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Gambia: Sallah's Wife Takes Jammeh to Task - 11/25/2005 2:34:53 PM
Ida J Sallah, wife of the detained NADD Coordinator Halifa Sallah, has joined the world in condemning what she called the illegal and unconstitutional detention of her husband and other opposition officials messers Hamat NK Bah and Omar Amadou Jallow (OJ). Ms.Sallah a renowned Gambian intellectual, in a protest letter addressed to Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh says no amount of ploy and black mailing tactics can undermine the unshakable and untainted credibility of her husband, whom she describes as a true patriot, who contributed immensely towards educating Gambians about their god given rights and civic duties. In a frank and candid statement, Ms.Sallah explained how Halifa was arrested by the NIA and the state's misinformation campaign that Halifa was on the run. The seasoned Gambian intellectual says despite Halifa's attempts to explain to the state media that he was not on the run, journalists at the government controlled radio station, radio Gambia, went ahead and
reported that Halifa was on the run. Ms.Sallah dismisses such media reports and insists that Halifa was not the type of person who will go on hiding. The irritated politician's wife says, there was no grain of truth on the GRTS report on Halifa's whereabouts. She says the entire Gambian nation were shocked about the arrest of Halifa, Hamat and OJ. She expresses the need for the Jammeh administration to observe the rule of law and stop abusing rights and freedoms of peace loving Gambians. Below is full text of Madam Sallah's letter addressed to President Jammeh. Please read on.........
Your Excellency,
The respect of the letter and the spirit of the rule of law is not only paramount but it is a compulsory common duty as it engenders common interest by ensuring peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, political and socioeconomic stability and development.
In other words, we are all bound, without exception, to adhere to this principle in order to be different from an inhuman society where might rules. This is one of the reasons why it is a constitutional requirement for a citizen to take oaths before holding a public office. The holding of the Koran, the Bible or, some other sacred as supporting documents does not only affirm one's sincerity and commitment but gives hope and assurance to people that one's actions will be always guided by humanism and sense of morality which call for the reign of justice, impartiality and tolerance.
Moreover, one would become more assured when he or she sees his or her country being the host of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights and constantly hears the holder of the highest office of the land and his immediate subordinate authorities make strong emphasis on the respect for the rule of law. But, your Excellency, the arrest and detention of my husband, Halifa Sallah, and his colleagues, Omar Jallow and Hamat NK Bah, proves the very opposite of all these. Their rights are grossly being violated.
Allow me, your Excellency, to draw your attention to the illegal actions perpetrated by the government authorities supposedly known as the protectors of human and democratic rights of all the Gambian people: 1. On 15th November 2005 around 7.30 pm, Halifa was arrested in my presence in his office at the People's Center in Churchill's town by four plain clothed NIA (National Intelligence Agency) officials without serving him any arrest warrant attesting to their authority to carry out such act. 2. Halifa was then taking by the NIA officials in a red Mercedes Benz without number plates. 3. In the presence of the NIA officials some standing and some seated, like Mr Dampha, near his office desk, Halifa was talking to Radio Gambia on the untruthfulness of the press release which says that he was at large. The clarification made by Halifa did not deter GRTS from reading again the same press release at 8. pm news, 30 minutes after his arrest. 11hours 30 minutes after his arrest and
detention, the same press release was again broadcast. How can one be arrested and detained and still be declared as being at large? Is this act legal or illegal? Are these media officers acting according to their terms of reference or to command? If the latter stands, what was really the motive behind this act?
Your Excellency, no matter the degree of contempt one holds for another, is it rational, decent and human for an authority to order such an illegal action against his fellow human being, particularly against someone who has so immensely participated in the national development in all spheres of life of our motherland, The Gambia? Unfortunately for that authority, the news did not serve its purpose instead, it has created more sympathy for Halifa and has consolidated the love and respect that the Gambians have for him.
Being with him throughout that day, from home to the offices (the bureau and the People's Center), I am one of the right persons who can testify to the untruthfulness of the press release. From home and the bureau, Halifa was in his office serving the people. No matter how, Halifa will never run away from anybody because he is a law abiding citizen who does not only urges others to obey the law but even teaches them the reasons why they should do so. His high sense of patriotism, morality, decency and humility are indisputable. He is a man of conscience who means whatever he says and does. His image can never be tarnished by anybody.
The mind that pays tribute to the past and honours the present will never turn a blind eye, or pay deaf ears, to the good work and sacrifice that Halifa has done for his country. 4. Even though they are remanded, according to the ruling of the presiding Judge, Justice Paul, normal access to them by their families, as guaranteed by standard procedures, is denied to them. The normal visiting days and hours of the remand prisoners are as follows. 9 am to 11.30 am and 2 pm to 3.30 pm from Monday to Saturday. As for Halifa, Omar and Hamat, we encountered lot of difficulties before we were given access to them. Despite all the struggle, a friend who went to visit Halifa Wednesday 23rd November 2005, was told that visits to these three people are limited to only two days (Monday and Thursday) instead of six days in the week. Efforts have been made to get the Director General of Prisons for clarification but to no avail.
Does the nature of the charges warrant this situation? Your Excellency, are the prison officers working according to procedures or command? If the latter stands, who is giving that command? If the principles of good governance are being respected, is that person entitled to give such command? Where do we stand or what future could we envisage in a society where authorities are vehemently violating the laws that guard our individual and common interests and human rights? Where are we heading to? Are we paving the way for the past to regenerate its roots for a society where oppression, indifference, intolerance, contempt and vengeance will be the order of the day? Where might determines the rule of law and Justice, democracy, freedom of ___expression mourn for lack of respect? Where one's self defense is considered to be sedition and when the mighty utters insults and threats, and justice becomes a captive?
Your Excellency, the 21st century does not call for this type of society. Rather, it calls for a society where the exercise of a high sense of decency, morality, maturity will guide our actions. It calls for liberty, freedom, fairness, impartiality and transparency of state institutions in the execution of their duties in accordance with constitutional procedures or their terms of reference, since they constitute the key to good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, development and stability. Your Excellency, history has its noble pages widely open but jealously guarded by the pillars of wisdom.
They only absolve those who answer to this call, those who accept and respect the rule of law and the will of the people. Your Excellency, the arrest and detention of Halifa and his colleagues Omar Jallow and Hamat NK Bah, has indeed revealed illegal practice in the functioning of the state machinery? Are they the norm or are they intentional acts?
Whatever it may be, bear with me that the image of our country is nationally and internationally at stake. The integrity and the credibility of our nation are being questioned. So then, what do we do as citizens of The Gambia? Do we have to close our eyes on it and accept to be victims of isolation? Or is it the duty and the democratic right of every citizen to give his or her contribution for lessons to be drawn? If "Yes", is it an offense, or rather an act of patriotism if one makes such a move? Ideas are food for thoughts whether we accept or not.
Your Excellency, for your information, the arrest and detention of these three people is a big shock to the nation. Sorrow has since invaded the hearts of the Gambian people. The situation does not give credit to Your Government as it is unexpected and unwelcome, The Gambian people want peace and this is what they expect from the Government and the opposition. Whoever does the opposite will sooner or later account for it. All hands should, therefore, be put together to save our nation from commotion and instability as they constitute the enemies of development and prosperity.
To end this letter Your Excellency, it is not a weakness or a shame for the perpetrators of the illegal practice to repent, rather it is an act of patriotism, love and respect that they hold for their people who believe in forgiveness for peace, tranquility and stability to be the eternal wealth of our dear motherland, The Gambia. Let our actions be guided by the observance of the collective interest.
As we come to this world empty handed and we'll depart from it empty handed, our only treasure will be the noble place we secure in history. For our deeds to become a treasure, maturity, patience, tolerance, mutual respect, justice and impartiality must guide our actions and we leave the rule of law and the will of the people to determine the faith of our nation. Your Excellency, while hoping that this letter will be given due consideration, I remain Yours truly,
Ida J. Sallah
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