Asylum seekers
"it is time for asylum seekers and humanity as a whole to fight back"
Gabriel's Letters
Gabriel Nkwelle was imprisoned for eleven months in various detention centres and prisons in the UK.
He has tirelessly campaigned against detention and the conditions faced by himself and his fellow detainees and his letters, sent while in detention, are an inspiration.
He has given us permission to reproduce his letters, which are a heavy indictment of the system of immigrant detention.
HMP Rochester
09-10-00
Dear Sir/Madam,
Appeal For Urgent Intervention
Fellow human beings, fellow mankind, it is with great sincerity that I make this desperate appeal for your timely intervention in the horrifying and pathetic plight of asylum seekers in UK detained at HMP Rochester, Kent under Immigration Act 1971.
A subjected people have by right under universal standards and human principles the obligation to seek redress by any means internationally acceptable.
I hold the view that all men were created equal and by virtue of their existence are vested with certain inalienable rights to be the sole masters of their destiny.
This has not been the case with asylum seekers in UK detained at HMP Rochester who from the beginning, because of their accommodating attitudes, have been slowly stripped of their human rights. With the oppressors mechanism of 02/10100, now working full time to completely dehumanise and emasculate our people no matter what means including genocide. It is therefore time for asylum seekers in Rochester, Kent, and humanity as a whole to fight back.
Many people may not readily understand or agree with the reasons why asylum seekers should be clamouring to restore their rights equally as any other human being.
Asylum seekers detained at the notorious HMP Rochester, are treated worse than convicted criminals detained at the same HMP. Asylum seekers are held indefinitely without trial or initial decision on a claim made. This decision is taken by the immigration Service which does not explain the decision in detail to the persons concerned.
Asylum seekers held at HMP Rochester, Kent, have fewer rights than suspected criminals and often do not understand why they are being held indefinitely.
Not surprisingly, this causes mental anguish among detainees, many of whom may have already survived horrendous ordeals in their own countries. The whole process of asylum seeking and being detained for a lengthy period of time in UK, is extremely humiliating and distressing.
The way to refugee status, is a long way to go. At HMP Rochester, Kent, the Echo and Delta wings where asylum seekers are been detained for this lengthy period, has rectangular dimensions of sixty by fourteen metres.
Cells are four by four metres, toilet included, two inmates per cell. The sixty by six metres at the middle of the two buildings is for games. Inmates are not allowed to move beyond the sixty by six metres area. Echo wing houses one hundred and fifteen whilst Delta about sixty five inmates. Out of twenty four hours a day, you are allowed six hours only at the sixty by six metres area, whilst for eighteen hours you are locked up in your cell.
Being locked up, makes you appreciate your freedom. Out of everything in life, losing your freedom is the hardest situation to deal with. No one listens in our society any more. If you put a foot wrong, you are never forgiven; "you are not allowed to forget’. We should learn to forgive and forget for we can always reshape the future, but we can’t reshape the past.
After months/years of incarceration the following are mentally deranged. Shi (Chinese), Saglam (Turk), Nwange (Kenyan), Fal (Gambian), Shayanghi (Iraqi), Hammidou Deraji (Algerian), etc.
Inmates had attempted serious self-harm and nobody cares. Medication is a forgotten issue, if you happen to be sick, the grave should be your next home. Both medical and wing staff abuse asylum seekers racially, call them Kunta Kinte and used words like you all will be deported poor people, to the black coloured monkeys".
It’s awful. I can’t tell how awful I feel. The secret self ever more secret, unhappy misled; "unless you know where you are, you don’t known who you are."
In a recent survey of 02/10/00, a Rumanian (Kvec) was seriously brutalised by five Echo wing members of staff (Archibald RCO5G, Brads RC062, S 0 Gamble RCO2O, Henderson RC096 and Mather RCO112) in my presence and others inmates for doing absolutely nothing.
A Kenyan that has been detained for fifteen months by Immigration Service without trial, roasted himself in his cell on the night of October 5th. None of the inmates knows his whereabouts as from that night to date. Life without freedom is a high price to pay.
Asylum seekers are kept in prison without charge, the sound of doors slamming and the ever constant keys echoing around the wing, become our early morning wake up. If we are on remand, when are we going to be sentenced? It’s a question without an answer.
Expired food stuffs are always given to asylum seekers at HMP Rochester. When questioned, you are threatened to be taken to the segregation unit. On September 25th a verbal system was implemented by the governor, whereby asylum seekers detained at HMP Rochester must work seven hours in a workshop job for 0.25 pence per hour. He who refuses, is locked up till those in the workshop are back in the wing.
Today October 10th inmates are served with the workshop compulsory memo. I enclose a copy. For God’s sake, where on earth is an adult human being forced to do a job not of his/her choice and to be paid 0.25 pence/hour? Is it modern slavery? Where are we? Third world or first world? Some inmates have been trying to draw the attention of media, but once you are noticed, you are transferred to the segregation unit.
On the day I was to publish my appeal for urgent intervention, a member of education department whose name was not made known to me, betrayed me to the governor. At about 13.10 hours, five members of staff (Whooten, Grimes, Henderson RC 096, Breds RC 062 and Virdler RC 158) rushed into my cell, moved out my inmate Ndoma TD 0534 to the TV room and seized all the appeal papers printed ready to be dispatched. That governor Lewis ordered the seizure.
As a detainee have I not got the right to express my view to the media?
We leave at tiptoe stance never knowing what to expect next as thousands of asylum seekers live in internal exile being continuously hunted for out right elimination like dogs. To us as people, there can be neither peace nor progress where unrestrained repression, assimilation, exploitation and human inequality reign supreme.
To you comrades, also battling your own personal hell; I wish you courage and with God’s blessings a happy ending to all your woes. It will also help all of us disadvantaged people, to get together and aid each other in any way possible.
To all of you, whom God has blessed with justice, humanity’s most cherished gift, human dignity and freedom, help us, the not so fortunate so we can have a semblance of it someday.
The situation now brewing here at HMP Rochester, has the potential of making the asylum seekers the flash point of a dangerous regional conflict. I call on you people to render any help you can to asylum seekers held at HMP Rochester.
The gratitude of asylum seekers will know no bounds. God crown our efforts with success and may he bless us all.
If you have any queries concerning the contents of this appeal, please do not hesitate to contact the writer,
Yours sincerely,
(signed)
Nkwelle Gabriel A(Human Rights Activist (HRDG) no. 11344 Cameroon)
22/1/ 2001
HOHC Haslar
ASYLUM SEEKERS FACING LIFE IN PRISONS (BEHIND BARS)
Kindly permit me to bring to your notice the appalling treatment that Immigration detainees are being subjected to in prisons following the Home Office announcement of June 1994 to keep Immigration Act detainees in five prisons.
The UK state of affairs is so de-humanising it contradicts the Human Rights of all concerned. Immigration detainees comprise mainly asylum seekers and others who, for one reason or the other, are being held for an unnecessarily lengthy period by the Immigration Authorities.
The treatment meted out to detainees held in prisons makes me wonder if we are actually detainees or prisoners on death row. Why are detainees held in prisons? This is the first bit of the whole story which I cannot comprehend.
Not only are detainees held in prisons, but they get far worse treatment in here than convicted criminals found guilty by the law courts.
The detention of people who have already suffered so greatly is, from any moral standpoint, inadmissable. Detention of torture survivors causes serious mental and emotional effects. It compounds the effects of previous detentions. Further detention puts torture victims in circumstances of relative isolation, often exacerbated by the barrier of lack of language, thereby increasing the likelihood of their re-living and fixating upon past horrors, of increased anxiety and distress, of the possibility of self-harm and suicide.
The majority of detainees must have gone through horrendous ordeals in their own countries and being banged up in prison on arrival in UK is just away over the top.
The way I view it, the whole system has been designed to strip immigration detainees of humanity, to cause maximum frustration and to degrade detainees. The underlying issue regarding asylum seeking is being liable to persecution in a particular country. Why then does a detainee have to face this anguish in UK having escaped to this country to seek asylum.
Lengthy detention is another cause of concern. Some detainees are held at the so-called detention centres (prisons) for months/years with little or nothing being effected on their case. Amongst the five prisons holding immigration detainees, HMCIP Haslar, (to which the Home Secretary announced a change of name to HOHC in January 1993; a change existing only in White Papers) houses 160 detainees in dormitories A to H. A Dormitory houses 19, B 22, D 37, E 36, G 36 and H 10 detainees.
At HOHC (Prison) Haslar at the time of writing, some detainees have undergone this horrendous ordeal for from one month to twenty one months and above, with medical reports which should permit their release.
But the immigration Authorities do not appear minded to release them, eg David Smith, Ragavan Ramswami , Abdul Cader, Patrick Madila, Kumbu Kamalandua , Krishna Kumar and many others. These detainees have spent what is tantamount to a three year prison sentence! For what? Mainly for being immigration detainees.
Why should prison rules apply to detainees when they are not on remand or convicted? Why, as detainees, do we have to spend more time on "bang up"? It gets worse on Wednesdays with staff training, a process whereby occupants of dormitories are locked up all morning or all afternoon and evening.
The psychological torture, the "bang ups" and the harrowing experience of being detained for lengthy periods takes such a heavy toll on some detainees that they end up in hospitals or mental institutions!
During the month of May/June 2000, an Egyptian detained at HOHC Prison Haslar spontaneously signed to go back to Egypt. As a result of getting no reply from the Immigration Service, and of having no knowledge of what was going to happen the next day, he became so frustrated and distressed that he wounded himself badly. He ended up being admitted to a medical institution from Haslar prison.
Furthermore, the heavy handedness of prison staff must be addressed. A misunderstanding on 13.12.00 will highlight this. Detainee Doven Tohlor a Jamaican was told by a member of staff (HR040) on 12.12.00 in D Dormitory to take his feet off a chair, which he did. The next day about 10 of us were sitting with our feet on other chairs when the same officer came in.
He fetched another officer, went direct to Doven and told him to take his feet off the chair, which he did without protest. The only protest was from me. I said that it was unfair to pick on Doven. On 14.12.00, an officer came and told Doven he was going to hospital. By the time we came back from education, Doven had left, not for hospital, but for H.M. Prison, Rochester.
On 27.12.00 and 07.01.01 respectively, despite the fact that racial or insulting language is unacceptable under prison rules, detainee Nkwelle was insulted by officer (HR020) on the first occasion and by officer (HR015) on the second.
On both occasions the officers asked about keys and both officers called the detainee "a stupid....." Witnesses to the drama are Oguniyi, Augustine, Yu, Suh, Kiam, Henry Smith and David Smith. These matters were reported to the Governor, Mr Riach, on 8 January 2001.
Unfortunately, action has not been taken. If a detainee voices his displeasure at all, the prison staff are quick to remind him to "piss off back to your own country".
The language barrier means that these officers get away with so much insulting language that detainees do not understand and which I do not care to go into. If you are bold enough to point out the wrongs they do, they will tell you where to jump and remind you that you won’t be getting even with them by the time you get to HM. Prison, Rochester. I strongly believe some of the prison staff are staunch members of BNP.
The food is not good either. It is as if the expired foodstuffs from the supermarket are earmarked for detainees’ consumption at HOHC Prison Haslar. Expired foodstuffs best before October 13th 2000 were cooked and served to detainees during the months of November and December, and up to 7th January 2001.
Likewise expired bread best before 23rd December 2000 was served up to January 7th 2001 on the instruction of power hungry kitchen staff Mr Monks.
A detainee, Nkwelle, employed to work in the kitchen was bold enough to question the staff in charge of the kitchen, Mr Monks, why expired food has to be cooked and served to detainees. The prison staff responded "Do you know how much money the government spends on detainees? Why shouldn’t they consume expired food?"
Because of Nkwelle’s boldness in questioning Mr Monks, his contract to work in the kitchen got terminated on 06.01.01 by Deputy Governor, Mr R. Crew, without any enquiries being made of Nkwelle. Governor R. Crew’s reaction without inquiry shows he is associated with Mr Monks’ poor misconduct in cooking expired food for detainees’ consumption.
On 08.01.01 this matter was reported to Governor, Mr Riach, who made an urgent inquiry. From his inquiries, he found the allegation positive. He then ordered kitchen staff Mr Monks, to throw away all expired food stock at the main store and kitchen store.
This confirmation took place at the prison office at about 14.20 hours before me and other prison staff. This incident implies that consumption of expired food by immigration detainees held in prisons is a daily routine because the same incident occurred at HMP Rochester as I reported in my Appeal for Urgent Intervention letter of October 2000.
The heating system in the dormitories in HOHC Prison, Haslar, is very old and appears overdue for major maintenance. It is not adequate to heat the dormitories in the cold winter weather. The cubicles are heated only by a pipe running along the wall. The standard issue of clothing is not enough to keep detainees warm during the day and two thin blankets are not enough at night.
In most of the dormitories, the cubicles in which detainees sleep have no door, no curtains on the window and the partitions do not go up to the ceiling. Detainees have no privacy and no respite from the noise of TV and of other detainees. This contributes much to their depression.
It is not an effective use of detention space to detain people for lengthy periods before a decision is taken on their claim. It is abundantly clear that in the actions of the Immigration Service, there is little or no consistency or logic in the current arrangements for using prisons for detention, nor in the way that prisons used for detention are managed, if there is a cordial relation between detainees and prison staff.
I strongly believe that the use of prisons to detain immigration detainees is a corrupting experience, particularly in the case of asylum seekers.
I implore you people to, please, look into these atrocities and demand from the Immigration Authorities reasons why immigration detainees are held in prisons when there are proper detention centres. Why are immigration detainees treated differently? At the end of the day, immigration detainees are not different from any other human being. They are not criminals and refuse to be treated as such, or even worse than criminals.
As regards the expired food allegations, it is not that other detainees are not aware. They are, but they are scared to speak out. Kitchen workers such as James Alao, Patrick Madila, Kuznbu, Kiam, Mathieu etc can testify.
I have already been victimised by HMP Rochester and HOHC Prison Haslar prison staff, likewise immigration authorities, for daring to speak out on the poor treatment meted out to immigration detainees held in prison.
If, as a result, I am murdered like General Beausoleil in Togo, Dr Hanson in an accident in Tanzania etc, or like other asylum seekers abroad, it would still be worth it because killing the messenger does not kill the message.
This letter therefore could be regarded as the first course in a restaurant, meant to whet the appetite for the main dish that could follow one day. If you, however, find it too salty then I alone am the bad cook.
Yours sincerely,
Gabriel A. Nkwelle
Human Rights Activist (HRDG) Cameroon with reg. no.11344
10 February 2001
HMP Belmarsh
At HMP Belmarsh Asylum Seekers (Immigration Detainees) are mixed up on Spur or Wing and in Cells with Remand and Convicted Prisoners
I cannot believe that anyone could imagine that detaining Asylum Seekers, or any other human being, in prison is the right thing to do.
The plan to increase the number in detention in the U.K. is absolutely ridiculous. The U.K. detains asylum seekers in prison for longer periods, with less judicial review, than any comparable country in Europe.
Despite worldwide criticism, politicians are using the asylum issue to gain an election advantage and are now suggesting that the policy of detention will not only be maintained in future, but will be expanded to include all asylum seekers. The Conservative Party announced recently that their policy of detaining asylum seekers in prison "will have a significant deterrent effect on those travelling to U.K. to seek asylum".
I do not agree that it is the answer to solving concerns about immigration. People who are fleeing are desperate. They will take any risk to get here and detention won’t stop that.
In the history of the western world, Australia has been the only western country that detains asylum seekers in prison and it has repeatedly faced criticism from the U.N. bodies. Today this policy has been enacted in the U.K. and U.K. is leading this race.
I have heard and read many dramatic stories of how foreign nationals can be maltreated if he or she opposes or exposes the British government or Prison Administration. I am a victim of such circumstances. The question I would like to pose is : Is this country practising democracy or dictatorship?
My appeal for Urgent Intervention letter of October 9th 2000 against HMP Rochester administration and the Immigration authorities resulted in a removal from HMP Rochester on November 23rd 2000 to HOHC (Prison) Haslar.
HOHC (Prison) Haslar, being controlled by prison staff, is no different in its regime against asylum seekers held there. Today I have again exposed HOHC (Prison) Haslar administration and the Immigration authorities’ ill treatment of asylum seekers held in there in my letter of 22/01/01 "Asylum Seekers Facing Life in Prisons (Behind Bars)."
I have been moved unexpectedly from HOHC (Prison) Haslar to HMP Belmarsh on February 2nd 2001 as a punishment for my letter.
Such a bitter experience also happened to a Nigerian asylum seeker ENIOLA ADEWALE who was moved from Glasgow YMCA to Leicester on 11.08.2000 for speaking the truth. Ref NCADC Newsletter issue 21 Jan/Feb/March 2001. I consider this a crime against humanity.
Reaching HMP Belmarsh, that became one of the prisons holding asylum seekers in October/ November 2000, what I witness in the treatment meted out to immigration detainees held here is unbelievable, unacceptable to today’s society and unwelcoming. It is against human nature.
a) Asylum seekers are mixed up on spur or wing and in cells with convicted criminals and remand prisoners.
b) Asylum seekers are "Banged up" twenty three hours out of twenty four hours a day and some days they are "Banged up" twenty four hours.
c) No access to incoming calls or FAX to/from solicitors in case of emergency or urgent letter/message.
d) Asylum seekers are allowed to go to the canteen once a week and for one hour, 30 minutes or two hours only. If you happen to be late, no canteen for you that week.
e) No respect for asylum seekers. Words like "the government is spending more on asylum seekers" and bullying by prison staff become first and second nature to asylum seekers at Belmarsh. Despite the fact that bullying or racial language is unacceptable under prison rules.
f) Bibs must be worn by asylum seekers while in the social visits hall.
g) The food standard is another issue to be addressed. Poor cooking; rice is served to detainees often without sauce; quantity and quality of food served is unbearable. If you ask for more food, despite the poor quality, which only a few detainees like me are bold enough to ask, the reply you get from prison staff is "if you are not happy with the food, you find your way back to your country".
On February 6th 2001, I put in an application to see the number one Governor, which I have already discussed with a member of staff, Mr Wilson.
He gave me the go ahead. Unfortunately this application was turned down by a female member of staff; Bond (BA 144), who said that I am not allowed to see the governor as a detainee. I consider her words abuse of Article 10 and 14 of the Human Rights Act.
Ali Walled, a Somalian asylum seeker detained at Belmarsh house block 3, was physically assaulted by a member of staff, Mr Mackenzie, on February 12th 2001 at about 11.50 am.
Ali Walled had toothache. He drew the attention of a member of staff. Mr Mackenzie came. Instead of taking Ali to health care, he moved out Ali’s cell mate and butted Ali, beat his back on the wall, saying "you bloody fucking African. If you are sick go back to Africa".
Mr Mackenzie was accompanied by two other members of staff - Marshall and a Chinese officer (BA168). I refer Mr Mackenzie’s act to Schedule I, Article 3 of the Human Rights Act, as explained by para 3.24 of the Home Office Study Guide. Inmates opposite, Abdullah Wallid and Bendif Karnal witnessed this.
There have been threats of mass suicide from asylum seekers detained in HMP Belmarsh as well as many attempted escapes. These are the reactions of desperate human beings who, having fled persecution in their own countries, suffer further hardship under Britain’s much criticised mandatory detention regime.
Despite the fact that freedom from arbitrary deprivation of liberty is a Fundamental human right - Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that" No one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile."
Despite political assurances that such a policy is intended for the benefit of "genuine" asylum seekers, the reality is that detention is a simplistic and ill-conceived method of deterring future arrivals of asylum seekers in the UK.
A suitable welcome for asylum seekers would be one that validates their freedom, rather than placing them behind bars again. I hold the view that every asylum seeker who is detained in prison for long is in some way damaged by the experience.
What incenses me is that the UK government have learnt absolutely nothing from comparable dispersal programmes on other continents where dispersal programmes are imploding. In stead of copying from other continents where asylum seekers are being treated as any other human being, the UK government is repeating the same mistakes.
If the dispersal of asylum seekers had been voluntary, it would have been one thing, and would proceed with the positive endorsement by government ministers on the enrichment asylum seekers bring to today’s society. Take the example from Germany and other European countries where asylum seekers are allowed to work and generate income to the country and feel as free as any other human being.
What I have experienced in the UK Government is that, for the first time in Europe, it is disappointing to recognise institutionalised racism - which is a complete complacency over the corrosive effect that xenophobic language and stereotyping has on public debate. I do not doubt that putting asylum seekers in prison is a means that UK politicians are using to gain public support during the forthcoming general election.
Stigmatisation by Government Ministers, political parties (Conservative) and media alike of asylum seekers as bogus; the constant Dutch auction between political parties (eg Conservatives) over asylum numbers has had a corrosive effect on political and popular culture and has helped shape hostile reactions locally to asylum seekers.
Some of the worst examples of popular opposition to asylum seekers to date have come from the Conservative Party which has led to vociferous campaigns in UK politics. The tabloids have been blatantly relentless in their vilification of refugees. People whose prejudices have been formed by the media are not only attacking asylum seekers. They are also attacking people of so-called visible ethnic minorities.
I have made very few dents in the armour of an increasingly aggressive asylum regime by the UK Government. I understand and it is quite staggeringly clear that the UNHCR has been urging the UK Government to abandon the practice of arbitrary detention for the simple reason that it is inhumane and a violation of basic human rights.
Imagine, at any point, as a British human being, you go to bed or wake up, there are other human beings being locked up in prisons when the only crime committed is seeking asylum in Britain.
It is a depressing thought, most especially when you think what many have gone through before getting here. This will have after effects on the young generation for we can forgive and forget, but history will never forgive or forget. Nobody considers a place where your parents are not citizens to be his/her home. Home is Montego Bay.
To be at home you need to feel at home and be at ease at all times with your surroundings.
That could never be completely possible in a society where the majority of the citizens, at any point of time, could come up to you and ask you "what are you doing here in UK ?" and tell you to "go back home you asylum seeker."
I always have the sound of harsh screams in my heart where my soul is shattered, shaking and deeply crying, but without tears coming out. Although I am miles away from my homeland, I can still live and breathe the sorrow and darkness of my people’s panting in Africa.
It is a tragedy of a great continent, such as Africa, where you can find all resources, for her people to be classified today by the Western world as third class people, where prison is the only suitable place to keep those claiming asylum in UK. This is the same continent from which some of the western world is still breathing from.
Why and for whose interest is the UK Government keeping people from this great continent in prison for seeking asylum ? I am addressing this question to the civilised world, to the Government who share a major part in such inhuman, degrading and frustrating treatment of other human beings.
I don’t hate British, French, Germans, Netherlands, Americans or other citizens whose states are destroying our countries in Africa on a daily basis. I only hate injustice and the removal of the right to a good standard of life for any person. I raise my hand to object against these wrong UK policies on asylum seekers. That is my main concern.
The UK is not the only country with high asylum applications. Statistics show other European countries with high asylum applications, e.g. Germany, Switzerland, France, Netherlands and Belgium as well.
Can any parent in the entire world today imagine his/her baby or child without healthy milk? Why is the UK Government continuously keeping asylum seekers in prison without proper feeding or regime? Could you bear, as an individual or family, this ill treatment of mankind by the British Government?
Why are asylum seekers paying this price? Why? What are the benefits of this poor treatment? Why add hatred among the young generation? Are we calling for a third world war? I write this awaiting the reaction of HMP Belmarsh administration, either transfer again, dead or alive, only God knows.
Despite the humanitarian disaster which camps on me like the black shadow of a tent, I can still touch the rainbow of hopes and wishes inside asylum seekers’ souls and hearts, just like the group of candles they used to light in the flow of the Tigris river.
Although I and other asylum seekers face waxes of sadness and sorrow, I will never ever surrender. I derive sustenance from the fact that God gave me the courage to do what I had to do for the freedom of asylum seekers in UK.
Regardless of whether I shall survive my detention in UK or not, I assure you, The Prison and immigration Authorities, that my letters are irrevocable and irreversible. I therefore urge the UK Government to grant asylum seekers full freedom of this esteemed country.
I am still languishing in detention. When I am finally released I shall provide a detailed account of my own personal experience as an asylum seeker prisoner in the torture chambers of the UK Government.
I do appreciate the efforts of those who have been encouraging and been so sympathetic to the appalling treatment meted out to me by the UK Prisons Authorities and the Immigration Service, whose names cannot be mentioned for security reasons.
If any other asylum seeker or organisation can liaise about this ill treatment meted out to immigration detainees, please do, for the sake of the world tomorrow.
Finally "TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST. BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO"! I quote Robert Schuller.
Yours sincerely,
Gabriel A. Nkwelle
Human Rights Activist (HRDG) Cameroon with reg. no. 1134