Lydia and Bernard came to UK on the 17th of December 2006 late at night and claimed asylum on the 18th of December 2006. Lydia and Bernard fled from persecution because of their role they played in the SCNC [Southern Cameroon National Council]. SCNC is a pressure group that fights for the freedom and liberation of southern Cameroon [English Speaking Cameroon].

Lydia and her husband, Bernard Oben Batey, have been tortured in Cameroon and Lydia was raped whilst in detention by one of the uniformed officers. Lydia presently still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of the abuse she encountered whilst in Cameroon, and she is under depression drugs at the moment still waiting for counseling.

Lydia and Bernard presently are doing a voluntary job with Shamwari Project as a means of fighting against depression and social isolation, and also attend a local church in their community.

“Deportation blunder saves asylum couple”
Helen Johnson, 2/2/2008, Rochdale Observer

“A CAMEROONIAN couple seeking asylum in Rochdale have been saved from deportation by a blunder.

The staff from the Border and Immigration Agency arrived in town to deport Lydia Ebok Besong and Bernard Oben Batey, of Rochdale Road, Firgrove, but they went to the wrong house.

They surrounded the home of a parishioner of St Ann’s Church, Belfield, who had sent them a letter of support for the couple, wrongly believing the couple were inside.

It was the only Rochdale address the immigration agency had.

But because of the mix up, the parishioner was able to contact the Father Christopher Ketley, vicar of St Ann’s, who, in turn, got hold of Rochdale MP, Paul Rowen.

And it was only after they spoke to Mr Rowen that the agency officers contacted head office and learned that new evidence had arrived to confirm that the couple could stay Britain.

The couple had earlier been told by the agency that, unless they could produce new evidence proving their lives would be in danger if they went home, they would be deported.

Lydia had told them she was tortured for her association with the Southern Cameroon National Council, a political group which campaigns for the English-speaking minority, which has been declared illegal by the Cameroon government.

On 10 January the couple sent new evidence to the agency claiming it was proof they would be in danger.

Included was a copy of an Cameroonian arrest warrant for Lydia.

Mr Ketley said: "I could understand why this happened if we had come to end of the appeal process and they had not choice, but to go home, but that is not the case."

He confirmed that had the immigration officers gone to the right address they would have immediately taken the couple to a detention centre to await deportation.

Lydia, who suffers from stress and depression, said: "We are very grateful to Father Christopher and everyone at St Ann’s for supporting us."

Bernard said: "The thought of going back is very frightening. We are in a very difficult situation."

Mr Rowen said: "Father Christopher came to see me on Saturday and I got onto immigration right away.

"They were able to confirm that they had received the new evidence and the deportation was halted. It was a very upsetting experience for everyone involved."

But the couple still face an uncertain future while the authorities decide if they will be able to stay on humanitarian grounds.

Mr Rowen said: "I believe Bernard and Lydia have a genuine case for political asylum and I don’t say that about every case I see.

"Life is very difficult for people in that part of Cameroon, people from the wrong party are being murdered, we can see that in Kenya at the moment."

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