Hi all..... Thought some of you might find this interesting... Also
attached is the full text press release by Lamin Waa Juwara about the Denton
Bridge Ambush which some of you might have read about on OBSERVER. *NOTE*
I reproduced this text to the best of my ability... any typographical errors
are solely mine and not that of the UDP leadership.....
-Jula Muso (Yama Darboe)
A Catalogue of human Rights Abuses in The Gambia Since July 1994
The advent of military rule in the Gambia brought about a total disruption,
in the atmosphere of political freeedom, for the respect of Human Rights and
the rule of the law.
The period considered as the transition phase to multiparty democracy was
chracterised by an unprecedented catalogue of Huamn Rights Abuses, ranging
from arbitary arrrests, unlawful detentions, press censorship, torture and
extra-judicial killings.
Gambians were anticioating a return to constitutional rule and genuine
democratic pluralism that would once agin guarantee civil liberties and the
respect for the rule of the law.
The 1997 constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, approved in a
referendum which preceded the multiparty elections and democratic
governance, did not guarantee the fundamental rights and freedom of all
persons irrespctive of political affiliations or beliefs. In addition to
the constitution, The Gambia is signatory to various International
conventions including:
1) The convention against torture and other cruel,
inhumane or degrading punishment
2) The International Convention On Civil and Political
Rights and
3) The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights-
all of which guarantee the rights to freedom from arbitary arrests or
detention and from torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or
punishmeny and freedom of the press. Moreover, the United Nations of which
the Gambia is a member has constatly urged member states to combat impunity
and all forms of excessess.
Nevertheless, it soon became evident especially after the National Assembly
Elections that the Gambian Authoriteies have little or no regard for both
the constitution that they swore to uphold and preserve the International
conventions to which The Gambia is a party.
Gambians still continue to witness flagrant violations and abuse of Human
Rights reanging from arbitary arrests, unlawful detentions to abductions and
kidnappings by state sponsored agents and thugs, especially the NIA and the
22nd July movement. These include:
a) the muzzling of the press through harassment, detentions and deportations
of journalists and the continued enforcement of decrees 70/71.
b) the continued arrest, detention and torture of political opponents;
c) the denial of opposition political parties access to the state controlled
media, particularly the National Radio and Television.
d) the general diregard for court orders;
e) the wrongful dismal of public servants including chiefs and Alkalolu;
g) the utilization of public resources by the APRC for party political
activities;
1) The GENERAL PUBLIC DEMANDS AN ENQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE AMONGST OTHER
THINGS:
a) the circumstances surrounding the arrest, detention and torture of what
has become know as the BRIKAMA 9;
b) the circumstances surrounding the disruption of National Stakeholders
Workshop, in Mansakonko by members of the July 22nd movemnet and why no
action ahs been taken against the persons reponsible;
c) the arrest and incommunicado detention of Lamin Waa Juwara in May and
June of 1998 and the torture inflicted upon him while in state custody;
d) the circumstances leading to the death of Ousman Koro Ceesay for minister
of Finance and Economic Affairs;
e) the death, whilst in detention, of Captain Sadibou Hydara a former
minister of interior.
f) the september 22nd 1996 Denton bridge incident during campaign for
presidential elections.
2) Baba Jobe, the chairman of the July 22nd movemnt be arrested and
persecuted for going armed in public, threatening violence and assaulting
Lamin Gassama, an airport security personnel at Banjul International Airport
in April 1999;
b) Messers Gassama and Jatta who were wrongfully dismissed following the
incident at Banjul International Airport be reinstated.
3) Decrees 70/71 and all other decrees inimical to good governance or
inconsistent with the constitution be repealed.
THE DENTON BRIDGE AMBUSH: A UDP COMMEMORATIVE STATEMENT
Exactly three years ago today, The United Democratic Party concluded the
most triumphant political campaign that The Gambia has ever seen since
independence.
A convoy of some 75 private and commercial vehicles assemblled in Brikama in
the early evening at the end of the 12 day pronvincial tour. An additional
50 or more vehicles joined the convey at Brikama for the final stage of the
tour leading to Banjul for the penultimate rally later that evening. An
estimated seventy-five Thousand enthusiatic Welcoming UDP supporters in
party colours and T-shirts lined the entire route from Brikama to Old
Jeshwang since early afternoon.
The day was Sunday 22nd September 1996. The United Democratic Party was
barely 20 days old. Earlier in that day, there were several sporadic
attacks on UDp supporters by armed soldiers on the highway at Kembujeh,
Lamin, Latrikinda and Kanifing. Later on, Several troop carriers brought
in more soldiers in full combat gear. The soldiers brutally started
attacking UDP supporters and tearing of T-Shirts and party colours. A
fierce running battle ensued on the public highway especially in the
Tallingding and Westfield Clinic areas. Several UDP supporters were injured
with bayonet wounds.
While this rampage in the heart of Kombo Saint Mary Administrative Area,
there was not a single police officer in sight. Meanwhile a platoon of
soldiers blockaded Denton Bridge, the passengers were ordered out of
vehicles at gun point and commandeered to a piece of ground ajacent to the
police post. An amnesty International country report on Human Rights
Violations in The Gambia describes what happened.
"Vehicles containing some 100-200 supporters were stopped and
the occupants were severely beaten with sticks and other
weapons possibily even rubber truncheons"
One medical clinic alone treated 115 casualities from this incident and 21
of these required admission for the total of 26 bed-days. Thirteen of the
injured were young women. The injuries ranged from superficial cuts on the
backs to penetrating bayonet injuries on the chest wall on Sidia Sagnia, the
UDP Senior administrative secretary and adopted candidate for Basse
constituency National Assembly elections was viciously beaten and had two
fingers broken on his left hand. Mr. Sagnia eventually died on the 8th of
June 1998.
Mr. Kebuteh Jafuneh, 59 years old, Entertainer Extraordianry of the UDP had
several deep cuts on his back and sides and never fully recovered until his
death on the 28th of August 1998.
Apart from the two, three other people died as a result of their
ill-treatment which was confirmed by Amnesty International.
Unconfirmed reports by amnesty international states that one of the three
was a pregnant girl from Tabokoto who died on the very night of her
beatings. Mr. Lamin Colley of Eboe town was beaten unconscious and left
for dead but miraculously recovered. This woeful day only four days before
polling day for the presidential Elections. The amnesty International
report concluded that:
"such deliberate use of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment is
contrary to international standards and in particular The Gambia'
obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights"
The United Democratic Party for its part regards this premeditated act of
barbarism as a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. There is a strong evidence to
confirm that both the assualts along the highway and the ambush at Denton
bridge was perpetrated by elements of the STATE HOUSE GUARDS. There is
also irrefutable evidence that YANKUBA TOURAY was present at Denton Bridge
and was the officer supervising the beatings.
The United Democratic Party vehemently CONDEMNS these criminal and cowardly
acts and give NOTICE that it shall not tolerate any illegal persecutions
against its supporters AGAIN.
The incident which shall hereafter be referred to in the annals of our
history as THE DENTON BRIDGE AMBUSH shall never be forgotten. And it shall
never be forgotten until a satisfactory and comprehensive legal restitution
of the whole incident is established. THE UDP hereby repeats its call to
the Government to set up a judicial inquiry into the incident and punish
those responsible.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this maiden commemoration of the DENTON BRIDGE AMBUSH
will take the fromat of Koranic recital, Prayers and Meditations.
SUbsequent commemorations of this event may take different formats.
Individually, and collectively let us pray for the souls os all those who
died directly or indirectly at the hands of security forces. Mr. Sidia
Sagnia, Mr. Kebuteh jafuneh and others are the honourable martyrs of our
movement.
Let us party for a speedy and complete recovery for all those afflicted in
one way or the other at the cruel hands of the oppressor.
Finally let us pray that Allah strenghtens our faith, our determinatio and
our courage in the JIHAD the UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY has waged against
injustice, oppression, tyranny and the rapid degradation of moral and
ethical values. We pray for Allah's guidance in our supreme commitment to
Democratic ideals, respect for Human Rights, the Rule of the Law and
unfettered Freedom of the press as enshrined in the constitution.
SALAAMU -ALAIKUM- WARAHMATULAA TAALLA WABARAKATUHU- MAY GOD BLESS THE
GAMBIA.
United Democratic Party
The Gambia
Delivered by Lamin Waa Juwara
(Propaganda Secretary_
22 September 1999
At Party Headquarters
Banjul
______________________________________________________
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