British pensioner returns Benin Kingdom Bronze after 117 years

Two statues from among thousands of works of art looted by British soldiers in the 19th century have been returned to Nigeria, prompting calls for other "stolen" treasures to be repatriated.
For more than a century, the artefacts from the "Benin Bronzes" collection had been in the family of retired medical consultant Mark Walker, whose grandfather was involved in a 1897 British raid in which they were taken.


But on Friday, the statues -- depicting a fabled ibis bird and the traditional monarch's bell -- were given back to the Oba (King) of Benin, Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, at a ceremony attended by royal officials and local dignitaries.
Walker said he decided to return the statues to Nigeria in September last year after learning of their history, in part from his grandfather's diary from the time, which described the treasures as "loot".
"That gave me the idea that perhaps they should go to the place where they will be appreciated for ever," he said in Benin City, 240 kilometres (150 miles) east of Lagos.
"I'm very proud to be part of this because it is clearly seen as an historic occasion.
"I had no idea it would be regarded with such importance and it is very gratifying to me to have been able to play some small part in the history of the restoration of the bronzes because I think more will come back."
The tale of the precious artefacts is one of intrique and tragedy. It began when nine British officers were killed while on a trade mission to Erediauwa's grandfather, ruler of the then independent kingdom of Benin.
The British reaction was fierce. Walker's grandfather was part of a British military deployment to the kingdom to avenge the deaths of the officers. The overwhelming show of strength left several thousand local people dead and the city set ablaze, while the oba was forced into exile.
The royal palace was looted, resulting in the removal of hundreds of artworks, including the Benin Bronzes, which showed highly decorative images of the oba and his courtiers from centuries earlier.
Most of the ornate bronzes -- in fact melted down and refashioned brass from bracelets and other objects offered by Portuguese traders in the 15th century -- have been at the British Museum in London ever since.
They include a 19th century depiction of the head of the oba, who has divine status for the Edo people, and 16th century plaques taken from the walls of the royal palace, showing court life.


Nigeria has previously requested the return of the Benin Bronzes but without success.

AFP.

UK indefinite stay available for £5million

The British are at it again with an unbelievable immigration law that will surely attract comments world over. This time, the British Conservative party pro-rich bias appears intact if its latest immigration policy is any indication.

Under a fast track scheme,any foreigner willing to park 5 million pounds in a British bank or building society will be granted leave of indefinite stay in the UK. An investor who keeps 10 million will secure this right even faster in two years. The residency right will come after an entrepreneur visa is granted.

The UK remains open for business and we want those who have the most to offer to come and settle here, said Whitehalls immigration minister Damian Green while announcing the policy at a London Stock Exchange event on Wednesday. Entrepreneurs and investors can play a major part in our economic recovery, he said.

Rules for entrepreneurs are also to be tweaked if they either create 10 full-time jobs or generate an annual turnover of 10 million in a UK business, they will be entitled to settlement within three years.

Alex Ruffel, a lawyer who specialises in immigration matters, was quoted as forecasting that the number of super-rich entrepreneurs and investors pitching their tents in the UK per annum would double from last years figure of 275.

A person maintaining a balance of 1 million in a British bank would also benefit by being guaranteed indefinite stay after five years without having to pass an otherwise mandatory English language test.
The policy towards the wealthy contrasts sharply with the British governments plan to do away with the automatic right to settle hitherto enjoyed by students and temporary residents after a five year stay in this country.

Indeed, definitive proposals to impose deep cuts in the number of overseas students coming to Britain so as to adhere to the Conservative partys election manifesto promise of containing net migration to below 100,000 a year are expected to be announced soon.

Illegal immigrant jailed for stealing identity

The UK Border Agency has published details of a man, in the UK illegally, who has been jailed this week for two-and-a-half years for stealing another man’s identity and pretending to be him for 12 years.

The report continues:

Sukhjiwan Singh Burham, a 37-year-old Indian national of Erica Close in Slough, was arrested by UK Border Agency officers during a raid on a catering firm in Southall, west London on 2 April 2009.

He claimed to be a British national named Avtar Singh, and a later search of his property by immigration officers uncovered a marriage certificate and driving licence in that name. However, they also found letters and other documentation in his true name.

UK Border Agency checks revealed that the real Avtar Singh is a British citizen living in Canada, who was interviewed by officials at the British High Commission to establish his identity.

Burham later admitted that he had entered the country illegally in 1996, and had paid £3,000 for an illegally obtained United Kingdom passport. He had then used that passport to enable his wife, whom he married in India in 2003, and three children to enter the country.

On 16 June he pleaded guilty to fraud, deception and a series of immigration offences at Reading Crown Court. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years, with an automatic recommendation that he be deported.

Burham’s wife and children are now awaiting removal from the United Kingdom.

Gareth Redmond, area director for the UK Border Agency, said:

‘This conviction shows how seriously the UK Border Agency takes criminals who use false or fake identity documents.

‘We now have teams of specialist police and immigration officers working side by side to investigate exactly this kind of crime. This is another example of their success.

‘We will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with the police and other enforcement partners to identify criminal activity and remove those who have no right to be in this country.’

Burham was one of nine people arrested during a UK Border Agency enforcement operation at KMB Catering in Southall. The firm was warned that they face a fine of up to £90,000 for employing the men without carrying out the correct right-to-work checks.
Ends.

Employers can be fined up to £10,000 per illegal worker under the new ‘Civil Penalty’ system.

Cynthia Barker of Immigration Adviser, Bison UK, said:

”Employers are advised to carry out regular file checks, or use a specialist vetting service provided by a qualified immigration adviser.”

http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk/