An article in The Telegraph was brought to our attention concerning the pending deportation one of our finest serving soldiers “Bale Baleiwai” with requests to help him if we could. With the help of Dr Liam Fox and others a letter was sent to the home office, see below:
Dear Damian
You will be well aware of the case of Bale Baleiwai, given the publicity surrounding it. There is, undoubtedly, great public anxiety about how this part of immigration policy is operating. Although serving in the armed forces is not an automatic guarantee for settlement in the UK, I believe the vast majority of people in this country would want to see preference given to those who had been willing to put themselves in harm’s way for our national security.
On top of those generic points, there are the specific conditions applying to Bale Baleiwai, particularly the fact that he has a wife and children who are UK citizens. When the public see some thoroughly unpleasant individuals allowed to remain in the UK, but those willing to fight in the British army being deported, they will justifiably begin to wonder where our priorities lie.
I hope you will reconsider this decision.
Yours sincerely
LIAM
Parliamentary Office of the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP
We heard yesterday that Bale Baleiwai has been given a reprieve.
This was a wider campaign and Afghan Heroes would like to thank eveyone involved.
5 Comments
What a wonderful outcome, I hope it shows that many voices work xx
This unsavoury incident has been going on for months. Being ex forces myself. It is nice to see that Afghanhero has put their weight behind it. As have Honour-Our-Forces. The organisation I am founder of.
It is disgusting that our british government, can allow thousands of immigrants, and potential terrorists, to settle in our country. But are only too ready to deport what I, and hundreds of thousands, of other decent law abiding citixens, regard as one of our own.
For his respect, honour and service to our country, Bale Baleiwai should, in my opinion be given immediate and full british status. This man is one of our heroes for gods sake. Treat him as one, and with the respect he deserves.
A reprieve, this solider should be given a four bedroom house and a full UK citizenship. Better still get the house from one of the thousands of illegal s which the local authority give away to people who have contributed nothing to our country or economy.
Dear Sirs,
Thank-you for writing a letter on behalf of my husband Isimeli Baleiwai. However, although my husband will not be deported yet, they have not stated they will not deport him. He has been given discretional leave to remain which means he can not work, see a doctor or claim benefits. This is for 6 months while the Home Office make a decision pending on the result of his military offence which we appealed. We won the right to appeal because military offences are not now in accordance with article 6 because of the changes made to The ROA in 2010, which now defines summary hearing by the CO as convictions. This has massive implications for Military discipline. The Home Office have dishonoured my husbands service, labelled him criminal and taken his right away to provide for his family. Now despite being a service family we will be made destitute. My income alone can not support my family and we will loose our home. Is this how the children of a serviceman should be treated? Under the Armed Forces Covenant their is a duty of care to my family yet the Home Office seem to be only using the Laws they want to. This is a miscarriage of Justice for all members of this family. Our Local MP, Conor Burns seems to not want to help my family, despite telling the local press he has been in constant contact. He has never spoke to us and called my husband Mr. Bale throughout the article, which is not his name.
I feel dispair for how my family are being treated. It is disgusting and a national disgrace and we are not alone. I recieved a reply testerday from Prince Harry. If a member of the royal family can find the time to contact my family what does it say about all the MP’s including my own that i wrote too that have done nothing. Were they hoping we just got on a plane and left, so they could get on enjoying their summer holiday. As a British woman by birth right who married a British soldier from Fiji, what are we supposed to do? Goto another country and claim asylum because my own country is persecuting my family?
Regards Kim Baleiwai
I must agree with Liam Fox when he talks about thoughs people who have committed terrible acts and been allowed to stay due to their ” Human Rights” and have done terrible things AFTER being allowed to stay, it is a digrace to this countries laws. Then a young man serves a country that he really does not have to but he has a young family and wants to do his BIT for his adoped country is told to leave. What justice is there in that? There are thoughs who should hang their heads in SHAME.