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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Dec 2007 : 14:41:02
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The Sea Martyrdom
By Yero Jallow
Prior to the early morning dawn
A goodbye to all family at blood
In secrete consultations
For fear of reprisal by the boat catchers
At cockcrow, the stop clock alarmed
The bed's rise with haste to the secrete
Place of departure by the mangroves
With a morning prayer and a final goodbye
Sailing boats sailing from the East Coast
On board the deep Atlantic, sailing.
Sailing boats sailing
From the East Coast to the West
Hundreds drowning to the sea's bottom
While searching for their niche from the west
Sailing boats sailing to the West
En-route to the land of dreams
Armed with a life jacket,
thick gloves and
A turtle's waterproof helmet
For protection against the enemy-sea waves.
How many more on board the boat
on the next batch by the dispatcher
Sailing passengers at a price
Sailing boats sailing
From the East Coast to the West
It is either a capsize of a boat
A blazing propeller asunder or
A trap in the hands of Spain's brutes
While en-route to the land of dreams
Therein, lies the sea martyrs
Blowing hopes and shattering bonds.
In the deserts, lie the oases of time
The mirages afar with promising drinks
And the desert walkers
Walking you to your tomb
Or to your land of dream
At a price of a camel's ride
Sailing the deserts sailing
From the East Coast to the West
Maybe a returning corpse
Maybe a successful journey
Maybe buried in the desert for ever
Maybe a victim of bandits on the way
Maybe a starving to death
Maybe drowning for ever
Maybe burnt to mere ashes.
That's the ordeal with tis' many
Men of time, sailing boats sailing
To the land of dreams
Sailing from the East Coast to the West.
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Karl
136 Posts |
Posted - 17 Dec 2007 : 16:05:17
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| Thanks, Dalton, this is emotionally a moving poem. May the Almighty rest their souls in perfect peace. Amen |
"People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster" J Baldwin |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 17 Dec 2007 : 19:27:43
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Karl,
Thanks a lot. I totally agree with you. I was imaginarily with them on board the sea & the desert. But I thought you didn't miss this story.
May their souls rest in perfect peace. (Amen!)http://www.gainako.com/
Over 50 Youths Lost Their Lives Trying to
.............Reach Fortress Europe
....................By Solo, Banjul Correspondent ...........December 14th, 2007
Gambian youths who because of poverty and lack of any meaningful means of livelihood have still not
come to realise that it not worth the risk of one’s life in rickety boats across the ocean, in search of a
better conditions in Europe.
Information reaching this reporter spoke of over 50 youths who lost tier lives in a boat bound for
Spain on 11th December. My informant said that the boat had over 130 people on board.
This number does not include the so called captains of the boat. They said the traffickers took the
youths to Casamance in neighboring Senegal where they boarded the boat. And after setting sail from
they went up to around the Mauritania and Senegal border were the incident occured.
According to a man whose brother died in the boat three young people came from his village of
Sutukoba in Wul Easti, Upper River Region in The Gambia. He said two other people who escaped
death are presently admitted in a hospital in Dakar together with eighty others. He explained how the
youths who were in the boat had come from all parts of the Gambia. He added that the boat was
intercepted by a Senegalese patrol team who transported them to Dakar. He also indicated that all
those who survived sustained serious injuries suggesting an outbreak of fighting among the crew and
passengers.
These incidents once again demonstrated a malignant problem in many developing countries. Even
though in recent years many countries in Europe have placed increased restrictions on border
crossings and tighter enforcement of immigration laws but these seems not deter many. For despite all
the risk involved, all the recent media coverage on anti-immigrant sentiments in Europe, Many still
risked everything to enter western Europe. Perhaps the allure of a better life in Europe is too
overwhelming. This irresistible seduction though in many cases tragic, but still continues.
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 17 Dec 2007 : 23:14:15
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/6987809.stm
What did the Georgian Captain & crew of 'Happy Day' do with the 350 migrants when they had to return to an African port? The Captain said they all returned - Authorities say he returned empty?
A miracle at sea...clinging to the 'tuna net'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/6986062.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/6991139.stm
.....
Where is the boss?
Captain USHANGI KHACHIDZE
Boss - I don't know. Never know name, what his family, what his number telephone - I don't know
KENYON: But where, which country?
KHACHIDZE: Huh?
KENYON: Which country?
KHACHIDZE: Country - Russia, Russia.
KENYON: He's Russian?
KHACHIDZE: Russia, Russia, yes.
KENYON: Is he Russian mafia?
KHACHIDZE: Maybe mafia, Russian mafia, maybe Conakry Mafia, maybe, I don't know, I'm small, small, people monsieur. I'm Captain, me speak: "go", I go. Me speak: "come back", I come back. You understand? It is just big, big, big, mafia, big mafia.
KENYON: He agreed to take us down into the hold where the migrants lived for 8 days.
So there's three? more than 300, I think 345 migrants.
KHACHIDZE: 350.
KENYON: 350?
KHACHIDZE: Yes, yes, yes.
KENYON: You could be right.
KHACHIDZE: Yes.
KENYON: 350.
KHACHIDZE: Yes.
KENYON: It's a lot of people down here, all crammed in like cattle.
KHACHIDZE: Cattle, yes.
[b]KENYON: He says he brought them all back to port but the authorities say he turned up with an empty boat. KHACHIDZE: Yes, yes, yes, big mafia.
When I am in The Gambia and look out to the sea's horizon I always say a prayer for the brave people attempting the treacherous crossing to try and better themselves & their families.
sab
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The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 17 Dec 2007 : 23:53:34
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Sab,
Thanks a lot. You had me suspended on your thread. It is sad and pathetic. See the picture on the left in Gainako's links. That's called the ordeal to Europe. At least fifty people filed in the report above. Who know how many? I am glad you like the poem. I don't even know if the poem is likeable because the subject matter is 'emotional' like Karl put it. Government's negligence of the youths can only lead to any desire for greener pastures, no matter what comes with it. It is rather a struggle for financial independence.
http://www.gainako.com/
Dalton |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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