Residency for Ashleigh McMaster

To:  The Home Secretary, Rt. Hon. Charles Clarke

We, the undersigned, ask you to reconsider the case of Ashleigh McMaster, whose country of origin is Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia, an ex-colony of Gt. Britain, a country to whom we owe loyalty and have some responsibility.

Rhodesia, after all, was one of several Commonwealth countries who volunteered their young men to fight, and some to die; alongside British forces in World War II – yet we treat their descendents abysmally.

Ashleigh came to Britain as a minor aged 17, initially on holiday, to spend time with her father and his 2nd family. She is living with her father, her stepmother (who recently qualified as a Legal Executive), and her half brother and sister, who adore her. The family support her financially and have made no claim on the State for any benefits. They are well respected, their children are doing well at school and they have integrated into the community.

Because of the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, which is worsening day by day, her father, decided to do his level best to keep her safe, here with his family. He took the proper, legal route to apply to the Home Office for Residency for her, He initially won the case, but the Home Office subsequently appealed and the appeal was upheld. – Ashleigh, now aged 19, an adult, can be removed from the UK without notice at any time.

Ashleigh’s father, Gary, has grave concerns for his daughter’s safety if she is forced to return to Zimbabwe.

1. When he was living in Zimbabwe, his farm was taken away and he is already classed as “an Enemy of the State”
2. Ashleigh’s mother, still resident in Zimbabwe, is an active member of the MDC.
3. Ashleigh is refused tertiary education and is barred from a job in the civil service unless she participates in the Zimbabwean National Youth Service. This organisation purports to teach nationhood but is actually a paramilitary organisation. The camps are often in remote areas and there are authenticated reports of abuse, including systematic and multiple rape of the young female recruits. On May 3rd 2005 it was reported that Mugabe intends to make National Service compulsory from primary school to university for age groups 10-30 years old.
4. Please click on the following links for further information:

www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/panorama.1487.html
www.insiderzim.com
www.africancrisis.org.
www.iol.co.za


Gary is working evenings and weekends in Security, as well as running his own successful business, purely to fund Ashleigh’s ongoing legal fees. This family needs our support.

During the recent General Election campaign, all three political parties at some stage mentioned Zimbabwe. Both Mr. Blair and Michael Howard talked about a “points system” for immigrants, Shirley Williams on “Question Time” expressed concern that the Home Office were not making allowances for merit and circumstances and said “we are actually sending people back to Zimbabwe knowing they will be arrested and/or imprisoned when they get off the plane”.

There appears to be cross party support that we have a problem with Zimbabwean immigrants/ asylum seekers, which needs to be addressed.

What does this young woman have to do to be considered a suitable candidate for Residency in the UK?

If we are to have a “points” system, what are the following “points” worth?

a) Fluent in English
b) Literate in English
c) Desperately wants to work.
d) Willing to study further/higher ed.
e) Competent in Admin and Accounts
f) Enjoys good health
g) Does not have a criminal record
h) Lives with supportive & loving family
i) Makes no demand on Social Security or Welfare.
j) Embraces British culture

Many British people cannot meet the above criteria – yet Ashleigh satisfies them all!

Please reconsider and grant her UK Residency.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Residency for Ashleigh McMaster Petition to The Home Secretary, Rt. Hon. Charles Clarke was created by Members of the Kingstown BNI Chapter, Hull and written by Julie Fisk (duckkyfuzz@hotmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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