RELEASE HIM OR CHARGE HIM- BREAK THE SILENCE!!!!!!

Apirl 29, 2014 marks exactly one year since we last heard from either Saul or Mahama.  We want to thank all those who have taken the time and courage to sign this petition and for the many prayers you have said for these two worthy individuals. There have been negative comments but majority have been very positive.  It has been a roller coaster for us the family, not knowing where they are and what has become of them.  Your signatures have however inspired us to move beyond and we appeal to all to join forces with us in asking the Gambian Government where these two are.

Saul Ndow, a businessman and Mahawa cham, an ex- Parliamentarian have now been missing for 12 months. They have allegedly been abducted and taken to the Gambia since 29 April 2013 from Senegal. According to the Gambian constitution, they should have been charged within 72 hours of being arrested for any crimes they may have committed. It is now 12 months! Twelve months of total silence on the side of the Gambian Government despite numerous articles about their abduction and detention. Articles that have appeared have made mention of torture of these two individuals and worse: summary execution. Is it right to detain and torture someone without a charge? Is it right to summarily execute someone without a trial? Why have they been sentenced to the dark cells and made to submit to torturers without a trial? Are they Guilty? , then they should be charged and trialed. Are they Innocent? Then they should be released . They have a right to legal assistance, right to medical aid, right to have their loved ones know they are in detention. Why is there silence surrounding their detention?.  We the family will not sit back and watch them being silenced. We will give them a voice, we will give them hope, we will give them strength. We are climbing great hills in order to find them and at the end of each hill, there will be many more hills to climb in order to ring the bells of justice loud, in order to bring them home, for it is not where we have started but how high we aim that matters.

We were taught that courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. We were taught that a brave man or woman is not one who does not feel afraid but one who conquers that fear. We have conquered that fear! We are not afraid in challenging their abductors to also conquer their fear and openly charge these two.. Beyond the 72 hours limit and 12 months without a charge is unconstitutional.

We are appealing to you to join forces with us and  to help us unravel the mystery surrounding their disappearance by appending your signature. . We are appealing to you to help us climb this great hill and ring the bells of justice not just for them but for countless others who are in similar circumstances by appending your signature.

We are winners because we will never give up as there is nothing greater than FAITH and HOPE. We know that as fathers, mothers, husbands, sons, daughters, wives, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunties, nieces, nephews, friends and sympathizers you share our deep pain and our tedious struggle day in day out in finding them.

Saul is deeply missed by his family and friends.  Mahawa is deeply missed by his family and friends.  We need to find them.

Thank you.