I thought there wasn’t much which could shock me anymore with regards to the UK asylum system, but what Immigration Phil Woolas has told the Guardian about lawyers and asylum-seekers charities did:

“Immigration minister Phil Woolas has attacked lawyers and charities working on behalf of asylum seekers, accusing them of undermining the law and “playing the system”. In an interview with the Guardian, Woolas described the legal professionals and NGO workers as “an industry”, and said most asylum seekers were not fleeing persecution but were economic migrants.”

Click here to read the full article

The article continues: “Woolas told the Guardian the “primary purpose” of immigration policy was to reassure the public that the government was in control of immigration. “

In my definition (and in wikipedias) ”policy” is a “deliberate plan of action to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome(s).” I find it disturbing that Phil Woolas sees “reassuring the public” as the most important rational outcome for his action.

Voice of America reports a government crackdown on activists, journalists and even artists.  Musicians have been arrested for singing out against a constitutional amendment that will allow President Paul Biya to seek reelection in 2011 - when he will have been in power for 26 years.  One of Cameroon’s best-known musicians, the award-winning Lapiro de Mbanga, is still in prison.  His fans say he is being persecuted for his hit song ‘Constipated Constitution’. 

More here: http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2008-11-14-voa27.cfm

This is just a quick one to say thank you very much for all of you who came to our campaign meeting on Monday. Great to see you all and decide on the next steps in this campaign. We’ve got some exciting things planned such as having a stall at Luminopolis next weekend to raise awareness for this campaign.

Our next meting will take place on MONDAY, 8 December

Where ? Institute of Education Bar, near Russel Square (opposite SOAS)

When ? 6.30 pm

Everyone welcome !

Here’s a message from her friends:

“Sometime ago Alliance applied to the European Court of Human Rights and they have stepped in to stop her removal! The solicitor has submitted a fresh claim and we are waiting for the Home Office to respond.
They reject alomost 99% of fresh claims - Let’s believe that she will be the one in a hundered.
If she is refused to pursue this in the courts would mean applying for Judicial Review through the high court however most of her funds have gone towards the fresh claim so we can not pay the solicitor to do it. IF YOU WISH TO DONATE towards funding a Judicial Review for Alliance you can do so at http://alliance.terryburton.co.uk“

Alliance Ngondiop, a Cameroon national and resident of Leicester,was ‘Captured’ when reporting to the Immigration service on Wednesday 3rd September and is currently detained in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on British Airways flight BA302 on Saturday 15th November @ 06:15 from Heathrow Airport London, to Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport, then Air France flight AF940 @ to Douala Cameroon.

A private solicitor is acting on Alliance’s behalf and has submitted a fresh claim However the Home Office reject almost 99% of fresh claims. If enough people put pressure on the right points of the removal chain we may be able to stop it again. If she is refused the only other option is to apply for Judicial Review through the solicitor today however most of her funds have gone towards the fresh claim so we can not pay the solicitor to do it. If you wish to donate towards funding a Judicial Review for Alliance you can do so at: http://alliance.terryburton.co.uk/donate.html

Please support Alliance in her fight to stay in the UK where she has community ties. She should not be forced back to her country to suffer more abuse, stigmatization, isolation, or threats to her life by an abusive family. There is no guarantee that the police in Cameroon will protect her from abuse, given the level of corruption that exists in the police force in that country today, which human rights reports have highlighted as a major problem in Cameroon. This will be the sixth attempt to remove Alliance.

Here’s what you can do to help:

1)Fax/Phone/Email, Willie Walsh, BA Chief Executive Officer, using the sample letter here, which you can copy/amend/write your own (please ensure inclusion of the details - due to be forcibly removed from the UK on British Airways flight BA302 on Saturday 15th November @ 06:15 from Heathrow Airport London, to Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport, then Air France flight AF940 @ to Douala Cameroon.
Fax: 020 8759 4314
Tel: 0844 493 0787

Email: willie.walsh@ba.com

2) Fax/Email Air France, Elise Biensan Press & Communications Manager, asking Air France not to return Alliance Ngondiop to Cameroon. Click here for a model letter that you can copy/amend/write your own version, if you do, please remember to include the following details: Alliance Ngondiop due to be forcibly removed from the UK on British Airways flight BA302 on Saturday 15th November @ 06:15 from Heathrow Airport London, to Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport, then Air France flight AF940 @ to Douala Cameroon.
Fax: 020 8584 4417

From outside the UK + 44 20 8584 4417

Email: elbiensan@airfrance.fr

This is just a quick update to say that we recently have received a number of letters from people who studied with Guy, people who had heard about the case and were outraged by the injustice and also the Islamic Human Rights Commission, who have all written to the Home Secretary on Guys behalf.

Thank you so much for all your support. It is really important.

If you would like to support Guy please write a new letter in support of Guy and send it to the Home Secretary.

If you have a few minutes please CLICK HERE to write your letter now.

Thanks so much ! Every letter makes a huge difference !

There’s yet another update on the legacy cases (that’s Guy’s case) on the Asylum and Immigration blog “Free Movement”. The post is entitled “Waiting for Godot”. Need I say more ?

Click here to read the update for yourself.

Our next meting will take place TODAY, MONDAY, 10 NOVEMBER

Where ? Institute of Education Bar, near Russel Square (opposite SOAS)

When ? 6.30 pm

We will be discussing the next steps of the campaign.

Everyone welcome !

“Free Movement” is a blog with commentary on immigration and asylum law.

Click here for the latest update on legacy cases (which is the one relevant to Guys case) on “Free Movement”.

Here’s some great news on the campaign to save Stephane:

“I’ve just received some very good news this morning from Stephane’s new solicitor. His flight on Monday has been cancelled. Not sure if it been because of the letter writing, contacting the MP or the fact that his solicitor has gone for Judicial Review. Anyway, however it’s been done, it’s fantastic news and thank you all who responded to the alert.”

For further updates on Stephane and the campaign please click here.