Elizabeth still needs our help

NCADC

 

 

"Once she was on the plane, Elizabeth was still cuffed with her hands behind her back, and her head forced forward in the seat" - a friend describes how Elizabeth claims she was treated during an attempt to remover her last week.


Stop British Airways Deporting Elizabeth!
Picket of British Airways Travel Shop
Saturday 10th June 2006 - 12,00 noon
British Airways Travel Shop
41/43 Deansgate
Manchester M3


Elizabeth is a Ugandan lesbian who has been living in Manchester. Elizabeth was detained for 5 months in Uganda, during which time she was repeatedly raped, whipped and beaten. She eventually managed to escape, and fled to the UK in 2004. No medical evidence was submitted by her previous solicitor in her asylum appeal, which was refused.


Elizabeth has been on 24-hour suicide watch at Yarl's Wood Removal Centre where she is being detained.


Last Friday 2nd June 2006, Elizabeth was taken by force to an aircraft to be deported to Uganda, despite the Immigration Service knowing that a psychiatrist is due to visit Elizabeth on the 8th June.


Elizabeth says she was assaulted by the immigration "escorts" on the plane.


She has now been served with new removal directions to Uganda with British Airways this Sunday 11th June 2006.


"He became very angry, grabbed her hands and put a second pair of handcuffs on her"

Beth Aze, co-ordinator of the Elizabeth Must Stay Campaign visited Elizabeth in Yarl's Wood on Sunday. Beth reports on how Elizabeth describes the attempted deportation on Friday :


"She was put on the plane, after a torrent of verbal threats on the way to the airport. Once she was on the plane, she was still cuffed with her hands behind her back, and her head forced forward in the seat. She complained but they refused to remove them, so she tried to wriggle into a more comfortable position. As she did this one of her hands came out of the cuffs. The male Officer became very angry and grabbed her hands to put a second pair of cuffs on her. Elizabeth was in two pairs of very tight hand cuffs and the airline stewards asked for her to be removed from the flight.


"When I saw her in Yarl's Wood she showed me bruises and swelling on both arms, and a large swollen bruise on her right leg. She was also still experiencing limited movement in both her thumbs, one of which was causing her pain, the other of which had no sensation. When I hugged on first arriving she flinched and told me not to hold her so hard, which leads me to believe there are other bruises she couldn't easily show me on her back and/or shoulders."


"He told me next time it will be worse"

Elizabeth says she was also threatened on the way back from the airport. She says the immigration "escort" told her that it will be the same van next time, the same people, and it will be worse than what happened this time.


Elizabeth is reporting the assault to the police at Heathrow Airport.


"I cannot accept that it is appropriate to return my constituent to Uganda"

Elizabeth has the full support of Central Manchester MP Tony Lloyd and her local MP David Heyes who said in a letter to the Immigration Service ; "I cannot accept that it is appropriate to return my constituent to Uganda. I am especially concerned about the potential for further damage to her physical and mental health. I would urge you to release her immediately"


Elizabeth wants to thank everyone who sent faxes to the Home Office and to the airline last week. Speaking from inside Yarl's Woods she said "Thank you everyone - your support is the only thing that has kept me going"


What you can do to help:

1. Join the picket of the British Airways Travel Shop 41/43 Deansgate
Manchester M3 on Saturday Map


2. Fax British Airways
Elizabeth's campaign has put together a model fax that they are asking you to fax to British Airways. You can copy/amend/write your own version, asking them not to carry out the removal of Elizabeth from the UK


Fax : British Airways Chief Executive Officer on 0208 738 9801
Fax : British Airways Press Office on 0208 738 9838


3. Fax the Immigration Minister
Elizabeth's campaign has put together a model letter that they are asking you to fax to the Minister for Immigration Liam Byrne. You can copy/amend/write your own version, asking him not to remove Elizabeth from the UK and to release her now.

Fax: 020 7219 2417 from outside the UK + 44 20 7219 2417

Liam Byrne
Minister for Immigration
3rd Floor
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

4. Join the Elizabeth Must Stay Campaign today!
Contact: beth_aze@hotmail.co.uk


5. Visit Elizabeth's website
Sign Elizabeth's on-line petition


Background;
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/newszine70/ElizabethMustStay.htm

 

June 2006

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