Alpha, I sent you a message today, using [log in to unmask]
but it was sent back.  Please send me your e-mal address at
[log in to unmask]
I have some information to share with you.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: Alpha Robinson <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Dumo Petition Draft
>Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 00:33:59 +0200
>
>Buharry,
>
>I think the petition is very well structured. I think all suggestions
>have been included.  I wasn't able to summarise it much further. A few
>things have been added and others omitted. The areas underlined are
>those where changes have been made. Yes, it's a bit long, but I think
>it's fine as it is. What does everyone think?
>
>Annika and others, please check for any specific inconsistencies etc.
>Next question is, who do we send it to?
>
>Alpha
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>PETITION FOR THE RELEASE OF MOMODOU DUMO SAHO, LALO JAITEH, OMAR DARBOE,
>EBRIMA YARBOE, EBRIMA BARROW AND MODOU MARENA
>
>  TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
>
>
>
>Dear Sir/Madam,
>
>We the undersigned, as concerned citizens of The Gambia, wish to bring
>to your attention a frightening trend that has characterised the
>political and civil landscape of our country and respectfully request
>your help in ensuring  that the civil liberties of Gambians are not
>violated.
>
>BACKGROUND
>
>The frightening trend that has plagued our country is the spate of
>abductions that have been carried out in the recent past against both
>civilians and security personnel. These abductions usually take place in
>the form of masked men visiting those abducted in the middle of the
>night, forcefully taking them away from their families to undisclosed
>locations where they are held incommunicado. The abductions have
>occurred in the shadow of government difficulties such as the ambush of
>the leader and other members of the opposition United Democratic Party,
>the crude oil affair and the killing in April of unarmed school children
>and students demonstrating against the rape and murder of fellow school
>children.
>
>A case in point is the arrest and detention of Momodou Dumo Saho who
>went back to The Ganbia to start an NGO called "Boka Loho" to help in
>the country's development process. Dumo was abducted and held
>incommunicado for over two weeks. The state denied holding him in
>custody and it was only after his family's lawyers filed a suit against
>the state that he was charged with attempting to overthrow the
>Government of The Gambia, together with others. The Inspector-General of
>Police, representing the state, is currently requesting their further
>detention and denial of bail.
>
>These disappearances and abductions undermine the rule of law and
>stability of the country and clearly violate the civil and human rights
>of those abducted as provided under the Constitution of The Republic of
>The Gambia, the UN Charter and the African Charter on Human Rights, to
>which The Gambia is a signatory. Chapter IV, section 19 (1) of the
>Constitution of The Republic of The Gambia states: "every person shall
>have the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be
>subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention. No one shall be deprived of
>his or her liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such
>procedures as are established by law".
>
>(2)  "Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed as soon
>as is reasonably practicable and in any case within three hours, in a
>language that he or she understands, of the reasons for his or her
>arrest or detention and of his or her right to consult a legal
>practitioner."
>
>(3)  "Any person who is arrested or detained -
>
>       (a)    for the purpose of bringing him or her before a court in
>execution of the order of a court; or
>
>       (b)   upon reasonable suspicion of his or her having committed, or
>being about to commit, a criminal offence under the law of The Gambia,
>
>and who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a
>court and, in any event, within seventy-two hours."
>
>
>The manner in which the abductions and detentions take place; the
>failure of the state to promptly charge those detained within
>seventy-two hours, to disclose where they are being held, to allow them
>to contact a legal practitioner, their families and loved ones has now
>become a familiar pattern which raises concerns and needs to be
>addressed. Besides, dubious allegations of coup plots have led to the
>execution of the so-called "coup plotters" without trial in the recent
>past.
>
>
>PETITION
>
>We therefore humbly request that you and your Government/Organization
>put pressure on the Government of The Gambia to ensure that Momodou Dumo
>Saho, Lalo Jaiteh, Omar Darboe, Ebrima Yarbo, Ebrima Barrow and Modou
>Marena are:
>
>  -        Released without charge or;
>
>-         Accorded a fair, speedy and impartial trial;
>
>-         Allowed be to be released on bail;
>
>-         Allowed a trial that is held in public;
>
>-         Are not subjected to torture and other degrading and inhumane
>treatment;
>
>-         Allowed to request the international community and human
>rights organizations to monitor and gauge the fairness of the    trial
>and evaluate the evidence proffered by the state;
>
>-         Allowed visits and other forms of contact with their lawyers
>and Human Rights Organisations, families and friends, in the event of
>their continued detention;
>
>
>The state should:
>
>-         Be held responsible for their well-being and decent treatment,
>as stipulated in all the human rights documents to which The Gambia is a
>signatory, and should be equally held responsible for any harm that
>might befall them under detention;
>
>-         Conform to the provisions of the law in future. People who are
>reasonably suspected of having committed a crime, or being about to do
>so, should be arrested in a lawful manner and not abducted. Anyone
>arrested in future should either be charged within seventy-two hours, as
>stipulated by the Constitution, or released. They should also be allowed
>contact with a legal practitioner and their families.
>
>
>We await your kind co-operation in this urgent matter and extend to you
>and your Government/Organization the warmest of thanks for your interest
>in our country.
>
>                                                          Sincerely,
>
>                                                          Concerned
>Gambians and Friends of The Gambia.
>
>
>
>       NAME  PLACE OF RESIDENCE
>
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