Detention without Trial or Disappearance Without Trace

By Fabakary B. Ceesay

We have now entered the tenth month of the year 2010 and some Gambian families still continue to puzzle over the continuous detention and disappearance of their family heads and love ones who were picked up by State Security Agents years ago on board numberless vehicles.

Mrs. Masireh (Marcie) Jammeh, Mr Haruna Jammeh, are both from Kanilai. The family of Masireh and Haruna Jammeh said their family heads were taken away on 14th July 2005 by known State Security Agents in their presence and since then they never set their eyes on them or heard of their whereabouts.

Mr. Jasarja( Sarja) Kujabi, a native of Foni Dobong went missing since in the summer of 2005.. Jasarja’s family said he was arrested by three NIA agents (whom they know) while he was working on his farm. They said that he was escorted to his home to change his farming clothes and was later taken away. The family said they have moved heaven and earth with a view to getting information about him, but to no avail. The family of Prison warden, Corporal Alfusainey Jammeh said he was stationed as guard at the compound of the former Director General of The Gambia Prisons Service Mr. David Colley for some time. They said he was called to report to Police Headquarters in Banjul. The family said he later called to inform them that he was detained, but did not give any reason for his detention. Alfusainey is detained at the maximum security wing at Mile Two Prison.

The ex- District Chief of Foni Kansala, Alagie Momodou Lamin Nyassi and his two close associates, Alagie Buba Sanyang (alias Bubai Sanyang) and Ndongo Mboob, all natives of Foni Bwiam, went missing on the same day. Their families said the three friends were picked up by men in plain clothes on board a numberless white pickup vehicle on the evening of 4 April 2006 as the trio was just from visiting each other. The families said since then they have never heard of or traced their whereabouts, even though they tried all avenues accessible to them.

Journalist Ebrima Manneh (alias Chief Manneh), a State House reporter for the Daily Observer newspaper went missing since 7th July 2006. His family said he left for work on that day and never return home. The father said he approached the authorities and influential personalities within the country for them to intervene to help in the search of his son but his efforts did not yield any fruits. He said he has visited all the known prisons and almost all the police stations across the country in search of his lost son but the authorities never allowed him access to some of security installations.

His colleagues at work said he was picked up by a man in plain clothes believed to be an NIA agent from Bakau Police Station. They said he was later seen on board a white car from Bakau police heading towards Banjul and never return to work.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) took the matter to the Regional Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja for The Gambia government to release him. The Gambian authorities never appeared before the Court even though the Court made it known that they were served with summon of the suit filed against them. The Gambia government failed to appear in any of the sittings, and the panel of judges ruled in favour of the plaintiff and asked the Banjul authorities to release Journalist Manneh and compensate him an amount of US 100,000. The Gambia government kept mute about the matter until after eight months, and then they made an official comment that journalist Manneh has never been in their custody.

Mr. Kanyiba Kanyi, an employee of the Christian Children Fund (CCF) believed to be an opposition sympathizer, went missing since 18th September 2006. His family said he was arrested by men in plain clothes on board a cab at his house in Bonto village in Kombo East while they looked on. They said his junior brother was also later arrested on the same evening and detained over night at the Serious Crime Unit at Police Headquarters in Banjul.

His family said they took Lawyer Ousainou Darboe who filed a “Habeas Corpus” at the High Court for the State to produce him but to no avail. They said the matter has been in Court for almost four years and nothing progressive is coming forth. They added that they do not even know where the case stands as at now. Mr. Abdoulie Njie and Alieu Lowe, both residents of Fagi Kunda were arrested since after the 21 march 2006 abortive coup plot. Their families said they are currently detained at the Mile Two Central prison. Their families said they never heard of any charges against them. They said they are allowed to access them.

Mr. Ebou Jarju, a former Steward at State House, who was first arrested on 20th March 2008, in the presence of his family was held at Banjul Police station up to 11 January 2009, when he was released without any charges only to be re-arrested a week later. His family said he is currently held at the Mile Two Central Prison. They said they could not have access to him since then.