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Around the Campaigns Tuesday 15th December 2009

John O | 15.12.2009 13:57 | Migration | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | World

- "The forced return to Kosovo of people who have found shelter in European states should be halted", said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights publishing today a letter to the Chancellor of Germany, Dr. Angela Merkel. He notes that Kosovo lacks infrastructures allowing refugees' sustainable reintegration.

Trude, Barbara and Trevor are Here to Stay
After eight years fighting UKBA, twice detained in Yarl's Wood, taken to the airport by "immigration escorts" to be removed to Uganda in 2006, handcuffed in front of her children who were so scared/terrified that they were in tears, is now safe.

Trude said today: "I was granted indefinite status in June 2009 my profound thanks to all those people who did a great job to support me and those who wrote letters on my behalf and my children.

Trude Ndagire

Trude, Barbara and Trevor Must Stay!
 http://tinyurl.com/TrudeNdagire
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Ntarh Pascal Ntarh removed on Sunday from the UK, returned this morning, battered and bruised.

Though he landed in Nairobi, Kenyan authorities refused to board him on a flight to Cameroon and returned him to the UK!

Have spoken to Ntarh,  he alleges he got a pasting on the plane at Heathrow on Sunday by escorts, hurting him on ribs/legs/head, further alleges one of escorts stuck a finger in his ear, enough to make it bleed.

He is currently still in the holding room at terminal 5 Heathrow.

More on this anon.

Ntarh Pascal Ntarh Belongs to Glasgow  http://www.ncadc.org.uk/NCADC-Campaigns/Ntarg.html
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Commissioner Hammarberg stresses need to halt returns to Kosovo*

Council of Europe, Strasbourg, 15/12/2009
 http://tinyurl.com/yezccxp

- "The forced return to Kosovo of people who have found shelter in European states should be halted", said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights publishing today a letter to the Chancellor of Germany, Dr. Angela Merkel. He notes that Kosovo lacks infrastructures allowing refugees' sustainable reintegration.

The Commissioner is particularly worried by the fact that Roma expelled from European states had to return to the lead-contaminated camps of Cesmin Lug and Osterode in northern Mitrovica, where the exposure to lead has already caused serious illnesses to members of Roma families living there, including children. "These camps must be urgently closed, adequate housing provided to the families and complete lead-decontamination treatments ensured to all those affected."

The Commissioner further stresses that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirmed in November that those who fled Kosovo and are still at particular risk of persecution include Serbs and Albanians in minority situations as well as Roma, persons in ethnically mixed-marriages or of mixed ethnicity, persons perceived to have been associated with the Serbian authorities after 1990, victims of trafficking or of domestic violence and persons whose asylum claims were based on sexual orientation.

"Return is not purely a technical administrative act", added the Commissioner. "It means to receive and re-integrate returning people, including families, in dignity and security. I urge the German authorities to prevent any further forced returns to Kosovo, particularly of Roma people, as long as the situation there does not guarantee a safe and sustainable life for returnees."

* "All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo."

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
Council of Europe
Ntarh Pascal Ntarh Belongs to Glasgow
Trude, Barbara and Trevor Must Stay!

John O
- e-mail: JohnO@ncadc.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.ncadc.org.uk