“Jawara’s return is not a sufficient reason or ground for asylum denial. People are fleeing from the Gambia for good reasons. We are not saying that some of the cases are not frivolous, but out of the lot there are genuine cases. The Home Office should consider staying some of the deportation orders against Gambian asylum seekers for Humanitarian grounds. Giving them voluntary departure would make sense than to be thrown out like hard criminals. Britain being a signatory to the Geneva Convention ought to lead by example. We are aware of the refugee crisis they are facing right now, but refugees human rights must be observed at all cost.” said a Human Rights activist.
By A Staff Writer
Gibril Saine, a Gambian residing in the United Kingdom, has been arrested by the British Immigration agents, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Mr.Saine, a critic of the Jammeh administration is currently placed on detention camp, awaiting to be deported to his native country, The Gambia. Saine’s asylum claim was rejected by the Home Office, who filed removal proceedings against him. Mr.Saine reached the Freedom Newspaper Friday Morning, informing us about his arrest. Saine is posed to be deported if serious efforts are not taken to stay the decision of the Home Office to have him kick out of the UK. He feared to be harmed if forcefully deported to the Gambia.
Saine was a frequent opinion writer here at the Freedom Newspaper. There is no doubt in our mind that his past pieces against the Jammeh Government had been culled and achieved by the widely feared National Intelligence Agency. In the said articles, Saine exposed the maladministration and official corruption taking place in The Gambia. He did not stop at that. He also advised his former history teacher Benedict Jammeh, who happens to be the current Inspector General of police not to allow to be used by the dictatorship.
Mr.Saine had been living in the UK for the past couple of years. Like, many other political asylees, Saine too feared for his life upon return to The Gambia. That Jammeh and his agents are likely to take his life.
Well, the Home Office was not convinced by his story. It had resorted to removing him from the UK. The British Home Office off late had been rejecting asylum seekers from The Gambia. The latest case involves Gambian journalist Sheriff Bojang junior who was forcefully deported to The Gambia. Bojang later managed to escape from The Gambia, few hours after he landed in that country.
Gibril Saine who was in a state of fear, when he called the Freedom Newspaper, said his British Woman was going to call us to launch an appeal to the British authorities not to deport him to The Gambia.
Saine’s mere association with the Freedom Newspaper might lands him into trouble if he steps his foot in Banjul. Gambian authorities considered this paper as an enemy of the state, which is far from the realities on the ground.
Like, any media outlet, the Freedom Newspaper upholds journalistic standards and ethics. Its stories are reported in good faith without malice.
Meanwhile, Gibril Saine had instructed his Lawyer to fight the deportation order in the UK courts. Saine says he had been a law abiding immigrant throughout his stay in the UK.
Up to the time of going to press, Gibril Saine was in police custody. His arrest created an environment of panic and unrest amongst his loved ones. There are mounting fears that he might be harmed if he returns to The Gambia.
Since the return of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara to The Gambia, following an amnesty granted to him and his family by the Yahya Jammeh Government, the British Home Office had been denying what observers call “genuine asylum claims” from The Gambia. The Home Office is yet to reconcile with the fact that The Gambia is still a dangerous place for political opponents-most importantly journalists. That the authorities in Banjul are hell bent on undermining the basic liberties and freedoms of citizens.
“Jawara’s return is not a sufficient reason or ground for asylum denial. People are fleeing from the Gambia for good reasons. We are not saying that some of the cases are not frivolous, but out of the lot there are genuine cases. The Home Office should consider staying some of the deportation orders against Gambian asylum seekers for Humanitarian grounds. Giving them voluntary departure would make sense than to be thrown out like hard criminals. Britain being a signatory to the Geneva Convention ought to lead by example. We are aware of the refugee crisis they are facing right now, but refugees human rights must be observed at all cost.” said a Human Rights activist.
Winning an asylum in the UK is not an easy task. One must have a well founded fear for present and future persecution in order to be granted refugee status in the UK. Having material evidence and good Immigration Lawyer is a must.
About 80 percent of UK’S asylum seekers who won their cases came from war ravaged nations. The Home Office is giving special preference to refugees from Sudan, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries.
The Gambia is being considered as a stable country. But its citizens are not free politically. Secret killings, arbitrary arrests, detention and abductions continue to be the order of the day. Journalist Chief Manneh has been missing for a while now and the Government had repeatedly denied holding him. His family are left in anguish mental pain. Manneh was the breadwinner of his family.
Journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh who left the US to witness his demised father’s 40 day charity was arrested as soon as she landed at the Banjul International Airport. She is currently standing sedition charges. Her perceived crime was for merely speaking out against the President and his administration. Fatou had her passport and other travel documents confiscated by the Gambian state. Her trial had been dragging for the past seven months.
Under US Immigration Laws, Green Card Holders cannot stay more than one year outside the US, unless on exceptional situations. That parties concerned, must seek an extension for their stay overseas in order to enable their return in this country.
The intention of the Gambian authorities is to have Fatou’s Immigration status stripped-off from her. That by keeping her in the country for more than the above stipulated period set by the USCIS, Fatou’s chances of returning to the US would be extremely hard.