The Nangas must stay

John Stewart, Treasurer of the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, reports on the Nanga Family's trip to NUT Conference.

Mansanga (17) and Feliciana (15) Nanga travelled from their home in Hackney, up to the NUT conference in Blackpool. Both girls received a standing ovation from the 1,200 delegates when they spoke about the war in Angola, the suffering of their family and their fears for their future if they are deported.

The Nangas have lived in London since 1991 when they fled from war and political persecution. Mansanga and Feliciana and their younger brothers and sisters have little memory of their homeland. Their main recollection is of violence and brutality and the disappearance of their older brother, Daniel, a former teacher, who was detained and tortured.

The Nanga children also spoke at packed fringe meetings organised by the Socialist Teachers Alliance and the Campaign for a Democratic and Fighting Union. Hundreds of signatures were collected on the petition to allow the family to stay.

NUT General Secretary Doug McAvoy congratulated Mansanga and Feliciana on their speech and promised to seek a meeting with Home Secretary Jack Straw and Education Secretary David Blunkett to raise their case. Deportations of families and individuals are currently running at record levels with over 100 deportations per week. LLB readers angry about this should raise the matter with their MP and pass resolutions through their CLP or trade union to be forwarded to the Home Secretary.

The Nanga Family Anti-Deportation Campaign can be contacted c/o Ms. Sibley, Haggerston School, Weymouth Terrace, London E2.

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