The following excerpts are from allAfrica.com The Gambia human rights record, which was described as poor in 1999, which worsened in the past year, revealed a United States Country report. The report which was released on Monday February 26 2001 by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the US State Department, revealed that in the past year there has been no let-up in the volume of human rights abuses, allegedly perpetrated by the APRC government. In an apparent reference to last April's tragic student demonstration, the report blamed the country's security forces for "extra-judicial killings, beatings and mistreatment of student detainees". According to it there were credible reports of elementary school children with severe bruises, bleeding cuts and shaved heads after they were released from the custody of security force personnel during the incident. It also quoted a witness as saying that a woman who had attempted to see her child at the Kairaba police station was severely beaten with a rifle butt. The report also claimed that last year was a trying time for the opposition whose members were arbitrarily arrested or attacked at political rallies by agents of the allegedly disbanded pro-government July 22 Movement. It said the government's refusal to issue permits to the opposition to hold rallies severely restricted freedom of assembly and association and stifled the prospect of political pluralism in the country. The report recalled that on February 4 last year Momodou Wallom Jallow an independent National Assembly member for Niamina district was detained by the NIA in Banjul for four days without charge for allegedly making unfavourable comments about an alleged coup early last year. "In April police arrested five UDP activists of Tambakoto village in the North Bank Division and detained them at the JangJangbureh prisons for several days following a fight with the village head, who subsequently seized their farm lands. The two complained of poor prison conditions" stated the report. It also indicated that members of the security forces continue to exert strong influence in the government, playing the role of potential allies to President Jammeh, a one-time soldier. The report emphasised that although the Gambian constitution provides for an independent judiciary, "this arm of government was for the most part prone to pressure from the executive". However, the report said the courts have demonstrated their independence on several critical occasions, including when it ruled that the continued detention of some April 10 student demonstrators was unlawful and subsequently ordered their release. On government and media relations, the US country report said President Jammeh's administration significantly limited freedom of speech and of the press through the intimidation of journalists who consequently practice self-censorship. 'Decrees 70 and 71, enacted in 1996, remained in effect and continued to inhibit free reporting," it stated. It observed that the decrees and the fear of reprisals and government action have had a chilling effect in journalists, citing August 10 last year when a group of unidentified arsonists attempted to burn Radio 1 FM, whose proprietor George Christensen suffered burns following the incident. It also included the harassment and detention of journalists and editors of The Independent whose nationalities were questioned by the Immigration Department. The report also described the state media as the propaganda instruments for the government and its supporters, observing that The Gambia Radio and Television Services "gave very limited coverage to opposition activities, including statements of opposition members of the National Assembly". The report also harped on domestic violence including abuse as an endemic problem in The Gambia, indicating also that traditional views of women's roles result in extensive societal discrimination in education and employment and noted the lack of a comprehensive stance on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). In an apparent portrayal of the government's indecisiveness over the issue the report explained that while it had declared support in efforts to eradicate the practice, the government has not passed any legislation that may lead to its eradication. "President Jammeh stated publicly in February 1999 that the government would not ban FGM and that it is a part of the country's culture" it added in the same vein. The report also noted observers as assuming that the government monitors citizens possibly engaged in activities that it deems objectionable. "Surveillance included monitoring of telephones and mail," it claimed. Another element of APRC rule catalogued by the report is the restriction of the right to transfer funds or assets of most senior officials of the defunct Jawara administration, which it accused of corruption. The report also drew attention to the appalling prison conditions at Mile 2 and other jail centres in the country, describing them as grim, overcrowded and lacking in medical facilities. Naphiyo, Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------