Stop the deportation of Charles Beaudelaire Pouaha
Charles faces another attempt to remove him to Camaroon on
2nd August 2004. Three previous attempts to remove Charles failed
when the pilots of the planes seeing the very distressed state that
Charles was in refused to carry him.
The dictatorship of Paul Biya has been stepping up
repression of opposition and human rights activists in the run-up to
the presidential elections in October 2004. Amnesty International
reports that several demonstrators have been killed, political
activists detained and prevented from holding meetings and journalists
and trade unions arrested for exercising their right to freedom of
expression.
The Cameroonian government also used 'malicious
prosecution, arbitrary arrest and excessive force against
demonstrators as tools of political repression' . This includes the
use of lethal force against demonstrators, killing several, with no
action taken against the police responsible.
(Amnesty International Annual Report 2004.) http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/cmr-summary-eng
In November 2003 the UN Committee against Torture
expressed grave concern about 'systematic torture' of people arrested
by the police and gendarmes in Cameroon, and reported that conditions
in many prisons amounted to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
The Home Office have turned his application down on the
grounds that he has not provided sufficient proof of the persecution
he suffered, or that any of this persecution was directed towards him
personally. Yet when he tried to lodge a fresh claim, with new
evidence that supported his case further, the Home Office said that
they would not accept this evidence as it could be forged.
How can Charles obtain protection when the Home Office
turn him down for not having enough evidence and then refuses to
accept it when he produces more?
Charles' first application for asylum in the UK was turned
down through no fault of his own, because of bad legal representation
from his first solicitor, who then stopped representing him when the
final adjudicator's decision went against Charles, even though there
were a number of mistakes in it. In desperation, Charles wrote and
appealed against the decision himself, but because he has no training
in British immigration law there were points that could have helped
his case which he was unable to include.
However, despite the fact that at this point Charles was
without legal representation, this appeal he made was his one last
chance to have the decision in his case re-considered. As it was he
lost any possibility of a judicial review of the adjudicator's final
decision.
Charles will be at serious risk of imprisonment, torture
and death if he is returned to Cameroon. In the run-up to elections,
which are expected to take place in October, the dictatorship of Paul
Biya is stepping up its persecution and repression of people involved
in opposition organisations and movements.
Charles has a good case for asylum in the UK; he also has a good case
to be allowed to remain in the UK on grounds of human rights (in
particular, the right not to be returned to a country where he is
likely to be subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment or punishment).
What you can do to help:
Fax/write to the Home Secretary requesting that Charles
Beaudelaire Pouaha is allowed to stay. You can use the model letter
attached copy/amend/write your own version, feel free to add your own
comments especially if you know Charles personally. (Give Charles a
ring 01293 434800)
You can fax David Blunkett on 020 7273 3965 from outside the UK + 44
20 7273 3965
Or write direct:
David Blunkett
Home Secretary
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT
Enquiries/further information:
naomibyron@hotmail.com
Please notify the campaign by email of any faxs/letters sent:
Charles Beaudelaire Pouaha Must Stay
Cameroon Asylum Seekers Defence Campaign
10, Saint Mary's Approach
Church Road
Manor Park
London
E12 6HG
Source for this message:
Cameroon Asylum Seekers Defence Campaign
July 2004
