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Momodou
Denmark
11786 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Sep 2009 : 21:47:51
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Who is Our Prisoner of Conscience?
With Lamin Njie
From now onwards, Daily News will be bringing you profile on our prisoners of conscience beginning with Sam Sarr, Managing Editor of Foroyaa Newspaper.
This is what his able wife, Amie Sillah said about him when she was contacted.
Sam was born in a family of six children, the eldest son. He has an only sister with five brothers. He did his primary schooling at Albion Primary School and later proceeded to Crab Island Junior Secondary School and then to Armitage High School.
He came out with distinction at his Ordinary Level Examination. Those days distinction was rare. Sam is a genius. He used to teach his fellow students at school when their Maths and Physics teachers were absent.
He furthers his studies in the U.K at Cardiff. Sam acquired a BSc Honours degree in Mathematics and Physics. Sam returned to The Gambia in 1976 and taught at Gambia High School. He also have interest in social justice, Human and Peoples Rights, Social inclusion, gender justice, freedom of expression, good governance and the rule of law.
His love for Social Justice and the social inclusion led him to write numerous plays to depict what happen in society and how it could be changed. Uncle Sam as he is fondly call by his colleagues in the media, used his students to act plays thereby teaching them virtues of humility, honesty and perseverance to adhere to the truth at whatever cost.
Parents used to patronize those plays. He also used the school of the blind to sing those songs. Proceeds used to go to support the blind school students and also students at Gambia High School who could not pay for their fees. Rich students from affluent homes used to donate books, uniforms and other items needed by students. Needy students also benefited from such items.
Sam used to visit homes of his students to motivate parents to help their kids. Many of those students are now holding responsible positions. During his time at Gambia High School, the school break record in result with four A’s.
Since his time that record has not been broken as he has clearly stated during his plea of mitigation.
He is a man of principles. That led him to join his colleagues to form Peoples’ Democratic Organization for Independent and Socialism (PDOIS). He stood as a candidate for PDOIS in Banjul Central. Since then he became the Managing Editor of Foroyaa Newspaper up to date. We got married in 1978. He is my mentor, friend, husband and my soul mate. We became inseparable because we shared the principles. He charges my batteries when they are flat. We are blessed with three children, a girl and two boys. He is an adorable dad and a good husband. We love and adore him.
His colleagues at work will attest to the same thing. He is dawn to earth, cool, calm and collected. He is a workaholic. I always protested on behalf his health. When he was imprisoned the multitude of people of all ages, party affiliation, creed, color who visited my home, office and the homes of his parents and siblings have attested to this fact.
The amount of letters, petitions sent all over the world to this government is an attestation to this fact. Sam has written Maths text books for secondary schools. Gambian children are weak in Maths and Science subjects. Such teachers like Sam are rare we cannot afford to lose them. Many more books are in the pipe line.
People of good will and conscience should add their voices to ensure that justice prevail. This is an ugly chapter of Gambia’s history. Freedom of Expression should prevail that’s what makes Democracy works. At the moment, Gambia is having a bad publicity. I am not happy to see my country in this light. When they came to arrest him he was conducting his private evening classes. His students were shocked and bewildered.
Many parents shed tears for their children. Sam asked me to tell you to give solidarity in any form you.
Source: http://www.dailynews.gm
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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