Cameroon/UK: Lydia Besong appeal for funds successful

Many thanks to everyone who contributed towards the appeal to cover the legal costs of a judicial review of Lydia Besong and her husband Bernard Batey‘s case.  The really good news is that the appeal target has now been reached – this is an enormous relief and all of us working on the campaign are delighted that the money was raised in a relatively short period of time. We at PEN were particularly pleased to learn that this was mainly thanks to the remarkable generosity of two English PEN members, and touched to learn their motivations:

“We were deeply moved when PEN wrote a support letter for our immigration appeal. It was not only a help with the appeal itself, it gave us hope when we were at our lowest. We’re happy to have been able to pass along the favour.”

Lydia and Bernard’s solicitor has now submitted some new evidence to the UKBA and asked them to reconsider the case. If this is turned down, an application for judicial review will be made. In the unlikely event that the judicial review is not necessary, funds will be returned to all those who contributed.

Thank you all once again. Your support is really appreciated, and Lydia and Bernard have been overwhelmed by the solidarity which has been shown to them.

For more information on Lydia and Bernard’s case, please click here:

 - Justice for asylum seekers 60 years on – Letter to the Guardian (28 July 2011)

 - Cameroon/UK: Playwright refused asylum (5 July 2011)

 - UK: Cameroonian playwright faces deportation (10 December 2009)

TAKE ACTION

You can continue to show your support to Lyida and Bernard by writing to your MP and to the Home Secretary Theresa May and Immigration Minister Damian Green. Model letters are copied below, but please do write a more personal one if you have time.

[LETTER TO LOCAL MP]

Dear

As one of your constituents, I am writing to express my grave concerns over the asylum case of Ms Lydia Besong and Mr Bernard Batey and to ask you to contact their MP David Nuttall (Bury North) to offer your support in the couple’s efforts to have their refugee status accepted. Could you also please bring this case to the attention of the Home Secretary Theresa May and the Immigration Minister Damian Green?

Last year, Lydia was held in detention for four weeks over the Christmas period and she and her husband Bernard were threatened with deportation back to Cameroon. The flight was halted following an injunction granted by a High Court judge which prevented their deportation until new evidence regarding their case was reconsidered.  Subsequently, the UK Border Agency turned down their new application and a tribunal judge backed this decision.  Their application for leave to appeal to the High Court was refused but their solicitor has now submitted new evidence to the UK Border Agency, asking the UKBA to reconsider their asylum case.

In Cameroon, Lydia taught English and English Literature and Bernard ran his own business. They were forced to flee their home because of their membership of the Southern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful political party which campaigns for the rights of the English-speaking minority of Southern Cameroon. The couple faced beatings, imprisonment and torture in Cameroon and Lydia was raped by a uniformed prison guard.  They have both been traumatised by these experiences and are subject to severe depression.

Amnesty International’s most recent report on Cameroon, published 13th May 2011,  says that the Government continues to attempt to silence  critics of its policies, including journalists and human rights defenders.  The current president Paul Biya has ruled for 28 years, presidential elections are scheduled for October this year and there are worries relating to the body overseeing the election and about potential instability in the run up to the election.

The Amnesty International report says: “The Government continues to curtail the activities of the SCNC (Southern Cameroon National Council), a non violent secessionist group whose members face arrest and imprisonment.”

Security forces in Cameroon have still not been held to account for a number of human rights abuses committed two years ago. According to Amnesty International, a Cameroonian writer was recently released after being held in extremely harsh prison conditions for six months after writing a book about the President’s wife.

Lydia and Bernard were backed by their former Rochdale MP Paul Rowen who knew their case well and said there was “a real and substantial danger to Ms Besong and Mr Batey should they be returned to Cameroon”.

Last year Lydia worked with the  human rights organisation RAPAR, the writers’ group Commonword and Community Arts Northwest on a collection of stories about people in Manchester failed by the asylum system.

Just a week before she was detained, Lydia’s play “How I Became An Asylum Seeker” was performed in front of a packed house at the Zion Theatre in Hulme, Manchester. The play was staged by Community Arts Northwest and performed by members of WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together). Lydia is a member of WAST’s management committee and her extensive human rights work on their behalf has included campaigns for other women facing deportation.

Lydia’s play has now been performed in London, Liverpool and Salford as well as in Manchester.
In London, Lydia shared a platform with actor Juliet Stevenson and Guardian journalist Natasha Walter when they debated some of the issues raised in her play. Lydia has also written two other plays, one of which exposes the despotic regime of President Biya.  It is hoped this play will be staged soon.

As a member of the Leadership group of RAPAR, Bernard helped set up Manchester’s first Voucher Exchange Network for people seeking asylum. He has also helped refugees and people seeking asylum through a project in Rochdale.

Lydia and Bernard lived in Rochdale for three years before being re-housed in Bury after Lydia was released from detention and their widespread support includes the Rev Graham Lindley and parishioners at St Ann’s Church in Belfield, Rochdale.  Lydia and Bernard met the Bishop of Manchester when he visited their church and watched the DVD of Lydia’s play and the Bishop has written to the Home Secretary in support of Lydia and Bernard’s campaign to remain in the UK.

The  couple’s campaign is also backed by English PEN, the charity which campaigns for writers and playwrights internationally, and other organisations and individuals – including actor Juliet Stevenson who has spoken publicly on their behalf.

Since being re-housed in Bury just over a year ago, Lydia and Bernard have made many new friends in their local community and they are all supporting their campaign.  The couple are both members of the Bury AcaPeelers Choir.

Despite the enormous pressure on them, Lydia and Bernard have work hard to support and empower other asylum seekers in situations similar to their own. This couple are an asset to the community of Greater Manchester and their case is a basic human rights issue. It is a sad reflection on our society if we cannot give refuge to people who have been persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression. As your constituent, I urge you to show your support by calling on Theresa May and Damian Green to recognise Bernard and Lydia’s human rights as refugees.

Yours Sincerely,

Name:
Address:
City: Postcode: Country:
Date: Email: Phone:

[LETTER TO THE HOME SECRETARY]

Rt. Hon Theresa May, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office,
2 Marsham St London SW1 4DF
Fax: 020 8760 3132
Email: mayt@parliament.uk

Dear Ms May,

Re: Lydia Besong & Bernard Batey, HO Ref: B1236372/3

I am writing to urge you to re-examine the case of Lydia Besong and Bernard Batey, two human rights campaigners from Cameroon who have had their claim for asylum and subsequent appeal turned down. Their solicitor has now submitted new evidence to the UK Border Agency and is asking the UKBA to reconsider their asylum case.

Lydia and Bernard sought asylum in the UK on 18/12/06. Their asylum claim is based on their activities with the Southern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful political organisation which campaigns for the rights of the English-speaking minority of Southern Cameroon. In Cameroon,  both Lydia and Bernard suffered beatings and imprisonment as a result of their involvement with the SCNC and Lydia was raped by a uniformed guard. These experiences have left them both traumatised and subject to severe depression.

Lydia was an English teacher in Cameroon and has written three plays, including one which is critical of Cameroon president Paul Biya.  She was detained in Yarl’s Wood IRC over Christmas last year and came within 72 hours of deportation.  A campaign to gain her release saw an overwhelming response from people and communities across Greater Manchester and beyond, and a High Court judge granted an injunction to prevent their deportation from the UK.

At the time, Robert Sharp, of English PEN, the charity which campaigns for writers and playwrights internationally, said: “This is a blow for freedom of speech. With this detention, Lydia’s fledgling literary career will be cut short. It is astonishing that the UK plans to deport someone who has been seeking refuge from a government that attacked her just for exercising her right to freedom of expression.”

The chairman of the SCNC has since affirmed that Lydia and Bernard were active human rights practitioners in Cameroon and their human rights work in the UK stands as a testimony to that.  Bernard and Lydia have worked tirelessly at RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Participatory Action Research) and WAST (Women Asylum-Seekers Together) with refugees in similar situations to their own.  They have also worked as volunteers with other charitable organisations and have been extremely active in their church community at St Ann’s Church, Belfield, Rochdale, where they are  valued members of the congregation.  

Lydia and Bernard are supported by campaigners and friends throughout the UK. They have made many new friends in Bury, where they were re-housed just over a year ago.  Many of their new friends are now supporting their campaign.   The Bishop of Manchester and the actor Juliet Stevenson have  both spoken publicly about their support for Lydia and Bernard. I understand that the Bishop has already written to you on their behalf.

I am urging you as Home Secretary to grant them both indefinite leave to remain so that they may continue to make a valuable contribution to our society.

Yours sincerely,

Name:
Address:
City: Postcode: Country:
Date: Email: Phone: