Please add my name to the petition
kalilu camara
>From: MOMODOU BUHARRY GASSAMA <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Dumo Petition Draft
>Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 17:15:41 +0200
>
>Hi!
> Below is the petition draft requested by Kabir. I have tried to
>include all the suggestions. I however think that it is a bit long and
>maybe someone can summarise it. Maybe Alpha can help here and take care of
>the suggestions that are offered. Thanks.
>
> Buharry.
>____________________________________________________________________
>
>
>PETITION FOR THE RELEASE OF MOMODOU DUMO SAHO AND OTHERS
>
> TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
>
>
>
>Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> We the undersigned as concerned citizens of The
>Gambia wish to bring your attention to a frightening trend that has
>characterised the political and civil landscape of our country and to
>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
>civilian and security personnel. These abductions usually take place in the
>form of masked men visiting those abducted in the middle of the night and
>forcefully taking them from their families to be carried to undisclosed
>locations and 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 students demonstrating the rape
>and murder of colleagues.
>
>A case in point is that of Momodou Dumo Saho who went back home to start an
>NGO called Boka Loho to help in the country's development process. Dumo was
>abducted in the middle of the night 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 that he was charged with attempting to
>overthrow, together with others, the Government of The Gambia. This is
>after two weeks of the state denying having him in custody. In fact, his
>wife was at the Supreme Court in Banjul filing a suit for the government to
>explain his whereabouts and on the way home learnt on the radio that Dumo
>had been taken to Kanifing Magistrate's Court where he was charged with
>treason. The police chief is currently requesting his further detention and
>denial of bail.
>
>The spate of disappearances and abductions that have recently taken place
>undermines the rule of law and stability of the country and clearly
>violates the civil and human rights of those abducted as provided under the
>Constitution, 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 Gambia states: "every person shall have the right to
>liberty and security of the 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 established by
>law".
>
>(2) "Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed as soon as
>is reasonably applicable 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 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 and acquire the services of a
>legal practitioner, to allow them contact with their families and loved
>ones is a clear violation of the Constitution and all human rights
>documents signed by The Gambia.
>
>
>
>PETITION
> We therefore humbly request that you and your 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,
>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 the future. People who
>are arrested should be arrested in a lawful manner and not abducted.
>
>- Ensure that those arrested are either 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 of matters and extend to you
>and your 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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