Evidence pre-2009: Betty Williams 3

Please note that I have withheld certain information on this web page. However, it can be made available for the appropriate authorities. Also note that each bookmark refers to each page on the PDF version.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

- Martin Luther King, Jnr.

"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice."

- Abraham Lincoln

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[My Name and Address withheld]

NB. In this letter, I incorrectly referred to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office as the HF&CO. Text in the reproduced letter contains corrections in red print.

Betty Williams, AS/MP

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

Sunday, 8th June, 2008.

Your reference: C6097/63361 My reference: 080608 Betty Williams.doc

Dear Betty Williams, AS/MP,

Thank you for your letter of 6th June, 2008.

Before beginning in earnest, I wish to mention your recommendation concerning the Immigration Advisory Service. I'm afraid they were of little help at this time and can only offer very limited help at a later date. I was hoping for a better insight to the UK immigration system, but was left wondering if it really is worth using their services again.

But concerning the main issue as addressed by Kin Howells ... I'm afraid his letter is of little use to me, but perhaps this is due to not making myself fully understood. What I would like to see is a stronger representation of my case to the American authorities.

We are both aware of the arrogance of the US Government and their abuse of power. This I understand will, as observed by Kim Howells, which only temporarily prevents us from obtaining information about me - information which should be freely available.

Before I go any further, let's be perfectly clear about one thing: This is NOTHING to do with terrorism. The refusal of immigration officials at San Francisco International Airport to allow me access to the country has NOTHING at all to do with this issue. Refusal to give me access was based purely upon other fraudulent premise that I was 'living' in the US.

You also seem to have overlooked that the statement that I made was done so under duress, was falsified and that I was forced to sign said statement upon the threat of my wife being victimised - regardless of her own circumstances. The fact I was promised a copy of my statement and then not given it, shows how underhanded and dishonest the immigration officials I dealt with actually are.

Concerning my wife. She is 42 years old and was abandoned by her first husband. When I failed to turn up at our apartment on January 30th, she cried the whole night through. By the time I was able to get through to her (at Heathrow Airport) she sounded totally drained. Choking back her tears she said to me: “Where are you”. I was devastated and heart-broken, as was my wife. She didn't even know if I had died in an accident, or whatever.

When travelling abroad, I FULLY expect my Government to represent my best interests. I say this especially as I am totally innocent and have been very badly treated by immigration officials seemingly more mindful of quotas than doing there job honestly or fairly.

So far, my Government has shown a total disregard to my predicament, the suffering I have endured as a consequence of being denied rightful access to the US, and the threat to my wife and my marriage.

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There is also the 'theft' of my personal possessions which are still 'trapped' in the US and which I have no access to, or funds, to secure their transportation to the UK.

The treatment I have had experienced at the hands of corrupt immigration officials in the US is not acceptable and I expect my Government to make the strongest protest to the American Government about what has happened.

With this in mind, this is what I expect;-

[1] I expect Kim Howells to contact the US Embassy in London and insist upon a meeting to be arranged between myself, a UK Government representative (ostensibly from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office ["F&CO"]), and a senior immigration representative from the US Embassy. Considering I have an interview for a Visa application on August 11th, I will fully expect that such a meeting will take place on or before this date.

[2] Regardless of my personal circumstances at the time of any interview with regard to my Visa application, or otherwise, I fully expect to be granted a Visa to travel to the US to meet my wife and collect my personal possessions. On the subject of my personal possessions, they include some of great importance - including valuables and mementoes of my deceased brother (he died in October, 2007). I am extremely distressed that the virtual theft of my goods is being allowed by each respective Government. I feel I am fully entitled to travel to the US to find out what remains of my personal possessions (split amongst various people [mostly complete strangers to me] in the US), what I have lost, what I can dispose of in the US, and what I can remove from the country.

[3] With regard to being reunited with my vulnerable and distressed wife, it is our intention to next travel to Jakarta in Indonesia where we can apply for a Visa for her to enter the UK. This should satisfy US immigration officials as she is willing to leave the country voluntarily - but only with myself at her side.

[4] Obtaining a UK Visa for my wife. I cannot get a Visa for my wife without evidence of the validity of our marriage. I need signed affidavits from AMERICAN witnesses to our wedding and this means going to the US, to locate these witnesses, and to obtain said affidavits. Without these affidavits, my Visa application will be seriously impaired. I will NOT, under any circumstances, be separated from my wife again. We shall use any means, and though any sources of use to us, to secure our future together.

I'm hoping common sense, decency and morality prevails and that I am granted access to the US. I assume you are fully aware that I shall not let this matter rest if I cannot get to the US. I have already protested outside the US Embassy and I know they are very concerned at the printed materials I have been handing out. But considering that the Metropolitan Police have not objected to my presence or the nature of the materials I have been handing out, I expect that I shall be doing this on a daily basis should I be continue to be treated with contempt for my human rights.

I can add that the security company (Group 4, I think) employed by the US Embassy to protect the establishment are the ones who are being used to try to disrupt my protest. However, even they cannot stop me handing out materials outside the Embassy and on British soil. In fact, I do object to their attempts to try to stop me doing something perfectly acceptable within British Law. Or has the UK Government now banned peaceful protest? Furthermore, I shall continue to attract the attention of the British media to highlight my plight and any further reluctance by the UK Government to fail to represent my interests.

I think you will now clearly understand my needs and motives. Therefore, I expect a positive response which will be fully acceptable to me and that I will not to be sidelined, hedged, dismissed or treated with anything but respect concerning this matter.

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Before closing, and for the record, I would repeat my reduced circumstances and the effect this situation is having upon my health. I receive Incapacity Benefit and suffer from illnesses being made worse by my anxiety, worry and concern for my wife. I expect my Government to stand up and be counted and to represent my interests with vigour and enthusiasm. Failure to do so will merely demonstrate that the UK is sub servant to a dominant and power-abusing US Government.

And to finally remind you of what happened to me:

[1] I was denied access to representation from my Embassy and local Consulate.

[2] I was informed that I had not yet entered the US and therefore I had no human rights (like those illegally apprehended in Guantanamo Bay.

[3] My wife was threatened.

[4] My statement was falsified and then I was denied a copy of it. Clear proof of malpractice.

[5] The reference in my passport which shows that I was denied access refers to matters not listed in the statement I was blackmailed into signing.

[6] I was forced to return to the UK upon pain of being held in a US Jail (or Prison) for an unspecified amount of time and until my refusal to leave could be dealt with by a judge.

[7] Upon returning to the UK I was left virtually destitute. I could find nowhere to live, slept sometimes roughly (in bus stations, etc.), was denied housing by the Government despite having serious health problems, had my incapacity benefit stopped for over 1 month.

[8] I am now living in a very basic hotel and have to suffer all types of disturbances.

[9] Seen my health deteriorate due to the stress I am suffering plus all the noise from the disrespectful and 'animal behaviour' of numerous people using this hotel.

[10] Left with little hope of having any future my wife again to corruption in the US immigration system and intransigence, apathy and bias in the UK immigration system.

I have seen my life go from something promising to rapidly disintegrating. What have I done to deserve this? Is it a crime to want to find true happiness for the first time in over 50 years? Is it a crime to have behaved in an exemplary way in the US and be a good Ambassador for the UK? Is it a crime for me to have spent all my money in the US and not deprive them of a single penny? Is it a crime for anyone to go to the US and in FULL observance of the advice given by their Government (only for those rules to be abused by corrupt immigration officials)?

WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG?

I demand fair treatment, respect and justice. To deny me this will be to deny me the same human rights that I should have been allowed during my ordeal in San Francisco.

Yours earnestly,

[My Name withheld]

cc: Kim Howells, MP; Other sources at my discretion.