No hiding place for Yahya Jammeh over human rights abuses

Human rights activists have called on government to show more commitment 
to seek justice for the 44 Ghanaians who were allegedly killed in The Gambia.
They are disappointed that the bilateral agreements were concluded by the 
Ghana and The Gambia governments without recourse to the families of the 
victims. 
"It is a travesty of justice that of all the 44 Ghanaians, whose names the UN-
ECOWAS team established were duly recorded in Gambian police stations, only 
six have been acknowledged by both governments to deserve compensation 
and disregarding the only known Ghanaian survivor who has until to date 
received no assistance from government," stated Nana Oye Lithur, Regional 
Coordinator of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). 
Speaking at a forum in Accra, Nana Oye lamented that without any 
consultation with interested civil society groups or the families of the victims, 
the government went ahead to make conclusions with the Gambian 
government. 
The forum was under the auspices of the Media Foundation for West Africa 
(MFWA), CHRI and Amnesty International to throw the searchlight on the 
human rights situation and deteriorating freedom of expression in the Gambia, 
on the occasion of the country's freedom day -July 22, 2009. 
The memorandum of understanding signed between the Ghana and Gambia 
governments during a ministerial meeting on the Report of the Joint UN-
ECOWAS fact finding mission in Sirte, Libya, on 2nd July, 2009, concluded that 
the Gambian government is not directly or indirectly implicit in the deaths or 
disappearances of the Ghanaians, but nevertheless, it agreed to make 
contributions to the families of the Ghanaians found dead in its territory in 
conformity with African traditional values. 
The Gambian government also pledged to pursue all available means to arrest 
and prosecute all those involved in the deaths and disappearances of the 
Ghanaians concerned and ECOWAS citizens. 
According to Nana Oye, the CHRI began further investigation into the arrest 
and reported murders of the 44 Ghanaians in 2006, by officially filing a 
complaint with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights and also 
the United Nations Human Rights Council. 
Subsequently, she noted that an expert fact finding committee which was set 
up to investigate the incident on 14th August, 2008, finalized its 
investigations and submitted its final report to the UN and ECOWAS on 3rd 
April, 2009, and was then submitted to respective government during a 
meeting in Abuja on May 11, 2009. 
"The panel however concluded that the government of The Gambia is 
responsible for the protection of the human rights of all persons in its territory, 
and therefore liable for the incident, regardless of whether the violations were 
committed de jure or de facto. This means that The Gambia government was 
not entirely exonerated from being held accountable for whatever happened to 
the victims," she emphasized. 
She was disappointed that numerous attempts by CHRI to contact the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make the report public have not yielded results. 
Nana Oye reiterated that the details of the report will contribute immensely in 
aiding the relatives through their healing process as they mourn the loss of 
their loved ones. 
Lithur stated that CHRI will take legal action if the report is not issued to the 
public. "The Gambia threatens the rest of West Africa," said Lithur. "We need 
to prosecute the perpetrators and protect fundamental human rights inside 
and out."
In recognition of The Gambia's Freedom Day, the Media Foundation of West 
Africa (MFWA) held a public forum to discuss the atrocities President Yahya 
Hammen has inflicted inside his country, at the Ghana International Press 
Center on Wednesday.
Together with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, the Ghana Chapter 
of Amnesty International and the Ghana Journalist Association, the MFWA 
commemorated the Yahya's violent past and discussed the current brutality 
The Gambia government has instigated not only on its citizens, but the 
entirety of West Africa.
Since coming to power during the 1994 coup that overthrew one of Africa's 
oldest multi-party democracies, President Yahya Jammeh has been outspoken 
against independent media. Through unlawful interrogation, detention and 
deportation tactics, his regime has concurred The Gambia's journalists, 
reducing them to near silence. More than 27 journalists have fled The Gambia 
since his occupation.
While covering a student demonstration in 2000, Gambian journalist Omar 
Barrow of Sud FM was shot and killed by security agents. Deyda Hydara, a 
journalist known for being critical of his government, was killed on his route 
home. Two colleagues who accompanied him home were also shot in the legs. 
Chief Ebrima Manneh of the Daily Observer continues to be detained in 
Gambia, despite the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice's ruling for him to be 
released in 2006.
The Independent's former editor Musa Daidykhan claims he was tortured by 
the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in The Gambia in 2006 and is still 
awaiting trial. In June of this year, seven journalists were apprehended and 
sent to court for sedition. They are held on account of accusing the 
government of participating in the murder of Hydara.
Yahya's administration has inflicted fear beyond the county's media sector. 
Over 1,000 Gambians have been taken from their villages by "witch doctors" in 
accordance with the government. Yahya became increasingly superstitious 
after the recent death of his aunt, and began a nationwide "witch hunting" 
campaign. 
In March, Amnesty International reported 300 civilians kidnapped from Foni 
Kansala, a district near Kanilai. Amnesty International claims witnesses 
saw "witch doctors" accompanied by police and the NIA who forced citizens 
out of their homes and into detention centers. They were forced to drink 
hallucinate substances and often beaten into submission. 
Two were reported to have died due to kidney failure from the substance that 
caused uncontrollable vomiting and defecation. The "witch hunting" campaigns 
have continued to occur across The Gambia. Secretary General of the People's 
Democratic Organization of Independence and Socialism and coordinator of the 
National Alliance for Democracy and Development, Halifa Sallah has been a 
prominent critic of the government. He is being held for sedition at the Mile II 
Central Prison in Gambia for his articles on the "witch hunts" in the Foroyya 
newspaper.
Outsiders to The Gambia have been subjected to torture and unlawful seizure. 
In 2005, 44 Ghanaians were arrested and allegedly killed by Gambian officials. 
Recently, six bodies were found, igniting an effort to resolve the murders. 
ECOWAS and the United Nations investigated the crimes, and in May of this 
year "rogue" NIA soldiers were claimed responsible for the killings. 
The UN held The Gambia's government liable for the crime, insisting they were 
liable for protecting the human rights of all citizens inside their territory. 
However in July President Mills came to an understanding with President 
Yahya, claiming the government was innocent in the murders, but insisted 
they make contributions to the families of the six victims who had been 
discovered, despite the identification of all 44 by the UN. 
Gambian journalist, Suwaibou Touray of the Foroyaa newspaper, spoke on the 
atrocities inside his country during the forum. Through systematic and 
deliberate harassment and detention, his government is subjecting the public 
to fear and insecurity. Yahya controls every part of society, and many believe 
he can never be defeated in office. He has the power to dismiss the Chief 
Justice, and dissolve governmental positions at will. 
NIA soldiers are reluctant to speak to the public about their conduct, in fear 
of losing their station, or even their lives. "If you refuse to go with the 
government, they will not recognize you. Everybody fears," said Touray "We 
cannot go on hiding because we are just playing into their hands. What we 
need is solidarity like we are receiving tonight," he said. "We need the leaders 
of Sub-Saharan Africa to put pressure on our government."
Ugonna Duru, legal officer for the MFWA, also discussed her view of the 
situation after a legal defense mission to The Gambia. "The atmosphere of fear 
is real," Duru said. "We need a campaign for The Gambia." She discussed the 
injustice in the judicial system, and the bias nature of the officials. "It is too 
easy for the government to dismiss trials, they have a systematic way of 
overthrowing rulings," she said. During the MFWA's legal defense mission, Duru 
noted that The Gambia's American Ambassador and the United Kingdom's High 
Commissioner were present and speaking on behalf of the accused. No African 
diplomat was present, and the forum discussed the urgency for more political 
involvement by African officials inside The Gambia.
Chairman, Kofi Asamoah, stated that the journalists of Ghana have a 
responsibility to report on the atrocities inside The Gambia. The panel urged 
the Ghanaian government to seek resolution in the case of the missing 
Ghanaians, and to pursue justice for their families. The CHRI will continue to 
seek out the official report, and bring recommendations to the public on how 
to resolve issues of injustice. 
Amnesty International called on The African Union and ECOWAS to force The 
Gambian government to employ the African Commission on Human and People's 
Rights recommendations to investigate all accusations of torture and 
detention. They also pled for The Gambian government to abide by the basic 
human rights outlined in the African Charter to secure liability for transgression.
The panel asked the Ghanaian public to urge their leaders to put pressure on 
The Gambian government to comply with human right laws. Yahya's acts of 
tyranny have subjected all of West Africa to the dangers of human rights 
violations and action needs to be taken, according to the panel. 

Author: Ama Achiaa Amankwah & Megan Gex

Source:http:Public Agenda 
//www.ghanaweb.com/public_agenda/article.php?ID=13582


Author: Ama Achiaa Amankwah & Megan Gex

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