Albino Jose Must Stay!

Albino came to the UK from Angola in June 2003. He had been born and brought up in the Londana area until he was 14 when his father got a job with the Governor of the Cabinda region and the family moved.

Albino was an only child and his parents were able to save enough money to send him to Namibia to complete his education. He returned home in 2001, but was unable to find work, so he began to do voluntary work, teaching English to some members of FLEC (Frente De Libertacao Do Enclave De Cabinda), an opposition group seeking independence for Cabinda.

Albino's father was an active member of FLEC and Albino remembers that he often attended meetings, although he never spoke about his involvement, or his membership of FAC: the army of FLEC, because he didn't want to worry his son.

Albino's father encountered prejudice at work because he came from Cabinda, and in February 2003 he told Albino's mother that the authorities suspected him of being a member of FLEC FAC. Albino's mother begged her husband to take the family to a safe area, but he was confident that he could convince the authorities that he was not involved.

One day, when Albino was teaching in a hut on the outskirts of the town, armed police arrived and arrested everybody. They were taken to an empty house where they were beaten and abused. Eventually, Albino was released, but he never saw his pupils again, and believes they were killed.

Soon after this incident, Albino's parents were arrested, but were released the next day. In May 2003 police came to the family home and Albino watched his parents being arrested while he hid in the roof space. When it was safe to leave the house, Albino made his way to the home of his father's friend Antonio in Luanda.

Local people were suspicious and hostile towards people from Cabinda, and Albino's presence made the situation unsafe for Antonio and his family. Antonio wanted to help Albino because his father was such a good man, so he arranged for him to travel to the UK in June 2003.

When he arrived, Albino had no idea how to claim asylum, and this caused him to be denied support until he was able to appeal against the decision.

At his hearing, the adjudicator found that Albino lacked credibility because not all details had been presented at interview, yet it is this very naivety and trust in the actions of others that reinforces the sincerity of his story.

An assessment in October 2003 reports that the Cabinda enclave remains unstable, despite efforts to bring peace.

Albino has made a new life in Stockton-on-Tees where he has friends and supporters. He knows that if he is returned to Angola he will face detention and torture.

What you can do to help:
Please write or fax a letter of support to the Home Secretary requesting that Albino is allowed to stay and quoting his Home Office reference number: J1086023. You can use the model letter. Copy/amend/write your own version, feel free to add your own comments.

You can fax David Blunkett on: 020 7273 3965, or from outside the UK +44 20 7273 3965
or write direct:

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

For further details/information contact the campaign at:
Albino Jose must stay!
c/o NCADC
66 Dovecot Street
Stockton-on-Tees
TS18 1LL
Tel/fax: 01642 679298

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