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Stop
the Deportation of Darlain Junior Tchoua |
Stop the Deportation of Darlain
Junior Tchoua
 "My
name is Darlain Junior Tchoua. I am 20 years old. I came to England
from Cameroon three years ago. My application for asylum was turned down
in January 2004 and I am now under threat of deportation. I am terrified
about returning to my home country because I believe that I will not survive."
My Reasons for Claiming Asylum
After the death of my Uncle, who was the chief of my
ancestral village in Cameroon, I was chosen to replace him. I was fifteen
years old. I didn't agree because I wanted to carry on with my education
and did not want to lead the very traditional life demanded of the village chief. I
am also a Christian and would not have been able to practice my faith if I had
agreed. I was kept prisoner in the village, which is a long way from the
city where I lived, for six months and regularly beaten because I refused to
accept the role. My father was called and the village elders warned him
that I would be killed if I continued to refuse. I was taken back to the
city and my brother took me to the police station to try to get them to help
me. However, they agreed with my father and told me I had to accept the
position. I was held in the police station for about a week where I was
severely beaten and tortured. Eventually my brother bribed the police so
they would release me. He helped me escape from Cameroon with an English
missionary.
My life has been made much more difficult because over
the last five years I have gradually been losing my sight and now I only have
about ten percent of my vision. I do not know the reason for this, and
am waiting for an appointment with a doctor at Manchester Eye Hospital, where
they carried out some tests in March 2004. If I am forced to return to
Cameroon I doubt that I will receive any medical attention for my condition. In
the UK, however, I am able to work and study and will be able to lead an independent
and worthwhile life.
My Life in England
Since I have been in the UK I have been able to continue
my education and am currently on an access course in order to begin a degree
in law. I have worked hard to improve my English language skills, completed
courses in IT and Braille reading, and will take my maths GCSE this year.
I am very motivated to participate in British culture.
It is important to contribute to making a better society so I am working as a
volunteer with young blind people in Manchester with Action for Blind People.
In March 2004 I was asked to represent the charity at an event at the Houses
of Parliament to promote understanding of the experiences of young blind people. In
January 2004 I helped the charity Sport Belief when I appeared on television
and local radio to demonstrate that blind people can also be involved in sports.
When my English has improved I intend to become a volunteer
with the Citizens Advise Bureau and I have already undergone the initial assessment. I
really enjoy helping other people and have been actively involved in the Save
the Children Young Separated Refugees Project where I organise activities and
parties for vulnerable young people. I am a Christian and attend church
every week.
Foot ball crazy, football mad
I love playing football and in November 2003 I was assessed
by a Football Association coach and was recruited to the national England team
for partially sighted players. This was a great experience for me as I
met people from all over the country during the football matches. Unfortunately
I would not have been able to travel to matches abroad as I have no travel documents
because of my asylum status. I greatly enjoy getting other people involved
in the sport and was able to get my level one certificate in football coaching. I
am also an enthusiastic member of the British Blind Sport Association.
My Legal Status
I claimed asylum in this country as soon as I arrived
but I was not given an interview at the Home Office. I went to the Appeals
court in December 2003 but my asylum application was rejected. I have had
many problems with the asylum process mainly because I was not given an interpreter
to help me explain my situation when I gave my evidence to the solicitor and
when I gave evidence in court. Although I speak fairly good English I find
it difficult to express myself under stressful conditions. I was
advised by my solicitor not to apply for a tribunal hearing so now I am afraid
that I will be deported. If this happens it would be better to just take
my body home. There is no life for me in Cameroon.
 Cameroon
Country Information
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Country profile
of Cameroon (21/01/04) states that Cameroon's human rights record is "poor" and
a Home Office fact-finding mission to Cameroon in 2004 reported that "allegations
have been made that some failed asylum seekers that have been forced to return
to Cameroon have since disappeared"
Blindness in Cameroon
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent report that "many people cannot afford basic treatment, and that doctors
charge the consultancy fee but then ask for more to supplement their income" and
that "only about 10-15 percent of the population can afford to pay the price
for treatment". It is unlikely that Darlain with be able to receive any
treatment for his blindness in Cameroon. Additionally in a country where
those with disabilities are often stigmatised it is doubtful that he will be
given any opportunities to work or study - for someone who is so committed and
motivated this will be a tragedy.
Campaigning Ideas from the Darlain Must Stay
Campaign
What you can do to Help:
1) Friends and supporters of Darlain Junior
Tchoua have set up a campaign to persuade Des Browne, the Minister for Immigration,
on the strength of Darlain's links to the community and the community's links
to him, that he should be allowed to remain in the UK on compassionate grounds.
The campaign has drawn up a model letter and petition ,
which they are asking everyone to print off and fill in, and get as many other
people as possible to do the same, and return them to the campaign office. When
they have collected enough signatures, the campaign will ask Darlain's local MP to
present them to the Minister for Immigration.
2. Distribute attached model letter and petition darlain
petition.doc Model
letter.doc
3. Invite Darlain to speak at a local event
Darlain Must Stay Campaign
- c/o City Centre Project
52 Oldham Street, Manchester
M4 1LE
Tel: 0161 228 7655
darlainmuststay@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks for making a difference !
Source for this page:
Darlain Must Stay Campaign |
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