Jean Michel Bomvoy – HO Ref. No. B1189167/5 Torture – Not In Our Name
- Target:
- Sanctuary campaigners
- Region:
- United Kingdom
Jean Michel, who has been under the care of the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture
had submitted a medico legal report documenting the torture he had suffered, however, a caseworker at UKBA rejected the professional opinion of an experienced medical practitioner trained by the Medical Foundation.
In Kinshasa, in October 2010 a Congolese man, resident in Belgium, was killed whilst in custody, The regime of President Kabila stands accused in the Human Rights Watch report of November 2008 of the systematic killing of 500 members of the opposition and the imprisonment, rape and torture of hundreds of others in Kinshasa and Western Congo. It is of great concern that Jean Michel will be targeted by the
regime, as he is a political activist and his broadcasts have been viewed in the Congo.
Between 2007 and 2010 nine Congolese were forcibly removed from the Tees Valley following the refusal of their asylum claims. All were the victims of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including torture and rape on their return to Kinshasa. All had been assured by the Home Office that it was safe for them to return to DRC... However, all had their human rights violated, including small children who were imprisoned for up to 3 months. Fiona Hall MEP highlighted her concerns about this in a speech in the European Parliament in September 2010. ‘In order to protect the wider interests of the community and the rights of the public, it is vital for the UK to maintain effective immigration control’.
UKBA in a letter refusing sanctuary to Jean Michel Bomvoy took the view that on balance it was acceptable to send a man, who has already suffered torture, back to face further human rights violations.
We, the undersigned ask the Secretary of State to stop the forced removal of Jean Michel Bomvoy and urgently review the policy on returns of Congolese to DR Congo. Jean Michel, who has been under the care of the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture had submitted a medico legal report documenting the torture he had suffered, however, a caseworker at UKBA rejected the professional opinion of an experienced medical practitioner trained by the Medical Foundation.
Jean Michel Bomvoy has lived in Middlesbrough since 2005, when he claimed sanctuary in the UK. He is a founding member of the Tees Valley World Drummers and is a much loved member of our community in Middlesbrough and is at the heart of the Congolese community.
He was detained on Wednesday, 17th November 2010, when he went to sign as part of the conditions of his temporary admission to the UK and his removal is set for Monday, 22nd November at 19.00 on Kenya Airways Flight KQ 101 via Nairobi. In Kinshasa, in October 2010 a Congolese man, resident in Belgium, was killed whilst in custody, following his arrest for having thrown a stone at the Presidential entourage.
In June the President of the Human Rights group, Voice of the Voiceless, was also found dead in mysterious circumstances after being summoned to a meeting with the Chief of Police, a meeting which did not take place.
The objective evidence showing the dangers of returning perceived and low level political activists to the Congo is overwhelming.
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The Jean Michel Bomvoy – HO Ref. No. B1189167/5 Torture – Not In Our Name petition to Sanctuary campaigners was written by Sanctuary_Campaigner and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.