Daily Observer (Banjul)

August 28, 2000

Pa Nderry M'bai
Banjul

The United Democratic Party youth wing leader Shyngle Nyassi has said that "if
the UDP comes to power, any public official in the Jammeh government accused of
human rights violation would face the full brunt of the law."

Mr. Nyassi made this statement in an interview with the Daily Observer at the
UDP bureau, Banjul.

The outspoken youth leader argued that no human rights violation can go
unpunished, noting that to discourage such acts "we have to take them to court."

Mr. Nyassi said "UDP will not grant amnesty to any human violator, as far as I
am concerned."

According to Nyassi, he has been subjected to human rights violation in the
Jammeh administration. "I have been abducted, unlawfully detained for 27 days,
tortured and up till now, nothing has been done. All these human rights
violations meted out on me and my colleagues, will be pursued if the UDP comes
to power," Nyassi vowed.

Mr. Nyassi who accused the Jammeh government of gross human rights violation
appealed to the UDP youths to continue to be law abiding citizens. He vowed that
"we would continue to defend ourselves until and unless democracy, multi-
partyism, the rule of law is restored in The Gambia."

According to Nyassi, the Jammeh government has failed and come October 2001, UDP
will sweep the polls.

The UDP youth wing leader said he was optimistic that the APRC will suffer a
humiliating defeat in the coming elections.

Meanwhile, Nyassi has called on the Interior Secretary, Ousman Badjie to look
into the activities of the APRC youth wing, saying that "we will not allow them
to take the law into their own hands."

Mr. Nyassi added "It was evident in their last statement that they would be
prepared to kill or beat anybody who is opposed to the APRC."

According to Nyassi, Gambians ceased to enjoy democracy since 1994 when the
military toppled the democratically elected government of former President
Jawara.

He added that "the Jammeh administration called themselves democrats when they
are not." He said in multi-party systems all political parties should have equal
access to the public media.

He cited the recent ban on the UDP not to convene political rallies in the
country.

He accused the APRC youths of attempting to disrupt the UDP meeting convened in
Farato recently.

"They were going round in the village saying that we will not convene the
meeting," said Nyassi.

He added that the UDP will continue to convene political rallies in the country.
He accused the police of taking sides with the APRC when they came to Farato to
settle a dispute between the APRC and UDP youths.





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