Keretiguy Kone Must Stay

      Keretiguy Kone is an asylum seeker from the Ivory Coast in West Africa. He was a student activist with the Federation Estudantine et Scholaire de Cote d'Ivoire (FESCI). The aims of FESCI were to defend the rights of students. He joined FESCI in January 1991 while he was in his final year of university and participated in five marches while a member, in addition to attending four meetings a month. At this time FESCI were protesting the governments decision to restrict the amount of students allowed to take their Baccalaureate. Keretiguy was himself, not allowed to take it. 

      When FESCI organised a march in July 1991 the government sent in the army to suppress the marchers and Keretiguy saw people being beaten with sticks and arrested. Keretiguy and his friend Bamba left quickly to avoid being arrested. Keretiguy did not go to school the next day as he was afraid he would be picked up there. His fears proved to have foundation as he discovered his friend Bamba had been arrested at school that day. Keretiguy, who had been living with his uncle in Williamsville, left the town and went back to his parent's house in Bouake. He later discovered that the police had come to his uncle's house looking for him.

      Keretiguy's father felt it was not safe for him to stay in the country so he helped him to get a plane ticket and travel documents to Morocco. He left the Ivory Coast in August 1991. However, Keretiguy did not apply for asylum in Morocco as he feared he would be returned to the Ivory Coast. He decided to move to a country he felt would be more sympathetic to his asylum application and was able to get documents and fare to travel to the UK which he did in August 1994. He claimed asylum here but was refused.

     Since he has been in the UK Keretiguy was able to obtain a work permit and worked in the hotel and catering industry. He also studied catering and IT which he paid for himself. His asylum claim was refused in April 1996 and soon after this he moved address. His solicitor lodged an appeal which was heard without Keretiguy being present as the home office were not informed of his change of address. This appeal was refused. In June of this year he was arrested and detained and is now facing deportation. Prior to being detained he lived in Leytonstone in East London.
Keretiguy has lived in the UK for almost ten years and has worked for most of that time, paying taxes and supporting his studies.

     He has a girlfriend here and has made a life for himself despite the discrimination he faced in the Ivory Coast.

What you can do to help
           Fax/write to the Home Secretary David Blunkett, using the model letter 'Attached', which you can copy/amend/write your own.
Fax no: 020 7273 3965 from outside the UK + 44 20 7273 3965

Or write to:

David Blunkett
Home Secretary
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT

Please take time to send a copy of anything sent to:
Keretiguy Kone Must Stay Campaign
c/o NCADC
Cambridge House
131 Camberwell Road
London SE5 0HF
Enquiries/further information:
Allison Bennett
Phone: 020 7701 5197
ncadc-london@ncadc.org.uk

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