By Kaddy Jawo
Ousman Sillah, National Assembly Member for Banjul North, has called on the government to engage European governments to put an end to the mistreatment of young Gambian migrants who are in search of better lives in their countries.
The Banjul North lawmaker said this while addressing Gambians at the Hammonia SV Vereinshaus (club house) in the German city of Hamburg on Friday.
Addressing his audience, Mr. Sillah said what he has seen in a video footage that has gone viral on social media showing a young man being shoved on the ground by two German police and tied with a rope is inhuman, degrading and a violation of rights. He said the young man who was groaning was tied like a sheep ready for the slaughter. He said this is unacceptable and that the government of the Gambia should do something to ensure that Gambians are treated well anywhere they are in the world.
Mr. Sillah told the gathering about the meetings he had with Gambians and other people and organisations during his visit to Italy and Austria and the shocking encounter with the young Gambian migrants he found hanging out in the open the cold winter season at the central train station in Milan.
Reiterating his call for the European governments to accept and provide support to these young Gambia migrants, Mr. Sillah said there should be a moratorium or halt in any current operation of forced repatriation of these young people who had to risk their lives and spent so much in order to reach the shores of Europe.
Mr. Sillah is currently touring seven European countries to meet with Gambians and friends of the Gambia.
