Don't Let Them Deport Sebastiao Kalamandua

by ex-Pioneer Sun Feb 06, 2005 13:37

ANGOLAN MAN FACES DEATH
Don’t let them deport him

An Angolan man who fled to Ireland to escape torture and imprisonment is now threatened with deportation by the Minister for Justice. If Michael McDowell succeeds in throwing him out of the country, he faces death. He needs your support if he is to stay safely in Ireland.

Sebastiao Mpembele Kalamandua was conscripted into the Angolan army in 1999 while he was studying architecture. He was forced to take part in Angola’s civil war, and was then imprisoned after the authorities accused him of passing on classified information. In prison he was tortured, and suffered five months of solitary confinement. In 2001 he managed to escape, and reached Ireland. His wife and three children are probably still in Angola, but Sebastiao has no knowledge of their whereabouts.

Here in Ireland, Sebastiao has attended counselling at the Centre for the Care of Survivors of Torture, who have drawn up a medical report on his case. He is a volunteer with the Special Olympics, and is due to accompany the Irish team to the Special Olympics in Japan in February. He is also an unpaid apprentice with the Irish Modern Dance Theatre, and has taken part in acclaimed performances.

In November, Sebastiao was served with a deportation order from Michael McDowell. If he is deported to Angola, he is certain to face imprisonment, torture and death. The deportation has been challenged in the courts, but the Minister has the power to let him stay in Ireland on humanitarian grounds. Don’t let Sebastiao be deported to his death: support the campaign to let him stay.

What you can do:
Sign the petition demanding
that the Minister for Justice let Sebastiao stay.

Write to the Minister yourself:
Michael McDowell TD,
Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform,
94 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. ?Phone: (01) 4988084 / 6183491 / 6028202/ 1890 221227. ?Fax: (01) 6628026 / 4988087 / 6615461.
E-mail: minister@justice.ie.

Get your TD or councillor to raise the case with him.
Get your trade union or community organisation to support the campaign.

RESIDENTS AGAINST RACISM
24-hour helpline: 087 6662060 or 087 7974622
c/o 12A Brunswick Place, Dublin 2 residentsagainstracism@eircom.net

by NTR Sun Feb 06, 2005 15:38

History repeating?

by pc Sun Feb 06, 2005 16:38

Nigerina Embassy: noyhing ever bad happens in our country?
Angolan Embassy nothing ever bad happens in our country?

by NTR Sun Feb 06, 2005 17:02

Silly me for thinking the relevant Embassies, Amnesty International, the UN High Commisioner for Refugees, the High Court, the Irish Government etc etc having thoroughly and meticulously investigated the claim, at great expense, know slightly more than RAR about this matter . My abject apologies.

Perhaps you will prove the claim here with some relevant proof/information/links that have brought you to the conclusion that this is still a valid claim and explain why the aformentioned agencies failed to act on them.

Have RAR representatives in these Countries validating claims?

Then, just to clear all matters up, how about explaining how Ireland was the first safe country this particular individual encountered.

by Del Sun Feb 06, 2005 20:11

What crime is he accused of?

We have to remember that RAR are often very quick to demand that those facing death sentences should be allowed to stay no matter what, regardless of what crime they might have committed.

So, what crime is he accused of back in Angola?

by NTR Sun Feb 06, 2005 20:27

The RAR article states:

(Sebastiao Mpembele Kalamandua was conscripted into the Angolan army in 1999 while he was studying architecture. He was forced to take part in Angola’s civil war, and was then imprisoned after the authorities accused him of passing on classified information. In prison he was tortured, and suffered five months of solitary confinement.)

What remains unclear is how this story remains unsubstantiated by anyone (except RAR?), how this man escaped solitary confinement, his method and means of appearing in Ireland, why he was not killed when in prison or why critical information concerning his present whereabouts is posted here for the entire world to see if he truly is in need of protection..

by hhhmmmm Mon Feb 07, 2005 10:05

What we have here now is Tony using a different name but the same tactic of espousing nonsense. Nobody should respond to this person.

by Duine Mon Feb 07, 2005 16:56

Tagaim le ntr anseo.
Is fearr stuaim i leith éagóracha seachas rachtáil i leith gach snag nach dtaithníonn linn