Douala has seen civil unrest and rioting since last Saturday; the Cameroon authorities have killed five people. The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office's current travel advice is not to travel to Douala.

Evelyne Nana came to the UK on 2nd November 2004 from Cameroon. She claimed asylum on 3rd November 2004. Her case was turned down.

According to Home Office letter dated 2nd October 2007, one of the reasons for refusing asylum to Evelyne and her son Adou is that "even if the appellant is a member of the SDF [Social Democratic Front] there is no evidence that she would be at risk as the party is a legal party in Cameroon" and therefore "membership of SDF at any level is not likely to amount to ill-treatment that engages the UK's obligations under the 1951 Convention". Human rights reports have highlighted that SDF members irrespective of the membership level are at risk of being arrested and detained by the Cameroonian authorities.

Evelyne was persecuted by the Cameroon authorities for reasons of her associations with the SDF. She was personal secretary to the chairman at branch level. Evelyne has been a member of SDF since 1999 and her husband was a propaganda delegate for SDF since becoming a member in 1996. Evelyne, her husband and other SDF members were targeted by the police authorities many times, and matters worsened when the local SDF chairman was executed in August 2004. This led to Evelyne having her house raided by the authorities in search of political materials opposing the current government of Cameroon, and Evelyne being taken into detention.

Evelyne managed to flee Cameroon and she is afraid of what will happen to her and her child if they are sent back to Cameroon on 28/2/08. Evelyne suffered so much persecution because of her political activities in Cameroon and it is clear that in light of recent news reports of innocent people being murdered by Cameroonian authorities in Douala, Evelyne is terrified to return to suffer further persecution and detention in Cameroon especially when the situation in Cameroon is so unstable and unsafe.

However the Home Office chose not to believe Evelyne when she described her arrest and detention in 2004 and continue to claim that low ranking SDF members are not at risk. According to Home Office, "being a member of the SDF party does not constitute persecution in Cameroon". She was arrested by UK Home Office at home on Sunday 24th February 2006 in the early hours of the morning and has been taken to Yarl's Wood Detention Centre - she can be contacted there on telephone 01234 821000 (room C/241). I am sure Evelyne will appreciate calls of support to keep her morale up as she battles against deportation to Cameroon.

Evelyne has a Christian faith and has been an active and committed member of her church community at Newcastle City Temple. She has also been an active volunteer whilst living in Newcastle. For instance, Evelyne has been heavily involved with CSV who run a project called Community Connection. Evelyne has gone to CSV to learn English and to work as volunteer at Newcastle Society for Blind People as a meeter and greeter. She has also been a volunteer administrator with the charity Mencap. All the charities and projects Evelyne has engaged with talk so highly of her reliable, honest, committed and polite character and fully support her in her battle to remain in UK.

Please do not allow the Home Office to force this family to return to Cameroon where human rights are abused and where corruption is rife among those in authority. Evelyne feels safe and settled in Newcastle and should be granted leave to remain in UK without further delay, and be spared from the trauma of being sent back to possible detention and torture in Cameroon because of her political beliefs.

What you can do to Help:

1. Fax, Rudi Nerinckx, Executive Vice President Human Resources, Brussels Airlines asking them not to carry Evelyne and Adou. Model letter EvelyneNanaBrussA.doc attached that you can copy/amend/write your own version, if you do, please remember to include the flight details: Brussels Airlines flight SN2050 at 06:30 from Birmingham Airport to Brussels and onward to Douala Cameroon on Thursday 28th February 2008.

Fax number: 00 322 723 8409 from outside the UK + 322 723 8409

2. Fax the Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that Evelyne and Adou are allowed to stay in the UK. Model letter EvelyneNanaJS.doc attached that you can copy/amend/write your own version, if you do; please remember to include their Home Office Reference Number N1100412

Fax: 020 8760 3132/ from outside UK+ 44 020 8760 3132

Please notify the campaign of any faxes sent:

Evelyne & Adou Must Stay Campaign
C/o Geraldine Agbor
ANSU UK
House 96
15 Grafton Place
Glasgow
G1 2TE

Tel: 07881 948859
Email: g  _macv@yahoo.co.uk

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
Evelyne & Adou Must Stay Campaign