Back and Next - Back and NextSLENU Chairlady condemns Standard Times report
Friday, January 9, 2009
Follow the report of recent publication of an article by the Standard Times of Sierra Leone, alleging harassment of Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia, the chairlady of the Sierra Leonean National Union (SLENU), Adama Jallow Mannly, has added her voice to the chorus of condemnation.
Mrs Jallow who walked into our offices, last Wednesday, sounded unforgiving for those she said want to destroy the hard-earned relationship that exist between the two sisterly countries. "It is not Gambians harassing Sierra Leoneans, it is Sierra Leoneans harassing their compatriots,” she insisted, as she gave account of how she had had to run from police stations to courtrooms in search of solutions to many problems among her compatriots.
"I can say this because I am a living witness; for 14 good years I have been living in the Gambia without any problem, and if it was true that Gambians are harassing us, then I will not have been staying in this country all this time.
Every day I am involved in problems but it is among Sierra Leoneans. So, I can say that the allegations are not true." Jallow called on Sierra Leoneans to change their attitudes, described the Gambian leader, Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, as an African hero who has heart for all Africans.
Chairlady Jallow displayed a backlog of photos showing her and her groups taking part in various activities she said were sanctioned by the Gambian leader, from cultural activities to farming in Kanilai.
She said it would be unfair to "offend" someone that has provided you with all such opportunities, apart from the fact that they have been hosted as refugees when no other country was willing to accept them.
Mrs Jallow who walked into our offices, last Wednesday, sounded unforgiving for those she said want to destroy the hard-earned relationship that exist between the two sisterly countries. "It is not Gambians harassing Sierra Leoneans, it is Sierra Leoneans harassing their compatriots,” she insisted, as she gave account of how she had had to run from police stations to courtrooms in search of solutions to many problems among her compatriots.
"I can say this because I am a living witness; for 14 good years I have been living in the Gambia without any problem, and if it was true that Gambians are harassing us, then I will not have been staying in this country all this time.
Every day I am involved in problems but it is among Sierra Leoneans. So, I can say that the allegations are not true." Jallow called on Sierra Leoneans to change their attitudes, described the Gambian leader, Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, as an African hero who has heart for all Africans.
Chairlady Jallow displayed a backlog of photos showing her and her groups taking part in various activities she said were sanctioned by the Gambian leader, from cultural activities to farming in Kanilai.
She said it would be unfair to "offend" someone that has provided you with all such opportunities, apart from the fact that they have been hosted as refugees when no other country was willing to accept them.
Author: Kemo Cham & Gibairu Janneh
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