National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC)
110 Hamstead Road
Birmingham B20 2QS
Phone: 0121-554-6947 Fax: 0870-055-4570
E-mail ncadc@ncadc.demon.co.uk
Web site: http://www.ncadc.demon.co.uk/
Urgent Help Wanted: Germany Calling
Stop the Deportation of Akubuo!!
Nigerian political activist Akubuo Anusonwu Chukwudi, prominent in
the 'Caravan for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants' is facing
imminent deportation. Only the naive will believe that the decision
of the German authorities to deport him, just after he had organised
a very well publicised campaign about the diabolical conditions in
the refugee camp where he lives, is unrelated.
This is not the first time that Akubuo has faced the vengeance of the
German authorities. In Autumn 1998, immediately after the five week
protest demonstration through 44 German cities by the 'Caravan for
the Rights of Refugees and Migrants', Akubuo, who took part
throughout this protest, was whisked into a deportation prison with
obscene haste. His deportation was prevented at the very last minute
by energetic protests, which included an international fax campaign
driven by publicity on the internet,
demonstrations and the intervention of Nigerian human rights
activists. This was possible because Akubuo had won the respect of
many people because of his strong political commitment to fight for
the rights of refugees and migrants in Germany and for justice and
democracy in Nigeria. A matter of hours before Akubuo was to be
deported, the responsible Administrative Court in Schwerin decided to
suspend his deportation and conceded that deportation of the
political activist could endanger his life.
If they are successful in deporting Akubuo now, it is not only a
massive blow to the 'Caravan for the Rights of Refugees and
Migrants', it is also an attack on all those who oppose racism in
Germany. We ask all those with an interest in justice to join this
emergency campaign. More information in
different languages will be available on the internet.
Urgent and wide support is necessary to stop the deportation of
Akubuo. There is a model letter below but if you can, please take the
time to write personally. There is a full background to the case on
NCADC's web site, which
has many points that could be incorporated
into a letter.
Model letter:
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"Innenminister des Landes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Dr Gottfried Timm
Arsenal am Pfaffenteich
Karl Marx - Str 1
19055 Schwerin
Fax: 00-49-385-588-2974
Dear Dr Gottfried Timm,
I am appalled to hear that the German government is considering
deporting the political activist Akubuo Anusonwu Chukwudi to Nigeria.
I am further disturbed to learn that the motivation for his
deportation is due to his fight for the rights of other refugees. If
Akubuo is to be deported for fighting against racism and exposing the
real problems faced by refugees in Germany - then the much publicised
'fight against racism' that the German government is carrying out
seems to me to be complete hypocrisy. Is this much publicised fight
against neo-fascists only to paint an attractive picture of Germany
to promote its economic interests, or is it also to protect the lives
and rights of refugees?
Akubuo is a well known activist in the 'Caravan of the Rights of
Refugees and Migrants'. Apart from the fact that he clearly faces
danger if deported to Nigeria, he should be allowed to stay in
Germany because he fights racism. If the German government is serious
in fighting racism then it should applaud Akubuo's work - not punish
him with deportation to torture and possible death.
Yours sincerely,"
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If you can please send a copy of the fax to the
Coordination Office
Caravan for the Rights of the Refugees and Migrants
International Human Rights Association
Wachmannstr. 81, 28209 Bremen
Germany
Fax: 00-49-421-557-7094 from outside the UK +-49-421-557-7094