Gambia:Interior Minister Was Aware of The Torture

Source:dailynews.gm

Former operations commander of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), Mr Ousman Sanneh has said that the minister of Interior Ousman Sonko was aware of the torture meted out on two anti-drug officers by four personnel of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in 2009.
“Minister Sonko was aware of the torture because Ebrima Bun Sanneh reported the matter to him,” Sanneh said while testifying in the torture case involving the four NIA operatives.
The trial which is underway at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court involves Lamin Darboe, Ebrima Drammeh, Edrissa Jobe and Omar Jammeh.
They are alleged to have caused grievous bodily harm to Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima by beating them with fist blows, electric cables and metals at the NIA headquarters in Banjul. All accused persons denied the charges.
Sanneh’s statement according to the accused person’s lawyer was a bit in conflict with the former NDEA boss, Bun Sanneh who had told the court that the matter was not reported to Minister Sonko. But the witness maintained that what he had said the truth.
“Did you report the matter to the police,” defense lawyer Sissoho asked.  “I personally did not report the matter because the then IGP was aware of it,” the witness said.
However, he told the court that the alleged torture incident did not happen in their presence.
 “I have not seen them with my naked eyes but I saw the signs of torture all over their bodies.”
He said the drug officers claimed to be tortured, but were never taken to any hospital for medical treatment.
Still under cross-examination, Sanneh told the court that NDEA is the lead agency in drug related matters.
 “Is NDEA the only agency in The Gambia empowered to investigate drug related matters,” lawyer Sissoho inquired.
 “Yes Sanneh replied, adding that the police can arrest and hand over any drug suspect but should not interfere likewise the NIA.”
 He added that his men - Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima - were charged and arraigned before the Banjul Magistrates’ Court. He said he had earlier told the panel at the NIA that they have no criminal case against the two.
“At the panel I asked the accused persons what wrong had the NDEA officers committed and the 3rd accused responded that they were obstructed by Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima while executing their duty,” he said.
The case will resume August 19, 2011.
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Author: Binta A Bah

Gambia ALERT: Dismissed sports editor receives death threats

Nanama Keita, a dismissed Deputy - Editor-in-Chief of the pro-government Banjul-based Daily Observer newspaper, on July 27, 2011 filed a complaint at the Kairaba Police Station in Banjul about consistent threats to his life by unknown persons.

Media Foundation for West Africa's (MFWA) sources reported that Keita has been receiving life threatening SMS texts since July 5. The sources said the latest threats came to him on July 15. In the last threat Keita was allegedly warned to either leave the country, if he values his life, or be taught a lesson that he will never forget. The police have promised investigating the threats.

Keita has since July 5 been standing trial for allegedly "giving false information to a public officer." This was after he petitioned President Yahya Jammeh over his wrongful dismissal from the Daily Observer newspaper. 

On July 4, Keita was arrested and detained overnight and charged with the offence. He was released upon the intervention of the Gambian Press Union. The sources said he was accused of leaking information to an online US-based Gambia website, Freedom Newspaper. 

For more information Please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.gh, alerts@mediafound.org

Website: www.mediafound.org

Gambia:Gambian Human and Civil Rights Organizations Form Coalition (CSAG)

Press Release: Civil Society Associations Gambia

After three months of sustained consultations and meetings, we the undersigned Gambian human and civil rights organizations have agreed to form a coalition, hence forth known as Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG). The decision to form a coalition is driven by an intense desire to join our individual efforts in order to maximize our effectiveness in dealing with the daunting problems of human rights abuses in The Gambia. In the seventeen years since the overthrow of the democratically elected government in The Gambia, human rights violations have become a constant feature in the daily life of Gambians. The founding of Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG) is, therefore, an endeavor to address the menace of human and civil rights violations and the restoration of democracy and the rule of law. Today, it has become evident from the history of the past sixteen years that we must continue to expose and find remedy for the lack of democracy, the rule of law and the perennial human rights abuses, which have become an issue of overarching concern to Gambian as well as our regional and international human rights partners and friend of The Gambia around the world. The proliferation of Gambian human rights organizations around the world, and outside Gambian shores is a testament to the sheer magnitude of the problem we face as a country. In order to help address these concerns, the Civil Society Associations Gambia, as a coalition, will endeavor to:

· Facilitate and enhance our individual activities aimed at restoring Democracy, the Rule of Law, Sovereignty of the Gambian people, and the establishment of Good Governance that guarantees the Freedoms and Rights of Gambian citizens.

· Co-ordinate our collective actions and activities in all areas of the defense of the Human Rights of the Gambian people, regardless of political affiliation, nationality, regional and ethnic affinities and affiliations.

· Monitor Human Rights issues, exchange protocols and devise joint action to maximize the impact and outcome of our efforts.

· Engage in all efforts that will ensure that all national institutions in Gambia adhere to the Rule of Law, Due Process and fair and equitable treatment of citizens and without fear and favor.

· Monitor all binding international agreements entered by into by The Gambia such as The African Charter of Human Rights, UN Convention on the Rights of citizens etc. with a view to ensure compliance to the letter and spirit of these Agreements.

· Exchange, inform and share with likeminded organizations around the world all matters as deemed appropriate, relating to the realization of CSAG’s broad aims and objectives.

· Identify all areas of injustice, inequality and discrimination that engender and breed Abuses of the Rights of citizens and communities, with a view to engage in public debates in order to end all such practices.

Signatory member organizations of Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG)

Campaign for Human Rights in Gambia UK(CHRG)

Save The Gambia Democracy Project-STGDP (US)

Coalition for Human Rights The Gambia-CHRTG (UK)

Human Rights for All HUMRA (Sweden)

National Movement for the Restoration of Democracy in Gambia-NMRDG (US)

United Gambia for Democracy and Freedom-UGDF (Senegal)

Coalition for Change-Gambia-CCG (Gambia)

CSAG is open to all Gambian civil society organizations that wish to become a part of the struggle to restore the rule of law in The Gambia, and we further ecourage Gambians and friends of The Gambia around the world to join us in this struggle.

Signed                                                Signed

Banka Manneh                                          Ndey Tapha-Sosseh

Chairman                                                     Secretary General