Movement for Democracy and Development in The Gambia Based in New York

P.O. Box 500
Bronx, NY 10453

Email: [log in to unmask]

PH:/Fax: 718-716-2439



November 9th, 2005





PRESS RELEASE IN REACTION TO PRESIDENT YAHYA JAMMEH STATEMENT DURING HIS
MEET WITH THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON Eid Al-fitr NOVEMBER 3rd 2005.



By way of introduction the Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD)
came to being in response to the spate of human rights violations in The
Gambia, a group of patriotic Gambians came together in New York City on
March 17th, 2005 to create an organization to support the restoration of
democracy and the rule of law in The Gambia. As you may know the former
lieutenant-military ruler Yahya Jammeh has changed dress but all remain
the same.



The International Community and all human rights Organizations are here by
being informed of the continuous and persistent harassment, suppression
and oppression, by the (APRC) undemocratic Government of The Gambia, of
members of the opposition and the press who represents the views of
several thousands of Gambians.



Today it is very clear that The Gambia is unsafe for those who believe in
Democracy and freedom. On November 3rd, 2005, during president Jammeh meet
with the religious leaders at state house, he repeated his threats and
sworn on National Television and Radio that he will imprison, kill and he
threaten that some of the opposition leaders will not live to witness the
2006 elections. He said,  “the opposition had told the Senegalese
authorities that most of his security guards and half of the personnel of
the National Army are MFDC fighters who are being used to kill Senegalese
soldiers in The Gambia and he is siding with Casamance to get
independence”. The President utterance does not augur well for legality,
the rule of law and constitutionality but rather depicts a tendency
towards crudity, irrationality, and insanity.



President Jammeh‘s threats made him very clear that he is not interested
in peace and stability of The Gambia but rather in violence which would
result in constitutional disorder in the country so that he can rig the
coming 2006 elections.



The APRC Government which is a carbon copy of the AFPRC Military Junta has
always revealed itself as the most tyrannical dictatorship by disregarding
the Gambia constitution, by so doing deprive the Gambian citizens the
rights to freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of
movement. The objective of the APRC regime is therefore to cling on to
power at all cost, plunder the country’s resources without being
challenged by any element and force opposition to melt into inaction.



Since coming to power in a coup d’etat on July 22nd 1994, the APRC regime
has committed various atrocities such as extra-judicial executions,
assassinations, arson, arbitrary arrests and unlawful detentions, and
disappearances against innocent Gambians. We feel it is necessary to list
the most salient ones.



Killings and Attempted Killings:


-The extra-judicial execution of an undermined number of soldiers on
November 11th, 1994 after a false rumors of a failed coup against the
AFPRC military Junta under the leadership of Yahya Jammeh.



-         The murder of former finance secretary of state for finance,
Ousman Koro Ceesay, on June, 23rd 1995;



-The mysterious death of former member of the Junta Capt. Sadibou Hydara
while in custody in September 1995;



-         The cold-blooded killing of former Presidential bodyguard, Lt.
Almamo Manneh, by the special unit under the command of president Jammeh



-         The murder of a presidential guard Sgt. Dumbuya by the same
special unit under the command of president Jammeh



-         The massacre of 14 students demonstrators and a journalist on
April 10 and 11, 2000;



-         The murder of Ousman Ceesay, a militant of the United Democratic
Party (UDP) on October 16th, 2001;



-The assassination attempt of lawyer Ousman Sillah on December 26th, 2003;



-The assassination of journalist, Deyda Hydara on December 16th, 2004;









It is against this background that the Movement for Democracy and
Development appeal to all peace loving people, nations and organizations
committed to the respect of human rights and the rule of law to be aware
of the true nature and character of president Yahya Jammeh and his regime.
We call on all democratic institutions to condemn and denounce president
Jammeh false accusations of the opposition and their supporters. We appeal
to all to continue on exerting maximum pressure on the present
dictatorship so as to ensure the restoration of Democracy and the safety
of life in The Gambia. International cooperation and support should be
extended to only those Governments who value human life, the rule of law
and constitutional order.



Long live The Gambia!  Long live Democracy!  Down with terrorism and
dictatorship!





I look forward to your cooperation and support in this matter.



Sincerely,



Signed:

Saihou Mballow

Chairperson





Cc: UN Secretary General

Cc: U.S Department of State

Cc: Permanent Mission of China to the UN

Cc: permanent mission of UK to the UN

Cc: permanent mission of France to the UN

Cc: African Union

Cc: permanent mission of Senegal to the UN

Cc: permanent mission of Ghana to the UN

Cc: permanent mission of Nigeria to the UN

Cc: permanent mission of South Africa to the UN

Cc: Human Rights Organizations in (NY)

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