Published on The Trinidad Guardian (http://guardian.co.tt)

‘Gambia’s situation an embarrassment’

22 Nov 2009
gambian.png
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford [1]

Gambia could very well face expulsion from the Commonwealth because
of death threats made by President Yahya Jammeh. Sunday Guardian has
learnt that the Commonwealth Secretariat has made recommendations for
dialogue with the Government of Gambia surrounding the development.
Jammeh, in a television broadcast last week carried live, threatened
to “kill anyone who tries to destabilise my country.” Caribbean Centre
for Human Rights based in Trinidad, and the India-based Commonwealth
Human Rights Initiative have called on Commonwealth leaders to
withdraw Jammeh’s invitation to the CHOGM.

It remains unclear whether Jammeh himself will attend the forum.
However, there is confirmation that Gambia Vice-President Isatou
Nije-Saidy is to represent the country when delegates convene in
Port-of-Spain. Outraged by Jammeh’s comments, Director of the
Commonwealth Foundation Mark Collins insists that no leader is above
the law. In an interview at the University of the West Indies, Second
Decade Debate, hosted by the International Relations (IR) Department,
Collins said the situation was an embarrassing one for the
Commonwealth.

“No one is above the law. The rule of law is one of the key principles
of the Commonwealth. “I will be very surprised if action is not taken
against the President of Gambia. “He has very strongly-held views, and
there are concerns about what was expressed on television by the
Gambia leader. His comments will create an atmosphere of fear. “Human
activists are defenders of rights for education, proper health care,
freedom of speech and much more. What does he mean by saying these
things?

“All free-thinking people know that there are some areas of human
rights still surrounded by controversy, like cultural expressions, and
as we well know, sexual preferences and these issues are being
discussed. “Why would the President of Gambia make such a statement?
It reflects badly on the Commonwealth.” Collins said he expected the
issue to be high on the agenda for the Commonwealth Action Group (CWA)
at the People’s Forum. Meanwhile, the IR department is also expected
to launch the Democracy in the Commonwealth Report tomorrow.

Copyright © 2009 TRINIDAD PUBLISHING COMPANY LTD
Source URL (retrieved on 22/11/2009 - 5:12am):
http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2009/11/22/gambia-s-situation-embarrassment

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