Siva must stay! Father to be Separated from Children

bristol | protests | feature Tuesday December 14, 2010 12:08 by No One is Illegal - bristol refugee rights

Pics and report from demo today on College Green

Siva is a 26 year old fatherwho will be separated from his two childre if he is deported back to Sri Lanka. He has been living in the UK since he was 14 years old. Last Tuesday, he was sent to Campsfield detention centre where he began a hunger strike. Monday marks the fifth day of this. Siva is a much loved member of his community in Bristol, often cooking for 130 people at the Bristol Refugee Rights welcome centre. He is a keen cricketer, having been a member of two cricket teams here. No one is illegal - Bristol refugee Rights writes;

Around thirty friends and supporters staged a cricket themed demonstrationas he was part of two local teams. We held placards that showed Siva's face and that of his two young children, who he is at risk of being separated from.

Bristol has become Siva’s home and he has many friends here. He is a valued member of two local cricket teams and the Refugee Welcome Centre where he regularly volunteers to cook lunch for 130 people. Caroline Beatty, Manager of the Refugee Welcome Centre, said. “Siva has lived half his life in UK . It is abhorrent suddenly to uproot someone like this.'

Siva’s local MP Stephen Williams is supprting the call to halt the deportation. “Siva is an amazing young man, full of life and positive energy; he is a spark of inspiration to us all.”, Said Rowan Matthiessen one of the protesters. This is his 5th day of hunger strike, but we spoke to Siva by phone, and from the filthy cell at Heathrow detention centre and he was cheered on by knowing we were there.

What you can do, Sign petitiion at http://www.petition.co.uk/halt-the-deportation-of-siva-...ajah- Please send letter of support to local MP Stephen Williams directly on stephenwilliamsmp@government.uk quoting his full name, (Siva Rajah) and HO reference, S1338998

Full Story | Siva must stay in Bristol- demo today 13th | Siva must stay! | WikiLeaks: US Cable accuses Sri Lanka president of war crimes (channel 4) | bristolrefugeerights.org

BRR demo