to arrive in a village and demand everyone leave within forty eight hours, if they do not then they are accused of being rebels and treated accordingly, i.e. shot or imprisoned. This is a little of the background to the violence currently being perpetrated by the government and combined with the fact that Abdu is being actively sought by the government means that he has a very legitimate fear of persecution if he is returned.

The new evidence regarding Abdu being on a wanted list should provide Abdu with the grounds for new appeal, at the moment he is awaiting for this to be sent to him and his solicitor from Uganda. Unless we can get Abdu some more time this vital new evidence will never be heard.

What KCDAS are asking you to do: Beverley Hughes MP, Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Community Cohesion has the power to stay the removal until the new evidence is heard. Below is a model letter, which you can copy amend or write your own and fax to:

Beverly Hughes at the Home Office

Fax: 020 7273 2043 from outside the UK + 44 20 7273 2043

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Beverly Hughes

Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Community Cohesion
Home Office
Queen Annes Gate
London, SW1H 9AT

Dear Mrs Hughes,
                            Re: Abdul Kasirye, Home Office Reference: k502101 Port Reference: CEU/3649/97

I have been made aware that Mr Abdul Kasirye is to be deported to Uganda on 31st of March 2003. I am writing to ask you to reconsider the decision to deport Mr Kasirye while he is awaiting crucial evidence pertaining to his asylum application. Mr Kasirye is now being held at the Dover Removals centre.

This new evidence will prove that Mr Kasirye is on a Ugandan government wanted list, for belonging to the opposition party the National Freedom Party. Mr Kasirye is in real fear for his life at the prospect of being deported having already been imprisoned by government forces on three separate occasions and subjected to beatings.

While in Uganda Abdu was the driver of the leader of the opposition, Amani Ssemuji of the National Freedom party. Opposition parties are not tolerated in Uganda. A recent current affairs program, screened in February on the BBC called Hard Talk, gave a clear picture of the situation in Uganda, a prominent peace activist called Regan Okumu described a situation that is out of control: in the last few months six hundred and twenty people have been killed and two thousand eight hundred civilians have been abducted. As well as this over one million people have been displaced in the governments fighting with rebels.

According to Mr Okumu a standard practice is for government forces to arrive in a village and demand everyone leave within forty eight hours, if they do not then they are accused of being rebels and treated accordingly, i.e. shot or imprisoned. This is a little of the background to the violence currently being perpetrated by the government and combined with the fact that Abdu is being actively sought by the government means that he has a very legitimate fear of persecution if he is returned.

This new evidence ought to provide Abdu with the possibility of a new appeal. At this moment he is waiting for it to be sent to him and to his solicitor from Uganda. As the deportation date is now so close I feel that it is now vital to get the removal notice suspended until the new evidence can reach his solicitors and a new appeal be launched.

Since Abdu's life may depend on this crucial new information I would hope that you would suspend removal directions until this new evidence can be brought before an appeal.

Yours Sincerely,

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If you have time email a copy of anything sent to KCDAS:

Kent Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers (KCDAS)
Tom McGowan
01304 201131

Source for this page:     Kent Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers (KCDAS)

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