Sandrine Mbuyi Ntambwe a national of DR Congo and resident of Leeds, currently detained in Yarl's Wood IRC; is due to be forcibly removed from UK tomorrow Tuesday 24th March 2009 at 19.00 hrs on Kenyan Airways Flights KQ101 to Nairobi then KQ434 to Kinshasa.
Sandrine could face persecution there, both because of her political activities as a high profile and active member of the opposition party UREC an APARECO, and as a person of Tutsi ethnicity.
Writing from Yarl's Wood in February of this year, Sandrine said:
"I would also confirm that there would be no adequate protection in Kinshasa or anywhere in DR Congo and it would not be reasonable for me to return to Kinshasa. It was accepted by UKBA that I am a member of the UREC and APARECO opposition parties and this alone would put me at risk as there is clear evidence to show that in the eyes of the DRC authorities APARECO members are at a high risk of persecution on return to Congo.
"I would reiterate that I have been in the UK for almost 2 years and have formed a family life here. I have made many friends and given my own family circumstances, I would not enjoy family life in the Congo. It would therefore be unreasonable me to return to the DRC where I have no family member left."
Sandrine is a young woman alone, with no family or friends in Kinshasa, and no home and no means of support, and that alone would put her in danger where there is great poverty and many armed gangs who attack and rob people in the streets.
USA: Human Rights Report: DR Congo 2008
In all areas of the country the government's human rights record remained poor, and security forces continued to act with impunity throughout the year, committing many serious abuses including unlawful killings, disappearances, torture, and rape. Security forces also engaged in arbitrary arrests and detention. Harsh and life-threatening conditions in prison and detention facilities, prolonged pretrial detention, lack of an independent and effective judiciary, and arbitrary interference with privacy, family, and home also remained serious problems. Security forces retained child soldiers and compelled forced labor by civilians. Government corruption remained pervasive. Security forces at times beat and threatened local human rights advocates and harassed UN human rights investigators. Discrimination against women and ethnic minorities, trafficking in persons, child labor, and lack of protection of workers' rights continued to be pervasive throughout the country. Enslavement of Pygmies occurred. Armed groups continued to commit numerous, serious abuses - some of which may have constituted war crimes - including unlawful killings, disappearances, and torture. They also recruited and retained child soldiers, compelled forced labor, and committed widespread crimes of sexual violence and other possible war crimes.
Bureau Of Democracy, Human Rights, And Labor / February 25, 2009
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/af/118995.htm
What you can do to help / Please take urgent action now
1) Email/Fax/phone, Sam Okwulehie, Group Area Manager Kenya Airways and urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Sandrine Mbuyi Ntambwe - you can use the model fax ' SandrineMbuyiNtambweKA.doc' attached. You can copy, amend or write your own version - please quote, Sandrine Mbuyi Ntambwe due to be forcibly removed from UK on Tuesday 24th March 2009 at 19.00 hrs on Kenyan Airways Flights KQ101 to Nairobi then KQ434 to Kinshasa.
Email:
contact@kenya-airways.com
Fax: 020 8745 5027 - from outside the UK + 44 20 8745 5027
Phone: 020 8759 7366 - from outside the UK + 44 20 8759 7366
2) Please send urgent faxes immediately to Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that Sandrine Mbuyi Ntambwe be granted protection in the UK. Please use the attached "model letter" (SandrineMbuyiNtambwe JS.doc) which you can copy/amend/write your own version (if you do so, please remember to include her HO ref: M1352718).
Email addresses:
UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official" CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk>
Fax Number: 020 8760 3132
Please let the campaign coordinator of an emails/faxes sent:
Congo Support Project-Manchester
Mocha Community Centre
Mocha Parade
Lower Broughton
Salford
M7 1QE
Tel.:0161 830 7373/07960617309
Fax: 0161 83 48434
Email: csp_manchester@yahoo.co.uk
Writing from Yarl's Wood in February of this year, Sandrine said:
"I would also confirm that there would be no adequate protection in Kinshasa or anywhere in DR Congo and it would not be reasonable for me to return to Kinshasa. It was accepted by UKBA that I am a member of the UREC and APARECO opposition parties and this alone would put me at risk as there is clear evidence to show that in the eyes of the DRC authorities APARECO members are at a high risk of persecution on return to Congo.
"I would reiterate that I have been in the UK for almost 2 years and have formed a family life here. I have made many friends and given my own family circumstances, I would not enjoy family life in the Congo. It would therefore be unreasonable me to return to the DRC where I have no family member left."
Sandrine is a young woman alone, with no family or friends in Kinshasa, and no home and no means of support, and that alone would put her in danger where there is great poverty and many armed gangs who attack and rob people in the streets.
USA: Human Rights Report: DR Congo 2008
In all areas of the country the government's human rights record remained poor, and security forces continued to act with impunity throughout the year, committing many serious abuses including unlawful killings, disappearances, torture, and rape. Security forces also engaged in arbitrary arrests and detention. Harsh and life-threatening conditions in prison and detention facilities, prolonged pretrial detention, lack of an independent and effective judiciary, and arbitrary interference with privacy, family, and home also remained serious problems. Security forces retained child soldiers and compelled forced labor by civilians. Government corruption remained pervasive. Security forces at times beat and threatened local human rights advocates and harassed UN human rights investigators. Discrimination against women and ethnic minorities, trafficking in persons, child labor, and lack of protection of workers' rights continued to be pervasive throughout the country. Enslavement of Pygmies occurred. Armed groups continued to commit numerous, serious abuses - some of which may have constituted war crimes - including unlawful killings, disappearances, and torture. They also recruited and retained child soldiers, compelled forced labor, and committed widespread crimes of sexual violence and other possible war crimes.
Bureau Of Democracy, Human Rights, And Labor / February 25, 2009
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/af/118995.htm What you can do to help / Please take urgent action now
1) Email/Fax/phone, Sam Okwulehie, Group Area Manager Kenya Airways and urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Sandrine Mbuyi Ntambwe - you can use the model fax ' SandrineMbuyiNtambweKA.doc' attached. You can copy, amend or write your own version - please quote, Sandrine Mbuyi Ntambwe due to be forcibly removed from UK on Tuesday 24th March 2009 at 19.00 hrs on Kenyan Airways Flights KQ101 to Nairobi then KQ434 to Kinshasa.
Email:
contact@kenya-airways.com Fax: 020 8745 5027 - from outside the UK + 44 20 8745 5027
Phone: 020 8759 7366 - from outside the UK + 44 20 8759 7366
2) Please send urgent faxes immediately to Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that Sandrine Mbuyi Ntambwe be granted protection in the UK. Please use the attached "model letter" (SandrineMbuyiNtambwe JS.doc) which you can copy/amend/write your own version (if you do so, please remember to include her HO ref: M1352718).
Email addresses:
UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk "CIT - Treat Official"
CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk> Fax Number: 020 8760 3132
Please let the campaign coordinator of an emails/faxes sent:
Congo Support Project-Manchester
Mocha Community Centre
Mocha Parade
Lower Broughton
Salford
M7 1QE
Tel.:0161 830 7373/07960617309
Fax: 0161 83 48434
Email:
csp_manchester@yahoo.co.uk 
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