Bambalaye, I agree with you that Mr. Edwin's case did not spare the same outrage other cases may have done in the past. However, it is important to acknowledge that several of the online papers did in fact cover this story quite extensively. Here is a link to one of the papers who covered the story: Courtesy of Senegambianews: http://www.senegambianews.com/article/Latest_News/Latest_News/Gambia_Holds_Nigerian_Human_Rights_Worker_on_False_information_Charges/19101 In addition, there are several other Gambians who are detained behind bars who have not had any media or citizen attention at all. These cases are so rampant that it is becoming a huge challenge for Gambians to respond to all of them. Courtesy of Gainako.com: http://www.gainako.com/news/news/2010/09/07/they-are-still-being-detained-humra-reminds-the-gambia-government-and-the-international-community.html While there is no excuse for not drawing attention to these cases, it would be much more helpful and effective if we have more citizens drawing attention to these cases. The situation changes so rapidly and information is so scatchy that it is sometimes even impossible to know all those detained right or wrong. Here is another link to other Gambian/non Gambians who may be detained for so long without too much attention: I believe this is the unfortunate situation of this government arresting so many citizens to the extend where it overwhelms many of us who make efforts to expose the regime on these human rights violation. Mr. Edwin certainly like any Gambian detained deserves the attention and any assistance needed to set them free. The Jammeh government should do the right thing and free all politically motivated prisoners. They should allow citizens to freely express their opinions without fear of arrest and intimidation. We must continue to challenge these injustices... Thanks Demba On Mon, Sep 6, 2010 at 11:05 PM, A Jallow <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I cannot help but notice the nearly total silence amonsgt us - devout > and dedicated defenders of Human Rights in Gambia - regarding the case > of Edwin Nwakaeme. It is reported herein that he is sentenced to a > mandatory SIX months and a fine of $400. > I may have missed somehing, but Nwakaeme's case did not stir half as > much a rouse as comparable cases involving other known quantities in > the past. Why? I'm inclined to ask. Is it because his name does not > sound Gambian? Is it because he is not "known" to many of us? Or is it > because we just don't care who he is? > > Here's an opportunity for us all to reflect. > > Please pardon my rant if I have missed any effort made in support of > Edwin by any individual or group at any time. I am willing to join > hands to do the little I can to show solidarity against tyranny and > abuse for brother Edwin. > > > -Laye > > > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=131376 > > The Gambia-Conviction > > Gambian magistrate’s court convicts human rights activist for false > information > > APA Banjul-(The Gambia) A magistrate’s court in Banjul on Monday > convicted and sentenced a local human rights activist, Edwin Nebolisa > Nwakaeme, to a mandatory six month imprisonment and a fine of 10, 000 > dalasis (US$400), in default to serve three years imprisonment for > giving false information to the office of the president. > > Nwakaeme was arrested in February 2010 and he appeared in court in > March charged with giving false information to the office of the > president. > > The particulars of offence indicate that Nwakaeme sometime in March > 2010 in Banjul gave false information to the office of the president > that ‘Africa in Good Governance and Democracy’ (ADG), a > non-governmental organization was seeking nomination of Ms Mariam > Jammeh, daughter of President Yahya Jammeh as ADGs General Ambassador > for World Children Day celebration in 2009 of which he knew to be > untrue. > > Nwakaeme, in an interview with the BBC in 2009 after the arrest and > subsequent conviction and imprisonment to two years on charges of > sedition and defamation of six Gambian journalists by the High Court > in Banjul, criticized the Jammeh administration. > > His arrest and conviction is seen by many rights groups as a > punishment for his criticism of the regime. > > > ET/daj/APA > 2010-09-07 > > ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ > To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > Web interface > at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html > > To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: > http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l > To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: > [log in to unmask] > ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ > ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤