|
|
|
|
|
|
I don't believe people should be treated this way because of their skin colour and I am determined to fight back and stay strong.
This website has been set-up to give Fijians in the UK a voice and to create awareness by publishing their stories.
Dear friends, the purpose of this website is to tell my story and let the army and judges know that what they are doing will not go unnoticed. Maybe the next time they make a racial decision they will think twice. I would also like to give you the opportunity to donate to the fund, which will help Fijians struggling in the UK by maybe paying a good lawyer or just sending some money into prison.
I have experienced, first-hand, that there is no support. I am able to work to keep myself busy in jail but, of course, I am not paid for that work. My girlfriend has been left to carry the rent, bills, to support me and pay my share of everything. I am lucky that she has quite a well-paid job but I am sure that there are other ladies out there who can not afford the horrendous rents in the UK and will face real hardship.
Thankfully, my lawyer is paid for and I receive strong support from my defending officer who could not believe what happened to me after serving this country as an excellent soldier and successfully climbing the career ladder. Other Fijians do not always receive help, morally or financially. The fund will help to lessen the hardship and return hope to those in trouble.
The appeal at the European Court of Human Right could take a long time and my time here is running out.
I have received my deportation letter on the 19th of September 2007. I only had 5 days to prepare the appeal against the deportation and return it. I was reading the letter from the Home Office. They were referring to many paragraphs which I just had no idea what they said and how to argue them. My fiance said that she will do the appeal for me and wanted to collect the papers on Saturday from prison. She was refused to take the original documents. We had to handcopy for 2 hours the 5 pages from the Home Office. What is happening in this country just leaves me without words. It just seems to me that they really want to make it impossible to appeal.
A bail application also has been handed in. The Home Office thinks I would hide and live illegally in this country. Of course I would not do that. Even if there is not much left from the life I had before this, I still have my dignity. I will move on, either we will live in Fiji or in Germany and I will make sure that as many people as possible can benefit from this website.
My bail hearing was on the 1st of October 2007. As I did not have an Immigration Lawyer thought I will attend the meeting together with Birgit, my fiance. The Home Office did send a letter to me on denying my appeal. I was not collected to attend the hearing and thought it was cancelled. Birgit and my interpreter were waiting for me at the immigration hearing centre and were told that I was on my way. After five hours of waiting and completely disheartened Birgit and my interpreter went into the hearing. The judge was great and asked the Home Office why they denied my appeal for bail. He is the person who decides who will be granted bail. I was granted bail and unconditioned release. I am at home in Putney since Tuesday night. I was supposed to be released on Monday after the hearing but the Home Office send more correspondence to the prison and tried to challenge the decision to let me go home. They tried very hard but could not change the judges decision. For the first time I have the impression that someone realises that something went badly wrong and let me go home. I can't describe how great it is to be back home after eight months in prison. I will prepare for my deportation hearing and hope I will have a great judge like the one who granted me bail.
My deporation appeal will be hold on the 24th of October 2007. The immigration lawyer we spoke to does not want to take on my case because they only take winnable cases on. This is quite sad and I fear that this is another waste of time because the decision is already taken. I most likely will be deported. I will now be informing the British Press and MPs about the injustice which has been done to me.
My fiance will quit her job in England. She will join me to Fiji in case I will be deported. In case I am not deported we will move to Germany and I will be working for our company Pacific Spirit and will promote further Pacifikana. What had happen to me should not happen to any other Fijian! I will create awareness and will help others in a situation like mine.
I am facing deportation and would kindly ask you to sign the petition for a fair trail and the petition for staying in the UK. I would be most grateful if you would send a personal letter to the home office with reasons for me to stay in the UK. Every single letter will help. For more information click here.
 
|
|
|
|
|
