| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11681 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Feb 2008 : 21:55:40
|
QUESTIONABLE ARREST OF YOUNG MAN IN WULI MACCA MASIREH VILLAGE?
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
One Muhamadou Nanki, a native of Macca Masireh in Wuli East, was on Sunday 10 February, arrested by the personnel of the Gambia Immigration Department, for not producing an identity card upon request by Immigration Officers.
According to family members, Mr. Nanki and his friends were sitting at their village “Vous,” when the officers came in a Sare Ngai Police vehicle and demanded to see their identity cards. They said Mr. Nanki and his friends told the officers they are not strangers in that village but instead bonafide citizens. They
said Muhamadou was asked what was in his hand bag which they eventually searched and found nothing. They said the officers, however, said they do not trust that the young man was not a foreigner.
According to the eyewitnesses, the officers did not ask the young man to produce his identity card, they just bundled him up and took him to Sare Ngai station.
They alleged that the officers re-acted by impulse. They expressed suspicion that the officers ‘ behavior may have been politically motivated since such arrests usually happen only after elections. They lamented that they could not understand why somebody has to be arrested in his own village for failure to produce an identity card.
The Immigration mouth piece, Superintendent Olimatou Jammeh Sonko, could not confirm the allegation as the officer in charge of Sare Ngai police station could not be reached on phone to verify the veracity of the allegation. Mrs. Jammeh Sonko, however, said that there is nothing wrong for their officers to ask for people’s ID cards, even though they are in their village. She noted that every citizen is obliged to have an identity card. She asserted that their officers might have their reasons as to why they decided to arrest Mr. Nanki instead of others. She added that if Mr. Nanki had an ID card, he could have asked for the officers to give him time to produce his ID before he was whisked away. She stated that the officers would be in position to reason with him to produce the document. She pointed out that from Macca Masireh to Sare Ngai police station is very far for officers to take a single person there without a genuine reason.
However, up to today, the young man is detained in a cell, even though his relatives went to clarify to the police that he is a Gambian by birth. They maintain that the officers acted on impulse rather than common sense.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 19/2008, 13 -14 February 2008
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2008 : 09:04:48
|
How can an immigration officer go to people's residence and ask them to produce identification? What prompts them to do so other than 'political profiling'? Where is the probable cause? Gambian people should be able to live freely without the constant worry of the police stopping and demanding identification from them without probable cause of a commission of a crime. This is a matter of freedom and liberty.
In the U.S. for example, the police cannot stop anyone unless there is reasonable believe that the person has committed or is about to commit a crime...
The Gambian police need to stop irrationally asking citizens their I.D. cards... |
Edited by - kayjatta on 14 Feb 2008 09:06:25 |
 |
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2008 : 10:14:38
|
There is no liberty. In the evening freedom of movement is difficult.
Late at night with Gambian friends we are often stopped. They have to produce ID. The whole atmposhere is very tense. All we are doing is moving from one place to another, yet the Gambians are treated like criminals. |
|
|
|
Kumi
Ghana
57 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2008 : 11:29:50
|
If the green leaves are burning,then dry leaves are.......
I was in the Gambia and I saw what happened to some aliens about ID cards and permits(including myself).I will not say much about this. Readers must judge. Sometimes when foreigners (BLACKS FROM NEIGHBORING WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES) in Gambia complain about harassment from Immigration Officers, Gambians take it to mean something else. |
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
www.bookerzmedia.com |
|
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2008 : 19:05:34
|
| Kumi are you Gambian or Ghanian? I am interested to know more about Ghana town and the economics of the town. Could you private email me? |
|
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2008 : 19:44:49
|
When it is stated that the current regime in Gambia is criminal and a bondage to mankind, why will anyone doubt that? These criminal state of affairs will remain a heavy weight on humans. This has no limits being Gambian or non Gambian. Sorry to all non Gambians who ever experienced this crude treatment by personnel of Gambia's uniform men and women. By all regards, this is here to stay. Let nobody think that the criminal chief of state will ever tame up. |
Karamba |
|
|
|
Prince
507 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2008 : 20:33:43
|
Sometimes I assume that the security forces get bored and entertain themselves by harassing helpless civilians. Else, why would they waste tax payers money on Attaya Vous raids?
Even if the fellow is non-Gambian, he shouldn't be held in jail. He should either be charged, released or if he isn't a legal immigrant- deported.
We are faced with a growing culture of impunity.
BTW, the officers shouldn't act on neither impulse or commonsense, instead they should act in accordance with the LAW! |
"When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." |
|
|
|
Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2008 : 14:56:04
|
quote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
There is no liberty. In the evening freedom of movement is difficult.
Late at night with Gambian friends we are often stopped. They have to produce ID. The whole atmposhere is very tense. All we are doing is moving from one place to another, yet the Gambians are treated like criminals.
Gambiabev, thanks for your compassion and sympathy. But you know, this is what Gambians have been voting for year in and year out. So this is not a suprise at all.Until at such time when we shall be willing to hold our destiny in our own hands and make conscious decisions about our future, we shall continue to live with this problem. The people will always get a government they deserve.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 16 Feb 2008 15:02:11 |
|
|
|
Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2008 : 14:59:34
|
quote:
Originally posted by Prince
Sometimes I assume that the security forces get bored and entertain themselves by harassing helpless civilians. Else, why would they waste tax payers money on Attaya Vous raids?
Even if the fellow is non-Gambian, he shouldn't be held in jail. He should either be charged, released or if he isn't a legal immigrant- deported.
We are faced with a growing culture of impunity.
BTW, the officers shouldn't act on neither impulse or commonsense, instead they should act in accordance with the LAW!
Oh, this one made me giggle a bit but who knows, it might not just be a funny one, it might as well be true.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 16 Feb 2008 15:00:58 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
