Brothers and Sisters of the Gambia-L
Following is MRDG's statement pertaining to the recent attack on the
UDP Leadership and Members. Please feel free to download this
statement and forward it to other Representatives, Officials,
Organizations and Individuals, etc. who can assist in demanding an end
to the atrocities and human rights violations that continue to plague
The Gambia.
Jamila
________________________________________________________________________
MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION
OF DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA
1920 Walton Avenue, Suite 5B
Bronx, New York 10453
Tel/Fax: (718) 842-6162
June 21, 2000
TO: US Representatives, Senators, Congressmen, State Department
Officials, Ambassadors to the Gambia; UN Secretary General,
Representatives and Officials; the International and Humanitarian
Community; Amnesty International, The International Red Cross,
Organizations, Institutions and NGOs Concerned with Issues
Hampering the Progressive Development of Africa
CC: The Gambian Government Representatives and Officials
RE: BLATANT CONTINUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND ABUSES IN THE
GAMBIA
THE MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA is outraged
to learn that an opposition party, The United Democratic Party has been
subjected to the brutal intimidation practices of the government of The
Gambia. The entire leadership of the UDP has been attacked with its
party leadership and members presently under arrest and detention.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) under the leadership of Secretary
General and Party Leader, Ousainou N. Darboe during their "Meet The
People" Political Education Tour, incurred continual harassment and
sabotage by members of the defunct July 22nd Movement and the ruling
party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
(APRC). This harassment culminated in an attack on the UDP in the town
of Basse on June 17th resulting in numerous injuries and the death of
an armed member of the July 22nd Movement.
July 22nd Movement members, and the National Youth Action Group
(trained militia groups of President Yaya Jammeh's regime) were
mobilizing to continue the attack on the UDP as they attempted to
return to Banjul. The UDP leadership was detained in Basse under the
guise of "protective detainment" until a security escort could be
obtained. This so-called "protective detainment" has changed to the
arrest of the UDP leadership and members held at Basse. It was
initially reported that a minimum of 50 to 100 UDP members were held at
the Basse Police Station under cramp, squalid and possible torturous
conditions. Murder charges have since been filed against 25 UDP
members and supporters, including UDP Leader and Human Rights Lawyer
Ousainou N. Darboe (Secretary General and Party Leader), Yaya Jallow
(Deputy Secretary General and Deputy Party Leader), Abou Karamba
Gassama (National Assembly Member for Badibu Central), Baba Drammeh
(UDP member), Sainey Jadama (UDP candidate for Illeyassa), and Madi
Ceesay (News and Reports Journalist).
As documented by Amnesty International, the pattern of intimidation,
harassment and violence directed at political opponents is a continuing
pattern of the Jammeh regime. In its quest to maintain political
governmental control, the APRC, formerly known as the Armed Forces
Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC), has exhibited a clearly documented
historical pattern of systematic assaults against opposition parties,
particularly the UDP and UDP Leader Ousainou Darboe. Amnesty
International has stressed the need to insure that the safety of
opposition politicians, who feared or had reason to fear for their
lives during the past and upcoming National Assembly and Presidential
elections, must be guaranteed. Amnesty International has further
indicated the concern that criminal charges have been used against
political opponents as a way of justifying their continued detention.
Amnesty International continues to stress that the Gambian government
should ensure that all Gambian citizens are able to exercise their
right to vote without fear of arrest, detention, and ill treatment.
Moreover, American President William Jefferson Clinton indicated his
concern regarding the current political situation in The Gambia in his
response addressing the April 10th and 11th massacre of students by
Gambian paramilitary forces. President Clinton acknowledged that the
1996 election did not meet international standards for transparency and
fairness. He further indicated concern that the Gambian government has
not taken adequate measures to ensure a free and fair 2001 election.
The recent attacks perpetuated against the UDP constitute a violation
of the Gambian peoples right to freedom of speech, expression, thought,
conscience, belief and assembly. In addition Section 25(e) of The
Gambian Constitution provides that "every person shall have the freedom
of association, which shall include freedom to form and join
associations and unions, including political parties and trade unions."
Section 26(a) of The Gambian Constitution further provides that "every
citizen of The Gambia of full age and capacity shall have the right,
without unreasonable restrictions - (a) take part in the conduct of
public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives."
THE MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA is outraged
that these basic freedoms continue to be denied and abused by the
Jammeh regime.
THE MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA therefore
condemns these brutal and barbaric acts of intimidation in an attempt
to deny the Gambian people their inalienable rights as guaranteed in
the constitution.
THE MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA demands
that:
¨ The charge of murder filed against the UDP opposition party leaders
and their supporters be immediately dismissed;
¨ The immediate and unconditional release of all opposition leaders and
their supporters;
¨ Increased scrutiny by the International community through their
resident diplomatic representatives in The Gambia be radically
increased to insure the continued safety of all opposition party
leaders and their supporters;
¨ All opposition parties are allowed their constitutional right to
assembly and protection as they engage in the upcoming electoral
process in order to Insure Free and Fair Elections in The Gambia.
THE MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA consisting
of Gambians, Africans (Continental and Diaspora), and Concerned Friends
of The Gambia request your support in demanding an end to the
atrocities
and human rights violations that continue to plague The Gambia.
MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF
DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA
_____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
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