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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Nov 2006 : 13:04:55
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CONFESSIONS OF DEJECTED RETURNEES
By Modou Jonga
Four Gambian in their mid twenties have made no bones about their unsuccessful adventure in search of greener pasture in Spain.
Speaking to this reporter, the four dejected returnees said they boarded a boat on an Island called Johe in the Senegalese region of Cassamance in the month of September this year. They said there were 72 aspirants migrants on board the vessel, twenty-seven of whom are Gambians.
According to the quartet, they sailed for ten days in the sea and arrived in Spain on the eleventh day (11).
They narrated that they ran out of food and that there was no medical care available on board the board to take care of their sick mates. "We paid D35000 for the Journey" they lamented.
Speaking further, the quartet noted that upon arriving on the coast of the Spanish Canary Island, they were met by the Spanish Civil "guides" and Spanish navy officers who provided food, water and medical care for those whose skins were affected by the salty water.
"Therein, we were taken to a Spanish Police Camp where we spend one week" they lamented. The returnees confessed that they were arraigned in court and were asked their country of origin and where they boarded the vessel.
They also noted that whilst in court, they were each given a piece of paper which states out that a maximum of forty days is to be spent in a Camp by an Immigrant.
The quartet narrated that while they were in the camp, they were informed on a particular night by the Spanish police that they will be taken to Barcelonia where they will be freed and they would make efforts to trace their relative or friends who they will stay with.
"We were dismayed when we were deported to The Gambia" they remarked. According to the quartet, some of the deportees were demoralised and as a result were crying before disembarking from the plane. They said an amount of 300 (three hundred) Euros was given to each of them at the entrance of the plane.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 103/2006, 22-23 November, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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