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Suicide at Yarl's Wood / Vigil this Saturday

Chiara | 15.09.2005 22:13 | Anti-racism | Migration

Manuel Bravo from Angola, detained in Yarl's Wood with his 13 years old son, committed suicide last night by hanging himself.
A vigil has been called by Sady Campaign this Saturday, 16h September at noon in front of Yarl's Wood, to remember Manuel and in solidariety with the women hungerstrikers.




ANOTHER DEATH IN DETENTION

Manuel Bravo was in is thirties. According to his church group who supported him he was terrified to be returned to Angola. He was due to be deprted Friday. He leaves a thirteen years old son who is being 'cared for' by the staff at the detention centre.


The people detained with him got very upset. Most of them are women, many with children. Everybody was crying. I phoned them at the detention centre and I could hear it; a woman was so upset she could not even talk, just kept sobbing. They feel it is a tragedy for all of them.
Most women refused to eat and held prayer vigils instead.


Some women detainees, mostly frm Uganda, have been on hungerstrike for a long time, some as long as 40 days. Three required hospitalisation as a result. Some of the women are starting eating again. They are all unhappy with the conditions at Yarl's Wood and all have serious concerns if they are deported back to Uganda. Some of them have been imprisoned, all have been gang raped and tortured, and are likely to be returned in the hands of the same authorities they fled from. They are terrified to be returned to Uganda. Some are HIV+ as a result of rape, and in Uganda won't be able to buy the drugs that can keep them alive and are very expensive there.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE VIGIL OUTSIDE YARL'S WOOD,
12 NOON.
For transport meet outside Bedford train station, 11.30am

Chiara