'If I go back I will be killed,' Angolan claims

A dancer with the Irish Modern Dance Theatre currently starring in its show at the Project Theatre in Dublin has been told to report to gardaí on Thursday to arrange his deportation.

Mr Sebastiao Mpelbele Kalamandua, originally from Angola, is currently performing in the dance company's (Like) Silver show at the Project. He said yesterday that he had been due to travel next year as a volunteer with the Irish team to the Winter Special Olympics in Japan, and has been fundraising for the event.

The 32-year-old father of three has been in Ireland, without his family, since 2001. He was studying architecture in the Congo in 1999 when, on his return home on holiday, he was conscripted into the army. According to his account, he worked in the Angolan secret service but was accused by the authorities of disclosing classified information to rival political factions and was imprisoned.

He claims that while in prison he was tortured. He escaped in 2001 with the help of a friend and came to Ireland in August of that year. He is currently a client at the Centre for the Care of Survivors of Torture.

The centre's strategy and development manager, Mr Mike Walker, confirmed that it was through the centre that Mr Kalamandua first become involved in dance and has now been taken on as an apprentice dancer with the Irish Modern Dance Theatre.

On his arrival in Ireland he applied for asylum. His application was rejected and he appealed.

The appeal process ran its course earlier this year and on Monday, the same day (Like) Silver opened, he received notice of his deportation in the post at his home in Inchicore, Dublin.

He reported to the Garda National Immigration Bureau at Burgh Quay, Dublin, yesterday and was instructed to make contact with gardaí there again next Thursday to arrange his deportation from the State.

Mr Kalamandua last night told The Irish Times: "I'm afraid of going back to Angola. I'm telling you 100 per cent that if I go back I will be killed."