Passport Demands At British Base

[lancsdave]

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Eight asylum seekers remained barricaded on a roof at a British base in Cyprus for a second day on Thursday, threatening to jump unless they got British passports.
"They do not have any right to a British passport," a spokesman for the military bases said.
Authorities would not force the men down, the spokesman said. "It would endanger them and us," he said.
The asylum seekers, all well built males wearing thick coats and hats, had unfurled a large banner hanging over the tower which read "We demand the British Passport".
The men had entered British sovereign territory in Cyprus between 2001 and 2003 via Turkish held northern Cyprus, an unrecognised Turkish Cypriot state.
Britain's border and immigration service had assessed their applications which were recently rejected.
Britain has two military bases in Cyprus. The Mediterranean island was a British colony until 1960.
Many areas of the bases, known as Sovereign Base Areas, are publicly accessible, with only few areas out of bounds for non military.

Apparently they are not going to use force because it would endanger them. They are on a training tower, why not use live ammo and do some training ?

[cashman]

as they do not have a right to a british passport,i suggest just IGNORE em, they can either jump or come down, why waste time n money,plus giving em the oxegen of publicity.

[WillowTheWhisp]

They can't just go around demanding British passports.

[Yolanda25]

My child cant even have a british passport and he was born in bburn, so if they give it to them that will be me complaining

[Ber999T]

Originally Posted by Yolanda25

My child cant even have a British passport and he was born in b'burn, so if they give it to them that will be me complaining

They must have a reason for that but I can't think of one!!!!

Can anyone else think of a reason why someone born in UK can't have UK passport?

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Yolanda25

My child cant even have a british passport and he was born in bburn, so if they give it to them that will be me complaining

not having a pop yolanda, but could the reason be you aint got a british passport and are not a british citizen? not saying its right,but could be the reason.

[MargaretR]

I have just looked at the passport application form, and among the notes on it -

"Because birth in the United Kingdom after 31 December 1982 does not automatically confer British citizenship, in some cases you may be asked for additional information and documentation to establish national status under the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 which came into effect on1 January 1983"

http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Guidelinenotes.pdf

[Neil]

Just leave them alone till they get fed up, or just shoot them

[Ber999T]

had not thought of that!



thanks for the update Margaret i must have missed that bit

[Neil]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

"Because birth in the United Kingdom after 31 December 1982 does not automatically confer British citizenship, in some cases you may be asked for additional information and documentation to establish national status under the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 which came into effect on1 January 1983"

http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Guidelinenotes.pdf

That makes sense, what if you gave birth early while on holiday, should that make you British. Or if you were born here because your parents working in a foreign embassy etc etc.

[Yolanda25]

Im a british citizen, u have to be just 3 years in country to become one, i could ask for the british nationality if i wanted cuz my mum is english.
To be honest dont bother me really cuz at the end of the day a british passport for my son costs £46 and the spanish one £11.35 so i save some pennies lol

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Yolanda25

Im a british citizen, u have to be just 3 years in country to become one, i could ask for the british nationality if i wanted cuz my mum is english.
To be honest dont bother me really cuz at the end of the day a british passport for my son costs £46 and the spanish one £11.35 so i save some pennies lol

so if you had the nationality, would yer son then be entitled to a british passport?

[Yolanda25]

no cuz it goes with the Plce of birth or something like that, cant remember

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Yolanda25

no cuz it goes with the Plce of birth or something like that, cant remember

yeh but he was born in blackburn

[Yolanda25]

it goes with the mothers nationality
so it goes with me, spanish