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Pa Modou Bojang extends thanks to All
Thursday, 19 August 2010 07:31
My letter of appreciation as am back in freedom By Pa Modou Bojang in UK
Every asylum seeker is a person, a person who for obvious reasons left his/her native country in search of safety in a foreign land. I am an asylum seeker in Britain, an asylum seeker who has left all what he got back in his country after being persecuted in my home country and I have no other choice than to leave my family, friends, people I know and used to chat with under the Batamba tree and find a place of safety where I can objectively exercise my work as a journalist.
Every Gambian and friends of the Gambia, who are most concerned about the day to day activities of the regime in place will bear witness with me that this small Commonwealth West African nation of The Gambia has over the years, lost its reputation in the world’s best record of human right to a dictatorial and tyrannical regime that Gambians have ever dreamt of. The Gambia was the best tourist destination in the West African coast, but this sector which is the country's biggest employer is now being reduced to nothing as all efforts to maintain a responsible community eco-tourism standard has so far failed. How tourists can can still enjoy their holidays, while ordinary Gambians inland could not afford their three daily meals.
My decision to flee to the UK, despite having had the opportunity to go to the US has been well thought and as I believe that the UK is bastion of respect for human rights. But I haven’t had it easy in this land of respect for the human rights, as recently the authority at the UK Border Agency tried to deport me back from the country I have been persecuted simply because of my political belief and my cause to promote freedom of expression, which has been denied to all Gambians. Journalists like me, are often seen or taken as people with treasonable mind and are subjected to daily harassment, unlawful detention and forced disappearance.
My experience with the UK Border Agency started when I was arrested on the 8th of July, 2010 at the Immigration signing center in Liverpool, after which I was briefly detained at Pennine House at Manchester airport for five days before been taken up to the South in Oakington immigration removal center in Cambridge. There, I spend almost twenty eight days in anxiety, fear and total frustration. Despite that though I have been very strong and positive. Why? Because I have the support of kind hearted people and the concern human right groups. Therefore I will not do justice if I don’t send my sincere thanks and appreciation to these people and organizations.
RIGHT GROUPS
I would like to convey through this widely read newspaper, my sincere appreciation to Amnesty International, Media legal defense, Union of journalist in UK, The National Anti- Deportation Coalition, CPJ, WAJA, Gambia Press Union (Gambia), EU, Center for Democracy in Africa, Gambia Coalition in London and The Asylum Link in Liverpool. Bravo to Yankuba Darboe, for the job well done on the cause of a man in need. It would be an understatement to state that Amnesty International has played a very vital role in saving my life by intervening on time. I am really very grateful to this global body for being with me all along the way of my trauma at Oakington detention center. A special appreciation to Paul Dilane, Ameen Ayadole, Yaya Dampha, Abdou Karim Sanneh, Sarata Jabbi Dibba and all those who have contributed in one way or the other to my freedom. It is because of their support and the will of Almighty that I am now back on my feet to be able to continue my work as a journalist, which has been always my passion
Thank you all for support
THE MEDIA
The media, which I belong to, have been really very instrumental and very contributive during and after my detention, because simply they know the danger of my situation.
I would surely begin my list of gratitude to the media with Yusupha cham, publisher and Managing Director of Jollof News online newspaper. His prompt and efficient handling of my case led to wider and sympathetic publicity of my case in other powerful mediums like Freedom newspaper , eventually sending my cries to he world's ear. I was crying for both justice and mercy at a time. My special thanks to Freedom newspaper where I was working as a reporter since I fled my home country. I am thanking Pa Ndery Mbai and his editorial staff for the support. My heartfelt appreciation to Essa Bocarr Sey, Ebrima G Sankareh & Mathiew K Jallow and the team of Gambia Echo, Yankuba Jambang of Senegambia news, Demba Baldeh and team of Gainako news and all the media which have supported me. My appreciation to Ndey Tapha Sosseh, president of Gambia Press Union, GPU (Gambia) who has been always supportive of me from my detention in Gambia and in the UK. I also thank Demba Jawo, Gambian veteran in Senegal, Musa Saidykhan, former editor in chief of the defunct Independent newspaper and editorial Adviser of Jollofnews online, Ebrima Sillah, former BBC Correspondent in Gambia, Lamin Cham, for editor in chief of the Daily Observer, Sheriff Bojang Jr, PK Jarju and all other colleagues who prefer to be anonymous.
INDIVIDUALS
I would like to begin this important paragraph by conveying special thanks to Dr Ebrima Ceesay, who always comforted me while in detention. I thank my former solicitor and barrister, Kelechi Nwaiwu and Mohammed Sidiqui at the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) for their tremendous effort to represent me in my asylum matters. Thanks to Katy Anne Bellis, my partner, Jude Keohanne, Chloe Marong, Chandra Moon, Mike Jackson, Nikki Jackson, Alieu Badara Sowe, Sheriff Bojang Junior, Saihou Mballow, Abdulie Jobe, Uncle Sillah Bojang, Binta Bojang, Binta Joof, Tim Jeeves, Britt Jurgensen, Etel, Sophie, NB Daffeh, Sarjo Bayan, Wassa Janneh, Hon Mai Fatty, Amie Joof Cole, Dr Eldon Edwrad Worrall, Claire, Mary Pearson, Ben, Luc Bostick, Roy Mincoff, Musa Fofana, Yahya Bojang, Adbdukarim Touray, Essa Bojang, Bakary Bojang, Yusuf Bojang, Kejau Touray, Ben & lorena, Amie Joof Cole and all those kindhearted individuals that I haven’t mentioned. I never forget you and neither will; thank you all for all your support.
For your information, I have been granted bail by the immigration judge in London until in October when I should meet the chief immigration officer. I still need your noble assistance as the matter is not yet over. The online petition is still open for signatures. I am still counting on your support as the judicial review on my asylum matter will be heard at the High Court of London sometimes in September. Therefore, I need your incessant support. I know the danger surrounding me at this crucial moment, so come to my aid to save me from danger.
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Comments
Regards.
I recall telling my english teacher to Fk off once... whereby he gave me six strokes with the cane on each hand...
Then admitted...I had used the term Fk in the right sense..and with feeling and he was not the least offended. It was only school "rules" that demanded he punished me. I said no hard feelings...but excuse me Sir! if I don't F..ing shake your hand....ouch !!!
WE no longer use corporal punishment...
Our kids have Human Rights...
The Gambian's still respect "measured" corporal punishment.
I think the Gambian way is better?
Spare the rod and spoil the child?
We now have so many spoilt brats.They f all the time.
The language u speak here does not only bear a testimony to your decent upbringing, it also denotes your skillful ability to express your divergent view.
In football, there is a central referee who carries a red card. It is not uncommon to find him showing it to someone for unsportsman/unskillful tackle. Here, there is no red card 4 unflattering comments. So we will see these types of people here n there
People who are generally timid in the physical world (like play grounds, schools, voows, etc), can now claim bullying pulpit in the anonymity of cyber space.
He sometimes talk like he owns the Gambia far more than Jilanka (The other name of OGA or pres. Jammeh).
Bro. Lamin be supportive to our able African government but at the same time, you have to give a respectto others opinion online here and bear with it brother.
For Bro. Doumou sine duragal, cool down abit Bro., as the saying goes on in Wolof: "DOMU SINE DU SAAGA DEY JANGAL" !
So be a teacher to Lamin not an insulter as such, he will learn from you.
In the service of The Gambia I remain
You are a sick ''' who thinks everyone who has another school of thought is stupid...FOR YOUR INFORMATION...YOU HAVE NO CREDIT..you and your thinking that Badara has a better moral.....whatever life than Lamin can go to hell....LUNATIC
I read your conversation with Badara. I think he should not waste his time with you. I also read from the lines that, he have a better, moral and richer life than you and wish the same to all Gambians. You are the worst parasite I ever came across in life. Am sure you from a very poor and backward family and if you are Mandinka you a disgrace to yo people who Jammeh constant insult, Jail, and threatens in the provinces….I hope and pray that you will not be recruited by Islamic Jihadist.. I think you should move to Yemen to live rather being a “parasite” in west. You don’t sound Gambian or African… The Arabs hardships seem to be your priority rather than African or Gambia. Poverty is insane in these areas, yet you think otherwise… I don’t know where you got your education from (if you are at all)… Even a primary school kids knows Africa and Gambia are extremely poor on Earth. Maybe you are what we call in Wolof, BADOULEY or MUNKOO in the west. Pathetic
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