Good initiative Demba, and in principle, I support the idea of a Defence Fund. I'd call it Prisoner of Conscience Defence Fund, or Gambia Prisoner of Conscience Defence Fund, or Prisoner of Conscience Defence Fund, Gambia.  We may have a simple eligibility criteria about whether a fund applicant is indeed a prisoner of conscience. Contrast Baba Leigh with Jesus Badjie.

I still think the view of the family regarding legal action is significant 

I also still ask how we stop fellow citizens from forcefully disappearing in the country. If we can solve this problem of disappearances, we are almost home free, but how do we protect "lawyers" fronting Baba Leigh-type cases?

I join you in making a pledge, albeit unspecified as of now, to the proposed Fund

LJDarbo

---

From: Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]

Sent: Thursday, 21 March 2013, 21:41

Subject: Re: [G_L] [>-<] Imam Baba Leigh - 10 lawyer & Defense Funds $200 pledge?????

Yus & Lamin,

Here is how I think Imam Baba Leigh can be adequately represented in Gambia without anybody being arrested... I think a group of lawyers can sign up to represent him as a group.. say the Bar Association appointing 10 defense lawyers to file a case at the high court.. or 10 brave independent lawyers come together and sign up to file a case to be heard at the high court.

At the very least I don't think they can or will arrest all 10 lawyers for simply representing a citizen.... 

Another suggestion I have to practically support this case is to urge Gambians to come up with contributions for Imam Leigh's defense fund... I would pledge $200 to this fund and if we have 100 - 200 Gambians pledging minimum of $100 dollars we are looking at $40,000 almost D1.3 million dalasis for defense fund... Do we have this commitment from our fellow Gambians on this list to do this project... anybody can lead this effort... from Europe, US, and anywhere around the world... 

Can we do this, any suggestion from anybody...

Thanks

Demba

On Thu, Mar 21, 2013 at 3:11 AM, Lamin Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Yusupha

The ECOWAS Court is indeed an option, but the Constitution itself offers a powerful tool to demand Imam Baba Leigh's release from custody. Do you know anything about the allegation that the family wants no recourse to law in order "not to offend" Professor Jammeh. 

Imam Baba Leigh is no ordinary Gambian and so my money is still on the supposition he is alive.

Like you, I am overwhelmed by his continued disappearance but where is his congregation? Will anyone taking up his case in The Gambia, including a legal representative, be arrested, abducted, or disappeared? This is not inconceivable, and my question remain how we stop fellow citizens from forcefully disappearing in the country? If we can solve this problem, we are home free!

LJDarbo 

---

From: Yusupha Jow <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]

Sent: Wednesday, 20 March 2013, 15:03

Subject: Re: [>-<] Imam Baba Leigh

LJD:
I think we have to mobilize the resources to file a case against the dictator to produce Imam Baba Leigh. There is indisputable evidence that he was abducted by the agents of the state. Let's put pressure on the dictator in the most meaningful way. This case has to be taken to the ECOWAS court of law or any international court that will accept the case. This way we make it clear to him that concrete action will be taken against these type of arbitrary disappearances any time they happen; and that he will have to account for these people whether he is in or out of the State House.

Thanks
Yusupha

On Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 8:33 AM, Lamin Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Thanks Yusupha, and my main interest  lies in your first point:

        Why the silence about this man's disappearance? Doesn't it affect your 

         conscience that a man with kids as young as eight can simply be taken away 

         from his family yet Gambians all over the world aren't up in arms about this?              

        Does any society that has a collective conscience allow this to happen? 

I note YJ's arguments, but the theater for these abductions is The Gambia. Not a day goes by without my thinking about your above, but in all honesty, I am overwhelmed. I'm sure many Gambians have "conscience" but how do we energize that "conscience" to protect each other from killings, abductions, and arbitrary arrests. A solution to this issue means we are more than 90% nearer our liberation target. 

Any practical ideas on your point number 1?

LJDarbo 

---

From: Yusupha Jow <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, 19 March 2013, 20:25
Subject: [>-<] Imam Baba Leigh

The man has been held incommunicado for over 3 months now. His family and his friends have not heard a word from him in this time. I have a few questions about this:

1. Why the silence about this man's disappearance? Doesn't it affect your conscience that a man with kids as young as eight can simply be taken away from his family yet Gambians all over the world aren't up in arms about this? Does any society that has a collective conscience allow this to happen?

2. What has Imam Baba Leigh done to deserve such a fate? No charges have been read against him, absolutely nothing.

I believe we reap what we sow as a society. I am of the opinion that we will all be punished by the almighty if we don't take concrete action about what has happened to this man.

Thanks
Yusupha

--
"Be the change you want to see in the World"

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