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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Jan 2010 : 19:57:34
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Detention without Trial Update
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The arrest and detention without trial continue to be monitored. As we enter the New Year, family members of the detained and missing people listed below have renewed their call for their release.
Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Senior Reporter with Daily Observer Newspaper, was reportedly arrested at his office in Bakau on 7th July 2006. His family said he left for work and never returned home. The family and his colleagues said they have made numerous efforts to establish his whereabouts but to no avail. The family said they have consulted all the concerned authorities and visited almost all the security installations across the country but are yet to locate him.
The Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in 2007, filed a suit against The Gambia Government at the ECOWAS community Court of Justice in Abuja , Nigeria , demanding from the Court to compel the Gambia government to release Manneh. On 5th June 2008, the ECOWAS judges delivered a judgment in favour of missing Manneh, after the Gambia government failed to appear before the Court, even though they were served with Court summons. The Court ordered the Banjul authorities to compensate Manneh the sum of 100,000 US Dollars.
The Banjul authorities failed to comment on the issue for almost ten months after the ECOWAS judgment, when the Minister of Justice Mrs. Marie Saine Firdaus officially commented at the National Assembly that journalist Manneh is not in State custody.
Mr. Kanyiba Kanyi, an employee of Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), was reportedly missing since 18 September 2006. His family said he was picked up at his house by three plain clothes security agents on board a taxi and whisked him away without any explanation, while they looked on. The family has taken Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, who filed a “Habeas Corpus” against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director General of National Intelligent Agency (NIA) and the Attorney General, at the Banjul High Court, to release him since late 2006. The matter has gone through three judges presiding over the case and different State counsels appearing in the case. The first judge, Justice Sanji Monageng ruled against the State to produce him, which failed to happen. Again Justice Mame Mabel Agyemang (Yamoa) also ruled that Mr. Kanyi is in State custody and ordered the State to release him, but it failed to happen. In July 2009, the third judge, Justice Joseph Wowo, decided to send the case file to the office of Chief Justice to determine the case. The family said they lost hope.
Jasaja Kujabi’s family said he was arrested at his farm in his home village of Foni Dobong in the summer of 2005, and never returned for them to set their eyes on him. They told Foroyaa that the two security agents escorted him to their house to change his farm clothes before being taken away. They said they know the two agents that took him away.
Corporal Alfusainey Jammeh, a Prison Warden, was reportedly missing since the summer of 2006. His family said that he was stationed at the compound of Director General of Prison in Kanilai. The family said he was called to answer to the Police Headquarters in Banjul and never returned.. They said Alfusainey later called and informed them that he was put under arrest. Alfusainey is a native of Kanilai village.
The families of former Chief of Foni Kansala, Mr. Momodou Lamin Nyassi, Buba Sanyang, Ndongo Mboob, all of Foni Bwiam, reported that all the three were pick up by people believed to be plain clothes security agents at their homes on the same day in April 2006. Their families said they are yet to establish their place of detention.
Mr. Haruna Jammeh and Madam Marcie Jammeh, both natives of Foni Kanilai were reportedly missing since the summer of 2006, and they have never been seen since then as indicted by their families.
Mr. Bakary Gassama, the former Financial Director of NIA, was arrested on 13th May 2008. The family said he was detained for completely four months before he was arraigned in Court on the charge of official misconduct. They said the trial never proceeded in Court on five occasions, until on 3rd December 2008, when the then Principal Magistrate, Edrisa Mbai of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court discharged him for lack of diligent prosecution. The family said to their surprise, he was re-arrested in the Court premises and taken to the Police Headquarters. They said he is currently being detained at Mile 2 Prison. The family said they have frequent access to him in detention. On 14th December 2009, Gassama appeared before Bundung Magistrates’ Court as a defence witness in the ongoing criminal case against two senior NIA Officers.
Mr. Abdoulie Njie and Mr. Alieu Lowe, both residents of Fagi Kunda, were said to have been arrested by people believed to be security agents shortly after the 21 March 2006, foiled coup attempt. Their families said they are being detained at Mile 2 Prison and could access them.
Mr. Ebou Jarju, a former presidential steward was said to be arrested on 20th March 2008, in the presence of his family, and were evicted from the government residence that he was occupying with his family. The family said he was detained at the Police Headquarters, in Banjul until 11th January 2009, when he was released without any charges against him. The family said to their consternation, he was called to report at the Police Headquarters after a week of his release and never returned home. They said he is currently detained at Mile 2 Prisons, but could not have access to him. They said few days ago he was spotted at RVTH for a medical cheek up. Mr. Jarju is a native of Kombo Darsilameh.
Regimental Guard (RG), Private Alagie Saidykhan’s family said he was arrested at the Second Infantry Battalion at Farafenni Military Camp since 10th May 2009. They said they only heard that he is being detained at the Mile 2 Prisons. They said they are yet to have access to him.
The names of dismissed security officers, who were said to have been rounded up in late November and are still in detention, are listed below ;
Lieutenant General Lang Tombong Tamba, Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Gambia Armed Forces was reportedly arrested since late November and is still being held. His family said they could not have access to him since his arrest.
Brigadier General Omar Bun Njie, was first dismissed from the force and later arrested and detained. Major General Modou Lamin Bo Badjie, former Director General of NIA is also reportedly arrested and is being held. Malamin Jarju, Former Camp Commander of Kanilai and later Director General of NIA was also arrested and is still being detained.
Lieutenant Colonel Kawsu Camara alias “Bombarde,” Former Camp Commander of Kanilai, is also in detention at Mile 2 Prison. Former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), Momodou Gaye, is also in custody since his dismissal and subsequent arrest in November.
The family members and relatives of these detained security officers do not know the fate of their loved ones.
Mr. Ngorr Secka, formerly who rose to the rank of Deputy Director General at the NIA and later posted as the Gambia’s Acting Ambassador to Guinea Bissau was reportedly arrested since 16 December 2009. Mr Secka is said to have been re-called and subsequently arrested and detained. His family said they could not tell the reasons of his arrest and could not tell where he is being detained.
Source: Foroyaa Online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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