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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Nov 2009 : 15:27:04
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Foroyaa Editorial: The Dismissals and the Reports of Arrests
According to reports reaching Foroyaa, the following were called for questioning and are now detained at the Central Prisons at Mile 2, that is, Ex Chief of Defence Staff, Lang Tombong Tamba; Ex Lt Col Kawsu Camara, Ex DIG Modou Gaye, Ex Director General of the NIA Modou Lamin Badjie and two businessmen, Lie Joof and Kebba Touray.
We have been collecting facts to assess whether the reports are correct or not and are beginning to have clues which we will put before the authorities for validation by our next issue.
A press release read over the state owned Gambia Radio and Television Services on Tuesday evening indicate that President Yahya Jammeh has in accordance with powers vested in him demoted Lieutenant Colonel Kawsu Camara, (alias Bombarde) to the rank of private and dismissed him from the Gambia Armed Forces.
The release added that President Jammeh has in the same vein dismissed Modou Gaye from the position of Deputy Inspector General of Police.
The Inspector General of Police was reported to have been seen at the NIA which led to rumours that he was under arrest and detention but was later discovered to be at work. The reason for the arrests is now a matter of speculation.
The Publication of a letter allegedly written by Kukoie Samba Sanyang to The President of Senegal dated 26 April 2009 to seek his support against Jammeh’s Government has led to wild rumours that the arrests are in connection with a coup plot. There is no evidence that the arrests are linked to Kukoie or a coup plot.
Our investigation reveals that many arrests regarding security matters in the country start with allegations of giving charity or consulting marabouts.
In our view, there are many strategies Governments employ to prevent coup plots. One is to engage in preventive detention on a periodic basis by identifying threats and detaining suspects before any coup is planned or attempted.
The disadvantage of such tactics is that people are detained for more than 72 hours without being charged with a crime. We hope families will cooperate to give us the pictures of those arrested and the circumstances of their arrest. Those arrested have a right to legal counsel and explanation as to why they are arrested. We hope that no matter whatever may be the cause of the arrests and detention the due process of law will be respected. In fact since the significant part of the President’s initial army is at the Central Prisons it is now time for him to take stock and grant general amnesty to all of them, ask the Attorney General to withdraw all cases in the courts which have something to do with the exercise of political rights, restore the second round of voting, decriminalize Libel and Sedition and turn them into civil matters and prepare the ground for free and fair electoral contest in 2011. This is the way forward for peaceful transfer of political power.
Source: Foroyaa Online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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