Daon Paul Kehi must stay!
       
     Daon came to the UK in November 2002 after fleeing the Ivory Coast where he had been a newspaper editor. He left behind his wife and 6 children and has not had contact with them since.

    Daon had angered the Government by publishing articles which spoke out against the regime. A group of Ivorian exiles founded the Union Socialiste Du Peuple (USP) in 1996 in England and he later published articles about the mass killings that the Government had been responsible for in the 2000 elections. This incensed the Interior Minister and shortly afterwards Daon's home and family were attacked.

     His life was clearly at risk because of his relationship with the former President General Guei who had been killed by the regime.

    On one occasion when he was attacked under the orders of the Minister of Security, Daon lost all his teeth because the soldiers beat him so hard.

    However, he continued to travel as a journalist and in September 2001 he visited Paris and London - again risking his life. That October, he was imprisoned and tortured, and only released on condition that he stopped writing anti-Government articles. His home was again raided.

    In May 2002, Daon attended a conference in London. At that time, the political unrest on the Ivory Coast was so bad that his family went into hiding. When he returned in August, he was detained and tortured by the military. On this occasion, a guard smuggled him out and he went into hiding until , realising how dangerous it had become for him to remain in the Ivory Coast, he fled to the UK in October and claimed asylum.

    Daon's application and appeal have been refused. When he first arrived and made a statement, the translator made a number of mistakes that had a significant bearing on his evidence. At one point, Daon had stated that his wife and children had been 'menaced'; but this was translated as 'killed' - one of a number of discrepancies that later undermined his credibility.

    The United Nations Security Council issued a report in January 2003 confirming evidence produced by Amnesty International of mass executions by the Government. The same report confirms that the press and media are subjected to controls - a factor that would directly impact on Daon as a journalist and perpetuate the government focus on him and the threat to his safety.

    Daon has now settled in Stockton-on-Tees where he has a supportive network of friends.

   Daon must be allowed to remain in the UK where he will safe.

What you can do to help:
    A campaign to keep Daon in the UK has been set up, the campaign are asking you to write/fax to Beverley Hughes, Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Community Cohesion, you can use the model letter attached copy/amend/write your own.
Beverley Hughes fax: 020 7273 2043 from outside the UK + 44 20 7273 2043

or write direct to:

Beverley Hughes
Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Community Cohesion
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London
SW1H 9AT

Please send a copy of anything sent to the campaign.

The campaign have prepared model letters and petitions which they are asking people to sign and circulate to get as many signatures as possible.

Copies can be obtained from:

Daon Paul Kehi Must Stay Campaign
c/o NCADC
66 Dovecot Street
Stockton-on-Tees
TS18 1LL

Enquiries/further information;
Kath Sainsbury
01642 679298
ncadc-north-east@ncadc.org.uk