The Gambia-ECOWAS-Security


Former pan-African parliamentarian threatens to expose Gambia gov't


APA Banjul (The Gambia) A former Pan-African Parliamentarian and
coordinator of the opposition National Alliance for Democracy and
Development (NADD), on Tuesday threatened to expose the government of
The Gambia if it fails to denounce and disassociate itself from the
ongoing abduction of people accused of being witches and wizards by
purported witch-hunters and people posing as military personnel.

Halifa Sallah threatened report the matter to the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the United
Nations if the government fails to denounce and disassociate itself
from such activities.

Speaking at a press conference held in Serekunda (about 11 kilometres
from Banjul) on Tuesday, Sallah said some people were being arrested
and convicted for spreading false information about President Yahya
Jammeh, but asked why the government was keeping quiet about the
abduction of people in Jambour (about 36 kiloetres from Banjul) and
Barra (in the North Bank Region) on allegations of witchcraft by
people posing as military personnel and witch hunters.

Sallah said scores of people were abducted by the so- called witch
hunters and taken to an unknown location in the Kombos and forced to
drink a concoction. He said it is wrong to enter people's compounds
and forcefully take them away on allegations of witchcraft. Sallah
called on the Vice President, Isatou Njie Saidy, to convene a meeting
of the National Security Council with a view to addressing the matter.

Sallah said, "this is not a partisan thing. Everybody is affected. I
am calling on the citizens to understand their rights. To force a
person to drink a concoction is a crime. This is oppression to the
greatest magnitude .The people doing this are posing as military
personnel. The government cannot remain silent on this matter".

Dodou Sanyang, a resident of Essau in the North Bank Region told
journalists on Tuesday afternoon that his mother, Jonyi Sonko, was
arrested by people in military uniform and the so-called witchcraft
hunters on Thursday and taken to a compound in the Kombos.

Sanyang said his mother was held by her captors until on Monday when
she was released and asked to go home. He added that her mother had
told him that they were given a concoction to drink, adding that some
of those who drank the concoction became unconscious and said crazy
things. Sanyang added that his mother also told him that some of her
co-captives defecated and urinated on their clothes after drinking the
concoction.


ET/daj/APA
2009-02-10

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