Gambia ALERT: Court detains newspaper journalist

Seikou Ceesay, a reporter of privately-owned the Daily News newspaper, is being held at the headquarters of The Gambian Police Force allegedly on the orders of the Banjul Magistrate Court for standing surety for Nanama Keita, who recently jumped bail and fled the country.

Ceesay, a co-opted member of the Gambian Press Union (GPU), on July 2011 stood surety for Keita, a former sports editor of pro-government the Daily Observer newspaper, detained at the time for giving “false information” to the office of President Yahya Jammeh. This was after Keita had petitioned President Jammeh over his alleged wrongful dismissal from the Daily Observer newspaper.

Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) sources said earlier on October 19, 2011 Ceesay’s wife was also arrested and detained for about four hours after the court allegedly issued the warrant for his (Ceesay)’s arrest. At the time of her arrest, Ceesay was in his home village at the outskirts of Banjul.

As part of the condition for Keita’s bail, the sources said his passport was confiscated and he signed a bail bond of Hundred Thousand Dalasis (D100,000) about Three Thousand Five Hundred and Seventy One Dollars.(US$3571). The GPU also provided legal services for Keita.

In an e-mail to MFWA on September 16, Keita claimed that he had to flee the country after persistent threats on his life by unknown assailants believed to be government’s agents.

"September 7, 2011, was when I received a tip-off from a sympathizer within the security ranks that attempts are being made to have me arrested immediately on a reason the informant would not let me know… Upon getting this tip-off, on a rather pretty serious tone, I then decided to gather a few things before fleeing to neighbouring Dakar and finally, New York, to take refuge," said Keita.

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 News: Chief Ebrima Manneh’s Father Speaks

By Lamin Sanyang
The father of  Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Gambian journalist whose whereabouts remain unknown ever since his mysterious disappearance five years ago spoke to this paper about the recent comments of the Justice Minister about his son that has been published by the Newspapers in the country and  captured in the Online Newspapers.
The family of Chief Ebrima Manneh was met and the comments made by the Justice Minister were related to them. They were surprised by the comments. They were asked whether they are in touch with the Justice Minister.
“I don’t even know the Justice Minister and have never seen a delegation from him,’ said Chief Manneh’s father, Sarjo Manneh.
The old man has lamented the hardship and pain he underwent in search of his son for the past five years. He questioned the possibility of a person disappearing in a small country like ours and cannot be traced for five years. He said he had gone the length and breadth of the country looking for his son.
“If the government said they have no hand in my son’s disappearance then why can’t they send a delegation to clear their name to us?” asked the old man.
He told this reporter that since the disappearance of Ebrima Chief Manneh in 2006, nobody came to meet them about his son except the press union and the international bodies. He said he has made several attempts to meet the President and the Vice President about his son but all the attempts had failed. He said he heard the President’s comment about his son when the Media chiefs met him at the State House and is still wondering how his son could have left the country without his knowledge.
Meanwhile, he was asked what he would want to tell the Justice Minister about his recent remarks on his son. He said he would want to meet the Justice Minister in person.
“How did he know my son is alive? Where is he kept? Why does it have to take all these long years to find my son? Why is it that his statement and the president are not the same?” asked  Sarjo Manneh.

SOURCE :foroyaa.gm

GAMBIA: THREE WEEKS AFTER THE BUSUMBALA ACCIDENT INVOLVING JAMMEH'S CONVOY.NO STATEMENT FROM GOVERNMENT.

By Lamin Sanyang

It is more than three weeks when one of the vehicles in the President’s convoy had an accident at Busumbala that resulted in deaths, injuries and damaged to properties. No television or radio coverage of the incident had been broadcast and no press release concerning the accident has been issued. 

“We have not heard from any one since the funeral,” said a family source.
The family of Dawda Jatta lost two children in the accident and their third child was admitted at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital. This reporter visited the family at Busumbala and he found out that the child that was admitted at the hospital, Dawda Jatta Jr, has been discharged after spending three weeks at the hospital. He sustained injuries on his head. The family said the child’s head was scanned, but the result was not communicated to them.
“I think we will return him to the hospital because he is acting strangely. He could not recognize some members of the family and he finds it difficult to talk,” said a distraught family member.
They said apart from the fee that was paid for the scanning of his head, they were responsible for all the medical bills including the food and transportation to the hospital. It is reported that there are still other people lying at the hospital. Their family members are also responsible for their treatment.

A resident of Bundung and a family member of the late Mrs. Rohey Sonko (a woman who died in the accident at Busumbula) told this reporter that the corpse of her late mother was long transported to Cassamance (the southern part of Senegal) for burial. Asked what next after the burial she said: “I would not know because the impact of the accident still makes me panic,” she said.
She further revealed to this reporter that there was an eight year child who was with her late mother in the van that was hit by a vehicle from the President’s convoy. She said the upper teeth of the child were broken and that the kid is still admitted at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul . She was asked to disclose the person responsible for the medical bills, but she declined to comment.
However, another young lady in her mid twenties, Ms. Kaddy Jatta, was found lying down on a mattress on the ground with both legs broken and wrapped in bandages. She was surrounded by family members at Bundung. She said she was discharged from Banjul hospital last week Tuesday. She said she is a staff of Gamtel, the country’s national telecommunication company. She was asked whether any compensation was given to her, but she answered in the negative.
“My boss is the one paying all the medical bills,” she said.
Miss. Jatta explained the hardship that she is undergoing because of the accident, while complaining of losing her two mobile phones plus two thousand dalasi during the accident. She said she cannot move without a wheel chair. She said she was visited once by the soldiers at the hospital.
“Since I was released at the hospital, I have seen no one to tell me my faith,” she lamented.
Mrs. Fatou Badjie, another victim of the accident was discharged from the hospital last Monday. She told this reporter that the accident has affected her head, ribs and the ankle of her right leg.
“I was in a state of unconsciousness during most part of the time I spent at the hospital,” she remarked.
Mrs. Badjie was asked whether she received any compensation which she answered in the negative, but added that she did not pay any medical bills. She was asked whether she was visited by the authorities, but she said she was once visited by the soldiers at the hospital. She complained that she lost her mobile phone at the accident. When asked about her present health condition after she was released from the hospital.
“My sides are severelyaching,” she complained.
The owner of the Toyota van that was hit by the vehicle was contacted to explain the situation. He told this reporter that the van is still parked at New Yundum Police station. He was asked whether any compensation was given to him, but he answered in the negative.
“They did not contact us,” he said.
However, he said he went to the Insurance Company where he insured his vehicle and he was given a document to take to the police for signature. He said the document was signed by the police. He said the accident has really affected his work and family. He said he is waiting for the response of the authorities. 


Source:foroyaa.gm

Gambia: Press Release from The Gambia Bar Assosiation

This Monday, the 19^th day September 2011 at approximately 11 am at the Banjul Magistrates Court, Moses B. J Richards, a legal practitioner was convicted and sentenced to serve a term of 2 years with hard labour at Mile II Central State Prisons. The alleged crimes for which he was convicted were giving false information to a public servant contrary to section 114(a) of the Criminal Code and sedition contrary to Section 52(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.

The prosecution, conviction and sentencing was presided over and carried out by Magistrate T. A. Alagbe.

By this appalling act the Gambia Bar Association considers the whole Gambian legal profession and the rule of law to have been tried and convicted by extension.

The Gambia Bar Association unreservedly condemns the judgment delivered by Mr. Alagbe and considers it to be an assault on the independence of the profession as well as a malicious attack on the independence of the bar.

It is a universally accepted principle of all civilized societies that an advocate must be allowed to represent his or her client without fear or favour. In this instance the charges against Mr. Richards related to a letter he had written to the Sheriff of the High Court in the course of his duties as a lawyer and while under the direct instruction of his client. The letter made reference to the executive branch of the government. Mr. Richard’s client appeared in court and swore under oath that he did indeed instruct Mr. Richards to write the said letter. These are the ‘crimes’ for which Mr. Richards is being punished.

Once again The Gambia is portrayed as a nation where the mere mention of the Office of the President is risky. The Gambia Bar Association urges the executive branch of the government to take note while its name is used to drive a wedge between the State and the people.

This judgment is a violation of all known principles that seek to protect and safeguard the integrity of the profession as well as uphold the human rights and dignity of the citizen. This judgment sets a dangerous precedent that will once more smear the international reputation of The Gambia and yet again further weaken the already failing Gambian legal system.

The Gambia Bar Association calls on the Executive branch of Government to pay heed to the Legal sector that has recently taken a severe bludgeoning by the forces of corruption and incompetence. There is no doubt that such a judgment would not have been delivered in any other regional Commonwealth nation especially Nigeria, the native land of Mr. Alagbe.

The Gambia Bar Association decries this latest battering of the constitution and the rights of all citizens. We call on the Government of the Gambia to step in and protect its citizens … we call on the government of The Gambia to intervene in the public degradation of the constitution…. we call on the government of the Gambia to free Moses Richards!

The Gambia Bar Association will no longer stand by while these atrocities are carried out in our country against our people by those who would not dare act in such a manner in their country of origin. The bar hereby puts all relevant authorities on notice that the Gambia Bar Association will actively seek the institution of disciplinary action against Mr. Alagbe in Nigeria and will do the same to all other foreign lawyers that seek to visit terror and humiliation on Gambians.

We once more openly invite the executive to dialogue for the interest of all our brothers and sisters.


Source:Freedomnewspaper.com

Gambia on the Road to Political Limbo

By D.A Jawo

As Gambians gear up for the presidential elections in November, and the National Assembly elections, less than two months later, we have seen President Jammeh intensify his socalled philanthropic gestures, including dishing out tractors to various individuals and farming communities as well as flooding the country with sugar and other food items for the Ramadan, virtually putting traders in those commodities out of business.   It is obvious to anyone who cares for the truth that President Jammeh has neither the money nor the wherewithal to provide all those tractors, for instance, on his own. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that they were either bought from state resources or a grant from Taiwan for the Gambian people. Yet, Gambians were deliberately given the impression that they were being provided by President Jammeh out of his magnanimity, no doubt as part of his election campaign.   President Jammeh and his APRC can therefore be accused of using state resources to campaign for re-election, including a complete monopoly of the public media, which belongs to all Gambians, regardless of political affiliation. We also recently saw him campaigning in the guise of ‘Dialogue with the People’ tour, which is sponsored and paid for by the Gambian tax payers.   However, this is despite him telling Gambians that he was not going to campaign, even though his every action, including making numerous promises during the tour as well as dishing out those tractors, bags of sugar, cash and other material gifts, as well as virtually all his utterances and other actions, tantamount to campaigning.   However, while President Jammeh is busy campaigning in various guises, there is hardly much happening in the opposition camp. While we have recently seen some sabre rattling between the leadership of the UDP and PDOIS about the possibility of forming a strategic alliance for the elections, but there has not yet been any serious attempt so far to make such alliance between the only two active opposition parties left in the ring to challenge the APRC; with all the others either hibernating or, like NDAM and NCP, having completely been submerged into the APRC, a reality.   Therefore, with the present division within the opposition, President Jammeh can confidently say that he does not need to campaign in order to win the next elections with a ‘landslide’. This is because his opponents are yet to indicate that they are ready to put up any formidable challenge to the APRC hegemony during the elections or at any time.   Of course it is a well-known fact that the APRC is not as popular and homogeneous as its apologists would want us to believe, and there is no way that the party can win a free and fair election in this country, but the facts are quite glaring that free and fair elections cannot obtain under the present political dispensation. We have all witnessed the persistent repression of the media and the opposition, including the ridiculous imprisonment of the UDP campaign manager Femi Peters for one year for merely organizing a UDP rally without a police permit, which the APRC does on a daily basis, and yet no policeman would dare to confront them.   We have also seen how President Jammeh has been going around during his recent country-wide tour threatening not to bring government projects to those areas that vote against him, as if the money for those projects comes from his pocket and not the Gambian tax payers’ money, which of course includes the opposition.   This is in addition to the unfair use of the public media by President Jammeh and the APRC at the expense of all other Gambians, including the opposition, who all have an equal stake in them. It is indeed a shame to see the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), for instance, being transformed into the propaganda organ of the APRC. It is therefore a big joke for anyone to call such a situation ideal in a democracy when only one political party has access to the media and everyone else is denied such access.   Despite the large turn-out during the recent general voter registration exercise, which produced an unprecedented figure of over 800, 000 registered voters out of a population of less than 1.5 million, what is likely to happen during the elections is that the voter turn-out would again be much lower than in the last elections in 2006 when just about 50 per cent actually turned out to vote. Therefore, unless the opposition get their act together and convince Gambians of the need to come out and vote, only those very few Gambians who support President Jammeh, together with those numerous non-Gambians who have been registered to vote in the country, as well as those induced by money and other material gifts and promises, would come out to vote, while the vast majority of the people would stay at home, for lack of a credible alternative, no doubt as a result of the failure of the opposition to come out with a credible strategy to confront the APRC.   Indeed, we are all aware that virtually all those who do not come out to vote are actually opposed to the regime, but because of the failure of the opposition to form a strategic alliance, most of those people see no point in coming out to vote unless there is a formidable opposition strategy to dislodge President Jammeh.   Of course President Jammeh and his praise singers are always quite happy with such a scenario and in fact that is no doubt why he goes about saying that neither elections nor a coup d’etat would remove him from power. It is all part of his psychological onslaught on the psychic of Gambians, with the intention of being seen as an invincible super-human who is several rungs above ordinary mortals.   What is therefore likely to happen is that at the end of the day, President Jammeh will again be re-elected with a ‘landslide’ victory, which he and his praise singers will attribute to his popularity and magnanimity, completely disregarding the unlevelled political playing field that his opponents have been operating in. He will be sworn in for a fourth term as president of this country with pomp and gaiety and the present system will not only continue, but The Gambia’s reputation will continue to slide downwards and the ship of state will get stuck deeper and deeper into the mud.   With this trend, The Gambia will continue to become more and more an international pariah state as well as attract scum and laughter within the sub-region.   

Source:dailynews.gm

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

Gambia :Commemorating The Gambia’s tragic day; July 22 1994

On July 22 2011, Gambians once again remembered that fateful day seventeen years ago when the Gambian military toppled the democratically elected government of The Gambia. It is an occasion when Gambians and friends of the Gambian people around the world again reflect on horrible legacy of the military regime that usurped the power of the Gambian state. In the past seventeen years since Yahya Jammeh came to power through the barrel of a gun, Gambians have experienced an unprecedented level of human and civil rights abuses and economic mismanagement. Yahya Jammeh’s regime has  achieved notoriety as one of the most brutal and corrupt on the African continent, with an unenviable legacy of extrajudicial summary executions, murders, tortures, forced disappearances, and incarceration of innocent citizens. In addition, the intimidation and terror unleashed against the Gambian people, which are a constant feature in the regime’s governance method, have taken their toll as debilitating and paralyzing both mentally and physically. But in his determination to hold on to power by instilling fear in the minds of Gambians, Yahya Jammeh’s brutal regime has not confined its terrorism to Gambians citizens alone. The massacre of Ghanaians six years ago and the infrequent, yet regular expulsion of foreign workers with diplomatic immunity are an additional stain on the character of Yahya Jammeh and his regime. This year, as we once again mark the anniversary of that sad day seventeen years ago when Yahya Jammeh took over the reigns of power, we are reminded of the scores of murdered and executed Gambians, the dozens of forced disappearances, the several hundred political prisoners and thousands of Gambians who fled their homeland into exile. And as we remember them, we resolve to continue to seek justice for them, and above all, work towards a Gambia free of tyranny and the rule of fear; a Gambia where all citizens are free to pursue happiness each in their own way. As the awareness of the gross human and civil rights abuses in The Gambia have become known, the Day of Action spearheaded by Amnesty International (AI), has taken on a new sense of urgency as The Gambia continues its decent into unfathomable political and economic degeneration. This year like previous years has been marked by the deaths of more innocent citizens and the intimidation through frequent arrests and detention continues unabated. Most recently, Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh and four other innocent Gambians have been arrested and detained and charged under the pretext of national security. It is, therefore, in recognition of the dire situation Gambians find themselves in that we the undersigned consortium of Gambian organizations, henceforth known as Civil Society Associations-Gambia (CSAG), demand that Yahya Jammeh’s regime cease the rule of fear and restore democracy and human and civil rights in The Gambia by:

• Freeing all political prisoners
• Stop the execution, murders, and forced disappearances of innocent citizens
• Release all innocent captives languishing in prisons and jails around the country
• Produce Chief Ebrima Manneh and Kanyiba Kanyi to their families
• End the arbitrary arrests and detentions
• Stop the harassment of citizens by police and National Security agents
• Disband the murderous Jammeh youth brigade
• Restore the freedom of the press
• Free Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh and his co-defendants
• Reinstitute the two-term limit in the Gambian Constitution

1. Gambia Campaign to Fight Human Rights Violations-CFHRV (Scotland)

2. Save The Gambia Democracy Project-STGDP (US)

3. Coalition for Human Rights The Gambia-CHRTG (UK)

4. Human Rights for All HUMRA (Sweden)

      5. Movement For Democracy and Development MFDD (US)

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

7. United Gambia for Democracy and Freedom-UGDF (Senegal)

8. Coalition for Change-Gambia-CCG (Gambia)

Signed                                                                                          Signed

Banka Manneh                                                                           Ndey Tapha-Sosseh

Chairman                                                                                    Secretary General

Gambia: Hundreds disappeared, killed and tortured- New report

(AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL) Gambia must act to improve the deteriorating human rights situation across the country, Amnesty International said in a new report released today. “Climate of Fear Continues: Enforced disappearances, killings and torture in Gambia”, details how cases of enforced disappearances are yet to be resolved after several years, those involved in unlawful killings have not been identified and bought to justice, and torture is still widely used by the security forces. Tawanda Hondora, Amnesty International’s deputy Africa director said: “President Jammeh marks July 22 each year as ‘Freedom Day’ and yet Gambia is ruled with an iron fist by a government that ruthlessly quashes all forms of dissent. “Instead of celebrating ‘Freedom Day’, the Gambian authorities must act to end human rights abuses and the culture of fear. “Gambia’s government must immediately end incommunicado detention and enforced disappearances, and investigate cases of extrajudicial executions. “Any person believed to have engaged in these illegal activities must face justice in fair trials.” On Tuesday three journalists and opposition party members living overseas, including former President of the Gambia Press Union Ndey Tapha Sosseh, were charged in absentia with treason in connection with the distribution of t-shirts bearing the logo ‘End to Dictatorship in the Gambia’. Four others were previously arrested in June and remain in custody in Gambia where treason carries the death penalty. Tawanda Hondora said: “These are prisoners of conscience who must be released immediately. President Jammeh must stop these acts of persecution.” Most victims of enforced disappearances in Gambia are journalists, opposition party members or security force personnel. Investigations by the authorities rarely take place and perpetrators are not brought to justice. Extrajudicial executions have been routinely carried out in Gambia especially against members of the security forces who oppose the government. Amnesty International has also documented cases in which students, journalists and foreign nationals have been killed by security personnel. One human rights defender in Gambia told Amnesty International: “They [unlawful killings] are seen as quickly getting rid of coup plotters and other perceived enemies, especially people whom the President feels have turned against him.”  Torture is also regularly used in Gambia to force confessions and to punish detainees. Significant evidence has emerged in trials in recent years suggesting that people were tortured to extract confessions, raising concerns about the admissibility of the evidence. Amnesty International activists in the UK are campaigning for Ebrima Maneh, who has not been seen since he was arrested five years ago by plainclothes police in Gambia. Amnesty is asking people to go to www.amnesty.org.uk and write to the Gambian authorities demanding that they reveal Ebrima’s whereabouts.

The Gambia: July 22: Remembering the dead and the living Dead

By Mathew K Jallow

As Gambians remember seventeen years of unprecedented human and civil rights abuses, we endeavor to put names to the many Gambians who have lost their lives or suffered injustices under the regime of Yahya Jammeh. The updated list of the executed, murdered, disappeared, those being tried, facing charges, those exiled or languishing in Yahya Jammeh’s prisons and jail houses around the country tell the story of the legacy of Yahya Jammeh’s and his regime over the past sixteen years.

Regime’s witching-hunting Kangaroo Trials

GAMCOTRAP’s Dr. Isatou Touray and Co. trials

GNOC’s Beatrice Allen and Co. trials

Suruwa Wawa B. Jaiteh and Dr. Loum’s trials

Dr. Amadou Jallow and Co. trials

Dr. Alasan Bah and Co’s trials

Recent arrest, detention and charged with treason

Amadou Scattred Janneh, former minister of Information

Ndey Tapha Sosseh, former president of the Gambia Press Union

Mathew K. Jallow

Famara Demba

Modou Keita

Ebrima Jallow

Michael C. Uche Thomas

Torture and Yahya Jammeh’s convoy related deaths

Demba Sibey of Numuyel village

A third grader from Saaba Primary School

A young girl killed Yahya Jammeh’s motorcade/Gunjur prayer fest

Paul Bass NIA operative killed by Jammeh’s convoy

Arab businessman dead in collided with Jammeh’s convoy

A soldier from Sintet village killed escorting Jammeh’s convoy

A little girl killed by convoy during Mauritanian President’s visit

A child killed by stampede for Jammeh’s biscuits at Sere Kunda market

In total since 1994 nearly twenty people; children and adults have died as a direct result of Yahya Jammeh’s speeding convoys and biscuit throwing to crowds.

Recent Arrests of journalists

Sports Editor Nanama Keita, facing witch-hunting/Kangaroo Trial

Ahmed Alota, arrested, detained, released

Executed and Murdered Civilians
Ousman Koro Ceesay
Deyda Hydara
Sidia Sanyang
Ebrima Chief Manneh
Omar Barrow
Lamin Sanneh
Ousman Ceesay
Sarjo Kunjang
Ebrima Barry
Ousman Ceesay
Saja Kujabi
Haruna Jammeh
Yaya Jammeh
Daba Marena
Staff Sergeant Manlafi Corr
Sergeant Major Alpha Bah
Lieut. Ebou Lowe
Lieut. Alieu Ceesay
Sgt. Fafa Nyang
Lieut. Basiru Barrow
Cpt. Sadibou Hydara
Lieut. Almamo Manneh
Lieut. Abdoulie Dot Faal
Lieut. Bakary Manneh
Lieut. Buba Jammeh
Lieut. Momodou Lamin Darboe
Cadet Officer Sillah
Lieut. Basiru Camara
Corpl. Mendy
Lieut. Gibril Saye
Sergeant Dumbuya
Momodou Sowe
Gambians detained, released in Jail or murdered 1994-2009

RSM Alpha Bah
Major Ebrima Bah
Lt Momodou Alieu Ba
Corporal Samba Bah
Tijan Bahoum: Power Supply Director NAWEC
Kemo Balajo: ex-National Intelligence Agency
Foday Barry: ex-NIA; director of Intelligence
Ourani Barry: ex-Senior Civil Servant
Lamin Bojang: Medical Research Council
Ebrima Camara: ex-police officer
Omar Barru Camara: ex-MP APRC
Captain Wassa Camara
2nd Lt Alieu Ceesay
Lamin Ceesay: Politician
Madi Ceesay: President, Gambia Press Union
Awa Darboe Cham: wife of alleged coup leader Ndure Cham
Lamin Cham: ex-Daily Observer, BBC correspondent
Lamin Cham: Politician
Momat Cham: former minister
Momodou Cadi Cham: former politician
Superintendent Abdoulie Colley: ex-police officer
Retired Colonel Abdoulie Conteh: former KMC Mayor
Staff Sergeant Manlafi Corr
Captain Bunja Darboe
Lamin R. Darboe: Politician
Lamin Saiba Darboe
Captain Yaya Darboe
Adama Deen: former Managing Director Gambia Ports Authority
Demba Dem: ex-MP APRC
Momodou Demba: Politician
Mariam Denton: Human Rights Lawyer
Raif Diab: Businessman
Ramzia Diab: former nominated MP, APRC
Musa Dibba: ex-NIA Director of Finance
Sheriff Mustapha Dibba: ex-Assembly Speaker
Baba Drammeh: ex-Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC) officer
Omar Faal: Marabout
Ansumana Fadera: ex-Senior Civil Servant
Jerreh Fatty: Politician
Lamin Fatty: journalist, The Independent newspaper
Mariama Fatty: Politician
Kebba Faye: ex-Senior Civil Servant
Tamba Fofana: Head Master
Abdou Gafar: journalist, Daily Express newspaper
Lamin Gassama: Security Manager, Banjul International Airport
Antouman Gaye: Lawyer
Pa Njie Guirigara: General Manager, VM
Sarane Hydara: ex-Senior Civil Servant
Captain Abdoukarim Jah
Karamo Jaiteh: former Managing Director, Gambia Roads Authority
Suruwa Wawa B Jaiteh: former Permanent Secretary
Staff Sergeant Buba Jammeh
Haruna Jammeh. Villager
Kebbaringo Jammeh: Councilor
Marcel Jammeh. Villager
Lance Corporal Babou Janha
Amie Jarju. Villager
Cherno Ndure Jarju: Politician
Lamin Jarsey: Politician
Tamsir Jassey: ex-Deputy Inspector General Police, Director of Immigration
Dudu Kassa Jatta: Politician
Ousman Rambo Jatta: Councilor
Colonel Vincent Jatta: ex-Chief of Defense Staff (deceased)
Momodou Jaw: ex-IEC officer
Abdoulie Kanaji Jawla: MP, APRC
Baboucarr Jobarteh: ex-Protocol Officer
Maimuna Jobarteh: Politician
Abdou Jobe: Managing Director, NAWEC
Alieu Jobe: ex-Accountant General
Duta Kamaso: ex-MP, APRC
Kanyiba Kanyi: Politician
Lamin Keita: ex-Senior Civil Servant
Nato Keita: Politician
Abdoulie Kujabi: ex-Director General, NIA
Jasaji Kujabi
Dr. Badara Loum: ex-Permanent Secretary
Lt Ebou Lowe
Mustapha Lowe: College student
Bamba Manneh: ex-NIA operative
Chief Ebrima B. Manneh: journalist, Daily Observer newspaper
Fatou Jaw Manneh: journalist
Kebba Yorro Manneh: Politician
Daba Marena: ex-Director General, NIA
Malick M’boob: ex-Daily Observer, RV
Sulayman Sait M’boob: ex-Minister, IEC Commissioner
Sergeant Buba Mendy
Captain Pierre Mendy
Omar Ndow: former Managing Director of Gamtel/Gamcel
Ndondi S.Z. Njie: former Chairman of IEC
Alhagie Nyabally: ex-President, Gambia Student Union
Alassan Nyassi
Balla Nyassi

Dr. Badara Loum: Former Permanent Secretary, Agriculture
Private Alagie Nying: Gambia National Army
Sam Obi: Daily Express, RFI correspondent
Baba Saho: ex-NIA director, External Security
Musa Saidykhan: former Editor-In-Chief, The Independent newspaper
Betrand Sambou
Dodou Sanneh: former journalist, GRTS
Ebrima Sillah Sanneh: ex-IEC officer
Lamin Sanneh: former Permanent Secretary
Sergeant Abdoulie Sanyang
2nd Lt Pharing Sanyang: Gambia National Army
Commander MB Sarr: Gambia National Army
Lt M. Savage: Gambia National Army
Ebou Secka: ex-Senior Civil Servant
Nourou Secka: ex-NIA operative
Momodou Senghore: ex-Senior Civil Servant
Ousman Sey: Marabout
Musa Sheriff: journalist, Gambia News & Report magazine
Amie Sillah: journalist, women activist
Alieu Singhateh: ex-NIA operative
Kebba Singhateh: Politician
Modou Sonko: journalist, Daily Observer newspaper
Private Ebrima Sonko
Juldeh Sowe: journalist, The Independent newspaper
Issac Success: journalist, Daily Express newspaper
Azziz Tamba: Politician
Ebou Waggeh

Arrest and Detention of Journalists

October 2005: Abdoulie Sey
2005: Musa Saidykhan
March 2006: Musa Saidykhan
March 2006: Madi Ceesay
April 2006: Lamin Fatty

Journalists on Exile in Senegal, Europe and the US

Pa Ousman Darboe
Alieu Badara Sowe
Pa Ousman Darboe
Musa Saidykhan
Sulayman Makalo
Omar Bah
Alhagie Mbye
Ebrima Sillah
Augustus Mendy
Bankole Thompson
Papa Colley
Sulayman Darboe
Fatou Jaw Manneh
Pa Omar Jatta
Momodou Thomas
Musa Saidykhan
Ansumana Badjie
Pa Samba Jaw
Sarjo Bayang
Pa Nderry Mbai
Cherno Baba Jallow
Ebrima Ceesay
Baba Galleh Jallow
Ebrima G. Sankareh
Yankuba Jambang
Mathew K. Jallow
Military/Security mysterious deaths

Captain Tumbul Tamba
Captain Musa Jammeh
Colonel Vincent Jatta
Lieut. Solomon Jammeh
Pa M. Jallow
Manlafi Sanyang
Boye Bah
Momodou Bah
Illo Jallow

Military/Security/Civilian recently detained

Lang Tombong Tamba
Bore Badjie
Omar Bun Mbye
Demba Njie
Lamin Fatty
Yankuba Drammeh
Malamin Jarju
Kawsu (Bombardier) Camara
Ngorr Secka, NIA
Ensa Badjie
Bun Sanneh
Sarjo Fofana

Military/Security/Civilians: detained, released, fled

Captain Bunja Darboe
Capt Yahya Darboe
Capt. Wassa Camara
2nd Lt Pharing Sanyang
Alieu Jobe
Tamsir Jasseh
Omar Faal
Demba Dem,
Col. Ndure Cham
Abdoulie Kujabi
Kemo Balajo
Alieu Singhateh
Foday Barry
Landing Sanneh

Executed Military and Security officers 2006
Daba Marenah
Alieu Ceesay
Alpha Bah
Manlafi Corr
Ebou Lowe

Students Massacred April 11th. 2000

Reginald Carrol
Karamo Barrow
Lamin A. Bojang
Ousman Sabally
Sainey Nyabally
Ousman Sembene
Bakary Njie
Claesco Pierra
Momodou Lamin Njie
Ebrima Barry
Wuyea Foday Mansareh
Bamba Jobarteh
Momodou Lamin Chune
Abdoulie Sanyang
Omar Barrow
Burama Badjie

Gambians Missing and Disappeared Since 2005

Ebrima (Chief) Manneh: arrested July 2006
Kanyiba Kanyi arrested September 2006
Haruna Jammeh arrested in 2005
Marcie Jammeh arrested in 2005
Alfusainey Jammeh arrested in 2005
Momodou Lamin Nyassi arrested in 2005
Ndongo M’boob arrested in 2006
Buba Sanyang arrested in 2006
Alieu Lowe arrested in March 2006,
Sgt. Sam Kambai arrested in 2006
Bakary Gassama arrested in 2007
Kebba Secka arrested in 2007
Ebrima Dibba arrested in May 2008,
Ebrima Kunchi Jammeh arrested in May 2008

Cases of Regime ordered Arsons against media personals.

August 8th. 2001, Radio Station 1 FM, was set ablaze around 2 a.m. in the morning, after proprietor George Christensen and his watchman were doused with hazardous chemicals in the hope of incinerating them. The two victims survived the ordeal, but the station was a total loss.

August 10th. 2001, the home of Alieu Bah, Radio I FM journalist, who moderated debates and discussions between prominent personalities, was set ablaze around 3 a.m. while he, his wife and children were asleep. The family narrowly escaped death, but the house was gutted to the ground.

October 17th. 2003, The Independent Newspaper premises were set on fire around 3 a.m in the morning when three unidentified masked men stormed the building, assaulted the night watchman and then sprayed him with fire hazard chemical in the hope he would burn to death. But he luckily survived the assault. The premises were destroyed beyond recognition.

April 13th. 2004, the Kanifing printing facilities of the Independent Newspaper was set on fire around 2 a.m. by six individuals dressed in military fatigue. The printing machinery and other hardware equipment were completely destroyed.

August 15th. 2004, the home of B.B.C reporter, Ebrima Sillah was set on fire as he slept. He narrowly escaped.

Arrests and Detentions of Journalists

September 19th. 2003, around 6 p.m. Abdoulie Sey, the Editor-in-Chief, The Independent Newspaper was arrested from his office by intelligence agents and held incommunicado. He was released four days later.

September 2005, Musa Saidykhan, Editor-in-Chief, The Independent Newspaper, was detained for interrogation for a brief period of time shortly after returning from a South African journalist conference.

March 27th. 2006, Musa Saidykhan, Editor-in-Chief, The Independent Newspaper, was arrested again by security agents a few days after publishing an article critical of Yahya Jammeh’s reactions in the wake of an alleged coup attempt on March 21, 2007. He was released after three weeks in detention.

March 2006, Madi Ceesay, The Independent General Manager, arrested by the regime’s agents, was released after three weeks of detention.

April 10th. 2006, Independent reporter, Lamin Fatty was arrested from his home by NIA agents and released after two months in detention and charged with false publication.

April 25th. 2006, Independent receptionist, Juldeh Sowe, was arrested and released after several hours.

July 7th. 2006, Daily Observer journalist, Ebrima Chief Manneh, was arrested by NIA officials from the Observer premises, was seen in public once after two years detention, at the Royal Victoria Hospital, sick and emaciated. Six powerful U.S Senators; Edward Kennedy, Richard (Dick) Durbin, Russell (Russ) Feingold and Joe Lieberman among others wrote to Yahya Jammeh asking him to release Journalist Manneh after being held for nearly three years. Manneh has since been confirmed murdered by Jammeh’s agents.

May 24th. 2006, following the hacking of the online, Freedom Newspaper, five Gambian journalists whose names appeared on the paper’s readers list were arrested and detained for different lengths of time. After several months they were released. They are:

Musa Sheriff
Pa Modou Faal
Lamin Cham
Sam Obi
Malick M’boob

Other arbitrary arrests against journalist
September 2006, a Gambia Radio and Television Services reporter, Dodou Sanneh, was arrested and detained, and later fired, rehired and fired again from his job government job.

March 28th. 2007, Fatou Jaw Manneh, a U.S. based Gambian journalist, was arrested at the airport, her traveling documents seized and charged with sedition. Her Kangaroo trial lasted more than a year. Her heavy fine was paid with donations from family and friends from all around the world.

December 16th. 2005, police ruffed Ramatoulie Charreh up after the participants in a conference she attended, attempted to visit the spot where journalist Deyda Hydara was gunned down.

2006, Njaimeh Bah, Point Newspaper reporter, attacked by unknown assailants, was severely beaten.

December 12. 2006, Baron Eloagou, reporter for the Daily Express, was severely beaten by unknown assailants.

December 2006, Abdougafar Olademinji, reporter for the Daily Express, was attacked by unknown assailants and beaten severely.

June 14th. 2009, seven journalists and members of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), were rounded up from various locations by heavily armed paramilitary agents and detained at NIA headquarters before being transferred to the notorious Mile 2 prison outside Banjul. The group listed below, were granted bail and charged with publishing seditious material and their case is ongoing despite protestations of regional and international organizations such as Media Foundation for West Africa, Amnesty International, Community to Protect Journalists.
Emil Touray, Secretary General Gambia Press Union
Sarata Jabbi Dibba, Vice President, Gambia Press Union
Pa Modou Faal, Treasurer, Gambia Press Union
Pap Saine, Managing Director, The Point Newspaper
Ebou Sawaneh, Editor, The Point Newspaper
Sam Sarr, Managing Editor, The Foroyaa Newspaper
Abubakr Saidy-Khan, journalist, Foroyaa newspaper.

June 16th. 2009, Abdulhamid Adiamoh, Publisher of Today Newspaper, was arrested for false publication and detained at National Intelligence headquarters. Forced to plead guilty or face deportation back to Nigeria, he was fine an extortive amount of money or face six months jail time.
June 22nd. 2009, Augustine Kanja, a reporter for The Point Newspaper, was arrested and detained by security agents. He was released June 25th, 2009.

Attempted Murders: Fled Gambia
Ousman Sillah: Attorney/Lawyer
Mai Fatty: Attorney (Attorney/Lawyer

Foreign nationals executed in Gambia
44 Ghanaians
2 Senegalese
1 Togolese
2 Nigerians

72 Ministers: Appointed and Fired

Mass Axi Gai
Angela Colley
Kanja Sanneh
Neneh Macdoual-Gaye
Therese Ndong-Jatta (resigned)
Maba Jobe (hired & fired before taking office)
Momodou Lamin Sedat Jobe (resigned)
Joseph Henry Joof (resigned)
Satang Jow (retired)
Yankuba Kassama
Margaret Keita
Ousman Badjie
Samba Bah
Lamin Kaba Bajo
Musa Bittaye
Amie Bensouda
Fatou Bom Bensouda
John P. Bojang
Momodou Bojang
Nyimasata Sanneh
Bojang Mamat Cham
Ebrima Ceesay
Momodou Nai Ceesay
Ousman Koro Ceesay (murdered)
Sulayman Massaneh Ceesay
Bakary Bunja Dabo
Fasainey Dumbuya
Samba Faal
Omar Faye
Sadibou Haidara (murdered)
Sheikh Tijan Hydara
Blaise Jagne
Balla Garba Jahumpa
Momodou Sarjo Jallow
Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh
Manlafi Jarju
Tamsir Mbowe
Dominic Mendy
Alieu Ngum
Bakary Njie
Omar Njie
Susan Waffa-Ogoo
Hawa Sisay Sabally
Sana B. Sabally
Abdoulie Sallah
Hassan Sallah
Momodou Sallah
Sidy Morro Sanneh
Kebba Sanyang
Samsudeen Sarr
Cheyassin Secka
Musa Sillah
Edward Singhatey
Raymond Sock
Amina Faal Sonko
Baboucarr Jatta
Famara Jatta
Kumba Ceesay-Marenah
Mustapha Marong
Fafa Mbai
Musa Mbenga
Sulayman Mboob
Bolong Sonko
Bai Mass Taal
Fatoumatta Tambajang
Bemba Tambedou
Yankuba Touray
Crispin Grey Johnson
Antouman Saho
Lamin Bojang
Marie Saine Firdaus