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


April 3, 2006


The unlawful arrest and continuous incommunicado
detention of Mr. Madi Ceesay-journalist, Mr. Musa
Saidykhan-journalist, Antouman Gaye-lawyer, Mamadou
Cadi Cham-politician, Ramzia Diad-politician, Abdoulie
Conteh- politician, Hon Omar Camara, Hon. Demba Dem,
Tamsir Jessey, Alieu Jobe and some senior members of
the security forces.


PRESS RELEASE


We , Gambians based in the United States, under the
umbrella of the Movement for Democracy and Development
(MDD) Organization in The Gambia, are watching the
unfolding developments in The Gambia with total shock
and disbelieves, especially the recent unlawful arrest
and continuous detention of two journalists for the
Independent newspaper, whose officers were also sealed
off by security forces. General Manager Mr. Madi
Ceesay, who is also the Secretary-General of the
Gambia press Union and Editor Mr. Musa Saidykhan.

The Gambia constitution requires that any person
arrested be brought before court of law within 72
hours, therefore, it is unconstitutional for the
government to continuously detain the above persons
incommunicado without charges. This unlawful detention
is further evidence and justify that the Gambian
government, under President Yahya Jammeh, has no
respect for the constitutional rights of Gambians
citizens. After 11 years with so much innocent blood
on its hands, the Gambian government is unremorsefully
determined to add more to its list of those it has
already killed.

As a result of these alarming developments, we are
adding our voices to those of the national and
international human rights organizations and
individuals in condemning the unlawful detention of
the above individuals. We believe that Jammeh’s
government, have lost its sense of direction, will go
to any length to arrest, and detain law abiding
citizens whose only crime is to exercise their rights
guaranteed by the constitution. This is why the
government has stood so low with no shame to arrest
civilians and more so journalists with no knives as
having knowledge of a false coup.

The Movement for Democracy and Development is
appealing to Amnesty International and all Human
Rights Organizations in the world to take immediate
steps to end human rights abuses including, torture,
in The Gambia.

The Movement for Democracy and Development is
appealing to Amnesty International to urge the UN
commission on Human Rights to adopt a resolution
critical of Jammeh’s government attitude towards human
rights.

The Movement for Democracy and Development call on the
International Red Cross to visit the detainees and
make sure they treated with dignity and their health
conditions are OK.

We seriously believe that President Jammeh talk of “
peace and reconciliation” only as a propaganda to
continue his oppression and suppression of the Gambian
people

Finally, we seriously condemn this wave of arrest and
illegal detention of citizens by this oppressive
regime, which has failed to address the real concern
of the Gambian people. We call on the Gambia Bar
Association, Teachers Union, Nurses Association,
Doctors and religious groups to join us in calling the
government to send the detainees to court so that the
due process of law can take its course or release them
immediately.

President Jammeh should learn from former Liberian
President Charles Tailor and must know that whatever
he’s sowing today, he shall reap some days to come.

Signed:

Saihou Mballow
Chairperson

CC:
State Department
Amnesty International 
Human Rights Watch
International Red Cross
Gambia Media
Allgambian.Net
The Gambia Journal
Freedomnewspaper.com
Gambian Embassy DC
Gambian Embassy NY



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