The following excerpts are from allAfrica.com
The Gambia human rights record, which was described as poor in
1999, which
worsened in the past year, revealed a United States Country report.
The report which was released on Monday February 26 2001 by the Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the US State Department, revealed that
in the past year there has been no let-up in the volume of human rights
abuses, allegedly perpetrated by the APRC government.

In an apparent reference to last April's tragic student demonstration, the
report blamed the country's security forces for "extra-judicial killings,
beatings and mistreatment of student detainees". According to it there were
credible reports of elementary school children with severe bruises, bleeding
cuts and shaved heads after they were released from the custody of security
force personnel during the incident. It also quoted a witness as saying that
a woman who had attempted to see her child at the Kairaba police station was
severely beaten with a rifle butt.

The report also claimed that last year was a trying time for the opposition
whose members were arbitrarily arrested or attacked at political rallies by
agents of the allegedly disbanded pro-government July 22 Movement. It said
the government's refusal to issue permits to the opposition to hold rallies
severely restricted freedom of assembly and association and stifled the
prospect of political pluralism in the country. The report recalled that on
February 4 last year Momodou Wallom Jallow an independent National Assembly
member for Niamina district was detained by the NIA in Banjul for four days
without charge for allegedly making unfavourable comments about an alleged
coup early last year. "In April police arrested five UDP activists of
Tambakoto village in the North Bank Division and detained them at the
JangJangbureh prisons for several days following a fight with the village
head, who subsequently seized their farm lands. The two complained of poor
prison conditions" stated the report.

It also indicated that members of the security forces continue to exert
strong influence in the government, playing the role of potential allies to
President Jammeh, a one-time soldier.

The report emphasised that although the Gambian constitution provides for an
independent judiciary, "this arm of government was for the most part prone
to pressure from the executive". However, the report said the courts have
demonstrated their independence on several critical occasions, including
when it ruled that the continued detention of some April 10 student
demonstrators was unlawful and subsequently ordered their release.

On government and media relations, the US country report said President
Jammeh's administration significantly limited freedom of speech and of the
press through the intimidation of journalists who consequently practice
self-censorship. 'Decrees 70 and 71, enacted in 1996, remained in effect and
continued to inhibit free reporting," it stated. It observed that the
decrees and the fear of reprisals and government action have had a chilling
effect in journalists, citing August 10 last year when a group of
unidentified arsonists attempted to burn Radio 1 FM, whose proprietor George
Christensen suffered burns following the incident. It also included the
harassment and detention of journalists and editors of The Independent whose
nationalities were questioned by the Immigration Department.

The report also described the state media as the propaganda instruments for
the government and its supporters, observing that The Gambia Radio and
Television Services "gave very limited coverage to opposition activities,
including statements of opposition members of the National Assembly".

The report also harped on domestic violence including abuse as an endemic
problem in The Gambia, indicating also that traditional views of women's
roles result in extensive societal discrimination in education and
employment and noted the lack of a comprehensive stance on Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM). In an apparent portrayal of the government's
indecisiveness over the issue the report explained that while it had
declared support in efforts to eradicate the practice, the government has
not passed any legislation that may lead to its eradication. "President
Jammeh stated publicly in February 1999 that the government would not ban
FGM and that it is a part of the country's culture" it added in the same
vein.

The report also noted observers as assuming that the government monitors
citizens possibly engaged in activities that it deems objectionable.
"Surveillance included monitoring of telephones and mail," it claimed.

Another element of APRC rule catalogued by the report is the restriction of
the right to transfer funds or assets of most senior officials of the
defunct Jawara administration, which it accused of corruption.

The report also drew attention to the appalling prison conditions at Mile 2
and other jail centres in the country, describing them as grim, overcrowded
and lacking in medical facilities.


Naphiyo,

Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh

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