L'er's, I know it's kinda late in the day now, but I just had a suggestion: I think we should alpabetize the names by LAST NAME. I know a tremendous amount of time and energy has been put into it and if I can assist in alphabetizing,I'll be more than happy to do so. Alpha, Kabir let me know if I can help. KEEP THE FIRE BURNING....GREAT JOB TO ALL. Regards, Astrid Christensen-Tasong >Greetings, > >The petition has been modified taking Katim's suggestions into >consideration. > >-The first paragraph was changed in accordance with Katim's proposal >with slight modifications (emphasis placed on the fact that children >were murdered while demonstrating against crimes commited against school >children). >-The provisions from the constitution remain unchanged, in order to give >those who may wish to know exactly what the Gambian constitution has to >say on the issues concerned the opportunity to do so; those who may not >so wish will just skip that part, hopefully. >-The names have been sorted alphabetically. Unfortunately, not all names >are accompanied by city and country. Hopefully, everyone will note this >point next time. > >The petition should be seen as a product of our collective efforts. If >there are one or two things that you are not totally satisfied with, >just remember that it embodies our collective spirit and that's what >matters most. I think we should now proceed with the distribution. >Please forward any useful addresses and suggestions to that effect. >Also, please check the list once more to confirm whether your name has >been added or not. > >Regards > >Alpha Robinson. > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > >PETITION FOR THE RELEASE OF MOMODOU DUMO SAHO, LALO JAITEH, OMAR DARBOE, > >EBRIMA YARBOE, EBRIMA BARROW AND MODOU MARENA > >TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN > > > >Dear Sir/Madam, > >We the undersigned, as concerned citizens of The Gambia, wish to bring >to your attention a frightening trend that has characterised the >political and civil landscape of our country and respectfully request >your help in ensuring that the civil liberties of Gambians are not >violated. > >BACKGROUND > >Recently, our country has been plagued by a spate of abductions of >civilians and security personnel. The abductors usually are masked men >who forcibly take their victims to undisclosed locations, and held >incommunicado. These abductions have occurred in the wake of recent >developments such as a clash between government supporters and those of >the opposition United Democratic Party, allegations of President >Jammeh's involvement in a deal involving Nigerian crude oil, and the >killing, by government security forces last April, of school children >and students demonstrating against the rape and murder of fellow >schoolchildren. > >A case in point is the arrest and detention of Momodou Dumo Saho who >went back to The Gambia to start an NGO called "Boka Loho" to help in >the country's development process. Dumo was abducted and held >incommunicado for over four weeks. The state denied holding him in >custody and it was only after his family's lawyers filed a suit against >the state that he was charged with attempting to overthrow the >Government of The Gambia, together with others. The state prosecutor, is >currently requesting their further detention and denial of bail. > >These disappearances and abductions undermine the rule of law and >stability of the country and clearly violate the civil and human rights >of those abducted as provided under the Constitution of The Republic of >The Gambia, the UN Charter and the African Charter on Human Rights, to >which The Gambia is a signatory. Chapter IV, section 19 (1) of the >Constitution of The Republic of The Gambia states: "every person shall >have the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be >subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention. No one shall be deprived of >his or her liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such >procedures as are established by law". > >(2) "Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed as soon >as is reasonably practicable and in any case within three hours, in a >language that he or she understands, of the reasons for his or her >arrest or detention and of his or her right to consult a legal >practitioner." > >(3) "Any person who is arrested or detained - > > (a) for the purpose of bringing him or her before a court in >execution of the order of a court; or > > (b) upon reasonable suspicion of his or her having committed, or > >being about to commit, a criminal offence under the law of The Gambia, >and who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a >court and, in any event, within seventy-two hours." > > >The manner in which the abductions and detentions take place; the >failure of the state to promptly charge those detained within >seventy-two hours, to disclose where they are being held, to allow them >to contact a legal practitioner, their families and loved ones has now >become a familiar pattern which raises concerns and needs to be >addressed. Besides, dubious allegations of coup plots have led to the >execution of the so-called "coup plotters" without trial in the recent >past. > > >PETITION > >We therefore humbly request that you and your Government/Organization >put pressure on the Government of The Gambia to ensure that Momodou Dumo >Saho, Lalo Jaiteh, Omar Darboe, Ebrima Yarbo, Ebrima Barrow and Modou >Marena are: > >- Released without charge or; > >- Accorded a fair, speedy and impartial trial; > >- Allowed be to be released on bail; > >- Allowed a trial that is held in public; > >- Are not subjected to torture and other degrading and inhumane >treatment; > >- Allowed to request the international community and human >rights organizations to monitor and gauge the fairness of the trial and >evaluate the evidence proffered by the state; > >- Allowed visits and other forms of contact with their lawyers >and Human Rights Organisations, families and friends, in the event of >their continued detention; > > >The state should: > >- Be held responsible for their well-being and decent treatment, >as stipulated in all the human rights documents to which The Gambia is a >signatory, and should be equally held responsible for any harm that >might befall them under detention; > >- Conform to the provisions of the law in future. People who are > >reasonably suspected of having committed a crime, or being about to do >so, should be arrested in a lawful manner and not abducted. Anyone >arrested in future should either be charged within seventy-two hours, as >stipulated by the Constitution, or released. They should also be allowed >contact with a legal practitioner and their families. > > >We await your kind co-operation in this urgent matter and extend to you >and your Government/Organization the warmest of thanks for your interest >in our country. > >Sincerely, > >Concerned Gambians and Friends of The Gambia. > > > >NAME, E-MAIL ADDRESS AND/OR PLACE OF RESIDENCE Of SIGNATORIES > > >Abdou Touray <[log in to unmask]> Chicago, IL, USA >Abdoulaye Saine <[log in to unmask]> Ohio, U.S.A >Adama Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> >Adama S. Njie <[log in to unmask]> Oslo, Norway >Alaji Ndure <[log in to unmask]> Copenhagen, Denmark >Alasana Bah <[log in to unmask]> Seattle, WA >Alfusainey Bah <[log in to unmask]> Seattle, WA >Alh. Bakusa Dukureh <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Alh.Dembo Tunkara <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Alpha Robinson <[log in to unmask]> Hoexter, Germany >Amadu Kabir Njie <[log in to unmask]> Oslo, Norway >Annika Renberg <[log in to unmask]> Kotu East, Gambia >Anthony W. Loum <[log in to unmask]> New York, U.S.A >Asbjørn Nordam <[log in to unmask]> Copenhagen, Denmark >Astrid Christensen <[log in to unmask]> Washington, DC USA >Baboucarr Sillah <[log in to unmask]> Atlanta, Ga >Babucar k Jaata <[log in to unmask]> U.K. >Bamba Laye Jallow <[log in to unmask]> Bellevue, NE >Bangally sankanu <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Basirou Jobe <[log in to unmask]> Maryland - USA >Beran Jeng <[log in to unmask]> >Bintou Sonko <[log in to unmask]> Seattle, WA >Caroline Ndiaye <[log in to unmask]> Maryland - USA >Ceesay B. Soffie <[log in to unmask]> Maryland - USA >Dagmar Christensen <[log in to unmask]> Maryland, USA >Dampha Kebba <[log in to unmask]> >Dave Manneh <[log in to unmask]> Southampton, U.K. >Dr M Mansour Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> U.K >Ebou Secka <[log in to unmask]> Kansas City USA >Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> Birmingham, U.K. >Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> San Jose, CA USA >Elhajj Mustapha Fye <[log in to unmask]> Sweden >George Joof <[log in to unmask]> Alluitsup Paa, Greenland >George Sarr <[log in to unmask]> Smyrna,GA. USA >Gibril Bah <[log in to unmask]> >Greensboro, NC USA/Kombo East District >Hagie Jabbi <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Hagie Sillah <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Hamadi Banna <[log in to unmask]> >Hamedou Drammeh <[log in to unmask]> Stockholm, Sweden >Hamjatta Kanteh <[log in to unmask]> U.K >Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]> Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A >Joe Sambou <[log in to unmask]> Chicago, IL >Kalilu Kamara <[log in to unmask]> >Katim S. Touray <[log in to unmask]> Madison, WI, USA. >Kekuta kanda <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Kutubo Manneh <[log in to unmask]> Riyadh, Saudi Arabia >Lameen sisawo Barrrow <[log in to unmask]> Nashville, Tennessee >Lamin Camara <[log in to unmask]> London, UK >Lamin Camara <[log in to unmask]> Toronto, Canada >Latir Gheran Downes-Thomas <[log in to unmask]> Smyrna, Georgia USA >M Gai-Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> >Madiba K. Saidy <[log in to unmask]> Vancouver, Canada >Malanding S. Jaiteh <[log in to unmask]> Houghton, MI, U.S.A >Matarr M. Jeng <[log in to unmask]> Copenhagen, Denmark >Mbaye B. Sarr <[log in to unmask]> Maryland - USA >Michelle Parker <[log in to unmask]> Southampton, U.K. >Modou Sanyang <[log in to unmask]> USA >Momodou Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> >Momodou Buharry Gassama <[log in to unmask]> Stockholm Sweden >Momodou Camara <[log in to unmask]> Copenhagen - Denmark >Momodou Jallow <[log in to unmask]> New York, NY >Momodou Olly-Mboge <[log in to unmask]> London, U.K >Muhammad Lamine Jassey-Conteh <[log in to unmask]> Greensboro, NC, USA >Musa Bohum <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Ndembos Singhateh <[log in to unmask]> U.K. >Ndey Jobarteh <[log in to unmask]> London, U.K. >Omar Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> DETROIT MICHIGAN >Omar Drammeh <[log in to unmask]> Oslo, Norway >Ousainou Malick Ngum <[log in to unmask]> Columbus, OH, USA >Ousman Bojang <[log in to unmask]> Maryland, USA >Ousman Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.A >Pakaramo Mannaboy <[log in to unmask]> Charlotte, N C >Pasamba Jow <[log in to unmask]> MINNESSOTA USA >Peter Sanyang <[log in to unmask]> Helsinki, Finland >Prince Obrien-Coker <[log in to unmask]> Holland >Sahou Omar Saho <[log in to unmask]> Oslo, >Norway >Saihou Mballow <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Saiks Samateh <[log in to unmask]> Oslo, Norway >Saiku Tambajang <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Sal Barry <[log in to unmask]> U.S.A >Salieu M. Sarr <[log in to unmask]> Maryland - USA >Sally Bah <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Samba Njie <[log in to unmask]> >Sarian Loum <[log in to unmask]> California, USA >Saul Saidykhan <[log in to unmask]> Washington DC, USA. >Seedy Saidykhan <[log in to unmask]> Maryland, USA >Sekou Jagana <[log in to unmask]> New York,US >Sheriff Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> >Sigga Jagne <[log in to unmask]> >Sulayman Gassama <[log in to unmask]> Stockholm, Sweden >Sulayman Jobarteh <[log in to unmask]> Seattle, U.S.A. >Sura Darboe <[log in to unmask]> Sura Darboe, Stockholm >Y. Bala-gaye <[log in to unmask]> Hamilton, Canada >Yamundow K. Sarr <[log in to unmask]> Maryland - USA >Ylva Hernlund <[log in to unmask]> Seattle, U.S.A. >Yujam @aol.com <[log in to unmask]> > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------