Beran, thanks for forwarding the Independend/Amnesty Report on the
horrendous human rights violations in our country. I herewith attach a full
copy of the Amnesty report. This I hope will help remind people about what
we are up against. The Dictatorship has to go come October 2001.
KB

______________________ AI Report ___________________________________

At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured in April when security
forces used excessive and indiscriminate force to break up student
demonstrations. Members of the opposition faced harassment and arrest.
Civilians and soldiers suspected of plotting against the government were
arrested and held incommunicado for long periods without charge or trial.
Arbitrary detentions, ill-treatment and torture by the security forces were
frequently reported.

Background
Political tension remained high throughout 2000. The government claimed to
have foiled two coup plots in January and in June. Harassment and repression
of political opponents continued unabated. In July President Jammeh was
reported to have stated publicly that ''anyone bent on disturbing the peace
and stability of the nation would be buried six feet deep''.

In December, the UN Panel of Experts investigating the trade in arms and
diamonds in Sierra Leone identified Gambia as a transit country for conflict
diamonds from Sierra Leone and called for an immediate embargo ''on trade in
all so-called Gambian diamonds''. The Gambian authorities, accused by the UN
experts of not cooperating with the investigation, reportedly denied any
lack of cooperation and any involvement in diamond trafficking.

Excessive and indiscriminate use of force
On 10 and 11 April, at least 14 people were killed and dozens injured, some
severely, when security forces used excessive and indiscriminate force to
break up demonstrations. Several of the dead were less than 18 years old.
The unauthorized demonstrations were organized by the Gambian Students Union
in Banjul, Brikama and other towns. They were called in protest at two
incidents in March: the death, allegedly after torture, of a student, Ebrima
Barry, and the rape of a 13-year-old schoolgirl, Binta Manneh, by a police
officer. The demonstration in Banjul on 10 April became violent after the
security forces tried to disperse crowds, including by using tear gas,
batons and rubber bullets. It appeared that some demonstrators threw stones
at security forces, burned tyres and set fire to buildings, including fire
stations and police stations. The security forces reportedly fired into the
crowd and autopsies apparently confirmed that live ammunition was used. Omar
Barrow, a journalist and Gambia Red Cross volunteer, wearing Red Cross
insignia, was among those killed as he went to help injured demonstrators.

Neither the findings of a Commission of Inquiry subsequently set up by the
government nor those of the inquiry carried out by the Coroner were made
public by the end of 2000. In September, the Chair of the Commission of
Inquiry was reported to have publicly acknowledged that security force
officers were found to be largely responsible for the deaths and injuries of
the students.

Torture/ill-treatment

Torture and ill-treatment were frequently reported. Many of the students
arrested during and after the mid-April demonstrations were tortured and
ill-treated in custody by members of the security forces, including the
National Intelligence Agency.

On 9 March, Ebrima Barry, a 19-year-old student, died in hospital allegedly
after torture by Brikama Fire Service personnel. Officers suspected of
responsibility for his death were arrested. Their trial had not concluded by
the end of 2000.
The practice of female genital mutilation reportedly remained widespread,
especially in rural areas.

Arrests of opponents
On 18 June, Ousainou Darboe, Secretary General of the opposition United
Democratic Party (UDP), was arrested with scores of UDP members in the Basse
region, east of Banjul, while campaigning for local elections. He was
released on bail after being charged together with 24 others, including
members of the National Assembly, with the murder of a supporter of the
ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).
Ousainou Darboe's arrest followed what appeared to be an ambush of his
convoy by members of a pro-government militia, the ''22 July Movement''.
Although officially disbanded in 1999, the militia reportedly continued to
operate.

At the end of 2000 the murder charges were dropped against all but five
people, including Ousainou Darboe and other prominent UDP members. It
appeared that this prosecution was intended to silence the UDP and prevent
Ousainou Darboe from standing in presidential elections in 2001, as no
credible evidence was reported to have emerged against the five. On 18 July,
the European Union urged the Gambian authorities to respect fully the
independence of the courts in the proceedings against Ousainou Darboe and
members of his party.

Unlawful detention of suspected plotters
Civilians and members of the military arrested in January and in June on
suspicion of plotting a coup were held incommunicado for long periods
without being charged.
Lieutenant Landing Sanneh was arrested in January on suspicion of plotting
to overthrow the government. He was held incommunicado for several months
and charged in June with treason. It appeared that at least one of his
confessions was obtained after a death threat. Landing Sanneh was detained
at State Central Prison (Mile II) awaiting trial before the High Court.
However, in early December the authorities announced that he would be tried
by the Court Martial.
Momodou Ousman Saho and five others - Lieutenant Lato Jaiteh, Lieutenant
Omar Darbo, Ebrima Barrow, Momodou Marena and Ebrima Yarbo - were arrested
at the end of June and held incommunicado for more than four months. For at
least three weeks the authorities denied to their families that they were
being detained. The six were charged in mid-July by a magistrates' court
which did not have jurisdiction to hear the case. Their lawyers were not
present in court. Three others were charged in absentia. At the end of 2000,
the six were being held at Mile II prison, where detention conditions were
reportedly harsh.

Intimidation of journalists
Journalists continued to face arbitrary detentions and threats of violence
by the security forces. Decrees 70 and 71, which unduly restrict freedom of
expression, remained in force. Proposed legislation on the National Media
Commission, which would have imposed further restrictions on the news media,
was not passed by the National Assembly during 2000.
In July, Baba Galleh Jallow and Alhagie Mbye of the Independent were
arrested, briefly detained and released on bail after being charged with
libel for reporting on a prison hunger strike.

Death penalty
Appeals against death sentences passed by the High Court for treason had not
been decided by the end of 2000. They related to four political prisoners
sentenced to death in 1997 after an armed attack on Farafenni military camp
in 1996, and to three others sentenced in 1999 after an armed attack on
Kartong military post in 1997.

AI country report
Gambia: Fourteen people killed and at least 28 injured (AI Index: AFR
27/001/2000)


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