alistaircarmichael

EDM 2373 Just to let you know that we have 98 MPs signed up so far to the Sakchai EDM and I am pretty confident that we can top the 100 mark before the morning is out. With regard to Ming Campbell's position on signing EDMs, there is a convention that the three party leaders don't sign EDMs. The Leaders of the Conservatives and of the Liberal Democrats do, however, table EDMs from time to time where their party is seeking to "pray against" (ie have annullled) some government regulation. That is why Ming's name will appear on the list as having signed EDMs since he took over as leader. Hope that is clear..... or as clear as anything else that happens in this place. It will doubtless come as no surprise to know that I have discussed Sakchai's case with Ming. He is supportive and in fact has given me some very good advice about different avenues to take in pursuing the case. Alistair

Good morning. Just a quick update to say that I received a letter yesterday from Liam Byrne, the immigration minister which purported to answer the questions that I had put to him on Monday night. Needless to say it did not but was merely a re-hash of the line that I had already had from the IND officials. Disappointing but not surprising. It seems to me that the Home Office approach is simply to stonewall and to let the legal process take its course. That, I think, makes it all the more important to get Sakchai bail and I shall be speaking to Alexandra later today to see what the progress is on that front. Having read some of yesterday's posts I would make one comment. To those who are tempted to see this as a question of obeying rules or not, bear in mind that the rules state that the time for Sakchai to be considered for deportation was at the end of his sentence in Spetember 2004 and further that the sentencing sheriff should have been made aware of the immigration consequences at the point of imposing the sentence. Obviously he was not because it simply was not an issue at the time. It was not on anyone's horizon - least of all the government's. The point that I am making is that the rules have not been followed all along here - most recently by the Home Office who have ignored the rules that they set for themselves in determining who should be detained and in what circumstances. To ignore every rule apart from the one that deports Sakchai is not just. I have tabled an early day motion in the Commons about Sakchai's case. I did this because a growing number of MPs have been asking about the campaign and it will allow them to demonstrate their support. It is also a means by which people outside Shetland can ask their MPs to become involved. I am posting this at Aberdeen Airport so I don't have the text of the EDM to hand or the number but I shall post that later today. I have Labour and SNP backing for the EDM. I have approached the Scottish Tory MP, David Mundell, but at the time of tabling it I had not heard back. I noticed that someone mentioned the Conservatives when posting a day or two ago. I should say that i received a supportive e-mail from Frank Nairn, the Conservative candidate at the last general election a few days ago. Finally, can I back up what Davie says about the extent to which the eyes of the world are now on Shetland. What they are seeing is impressive, not least because it is focused on the support for Sakchai and the justice of his case. We need to keep that together. Bringing in other issues does not always help. Alistair

Just a quick post before I heave Westminster to get the plane north. I spoke to Liam Byrne for about half an hour last night. It was a tad disappointing. I had hoped that having badgered his office and having been offered a "briefing" that he would have some answers to our questions. Sadly that was not the case. The most significant part of the conversation was when I asked him if he thought that the IND contention that Sachkai spent his formative years in Thailand despite the fact that he has been in Shetland since he was 10 was a sound one. He refused to comment as their is an appeal outstanding. Hardly a ringing endorsement for the IND position. In any event he is now definitely aware of the strength of feeling that exists about this case! He has undertaken to provide me with a note answering our points and in particular addressing my concerns about the detention. That should be in my hands later today although I shall be astonished if it is the last word. See you all at the Clickiminn tonight. Alistair BTW and for the avoidance of doubt the address of the Lerwick Office is 171 Commercial Street, Lerwick, ZE1 0HX. Tel 01595 690044 Fax 01595 690055 e-mail - carmichaela@parliament.uk Website - www.alistaircarmichael.org.uk Think that covers all the options

First of all can I thank everyone who has been in touch to express their support for Sakchai. I shall do my best to reply to them all over the next day or two and apologise for not having done so yet. I spoke to his solicitor after her visit to him today so I know that he is now aware of the strength of feeling that there is in Shetland about this. To use her own words to me, "his face lit up". I have been in constant contact with the Home Office today, in particular the office of Liam Byrne MP the immigration minister. It has not been a happy experience. The minister himself has not spoken to me and I am left with the feeling that his private office have spent the day stalling. I had the last conversation with them at 8.45pm. Apparently Liam Byrne can not be contacted. To say that that is incredible is something of an understatement. At the risk of sounding pompous I feel that the Home Office has treated me with less than the courtesy and consideration I would normally expect (and receive) from a government department. I am, however, told that Liam Byrne is now taking "ownership" of the case and that he will meet me to brief me on Monday. I am not sure if being briefed means that I will finally get some answers to some pretty basic questions. I have some doubts but we shall see. There are more detailed questions but the basic ones are : Given that Sakchai has lived in Shetland since he was ten how can the IND state as a supporting reason for his deportation that he spent "his childhood and formative years in Thailand" so can expect to re-adjust to living there again? What is there in Sakchai's personal circumstances that makes the IND think that he has to be kept in custody? The Director with the IND responsible for reviewing Sakchai's case told me at 8am that as far as the second of these two questions is concerned it is their policy to detain everyone is Sakchai's position unless there are compelling reasons not to. Not quite guilty until proven innocent but not a kick in the pants off it. She offered no explanation at all in the morning with regard to the first question but she clearly spent the whole day working on one because at 10pm she told me that the view they had reached was that nought to ten were your formative years. What can you say about people like that? I guess we just have to hope that one day their space ship will come back and return them to their own people because they clearly don't belong on this planet. James Johnston, as is reported elsewhere on the forum, is in Newcastle and I am in touch with the prison to try to get some of the rather bureaucratic rules waived to allow him and Uthai to visit Sakchai tomorrow. In fairness to the prison I should say that they have been as helpful to me as they can be and did go to some trouble to let Alexandra, his solicitor, visit him today. As I say, I spoke to Alexandra this afternoon after she had been in to see Sakchai. She tells me that the appeal was being lodged this afternoon and that she will be able to apply for bail on Wednesday if he is still in prison at that time. She seems up beat about the prospects of success and generally strikes me as being capable and to know her subject. I think that just about covers it for today. I am ashamed to say that I had been unaware of the Shetlink site until this week. It has made all the difference to this campaign. Well done to whoever is responsible for it. When I eventually get around to updating my website it is going right to the top of the links page! Alistair Carmichael