Movement for Democracy and Development
P. O. Box 500
Bronx, NY 10453
Email: [log in to unmask]


March 31, 2007


PRESS RELEASE: 


The Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Ms. Fatou Jaw
Manneh:


The United States based Gambians’ Movement for
Democracy and Development Organization (MDD) is
watching the unfolding developments in The Gambia with
total disbelieves in the recent unlawful arrest and
detention of a U.S. based Gambian journalist,
pro-democratic activist and critic of President Yahya
Jammeh’s dictatorship Ms. Fatou Jaw Manneh.

The arrest was executed by Agents of The Gambia
(National Torture Agency) know as the NIA upon her
arrival at the Banjul International Airport from the
United States 
last Wednesday. By trying to bring false charges
against this woman justify their unlawful detention is
further evidence that the Government under Yahya
Jammeh has no respect for the constitutional rights of
the Gambian people.

President Jammeh since July 22nd 1994 when he ceased
power in a bloodless Coup D’etat when he suspended the
hard-won democratic freedoms of the Gambian people,
established himself as an absolute ruler, held the
country hostage and destroyed the norms and values of
democracy.

As a result of these alarming developments, we are
adding our voices to those of the national and
international organizations and individuals in
condemning the unlawful arrest and detention of Ms.
Fatou Jaw Manneh.

The Gambia Constitution which is the supreme law of
the country requires that any person arrested be
brought before court of law within 72 hours,
therefore, it is unconstitutional for the NIA to
continuously detain Fatou Jaw Manneh incommunicado
without charges.

The Movement for Democracy and Development call on all
democratic institutions, human rights organizations
and democratic governments to exert diplomatic
pressure on The Gambia authorities to demand an
immediate and unconditional release of Ms. Manneh from
detention. We demand that the Gambian authorities stop
terrorizing the people who simply exercise their
freedom guaranteed to them in the Gambia Constitution
and those who are considered critics of Jammeh’s
regime.

LONG LIVE THE GAMBIA!
LONG LIVE DEMOCRACY!
DOWN WITH DICTATORSHIP!


Signed:

Saihou Mballow
Chairperson




CC:
State Department
EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs
African Union-Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Commonwealth
UK Department of Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Amnesty International 
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Institutions
Media Houses





 
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