Don't Deport Therese-Laure Bikoukou!
Therese-Laure Bikoukou (Laure) is currently detained in Yarl's Wood
and faces removal. She fled Congo Brazzaville in 1999 because her
life was at risk.
Laure's family had been active members of the opposition group MCDDI.
Laure's life had been happy and comfortable until the events that
led to her flight from danger. Laure had 3 children of her own and
looked after her nephew, regarding him as her own child.
The government authorities were searching for Laure's 2 brothers
who were political activists. They came to Laure's home and shot
her nephew before her eyes. Then, taking Laure into custody to interrogate
her further about her brother's whereabouts, they subjected her
to the most brutal ill-treatment.
A guard eventually helped Laure to escape, then her family paid
an agent to arrange for her flight to the UK.
Since arriving in the UK, Laure has built a new life and until the
time of her detention was working and supporting herself; making
no claim on public funds.
She suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a specialist
medical report states that to return her to Brazzaville would have
a severely detrimental impact on her mental health.
Laure was not well served by her first legal representative who
initially omitted to inform her of an interview and later failed
to submit crucial medical reports as evidence in court. However,
when this issue was later raised by a second solicitor, the Home
Office responded that it was Laure's responsibility to ensure that
all evidence was presented!
Laure's friends are deeply concerned that her life will be at risk
if she is returned and ask the Secretary of State to look with compassion
on her case and allow her to stay.
What you can do to help:
Fax/write to the Home Secretary requesting that Laure is allowed
to stay. You can use the model
letter attached. Copy/amend/write your ownversion,
feel free to add your own comments.
You can fax David Blunkett on 020 7273 3965, or from outside the
UK on +4420 7273 3965
or write direct:
David Blunkett
Home Secretary
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London
SW1H 9AT
Please notify the campaign of any letters/faxes sent:
ncadc-north-east@ncadc.org.uk
For further information/details contact the campaign at:
Don't Deport Therese-Laure Bikoukou!
c/o NCADC
66 Dovecot Street
Stockton-on-Tees
TS18 1LL
Tel/Fax: 01642 679298
Source for this page: NCADC |
