Brother O.J., thanks for coming out and straightening out the record.  All
fair minded Gambians know that the government confiscated your passport
because of what you stand for in their eyes.  You have a right like any
other Gambian to a Passport and it cannot be revoked on any illegitimate
grounds even by a dictator.  If it is revoked under the guise of the
statement there in, but for no just cause, then we the people have to speak
up, for the authority of the state to act on our behalf originates from us.
I wished that all victims of this government would stand up and tell the
whole world the abuses meted to them, rather than recoil and beg for mercy
for being a victim.  This criminal enterprise needs to be exposed and we
need folks like you who in the face of tyranny rise up and be counted.
Regardless our political affiliations, we as citizens of The Gambia need to
recultivate the habit to tell the truth.  It seems as if we overnight,
turned into big time "Baadolaas" (raggedy).  As our forebears have it, one
is a "Baadolaa" not in the rags one wears, but in the behavior (baadolaa Du
Chi Soolu Weene Gi, Waaye Chi Geekoo Gi La).

On a different note, I was saddened and shocked to read a quote in one of
the local news papers, that Brother Mass Axi Gaye, one of the contenders for
the post of Mayor of Banjul, was a militant of the July 22 Movement during
the AFPRC days.  I hope that does not mean the image that comes to mind when
we think of that infamous outfit for thugs, by thugs and of thugs.  I've
known brother Axi Gaye for most of my life and he upheld an upstanding
character as a citizen.  So, brother Axi, if you should read this mail,
please come forward and clarify what you mean by your statement that "You
were a Militant of the July 22 Movement during the AFPRC days.  What does
that mean and the citizens of Banjul need to know.  I would appreciate
anyone close to Axi to enlighten this list about his association to that
thug movement.  We shall speak the truth for it shall set us free.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: Omar Jallow <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Pass-Ports & circumstance
>Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 15:36:29 -0800
>
>Let me throw some light on the issue concerning the
>seizure of my passport by the Gambian Authorities.  In
>September 1994 my passport was siezed and I was not
>allowed to travel out of the Gambia until May 1998
>when the passport was returned to me.
>
>Since then, I have just like other citizens used the
>passport to travel out side the country on serval
>occasion on various missions.
>
>I am presently the leader of the Peoples Progressive
>Party (P.P.P.) which is an opposition party in The
>Gambia.  Recently, I was in my personal capacity
>invited by the Commonwealth Secretariat to be part of
>Zimbabwe  Election Observe Team.  I joined the team
>and shortly after my return from Zimbabwe my passport
>was impounded by immigration officials.  They did not
>give me any reasons for doing so.  I have no reason to
>suspect that they have cause to impound my passport.
>
>As you may know I have been charged by the State for
>assault and the matter is before the Magistrate Court
>at Kanifing.  I am on a court bail and have a legal
>team representing me.  I have no problems with the
>court, in fact the prosecution has been delaying the
>proceedings.
>
>As I am on a court bail, it is only the court that can
>revoke the bail or subject me to other conditions that
>the court deems fit under its jurisdiction.  Therefore
>the Police or Immigration have no right to interfere
>with me or the court proceedings at this stage.  Since
>my return, there has been three court sittings and
>everything is moving smoothly.
>
>My lawyer has already written to the Director of
>Immigration protesting the seizure of my passport and
>demanding that it be returned.  From my experience
>with this Government it is very unlikely that they
>will act on the terms of that letter.
>
>The Constitution of The Gambia has a Bill of Rights
>Chapter which entrenches the freedom of movement of
>the individuals.
>
>Inherent in every right of movement is the right to
>hold a passport to ensure freedom of movement either
>within or outside the country.  The seizure of my
>passport is clearly a violation of my right to
>personal liberty, freedom of thought, freedom of
>expression and freedom of movement guaranteed by the
>Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia 1997.  Even
>though it is stated on every Gambian passport that the
>said passport remains the property of The Gambia
>Government, the distinction between holder and owner
>is a dim one.  My passport cannot legally be impounded
>just because it is the property of The Gambia
>Government.  It has been held in other jurisdictions
>that not even a police state can justify the arbitrary
>seizure of one's passport for no reason other than it
>being a state property.  To impound a passport,it must
>be in accordance with legal prescriptions recognised
>by every civilised society, and such legal
>requirements must meet the minimum standards set by
>our Constitution.  In my case the Government had
>woefully failed again to apply the law.
>
>I declare that I am a victim of the State because of
>my political beliefs, and the sseizure of my passport
>has delimited or abrogated my right to hold a passport
>and to move freely. Omar A Jallow (O.J.)
>
>__________________________________________________
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>
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