A Gambian pro-democracy activist who was freed on bail Monday after being arrested and charged for protesting against the government of President Adama Barrow without authority has authored an open letter to thank Gambians for standing by him and his colleagues in the 3 Years Jotna Movement.
Yanks Dabo said the support and solidarity they received has helped to ‘exposed the ugly face of dictatorship in President Adama Barrow’.
Below we reproduce the full text of his letter
I wanted to write “Thank you to you all heroes and heroines of mine”, but I realised that would be insufficient for so many of you, who had made us so proud. So I thought let me put my heart out in this post to express my sincere gratitude to you all, for your support, solidarity and concern for me and the 8 other executive members of Operation 3 Years Jotna. Together we have exposed the ugly face of dictatorship in President Adama Barrow!
Nelson Mandela once stated that it is a long walk to freedom! He couldn’t have put it right and it is not about the distance to walk but the challenges to be encountered in regaining one’s freedom! Sometimes, even Judges can be an impediment to your freedom! Administrative processes further do not help! Thus, despite being granted bail yesterday, we were only able to walk free out of Mile 2 today!
It would not have been possible, if you all were reticent about our plight, our persecutors would have made our walk to freedom lot longer! But thanks to you all on Facebook and other social media platforms, we have shortened that distance to walk to our freedom! You were all amazing, I wish I could name you all, but I doubt if Facebook has enough space for me to list all your names! Nevertheless from the bottom of my heart, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you all, but mostly to my lord, our lord and your lord! I called him Allah whatever name you call him does not matter much!
My persecutors, President Adama Barrow, his IGP, Mamour Jobe, Interior Minister, Yankuba Sonko, SIS DG, Ousman Sowe, Government Spokesperson, Ebrima G Sankareh, and some of the dregs of the old regime, had plotted to end my being on 26 January 2020, but my benevolent Lord had put a veil between me and their evil intentions.
Shortly after their deliberate disruption of our peaceful protest of 26 January, which forced us to disperse from their toxic teargas – as I gasped for breath – I received a call from an unknown number alerting me of the evil plans and orders of President Adama Barrow to have my humble soul return to my creator from my earthly body together with our Chairman Abdou Njie! But my great gratitude to my great Lord, for being the best of plotters! As a result, I am still here with you on Facebook!!
When my persecutors failed at that plot, they resorted to have my abled body restricted behind prison bars for good! So they brought charges of Treason, Arson, and whatever charges they can think of! But as they planned so does my merciful Lord! They had no evidence to prosecute such charges and were forced to drop the same!
Yet, my persecutors, were determined to have us locked up! They used the legal loopholes of our court system to trump up charges that would force the Magistrate Courts to remand us at Mile 2. There they kept me with the accused of murderers, rapists, arsonists, and other misfits of society! Yet, the merciful lord tamed these dangerous outlaws to become kind, hospitable and friendly that I would yearn to meet them again!
Mile 2 is known for its inhospitableness, but yet my good lord made it comfortable for my sojourn!
To you all and my good lord my great grand gratitude!! Aluta Continua!!!
