Press Release :The Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh
We the undersigned Gambian civil society organizations learnt of the arrest and detention of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, which occurred on the morning of Tuesday June 7 2011, with consternation and regret.
We were also reliably informed that in the process his unlawful arrest, his home was ransacked by agents of the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA). We members of the Gambian civil society fraternity condemn in the strongest terms, this dastardly abuse of the civil rights and denial of our fellow citizens the inalienable right to free association and assembly for purposes of legitimately opposing and petitioning the regime as enshrined in our Constitution.
Dr. Janneh, a high profile member of the civil society community in The Gambia, has a history of opposition to the regime of Yahya Jammeh, where he briefly worked as member of cabinet. Dr. Janneh's political inclinations are not the issue at this point, but his rights to express his views and his right to freely associate in furtherance of this aspiration for our country are.
Consequently, the Executive committee members of the Coalition for Change Gambia, in collaboration with the undersigned Gambian civil society organizations, call on all Gambians, friends of The Gambia and Human Rights groups around the world to join us condemning the unlawful arrest of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, and others and we further declare as follows:
A. that Dr.Janneh and everyone associate with his arrest, be unconditionally released with immediate effect or be charged within the 72 hours provision as stipulated in The Gambian Constitution.
B. that Dr. Janneh and others linked to his arrest be accessible to legal counsel without delay
C. that they be treated humanely and with dignity and not be subjected to torture or any other form physical trauma to their bodies
D. that their families members be allowed unfettered access to them
E. that the spirit of the law and the Constitution be jealously followed allow their immediate release
F. that this matter be handled transparently and judiciously by the Gambian authorities, and in a speedy manner
We the undersigned Gambian civil society organizations jointly condemn the unlawful arrest and detention of Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, and others falsely associated with him and are urging their release with immediate effect. We will monitor progress on this matter in conjunction with partners in Human Rights work and friends of the Gambia worldwide.
Signed
Ndey Tapha Sosseh; Coalition for Change-Gambia (Gambia)
Amie Joof; Coalition for Human Rights-Gambia (Senegal)
Alieu B. Ceesay; Gambia Campaign to Fight Human Rights Violations (Scotland)
Banka Manneh; Save The Gambia Democracy Project (US)
Abdoulie Jobe; Coalition for Human Rights The Gambia (UK)
Yaya Dampha; Human Rights for All (Sweden )
Saihou Mballow; Movement For Democracy and Development (US)
Mathew K. Jallow; National Movement for Restoration of Democracy Gambia (US)
Bubacarr Baldeh; United Gambia for Democracy and Freedom (Senegal)
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