They have been told they will be deported to Sri Lanka at 2.30pm on Sunday 9th September on flight UL506 from Heathrow. The family are suspected by the Sri Lankan government of connections to the LTTE (Tamil Tigers), and would be in extreme danger if deported. The family's solicitor is applying at court tomorrow for a Judicial Review to stop the deportation.

Please try and attend the emergency demonstration which will be taking place tomorrow, and/or send faxes of protest to Secretary of State Jacqui Smith and Sri Lankan Airlines (details below). Model faxes are attached, or write your own if you prefer. If you do not have access to a fax machine instructions are given below on how to send faxes over the internet (thanks to NCADC for these).

Emergency Demonstration
Friday 7th September, 10.30-11.30am
Outside Government Offices North East, Gallowgate, Newcastle (opposite St James's Park Metro)

1.) Please send urgent faxes immediately to Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that the Uthayakumar family be given the right to stay in the UK. (if you write your own version please remember to include the Home Office ref: P1046770).

Fax: 020 7035 3262 (00 44 20 7035 3262 if you are faxing from outside UK)

If you are able to fax before 9.30am on Friday 7th September please send a copy to the family's solicitor on fax number: 0207 7371431, and he can take it to the court.

2.) Please fax J. Wijesinghe Manager UK & Ireland, Sri Lankan Airlines (if you write your own version please remember to include the families removal flight details: Sri Lankan Airlines Flight UL506 From Heathrow To Sri Lanka at 14.30hrs on Sunday 9th September)

Fax: 020 8572 0808 (00 44 20 8572 0808 if you are faxing from outside UK)


Faxing without a fax machine

There are two methods of faxing using the internet:

From you browser go to:
 http://www.tpc.int/sendfax.html

the number must be entered with the country code

so

020 7035 3262 (Home Office)

would be

44 20 7035 3262

Send a fax via email

Use this email address format :
remote-printer.recipient_name @fax_number.iddd.tpc.int
So, to send a fax to Liam Byrne you would put: remote-printer.Jacqui_Smith @44207035 3262.iddd.tpc.int

Just copy your fax message into the body of the email.

Thank you for your solidarity,
TCAR

GOOD NEWS! We have just heard today from friends of the family that the deportation of the Uthayakumar family has been stopped. Theres been coverage of the event in local North East newspapers The Chronicle and The Journal (information not online yet) and made front page of Sri Lankan National newspaper 'Daily Mirror' ( http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/08/front/9.asp). The fact that it has made front page news in Sri Lanka has added to the strength of their case as it is more dangerous for them to go back there now and the solicitor has said he can use it as more evidence. So it looks like our actions and press campaigns have been successful. The family is still being held in Yarlswood detention centre but the solicitor is putting in a fresh appeal on Monday. Thanks for your support TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER! TCAR!