Jean-Baptiste Bassime Must Stay In UK Campaign

Jean Baptiste fled Cameroon and sought asylum in UK in July 2007. His problems in Cameroon began in February 2007 when he received threatening phone messages, and that in April 2007 he received further intimidating emails at his work account (saying that he would pay for his life if he continued with his employer oil company Schlumberger). He had contacted a friend William who worked for the police for some assistance and advice about this problem. William made enquiries and as such was told by his bosses he had to submit a report and end this investigation. Jean's friend's findings caused alarm, and so Jean Baptiste was advised to stop working for his employer and relocate. However as the job was well paid, Jean Baptiste did not take note of this advice.

However in May 2007, he got into a taxi and was held at gunpoint and then taken to a woman's house. When there, Jean Baptiste was forced to undress, and then handcuffed by feet and by hands. Then he was suspended by his wrists from a hook in the ceiling and tied to a post. The woman threw a bucket of cold water over him before whipping him across the back. This caused bleeding, and she then rubbed salt into the wounds, before continuing with further acts of violence on him. Eventually after regaining consciousness, he found himself in a different house, and that he had been robbed of money and jewellery. Jean Baptiste eventually managed to get out of that house and get in a taxi to his home. His wife got him medical attention, and then the matter was reported to the police. At the police station, he was subjected to further beatings and abuse by police officials. The police chief asked that Jean resign from his job but did not give any reason why. Eventually he was released and he got home to find that his wife and sister in law had been raped by policemen whilst he was in custody. His friend who worked for the police phoned Jean Baptiste to say he had been offered money to drop the investigation and to tell Jean to leave the job. This was the last time he had heard from his friend William. Jean was due to attend training courses abroad when this situation arose. He was given a job transfer to another location where he suffered further arrests in July 2007. Whilst in the cell, Jean Baptiste was accused of conspiring to start a war between Cameroon and Gabon. He was eventually released after some serious beatings in the cell. When in Douala, he was attacked by 2 people as he approached his house, and then taken captive. He saw the same woman who had attacked him in May 07. There Jean Baptiste had learnt that she had been paid by the President's son to arrange andcarry out this attack and to subject him to degrading sexual and physical violence. One of the captors offered to arrange his release and subsequently made arrangements for him to escape from Cameroon. Jean Baptiste managed to escape, then was helped to flee Cameroon on 21/7/07. He applied for asylum when he came to UK.

Since his leaving Cameroon, Jean Baptiste's wife has had to move home many times to avoid the authorities. He also believes that his police friend William did not commit suicide at all, but was killed by the authorities. Therefore Jean Baptiste is terrified of what will happen to him if sent back to Cameroon now. According to UKBA, he has exhausted the asylum legal process - however he is of the view that he was not given proper legal representation at certain points of the process, and that his torture and abuse experiences have not been duly and fairly considered by the courts or Home Office.

Please support Jean Baptiste in his fight to stay in UK

1) Fax/phone/E-mail, Andy Harrison Chief Executive Officer EasyJet. And urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Jean Baptiste Bassime - attached model fax  (you can copy/amend/write your own version - if you do, please include the following details: Jean Baptiste Bassime due to be forcibly removed to Cameroon on Thursday 21 May 2009 on Easyjet flight U2-2431 from Luton Airport @ 06:00hrs.

E-Mail:  andy@easyjet.com
~ Phone: 0158 244 3330
~ Fax: 0158 244 3355

2) Fax/phone/E-mail, Mr Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, Chief Executive Officer, Air France and urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Jean Baptiste Bassime - attached model fax  (you can copy/amend/write your own version - if you do, please include the following details: Jean Baptiste Bassime due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Thursday 21 May 2009 @ 10:30 on Air France flight AF940.

Email:  mail.fondationaf@airfrance.fr
Phone: 00 33 1 41 56 78 00 ~~~~~~ Fax: 020 8584 4417

Elise Biensan: Press & Communications Manager:
Fax: 020 8584 4417 From outside the UK + 44 20 8584 4417
E-mail: mailto: elbiensan@airfrance.fr

3) Please send urgent faxes/Emails immediately to Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Secretary of State for the Home Office. Model letter Jean Baptiste Bassime attached which you can copy/amend/write your own version; if you do so, please remember to include the HO Ref B1244791

Email:  UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk_CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk  Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Fax: 020 8760 3132 / + 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK

Messages of support would be appreciated by Jean Baptiste - please contact him on 07544 600572.

Campaign co-ordinator: Geraldine Agbor Tel 07881 948859

Please email copies of faxes / emails sent to: g_  macv@yahoo.co.uk_