Petition Campaign
Pardon for Mor, Yaram, Adama and Kebba, manteros
| publicado 12 de agosto de 2008 |
ENGLISH VERSION [Clica aquí para la versión en castellano]
Mor Ndiaye, Yaram Drame, Kebba Chan and Adama Toure have been living in Spain for more than two years. Mor and Yaram left their country of origin, the Senegal, because they had to support their families: they preferred to risk their lives instead of resignating vis á vis the misery in which they and their families were living. Kebba and Adama, originally from Gambia, left for a better future which their country of origin could not offer them. The lack of resources and contacts did not permit any of the four to access a regular visa. Thus, they opted for the dangerous clandestine journey by boat and, as many others, arrived at the Canary Islands without any kind of permit. Since the day they were transferred to the Spanish peninsula by the authorities, they searched for available jobs and tried hard to learn the language.
Nevertheless, instead of a regularization as a compensation for their fight for survival, Spanish law has convicted them with prison sentences, which, in some cases, are to be substituted by judicial expulsion with a 10 years entry ban valid for all Schengen countries. Why? Because of what is known as “top manta” in Spain. Mor, Yaram, Kebba and Adama have been convicted regardless of the fact that the proper Spanish society, in contrast to actual penal law, accepts and tolerates the existence of the top manta and does not consider it a crime. They have been convicted regardless of the fact that the Spanish citizens participate in this activity instead of feeling alarmed or threatened by it and regardless of the fact, that there are already norms which, in a more adecuate way, contemplate administrative sanctions for this type of activity. The truth is that the only crime committed by Mor, Yaram, Kebba and Adama has been trying to live, work and support their families at a place where they have not been born and, while they did not have a residence and work permit, sometimes work as manteros in order to survive, when the rest of the labour market has not been accessible for them.
The four men have sold on the streets what many of us download from the internet or copy from others to our computers. As street vendors they were the last link in a chain of piratry and fabrication of copied products such as music, films and video games. They did not fool their clients, who knew perfectly well that they were not buying original products but unauthorized copies. With this activity, the four men merely earned any money: just enough to survive. When the authorities transferred them to the peninsula after arriving at the Canary islands without granting them a work permit, they were not left any real alternatives to make a living. What kind of justice are we promoting by imprisoning or sending them back to their home countries with empty hands, prohibiting re-entry to any European country for the coming ten years? Is this a fair treatment after they have done su much and even risked their own lives in order to get here?
If you do not believe that Mor, Yaram, Kebba or Adama should be deported or imprisoned, sign this petition and collect signatures in favour of the pardon.
How can you participate? There are two ways:
- Download and print a .pdf for petitioning and collecting signatures on paper. There are two forms: one for individuals, and one for organizations (click on the links to download the documents). Please do not forget to sign for each mantero individually: this means four signatures per supporter.
The signed petitions can be sent to:
Campaña de indulto mantero,
Eskalera Karakola,
c/ Embajadores 52, local.
Madrid 28012 - Signing online:
Freedom for Mor Ndiaye, Yaram Drame, Kebba Chan and Adama Toure!
* Manteros work as street vendors and sell unauthorized copies of a variety of products such as music CDs, movie DVDs, video games but also watches, bags and sun glasses. The business is called top manta because the products are normally presented on a sheet (manta in Spanish).
