Alpha, I sent you a message today, using [log in to unmask] but it was sent back. Please send me your e-mal address at [log in to unmask] I have some information to share with you. Chi Jaama Joe Sambou >From: Alpha Robinson <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Dumo Petition Draft >Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 00:33:59 +0200 > >Buharry, > >I think the petition is very well structured. I think all suggestions >have been included. I wasn't able to summarise it much further. A few >things have been added and others omitted. The areas underlined are >those where changes have been made. Yes, it's a bit long, but I think >it's fine as it is. What does everyone think? > >Annika and others, please check for any specific inconsistencies etc. >Next question is, who do we send it to? > >Alpha > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > >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 > >The frightening trend that has plagued our country is the spate of >abductions that have been carried out in the recent past against both >civilians and security personnel. These abductions usually take place in >the form of masked men visiting those abducted in the middle of the >night, forcefully taking them away from their families to undisclosed >locations where they are held incommunicado. The abductions have >occurred in the shadow of government difficulties such as the ambush of >the leader and other members of the opposition United Democratic Party, >the crude oil affair and the killing in April of unarmed school children >and students demonstrating against the rape and murder of fellow school >children. > >A case in point is the arrest and detention of Momodou Dumo Saho who >went back to The Ganbia to start an NGO called "Boka Loho" to help in >the country's development process. Dumo was abducted and held >incommunicado for over two 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 Inspector-General of >Police, representing the state, 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 PLACE OF RESIDENCE > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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 You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface ----------------------------------------------------------------------------