NEWS
GPU-USA Condemns Arrest of Opposition Leaders
PRESS RELEASE



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November 16, 2005
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



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