Mireille Medim Eka fled to the UK from Cameroon in January 2003 and
has been living in Newcastle. Her asylum application was refused in
March 2003 and her appeal failed in March 2004. She is now being held
in Yarl's Wood Removal Centre awaiting deportation.
Mireille was a member of a student group who were trying to make the
government aware of the harshness of everyday life and the poor
conditions in which students were living.
A letter to President Biya was prepared and Mireille was chosen to
deliver the letter in person. She was on her way after handing the
letter over when she was arrested and taken to prison.
Conditions in the prison were appalling and several other prisoners
died in the cell The authorities wanted information from Mireille
about other political activists, so they needed to keep Mireille
alive. Mireille was raped by soldiers and tried to commit suicide.
She managed to escape from a hospital and flee the country.
During her time in
Newcastle she was receiving rape counselling and continued to be
traumatised by her experiences in prison. She suffers from depression
and often cannot eat.
If Mireille is returned to Cameroon she will be in grave danger. She
is known to the authorities and is terrified of being sent back to the
same dangerous situation from which she fled.
Fax/write to the Home Secretary requesting that Mirielle is allowed to
stay. You can use the model letter attached. Copy/amend/write your
own version, feel free to add your own comments.
You can fax David Blunkett
on 020 7273 3965
or write direct :
David Blunkett
For further
details/information contact the campaign at:
Mireille Medim Eku Must
Stay!
