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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Oct 2007 : 22:59:32
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Culled from: Freedom Newspaper
Breaking News: UDP'S Rambo Jatta, Kanyiba Kanyi released at last!
Breaking News: UDP'S Rambo Jatta, Kanyiba Kanyi released at last!
In what appeared to be a Presidential gesture to free political prisoners, the detained UDP official Ousaman Jatta, alias Rambo has been released from custody after spending one year behind bars at Sare Nngai police station, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. Rambo was released alongside with the CCF official Kanyiba Kanyi. The popular politician who appeared confident traveled many hours before he could access his family in Bakau. Mr. Jatta who was in an excited mood said he thanked God for giving him chance to reunite with his family. The popular politician told our Correspondent that he was held at the Sare Ngai police station for the past months without any formal charge proffered against him. “ I want to thank God for allowing me to see my family once again. I'm well and fit.” he said
The two were detained on alleged security reasons. The Gambian State had earlier denied holding the accused persons. Concerned by the detainees plight, Human Rights Lawyer Ousainou Darboe filed a law suit against the Gambian Government. Darboe in a court deposition urges the court to issue a declaration condemning the continued detention of his clients. He also asked the court to compel the Jammeh Government to produce the bodies of Kanyiba and Rambo.
A sizeable crowd of excited UDP supporters converged at Rambo’s house in Bakau, where speakers upon speakers deplored the unconstitutional detention of Kanyiba and Rambo. “ This Government trades on lies. How can they say they don’t have Rambo in their custody and set him free? Many people have disappeared under similar circumstances. The lucky ones reunite with their families, while the unlucky ones died in custody. We are very pleased that two of party strong men are back home. Yahya Jammeh owns the judiciary. He releases these people based on his own accord and free will. This is a mockery to our judicial system. I think the office of the CJ should exert its independence and charge these criminals for perjury and contempt of court.” said a UDP supporter.
This reporter was one of the first journalists, who got into contact with Rambo shortly after his release. Rambo is presently relaxing at his Bakau home. He praised God for spearing his life and enabling his family reunion.
While the released UDP officials, are not keen at discussing their plight in custody at this hour, reports have it that the detainees suffered all kinds of torture from the hands of their captives. This paper gathered that the detainees were strictly warned by their captives not to ever discuss or entertain conversation regarding the condition of their detention. Failure to follow such official directives continued our source, means more trouble for the two.
In The Gambia, torture victims are afraid to talk about their plight. This is attributable to the political climate in the West African country. Government torture agents threatened such victims with death should they ever talk about their plight openly. As a result of this, many prefer to conceal such horrible experiences from their loved ones or members of the media.
The Gambian Government recently detained two Amnesty International staffers and a local journalist. The detainees who were later set free were accused of spying. The two Amnesty officials were later allowed to leave the country. They earlier had their passports seized by the state.
Gambia’s Human Rights situation had declined sharply in recent months. Cases of alleged extra judicial killings, torture of political prisoners, arrest, abductions and harassment political opponents are common in that country. Many investors have turned their back to the country in view of the ailing political climate.
Posted on Sunday, October 14, 2007 (Archive on Tuesday, October 30, 2007)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI
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How true is the release of Kanyiba? If so why haven't other online new papers publist it? if not then where is my honourable friend Mbye getting his sources from?
Any way I commend him so much for his stance against dictatorship but reporting the truth and only truth is professional and ethical journalism.
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2007 : 20:41:09
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Culled from 'The point' Newspaper
Lawyer Darboe Urges NIA DG to emulate IGP
Wednesday 17th October 2007
The recent release of two prominent UDP supporters, Ousman Rambo Jatta, the Councilor for Bakau Cape Point ward, and Tamba Fofana, headmaster of Kudang Lower Basic School, from months of detention, Mr. Ousainou Darboe, the UDP leader, has challenged the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to emulate what he called the good example set by the Inspector-General of Police by releasing all detainees in his custody, emphasising his belief that another UDP supporter, Kanyiba Kanyi, is in the custody of NIA.
In an interview with journalists on Sunday at the residence of the just released Rambo Jatta in Bakau, Mr. Darboe said: “I can tell you that Kanyiba Kanyi is in the custody of the NIA. What the Inspector-General of Police has done is what the Director-General of NIA should do. What I can tell him is to swallow his pride and release anybody that is in his custody. And he cannot go on denying he does not hold (sic).”
Mr. Darboe used the occasion to call for the rule of law, saying: “The government should be law-abiding. The government has promulgated a constitution and campaigned for the adoption of that constitution and so it should be honoured.”
According to Mr. Darboe, the government has been flouting court orders and the constitution, noting that the practice means that they are disobeying the laws of the country.
Mr. Darboe also used the occasion to urge Gambians, especially his supporters, to be always law-abiding and steadfast in their duties. The UDP leader maintained that his job is to ensure that there is good democratic dispensation in the country and that the civil action for the release of Rambo and others was just part of the job.
For his part, Mr. Ousman Rambo Jatta remarked that his arrest was the result of a conspiracy by some elements in Bakau. “They are trying to bring my political career down. I think I am guided by God. So it is only God who can bring me down. They can only do their efforts but with the help of God no one can bring me down?” he remarked quizzically.
Addressing his supporters, Mr. Jatta said: “I just want to assure them that I am not turning back. I have started a journey of no turning back. So wherever Darboe is, I am there.”
Rambo Jatta intimated that though some people consider politics to be a waste of time he does not think so, adding that whatever he fights for is definitely the truth.
“They used to say that a soap cannot wash itself, but I am a very truthful and honest somebody. So in whatever I am dealing, it has to be truthful and honest and transparent,” he said.
It could be recalled that Mr. Ousman Rambo Jatta, Kanyiba Kanyi, and Master Tamba Fofana disappeared since September last year and the state had repeatedly denied custody of the two.
Matters degenerated to such a level that Lawyer Ousainou Darboe had to embark on civil action seeking injunction against the continued detention of the three by the state. The release of the two is unconditional.
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