Anti-deportation

A FAMILY of Roma Gypsies from the Czech Republic who have settled successfully in the north east of England are fighting their deportation. The Scuka family, who fled racist persecution and years of Nazi violence in 1995, settled in Middlesbrough, north east England, where they quickly integrated into the local community.

The children now attend the local school. Fourteen year old Lenka Scuka says, "I have an interview to go to Teeside Tertiary College. "I want to be an interpreter. I speak Czech, Romany, Polish, Slovakian, English and I'm learning German. I wouldn't be able to go to college in the Czech Republic. They don't want us in the Czech Republic because we're black. Horrible things will happen. I'm scared."

Campaigners are asking the government to put a stay on the family's deportation.

• Write in support of the Scuka family to Barbara Roche, Minister for Immigration and Nationality, Home Office, Queen Annes Gate, London SW1H 9AT. Quote Home Office numbers TN2/98985/98986/ 98987/98988/98989.

• Campaign material from the Scuka Family, c/o North East Coalition for Asylum Rights, 308 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 3QX.

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