Brothers and Sisters,

The MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE
GAMBIA welcomes your support and participation at the
May 2nd Demonstration.  If you would like to speak at
the rally or send a representative to speak on your
organization's behalf, please contact JAMILA ALLSTON
(917) 806-0439 or SAUL MBENGA (914) 441-8839 to be
placed on the speaker's roster.  Statements can be
faxed c/o JAMILEON INTERNATIONAL (718) 364-2825 or
e-mailed to [log in to unmask]  Your support and
commitment is appreciated.

MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF
   DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA

______________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   APRIL 29, 2000
For Further Information Contact SAUL MBENGA (914)
441-8839  MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION
OF DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA or  JAMILA ALLSTON   (917)
806-0439 WOMEN FOR JUSTICE


MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE
GAMBIA
~~~~~~~~~~
THOUSANDS EXPECTED TO ATTEND DEMONSTRATION/RALLY
AT THE GAMBIAN MISSION AND THE UN
TUESDAY MAY 2ND

MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE
GAMBIA will hold a Massive Demonstration / Rally
before the Gambian Mission and the United Nations to
PROTEST THE MURDER OF STUDENTS BY GAMBIAN PARAMILITARY
TROOPS AND TO DEMAND THE END OF THE GAMBIAN
GOVERNMENT'S FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS OF FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN
AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.  This Rally will take place
on Tuesday, May 2, 2000.  The itinerary for the day is
as follows:

MOBILIZATION:   10:00 A.M.
        THE GAMBIAN MISSION
800 Second Avenue (42nd & 43rd Street)
New York, New York

MARCH:  12:00 P.M.
        MARCH FROM THE GAMBIAN MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS

RALLY:  12:30 P.M.
        UNITED NATIONS DAG HAMMARSKJOLD PLAZA
47th Street and First Avenue
New York, New York
Scheduled speakers will comprise activists from a
diverse spectrum of activism and humanitarianism:
Civil Rights Activists, Pan African Activists, Human
Rights Activists, International and Constitutional
Rights Activists, Debt Elimination Activists, Peace
and Security Activists, Education and Health Activists
MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE
GAMBIA INVITES ALL CONCERNED ACTIVISTS TO JOIN US IN
THE STRUGGLE AGAINST VIOLENCE, OPPRESSION AND
INJUSTICE.
~  ~  ~  ~  ~
NEVER AGAIN WILL OUR CHILDREN OR PEOPLE BE VICTIMIZED
!
TOGETHER WE STAND !!  . . .  DIVIDED WE FALL !!!
* * * *
__________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   APRIL 28, 2000
For Further Information Contact SAUL MBENGA     (914)
441-8839 MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN
THE GAMBIA or JAMILA ALLSTON  (917) 806-0439 WOMEN FOR
JUSTICE


MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE
GAMBIA
~~~~~~~~~~

ORGANIZE TO PROTEST THE MURDER OF
STUDENTS BY GAMBIAN PARAMILITARY TROOPS
AND TO DEMAND THE END OF THE
GAMBIAN GOVERNMENTS' FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS OF
FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

THE MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE
GAMBIA is a Coalition of Gambians, Africans
(Continental and Diaspora), Human Rights Activists,
and Concerned Friends of The Gambia committed to
addressing the issues of Oppression, Violence and the
Victimization of Africans at Home and throughout the
Diaspora.

THE MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE
GAMBIA is outraged at the murder of Gambian Students
by The Gambian Army and Paramilitary on 10 and 11
April 2000 in violation of International Human Rights
and Constitutional Rights.  Gambian students have an
inalienable and entrenched right under the 1997
Constitution, Section 25(d) to "freedom to assemble
and demonstrate peaceably and without arms."  These
rights are echoed and guaranteed under the African
Charter and under the United Nations' International
Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

¨ The student demonstration was organized by the
Gambian Students Union (GAMSU) in Banjul, Brikama and
other towns to protest the torture and death of
19-year-old student, Ebrima Barry on 9 March by
Brikama Fire Service personnel, and the rape of
13-year-old Binta Manneh by a police officer, on 10
March 2000.
¨ GAMSU requested a permit for the intended peaceful
demonstration, which was denied, yet the Department of
State for the Interior issued a press release
"threatening any student who dared to disturb the
peace."  When students assembled in front of the
Gambian Technical Training Institute on April 10th to
march to the city center, Paramilitary Units
menacingly ordered the students to disperse, then
proceeded to chase, kick and stomp the falling
students and finally shot indiscriminately into the
crowd.

¨ President Yahya Jammeh administration's directive to
utilize live ammunition to quell the student
demonstration resulted in the slaughter of a minimum
of 14 people (reports indicate that as many as 50
persons have been murdered).  Omar Barrow, a
journalist at SUD FM Radio, Banjul, was murdered by
paramilitary personnel while serving as a readily
identifiable Red Cross volunteer assisting the wounded
and dying.  A minimum of 128 students and other
persons were injured, many requiring hospitalization.
Due to poor medical facilities, many of the injured
require life saving medical treatment outside of the
country.  Royal Victoria Hospital indicated that there
was a shortage of blood and that the situation was
disastrous.
¨ Numerous students were reported missing, including
Alhaji Darbo, Vice President of GAMSU and Alieu Khan,
President of the College Students Sub-Union.  Hundreds
of students were rounded up for questioning, arrested
and detained at undisclosed locations throughout The
Gambia.  Distraught parents did not know whether their
children were among the dead or detained.

¨ Reports were received that the government refused to
turn over the bodies of murdered students to their
families, nor make available to the public,
identification of all individuals detained or missing.
THE MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION FOR DEMOCRACY IN THE
GAMBIA requests the International Community's support
in demanding an immediate investigation into the
atrocities and human rights violations that continue
to plague The Gambia.  ALL CONCERNED AFRICANS
(CONTINENTAL AND DIASPORA), AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
ARE INVITED TO JOIN US IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST
VIOLENCE, OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE.

JOIN US MAY 2ND FOR A MASSIVE MOBILIZATION
BEFORE THE GAMBIAN MISSION AND THE UN
~  ~  ~  ~  ~

NEVER AGAIN WILL OUR CHILDREN OR PEOPLE BE VICTIMIZED
!

TOGETHER WE STAND !!  . . .  DIVIDED WE FALL !!!
* * * *


__________________________________________________
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