Their uncle, the brother of Neeraja Joseph, has been killed in the civil war ; their family home was raided by the army; the family were detained for three weeks; during this time they were all questioned and ill-treated; Mr Joseph, their father, was abducted on the street when he went out to buy food. The family have no knowledge of whether he is alive or dead and fear the worst. Najeenus, their 17 year-old brother was left behind in Sri-Lanka and the family have no knowledge of his whereabouts or safety. The girls and their mother fear that if they are sent back to Sri Lanka, they will be killed.

Since moving to Hartlepool the girls and their mother have become very much part of the parish community of St Joseph's. They are very committed to their faith and attend the parish church on a regular basis.

Jeevitha and Neeraja joined The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College in October 2008 and have settled in very happily. They are model students. They are exceptionally hard-working, always smartly dressed, keen to learn, have forged good relationships with their peers, are popular with staff and have a bright academic future ahead of them.

To deport the family now, taking the girls away from English Martyrs, and insist on their removal would be cruel.

"If we go back we feel that we would be killed. We are very scared. It's very scary, they have guns. My father went to buy food and I don't know where he's gone. I'm worried for my dad. It made me feel sad that there was fighting. Here I feel safe. I worry that if we go back, it won't be safe."
Jeevitha

They have suffered enough and should be allowed to stay.

The girls school English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College are campaigning to keep Jeevitha, Neeraja and their mother in the UK. They have produced a petition Jeevitha and Neeraja-petition.pdf attached, they are asking everyone to print of the petition, get as many signatures as they can.

Please return completed petition sheets to:
Joseph Family Must Stay Campaign
C/o English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College
Catcote Road
Hartlepool
TS25 4HA



Deportation Fear: School head backs 'model students'
Headteacher Joe Hughes has been touched by the plight facing the Joseph family, and shares their fears over safety should they be forced to return to Sri Lanka.
 http://tinyurl.com/cxbwgq

Council backs stay plea
Chief executive Paul Walker met Jeevitha and Neeraja at their school on Monday and was quick to back their pleas to stay after hearing of the horrors they had faced in their homeland.
 http://tinyurl.com/dmzqa8


End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
Joseph Family Must Stay Campaign