The Gambia Press Union - U.S. Branch, joins the Gambian and internatinal community in vehemently condemning, in no uncertain terms, the arrest and incarceration, at the notorious Mile Two Prisons on Tuesday, November 15, of opposition leaders Omar Jallow, Hamat Bah and Halifa Sallah of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD). The unlawful arrest and incareceration of these three gentlemen is further testimony to the total disregard for the rule of law, human rights and the dignity of persons which has become a defining characteristic and hallmark of the regime of President Yahya Jammeh.

 

We also condemn the spurious allegations of engagement in subversive activities leveled by the Jammeh regime against these three gentlemen. As part of the leadership of a political organization with the potential to have Mr. Jammeh voted out of office come the 2006 general elections, Messrs Jallow, Bah and Sallah have absolutely no need to be engaged in any subversive activities againts the Gambia government. Furthermore, all right thinking Gambians know that the three gentlemen will never engage in any form of criminal activity against the State. Particularly nauseating is the announcement on national media by the Gambian authorities, that Halifa Sallah went into hiding following the arrests of Messrs Jallow and Bah. All Gambians know that Halifa Sallah is not the type of person who will flee into hiding from arrest. That the Jammeh government could make such an unfounded declaration is a mark of how low it could sink in its determination to neutralize the opposition in the run-up to next year's elections. Just a few weeks ago, President Jammeh publicly and falsely accused the opposition leaders of trying to instigate a military conflict between The Gambia and Senegal and threatened to deal with them, going so far as to announce that he would not hesitate to kill some people if he finds it necessary.

 

In issuing this condemnation of these unlawful arrests, the Gambia Press Union - U.S. Branch is calling on all Gambians and all members of the international community to constantly focus their attention on what is going on in The Gambia, to pressurize the Jammeh regime into respecting the Gambian people's right to differ from him and the policies of his government, and to urgently do whatever it takes to have the three gentlemen released immediately.

 

Signed, on behalf of GPU-USA

Baba Galleh Jallow

Coordinator