Gambia:An Attack on Ban of Torture in The Gambia

Government Must Ensure That A Stop is Put To Torture And The Law is Observed in Our Everyday Life As A Sovereign Nation

By Saikou Ceesay

The menace of torture is taking its share of the physical and psychological well being of families and individuals in different facets in The Gambia. With the existence of Convention Against Torture defiance to putting a stop to torturing is equivalent to a blatant attack on the Ban of Torture. Despite the international campaign banning torture in all forms, the allegations of some people in power in The Gambia using torture to obtain information from suspects particularly those under custody, seems to be a consolidation grips on the act.

Whether physical or psychological, torture affects sanity in society and can quickly agitate the populace to develop an animosity for the status quo. There is no reason why an inmate or a suspect should undergo torture even if the person is arrested for criminal intent, or have committed a crime. The courts of law are here for redress. People in authority should have regards for the law. People who are under police custody should be presumed innocent until found guilty by a competent court of law.

It is a welcome position by the state to bring men and women in uniform to justice for allegedly torturing suspects to death or to point where they unduly suffer in their hands. It is not enough to see them charged but prosecuted quickly.

This year alone, eight security officers were arrested, detained and facing trial for torturing suspects to death. In recent times, many suspects appearing in courts often complain of the use of torture when their cautionary statements were being obtained by security forces. In January 28, 2011, Dembo Sibi, a native of Numuyel village in Upper River Region, was beaten to death allegedly by four members of Police Intervention Unit (PIU). The officers were arrested and the case is before the Basse Magistrates' Court.

To say the least, the murder of Cherno Alieu Suwareh allegedly by four anti-narcotic Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) officers is unacceptable, cruel, degrading and inhuman. The case is before the court.The government should not allow the spread of torture and must put a stop to torture as well as make people believe that the practice is unequivocally inhuman and deplorable.

The Gambia should develop on its weakness on human rights chronicles so that we can be recognized as respecter and promoter of human rights. In doing so, we must forbid torture in all circumstances and the security apparatus should be educated on the dangers and consequences of torture in our society. Bearing in mind that the execution of force on suspects to obtain information amounts to the violation of Convention against Torture, Cruel, Degrading and inhuman Acts signed by 146 states. What is amazing in this country is that those who have the mandate to protect people from harm, are the ones allegedly appearing before courts for   torturing people undercover. This is outrageous and inconceivable in any democratic state.

We would hasten to say that family members of victims of torture are in one way or the other victims of torture themselves. They undergo psychological torture like trauma.It is therefore, incumbent on authorities and judicial institutions to ensure that a stop is put to  torture and the law is observed in our everyday life as a nation.

The media has a stake in supporting authorities in this task and also for calling their attention to them if they fail in their duty. Out spoken and opinion leaders should make their voices heard in condemning the cruelest act - torture. It is believe that once torture always remains tortured.

 

Quote of the Day:“I Would Prefer Even To Fail With Honor Than To Win By Cheating” Sophocles

Gambia:Some Thing is Wrong With Norwegian Police

Norwegian police chief of staff Johan Fredriksen (Reuters)

Johan Fredriksen: "We cannot be led by fear"

By Saikou Ceesay

The efficiency of Norwegian police force to detect and curtail in time such a cold-blooded crime is questionable.Mr. Anders Behring Breivik (32) has open fire for about 90 minutes without the Norwegian police's intervention to rescue the innocent youth, leading to the killing of over 92 people in a gun shootout by single individual.

Norway, being a modern nation with supposedly sophisticated police force should be able to detect organized crimes of this magnitude before they are executed. It is not only the duty of the police to arrive at scenes on time, but also to protect the lives of their citizens from danger. This is a great security lapse on the side of the Norwegian police. And they should admit it. In fact the country's Police Chief should resign from that position, and deserves to be interrogated accordingly.

It is true that the crime rate in Norway is low, but that should not serve as a safe heaven for the police to relent on their responsibilities. The police Chief had abdicated his responsibility to curtail a crime that claimed lives of the cream of the Norwegian society. This is a big blow, not to Norway alone, but whole world, because the lives lost could have been invaluable to the world peace and development.

I am disappointed of the lazy behavior of the Norwegian police. I urged them to launch an internal inquiry into their operation. This must be a demanding time for Norwegian police. They should also carryout under water search to recover dead bodies. Norway is a democratic state and we expect the suspect to receive an open fair trial. Mr. Anders Behring Breivik's rights should be respected and preserved despite admitting the crime he commits. My heart is with the people of Norway as they continue to mourn the young lives lost at the island camp as well as the four people killed by a car bomb in Oslo.

Gambia:At Least 92 killed in Shootings And Bomb Blast in Norway

Anders Behring Breivik (32), a Norwegian citizen of Norwegian descent, was arrested after the two attacks.
It appears he is lined with with right-wing political activists but the motive for the two attacks is still unknown.
Late Friday on night police searched Breiviks apartment in Oslo. The 32-year-old man will be questioned by the police Saturday.

Youth camp
The first reports of the massacre on Utøya, an island about south-east of Oslo, came around 18.25 Friday.
According to a witness the gunman claimed to be a police officer offering help, before he opened fire and started killing people.
Nearly 700 young members of the Labour Party were on the island for an annual youth camp.
It took a while for the police to realise the full extent of the massacre. Saturday afternoon police confirms that at least 85 people are killed in the shootings on the island. Some of the youth tried to swim to safety to escape the gunman.
The death toll may rise even more as rescue workers search the water around the island.Yesterday police said they also found explosives in a car on the island.
Explosion
The shootings on Utøya came only hours after a bomb exploded outside a government building in central Oslo at 3.26 PM Friday.
The explosion killed at least seven people and further ten people are seriously injured in the blast, confirms police. So far only four people have been identified. A man dressed as a police officer was also seen at this scene.
Surrounding buildings were affected by the massive explosion close to Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's office. He was not at his office at the time, and was not injured. Several blocks around the bomb are still evacuated and people are asked to stay away from the city centre.

Premier: "You will not destroy us"

"We will find those responsible and hold them accountable", said the Norwegian Prime Minster Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference late Friday. He also had a message to the people behind the attacks
"You will not destroy us. You will not destroy our democracy or our ideals for a better world."

Gambia:Press Release:The Observatory:Climate of Fear Amongst the Community of Human Rights Defenders

PRESS RELEASE - THE OBSERVATORY

 

THE GAMBIA: Climate of fear amongst the community of human rights defenders

 

Publication of an international fact-finding mission report

 

Geneva-Paris, July 22, 2011. As The Gambia celebrates today its national holiday, called "Freedom Day" by President Jammeh, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), publishes an international fact-finding mission report on the situation of human rights defenders in The Gambia. On this occasion, a press conference is organised in Dakar.

 

Following allegations of human rights violations against Gambian human rights defenders and public statement made by President Jammeh in September 2009 threatening to kill anyone who sought to sabotage and destabilise his Government, in particular human rights defenders and those who support them, the Observatory decided to send a fact-finding mission to The Gambia from May 2 to 11, 2010.

 

On the basis of elements collected during the mission, the mission report shows that there is a general climate of fear amongst Gambian human rights defenders, notably following the still unsolved assassination of Mr. Deyda Hydara, the Editor and co-founder of the private newspaper The Point, in 2004, the enforced disappearance of Mr. Ebrima Manneh, a journalist at the Daily Observer, in 2006, the continuing campaign of harassment by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) against journalists, the 2009 presidential threat and, today, the multiplication of cases of prolonged judicial harassment, which seems to be the new technique to impede the peaceful activities of defenders. In addition, the restrictive legal and institutional framework hampers the promotion and defence of human rights. In this context, the State institutions have failed to guarantee effective protection to defenders.

 

As a consequence, the civil society movement in The Gambia cannot operate freely, organise itself and speak out. The media has therefore stepped up to fill the void. But journalists in turn face unlawful arrests, arbitrary detention and prosecution, forcing some of them to flee or to exercise self-censorship.

 

Today, although there are less acts of physical violence against human rights defenders, the Observatory is concerned about the recurrence of arrests and prolonged trials of defenders on baseless charges, which reveals State tendency to "legalise" repression against human rights defenders. The Observatory is concerned that attacks against human rights activists may rise as the presidential elections of September 2011 will get closer.

 

In view of the conclusions of its report, the Observatory formulates recommendations to the Gambian authorities, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the European Union. Furthermore, the Observatory calls upon the authorities to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of human rights defenders and to put an end to all form of harassment against them, in conformity with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and other international and regional instruments ratified by The Gambia.

 

The report is available in English on the following web links:

OMCT: http://www.omct.org/files/2011/07/21336/the_gambia_mission_report.pdf

FIDH: http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/reportthegambiaobsjuly2011.pdf

 

For more information, please contact:

·    OMCT: Delphine Reculeau: + 41 22 809 49 39 / Aminata Dieye : + 221 77 641 40 63

·    FIDH: Karine Appy: + 33 1 43 55 25 18

FOROYAA EDITORIAL:“NEITHER COUP NOR ELECTION COULD LEAD TO MY REMOVAL FROM POWER”-PRESIDENT YAHYA JAMMEH

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh
The President of the Republic is reported to have said that neither coups nor elections could lead to his removal from power. People are wondering why he mentioned this statement four months before the holding of Presidential elections.

Foroyaa is established to amplify the alternative voices of the people that are often muted when it comes to broadcast over the National Radio and TV.
It is therefore our duty to explain very clearly that while the President is entitled to his own opinion the views expressed that he could not be removed by elections is not correct and could be misinterpreted to mean that if he is defeated in an election he would not hand over power. It is therefore his duty to clarify matters so that such an interpretation would not be given to his statement.

The correct view is that section 63 of the constitution limits the mandate of the presidency to five years. Hence every five years there must be presidential elections. The only way the president could confirm that he cannot be removed by elections is to suspend the holding of elections. Has he announced such a move? The answer is in the negative. In fact, an amount of 65 Million dalasi has been spent very recently to conduct registration of voters and the date for Presidential Elections has been set for 24th November 2011. His supporters are campaigning to win votes. If elections cannot be relied on to remove him why is it being conducted. Unless the President puts the Presidential Elections to a halt his statement that he could not be removed from office by elections should be ignored.
It should be seen as a psychological warfare to make those who want to vote against him to think that their vote is going to be useless. Hence they would revert back to voter apathy.

Secondly the president may have been correct to state that he could not be removed from office if he had the overwhelming support of the people. The fact of the matter is that the 2006 elections results did confirm that he does not have the overwhelming support of the people. This may well be the reason why his party utilised its parliamentary majority to remove the second round of voting.
In short, in 2006 out of 670,000 voters only 260000 voted for him. Over 400000 did not vote for him. In fact more people abstained from voting than those who voted for him. Over 270000 voters did not vote. These facts reveal that the president is politically vulnerable and could be defeated at the polls if there is an end to voter apathy. Our objective conclusion is that the President could be removed from office by elections if the people so desire.

Gambia News:Police Nab Another Suspect of Saikou’s Murder

Source: Daily News

Late Saikou Gaye laid to rest

By:Saikou Ceesay

The Gambia Police Force on Tuesday apprehended the fourth suspect in connection to the murder of Saikou Gaye alias Pabi Taal.
Saikou Gaye, 28, lost his life in a fierce fight with five boys, who allegedly hit him with a metal chair and wooden crutches on Monday morning in Wellingara.  

"Sheriffo Manneh is the latest to be arrested by our personnel, but there are others on the run," the police spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent Yerro Mballow said on Thursday, July 14, 201.
Other arrested suspects are Alieu Ceesay, Alhagie Manneh and Muhammed Ceesay. ASP Mballow appealed to the public to cooperate with the police to arrest the remaining suspects.

Meanwhile, mourners on Wednesday 13 July gathered at the family compound to pay their last respect to the 28-year-old boy.
A driver by profession, Gaye was described by acquaintances and relatives as a hardworking youth.
He was interred at the Wellingara cemetery on Wednesday July 13 at 5.00pm.

Gambia News:Young Man Lost His Life in Pandemonium

Source:Daily News

The late Saikou Gaye was Wednesday at 5:00pm interred at Wellingera cemetry

By Saikou Ceesay

The family compound of Gaye Kunda in Wellingara, West Coast Region are mourning the  shocking and tragic murder of their 28 years old son, Saikou Gaye alias Pabi Taal, who was yesterday, July 12 reportedly beaten to death by five angry youths.
As two of the suspects are still at large, the police managed to arrest three: Mr.Alieu Ceesay, Mr. Alhagie Manneh and Mr. Mohammed Ceesay who are helping the police in their investigation.
According to the mother of the deceased, Adam Taal, the fighting occurred on Monday night when one young man accused of stealing was chased and caught by the five accused persons.
She said her son who is a truck driver explained prior to the incident that took his life, that fighting between him and the five men ensued when he intervened and told the men that the cell phone that they wanted to confiscate belongs to the 'thief'  which enraged them.
Adam Taal made this narration amid tears of sorrow rolling on her cheeks. She said the fight between her son and the five men had finished since Monday, adding:  
"This morning one of the five men came to the compound and asked for Pabi Taal when I was performing ablution for Fajr prayers. He informed him (deceased) that his silver necklace which got lost during the Monday night fight was with one of the boys."
She said no sooner her son arrived to collect his necklace than the five men descended on him and engaged him in fierce fight. The victim was allegedly knocked and hit with metal chairs and wooden crutches until he felt fainted.
 Eye witness accounts revealed that officials of Wellingara police station arrived at the scene when the deceased was already on the ground unconscious.
Mr. Fanding Barrow, the Station Officer of the  aforesaid station told The Daily News that the matter is already with officers at their headquarters in Banjul.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Yerro Mballow confirmed the incident and said the arrested three accused persons are  under their custody but yet to be charged and that the medical report is also yet to be issued as the incident happened yesterday morning.
Mr. Mballow used the opportunity to urge the general public to join hands with the police force by jealously guiding the peace and stability that used to prevail in the country.

Gambia News:Gambian Authorities Releases Egypt-Based Guinean Student

Moctar Diallo was detained for almost 3 months by Gambian authorities

By Saikou Ceesay

 

Gambian authorities on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 released an Egypt-based Guinean student after keeping him for a few months in detention, The Daily News has been reliably informed. Mr. Mouctar Diallo, a graduate student of the American University in Cairo (AUC) came into The Gambia for a research purpose. He was arrested on April 30, 2011 on suspicion of drug abuse. But the reason for his prolonged detention is reportedly attributed to the discovery of some research findings, which are deemed controversial by Gambian authorities following a search of his hotel room.

 

Mr. Philip Rizk, a colleague to Diallo, resident in Durban, South Africa said, the Guinean national was viewed as " a threat to national security", and could be suspected of sowing seeds of a revolution because of his experience of the Egypt uprising. Our source could not establish whether or not Mr. Diallo has returned nor could they confirm how long he had stayed in The Gambia.

 

Alpha Sala Jallow, Guinean honorary councilor to The Gambia said Mr. Diallo had telephoned to inform him about his release. But he could not establish the young man's whereabouts when contacted by this reporter. The condition under which he has been released is as well not clear to The Daily News. However, his computer, camera, books, write ups and notes he gathered prior to his arrest are in the possession of Gambian authorities, a reliable source close to Diallo said.

 

An unnamed source at the American University in Cairo (AUC) however confirmed that Gambian authorities have been provided with necessary proof that Mr. Diallo is a student at the University. His research work is related to his thesis for the University, said an academic source.