BY PA NDERRY M'BAI

  The Gambian community in the United States, converged before the United Nations, building in New York City, Friday, demonstrating against what they called the "human rights and rule of law crisis" in the West African country.  The demonstration spareheaded by The Gambian US based pro democracy group, called The Movement for democracy and development in The Gambia,  was held under rough weather. The demonstrators handed a protest letter to the UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan, asking him to intervene in Gambia's political crisis. Below is the full text of the petition letter handed to the UN strong man.  Please read on....

  Movement for Democracy and Development in The Gambia Based in New York
  P.O. Box 500  Bronx, NY 10453
  Email: [log in to unmask]
  PH:/Fax: 718-716-2439

  December 16th, 2005h,


  His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan,
  Secretary General,
  United Nations,
  UN Plaza, 405 East 42 Street
  New York, NY 10017


  Your Excellency,

  We the above named Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD) in The Gambia based in New York is composed of a group of patriotic Gambians who came together in New York City on March 17th, 2005 to create an organization to support the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in The Gambia.

   Today we are here gathered in front of the United Nations plaza to protest the” illegal and unjustifiable” arrest and detention of three executive members of the Gambian opposition party National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) The three leaders Hon. Halifa Sallah, Omar Jallow and Hamat Bah arrested on November 15, and charged with one count each of sedition. They are also charged with making false statements against the president and the government contrarily to what president Jammeh told the Gambian people on November 3rd 2005.  These three are very popular among the Gambian voters and are among the potential Presidential candidates to challenge president Yahya Jammeh in the coming October 2006 presidential elections.

  On November 3rd, 2005, President Jammeh met with the religious leaders at state house, he made a serious threat and sworn on National Television and Radio that he will imprison, kill and threaten that some of the opposition leaders will not live to witness the 2006 elections. He said, “the opposition has been creating the basis of conflict between The Gambia and Senegal to the extend that they had told the Senegalese authorities that most of his security guards and half of the personnel of the National Army are MFDC fighters who are being used to kill Senegalese soldiers are in The Gambia and he is siding with Cassamance rebels to get independence”

  Sir, less than two weeks after the utterance of his threats, president Jammeh ordered for the arrest and detention of the above mentioned leaders at the Mile 11 Central Prisons. Interestingly, justice Paul who is being investigated for corruption related to the sale of twelve plots of land by the Assets Management and Recovery Corporation (AMRC) during the period he served as the aforesaid institution’s legal adviser is trying them.


  After 11years of president Jammeh’s misrule, Gambia faces huge challenges to restore respect for human rights and the rule of law.  As you may know the former lieutenant-military ruler who came to power by coup d’etat on July 22nd 1994 has changed dress but all remain the same.

  Your excellency, we are here by write to inform you of the continuous and persistent harassment, suppression and oppression, by the (APRC) undemocratic Government of The Gambia, of members of the opposition and the press who represents the views of several thousands of Gambians.

  Today it is very clear that The Gambia is unsafe for those who believe in Democracy and freedom.

  President Jammeh‘s threats made him very clear that he is not committed to the principles of democracy, including freedom of expression and assembly but rather in violence which would result in constitutional disorder in the country so that he can rig the coming 2006 elections.

  The APRC Government which is a carbon copy of the AFPRC Military Junta has always revealed itself as the most tyrannical dictatorship by disregarding the Gambia constitution, by so doing deprive the Gambian citizens the rights to freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of movement. President Jammeh’s objective is therefore to cling on to power at all cost, plunder the country’s resources without being challenged by any element and force opposition to melt into inaction.

  Since coming to power in a coup d’etat on July 22nd 1994, the APRC regime has committed various atrocities such as extra-judicial executions, assassinations, arson, arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, and disappearances against innocent Gambians. We feel it is necessary to list the most salient ones.

  Killings and Attempted Killings:
  -The extra-judicial execution of an undermined number of soldiers on November 11th, 1994 after a false rumors of a failed coup against the AFPRC military Junta under the leadership of Yahya Jammeh.

  -         The murder of former finance secretary of state for finance, Ousman Koro Ceesay, on June, 23rd 1995;

  -The mysterious death of former member of the Junta Capt. Sadibou Hydara while in custody in September 1995;

  -         The cold-blooded killing of former Presidential bodyguard, Lt. Almamo Manneh, by the special unit under the presidential command.

  -         The murder of a presidential guard Sgt. Dumbuya by the same special unit under the presidential command.

  -         The massacre of 14 students demonstrators and a journalist on April 10 and 11, 2000;

  -         The murder of Ousman Ceesay, a militant of the United Democratic Party (UDP) on October 16th, 2001;

  -The assassination attempt of lawyer Ousman Sillah on December 26th, 2003;

  -The assassination of journalist, Deyda Hydara on December 16th, 2004;

   The Movement for Democracy and Development appeal to you to use your respectable office to focus as a matter of urgency on the restoration of respect for human rights and the rule of law in The Gambia. Among other steps, to urge The Gambia Government to:

  (1) Release Immediately and unconditionally the three opposition leaders.

  (2) Appoint an independent judicial enquiry to investigate the assassination of journalist Deyda Hydara on December 16, 2004 and bring the killers to justice.

  Sir, we appeal to you to ensure that the forth-coming presidential election is free from irregularities including inflated figures for voter turnout, intimidation and bribery of both electoral officials and voters and alteration of results. These irregularities were widespread during the previous elections.

  We look forward to your support in bring true democracy in The Gambia.

  Yours Sincerely,
  Signed:
  Saihou Mballow
  Chairperson








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