[sheffield-noborders] SARAH HATA AND FAMILY - EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF WIGAN COUNCIL CALLED FOR 07-12-05

Sun Nov 27 14:26:55 GMT 2005

Please accept my apologies if you have received this email in error.

Dear Friends

After some initial difficulties and delay Wigan Council have agreed to the
above meeting to discuss the plight of Sarah Hata and her family and also of
other families in the Borough.

The date, time and venue of the meeting is the 7th December 2005 at 18:00
hours (6:00 pm) in the Town Hall Council Chamber, Hewlett Street, Wigan.

Please come and voice your support for Sarah Hata and her family and also
for the Cuni family.

I suggest that we meet outside the Town Hall at 17:15 hours (5:15 pm).  

There is limited space in the Public Gallery and admission is on a first
come first served basis.

Those who can't get in to the Public Gallery can greet the Councillors
outside as they arrive and lobby them for their support for the motions
being put to Council.

The Extraordinary Council meeting is scheduled on the same night as the
Annual Council Christmas Dinner which commences at 19:30 hours (7:30 pm).

Thank you for your support.

Councillor Peter Franzen 

Community Action Party

Leader of Wigan Council Opposition

BACKGROUND

On Sunday 16th October Sarah Hata and her five children were seized by
Immigration Officials and taken from their home in Wigan, to Yarl's Wood
Removal Centre. They were escorted to 3 planes within 48 hours to be
deported to Uganda.

Campaigners acted quickly and lobbied the airlines on the first two attempts
but Sarah didn't get the chance to tell her supporters about the third
attempt. On the fourth attempt, the family was deported to Uganda.

Dr Frank Arnold MB ChB FRCS, Sarah's doctor and a member of Medical Justice
Network, explained "The children were terrified and the youngest boy had an
epileptic fit on the aeroplane while an attempt was being made to remove
them from this country.  He was suffering from sever pain in his chest and
back from a forceful and inappropriate attempt to revive him.  During his
epileptic fit his mother was prevented from going to help him and his sister
was injured by her head being forced under the food tray attached to the
seat in front of her." 

Bill Burrows, spokesman for Friends of Sarah Campaign explained that "the
Hata Family are now in Uganda, in fear and hiding."

Dr Arnold said that "I last saw them at 8pm on Tuesday 25th October and
understand they were taken without warning some five hours later. They were
put on a plane to Uganda at 1:30 am on Wednesday 26th October 2005. No
attempt was made to protect them from malaria before they were returned and
as I understand, Sarah and several of her children now have malaria."

Bill Burrows explained "Sarah came to the UK in 2002.  She says was
imprisoned in Uganda for five years, was tortured and raped. But no medical
report on her scars of torture was used in her asylum case"

Dr Frank Arnold said "I have seen a report from a consultant psychiatrist
which states that she is suffering post traumatic stress disorder as a
result of her experience in detention in Uganda."

"Peace Kasonko [Sarah's 11 year old daughter] is in the same class as my ten
year old daughter" explained Ruth Fisher, one of the many who is campaigning
for the family's return. "My daughter and her friends are devastated by
Peace's "disappearance", in spite of the half term holiday from school, and
they are making posters and writing letters to the Prime Minister "to give
Peace a chance". As elected Chair of Governors at the primary school that
these children attend, I can perhaps voice the distress and confusion that
staff and children are experiencing over this family's removal from our
midst. The entire family have integrated very successfully into the
community and have made many friends. Sarah is a student at the local FE
college and has become proficient in written and spoken English. The
children have all been doing well in their studies at local schools. The
family have taken part in many local activities and are a loving, caring
family who do not hesitate to help others."

Sarah's three eldest children Dennis (15), Hope (14) and Maureen (13)
attended St Thomas More RC High 

School where the teachers say they are a pleasure to teach and an example to
all the school's pupils.

The two youngest children, Peace (11) and Moris (9), both attended St
Cutbert's Junior School.  Teachers there have given glowing reports about
the children and say they are very much a part of the school.  Peace is a
very popular and intelligent girl and was voted one of four House Captains
by pupils and staff at the school recently.

The entire Hata family are all very highly thought of at St. Cuthbert's
church which they have attended regularly, and where Dennis and Moris are
altar boys - the church has come to depend on them as they do 2 alter
services each weekend.  The parish priest and the church actively support
the family's campaign.

Dennis plays with a local football team.  Moris plays for a local rugby team
and has even been contacted by Wigan Rugby League who also support the
family's campaign.

The high regard for the family within the community is demonstrated by the
large number of people who have signed a petition requesting that they be
allowed to stay in this country"

Ruth Fisher had said before the family were deported that "Sarah is
absolutely terrified of being deported to Uganda and facing imprisonment and
torture again.  All the children are scared - they want to come home and get
back to school."

Another of the family's many friends said that the Hata children had come to
stay many times at her house and that she knows Moris had been wetting his
bed and praying obsessively.

Source: Friends of Sarah Campaign

POSTSCRIPT

Since this report the plight of Sarah Hata and her children has deteriorated
considerably.

The economic situation in Kampala is bad with almost half the population
unemployed and living in poverty.

Not long after their arrival in Kampala the family were attacked and beaten
by a mob and two of the girls were stripped almost naked. They were only
saved from a worse fate by a soldier who drew his gun.

Following the recent arrest of political opposition leaders there has been
civil unrest and shooting on the streets of Kampala.

On a trip to a clinic Sarah and Denis were caught up in a riot and suffered
physical injuries and the effects of teargassing.

The family are living in fear afraid to go out.

They have no money for food, shelter and clothing other that the very small
amounts that supporters here have been able to get to them.

The medical state of the family and particularly the mental state of Sarah
is now a major concern.

Communications that I have received from two of the children in the past few
days are chilling and leave me in no doubt that their situation is now
critical.

Councillor Peter Franzen

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