Update: 10.01.2002

Human rights activist Gabriel Nwkelle denied access to media

On 28/12/01 Gabriel Nkwelle was prevented from talking to the media. BBC Five Live, BBC Wales and BBC London, had all prepared to interview Gabriel but staff at Tinsley House detention centre were told not to allow the calls to him by the Home Office press office. An Immigration Service officer told Gabriel he should be careful because "this is not your country". The attempt to gag Gabriel is in direct contravention of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 which Parliament passed on 2nd April 2001.

Gabriel fought for democratic rights in his own country, Cameroon, and was five times held prisoner. He asked for asylum in Britain, and was promptly put in prison. He publicised unacceptable treatment of his fellow asylum detainees, and was transferred to Belmarsh for eight months, Britain's most notorious top-security jail. In December Gabriel was presented with the Liberty/Justice Human rights award, before once again being detained after his appeal was dismissed.

full story on uk.indymedia.org



It's Never Over till the plane takes Off!

Gabriel Nkwelle - right to the wire. At 7.00 pm on Monday 24th December, an hour and forty five...

full story from 04 Jan 2002 on www.ncadc.org.uk

21.12.2001

GABRIEL NKWELLE WILL BE DEPORTED ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2001 UNLESS THE HOME OFFICE CHANGES ITS MIND

PLEASE SEND THE FAX-OR SOMETHING LIKE IT-AT THE END OF THIS MESSAGE TO IMMIGRATION MINISTER LORD ROOKER RIGHT AWAY. TIME IS OBVIOUSLY OF THE ESSENCE.

When he was an immigration detainee in UK prisons, Gabriel was the most fearless, outspoken, meticulous and devastating critic of detention policy. See his letters from prison to those responsible for this injustice-you can read them on the website www.closecampsfield.org.uk

Since his 9 months in three prisons, Gabriel has worked hard with Bail for Immigration Detainees, Barbed Wire Britain, the Yarl's Wood anti detention campaign, and with the media, Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees, etc. Gabriel Nkwelle is from Cameroon where he was repeatedly imprisoned and badly beaten by state authorities for his political activity in the Social Democratic Front and human rights organisation. He argues that he faces the same if deported back.

Yesterday (Thursday, Dec 20) it became known that there is a direction to remove Gabriel on Monday 24th December 2001: i.e. deport him. Possible legal steps are being urgently considered, but they are unlikely. Meantime Gabriel has expressed clearly his wish that friends should do what they can to stop at his deportation. Gabriel is in Harmondsworth detention centre (convenient for Heathrow) to which he was taken direct from York House last Thursday, immediately after a hearing at which the adjudicator RN. Barton turned down his appeal against the refusal by the Home Office to grant him political asylum.

(This is not a "professional" anti-deportation letter, but what can be done in the time available-and in the absence of an up-and-running campaign to stop Gabriel's deportation. Some lessons there, no doubt. If you want to let us know of what you're doing/have done to help stop the deportation [e.g. copy fax/emails], phone/email the BID office on 0207 247 3590 / bailforimmigrationdetainees@yahoo.co.uk or Bill on 01865 558145 / bmackeith@aol.com)

Bill MacKeith
On behalf of the steering group of the Barbed Wire Britain Network to End Refugee and Migrant Detention

Fax below (Fax no. 020 7273 2043)
(postal address: 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT;
email public.inquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk)
At the end of paragraph 2 you could add something to the effect: "I do not accept as tenable the adjudicator's reasons for turning down his appeal against your refusal of asylum (R.N. Barton, Hatton Cross, 13.12.01)."

To:
Lord Rooker
Minister for Citizenship and Immigration
Fax no. 020 7273 2043

21 December 2001

Dear Lord Rooker

Gabriel Nkwelle: Urgent

I appeal to you to reverse the decision of the government to refuse permission for Mr Gabriel Nkwelle to stay in the UK. Mr Nkwelle, who is in Harmondsworth detention centre, is subject to a removal direction on Monday 24th.

I appeal on grounds of Mr Nkwelle's right to protection under the United Nations Refugee Convention, as he expresses a well founded fear of persecution for his political activity in the Social Democratic Front of Cameroon should he be returned there.

During his stay in the UK Mr Nkwelle has demonstrated his intention and ability to support himself and also to serve his fellows, especially as an advocate for others seeking political asylum including those detained in detention centres and prisons. I believe we should encourage people like Mr Nkwelle to stay in the country, not expel them.

Yours sincerely,