U.S. Lawmaker Condemns Arrest of Opposition Leaders
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FrontPageAfrica (Monrovia)
November 18, 2005
Posted to the web November 18, 2005
Rodney D. Sieh, Panderry Mbai
A United States lawmaker is expressing serious concerns over the arrest of
three opposition political leaders- Halifa Sallah, Hamat Bah and Omar
Jallow by the Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh.
In a letter sent to the Gambian government, a copy of which was served
FrontPageAfrica today, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Democrat, 4th
District, Minnesota, a member of the Committee on International relations
said, the arrest of the three opposition leaders, is extremely disturbing
and casts the very unfortunate appearance of an attempt to silence
legitimate democratic voices.
Congresswoman McCollum says she is currently negotiating with her
colleagues in the House of Representatives on the 'disturbing situation'
unfolding in The Gambia." I would like to express to you, in the strongest
possible terms, my concern for these individuals and my desire that they
be released as soon as possible," said McCollum.
The U.S. lawmaker says due to the serious concern the incident has
provoked in the international community, the three leaders should be
provided immediate access to a member of an international humanitarian
organization or the diplomatic corps to assure us all that their health
and safety and well-being re being protected.
FrontPageAfrica learned today that the three were arraigned before the
Supreme Court. Bah was charged with "the illegal possession of government
documents," while Sallah and OJ were charged with "sedition." The three
are reported to have been in high spirits.
They reported to have challenged the impartiality of the presiding judge -
Justice Paul. Halifa and OJ are reported to have been remanded (to remain
in custody) until December 12 and Hamat is remanded (to remain in custody)
until December 19. Justice Paul was at one time exposed by Bah to have
been involved in certain corrupt practices and misuse of office.
McCollum said in July 2005, she met with the Minority leader of The
Gambian parliament during a visit to Minnesota, who expressed his desire
to engage in an open, democratic process in which the will of the citizens
of The Gambia could be expressed through free and fair election. "I would
hope that your government would share this legitimate and laudable goal by
engaging opposition political leaders in an open debate and free
elections, rather than incarceration," said the lawmaker's letter.The
arrest of the opposition leaders has drawn outcry from several circles.
The Gambia Press Union-North America condemned the arrest earlier this
week.
The Save The Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP), the Movement for Democracy
and Development, the Movement for Restoration of Democracy in The Gambia,
and many other Gambian associations, and well wishers condemned, in the
strongest sense of the word, the confirmed arrest of the opposition
leaders.
"We understand that these spurious allegations of engagement in subversive
activity are the threats President Yahya Jammeh promised to deliver in his
end of Ramadan speech to the Muslim Elders, in which he alluded to the
fact that he was going to ensure that most of the opposition leaders will
not be around for the 2006 elections. We can say without a doubt that
being leaders of a political coalition that has the potential to unseat
the APRC government in the impending general elections in 2006, OJ, Hamat,
and Halifah have other things on their minds other than engaging in
subversive activity against the government," read a statement from the
STGDP this week.
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Gambia's firebrand and leading politician Lamin Waa Juwara also condemned
the arrest of his colleagues, describing it as "part of the ongoing
intimidation campaign meted out to the opposition by the repressive Jammeh
government."
The three opposition leaders were arrested late Tuesday evening amidst an
arrest warrant issued by the Department of State For the Interior. The
Interior press release which was read on Gambia Radio and Television
Services, informed Gambians about the arrest of Hamat Bah and OJ Jallow.
The release said one of the wanted politicians Halifa Sallah was at large
and appealed to Gambians who have information regarding the whereabouts of
Sallah to contact the police. The release also warns the Gambian public to
desist from harboring the NADD coordinator Halifa, who was wanted by the
police.
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