The organizing secretary of the United Democratic Party Shyngle Nyassi has strongly reacted to the arrest and continuous detention of former Accountant General and executive member of the United Democratic Party Mr. Amadou Sanneh. Mr. Nyassi who called our reporter with his reaction said he strongly believe that Mr. Sanneh’s arrest is politically motivated and amounts to a witch hunt by the Jammeh administration.
In speaking to our reporter Mr. Nyassi said it is not a crime for Mr. Sanneh to write an attestation for Mr. Malang Fatty as his situation is true. He asserted that many UDP youths in and around the Bansang area and across the country including Malang Fatty himself has been subjected to numerous illegal arrest, detention and intimidation simply for their political views and disagreements with the government. “It is a fact that political opponents of the government are seriously being harassed and intimidated by APRC militants, the police, the military and the NIA”
Shyngle adamantly declared that arrest, detention and torture are the reality of the political situation in the Gambia “and if anybody genuinely fears for their life then they have a right to seek political protection from any country”. He defended his party’s right to help people who want to escape the dangers of Jammeh’s political machinery adding that “the United Democratic Party is here to protect the right of its’ supporters and all citizens”
In response to claims made in the GRTS reports that he signed an attestation for one Binta Sanyang, Mr. Nyassi countered that numerous APRC militants whom he knows personally equally benefited from this kind of attestation from the APRC which they used for their political asylum applications in the United States and all over Europe. He rejected any claims as false and baseless that his party’s quest to help distressed citizens amounts to tarnishing the image of the country. The UDP strong man said what tarnishes the image of the country is the rampant political oppression and suppression of political dissent in the country contrary to what the government is claiming.
Shyngle appeals to the government to release Amadou Sanneh as he is innocent and has been one of the most peace loving and productive citizens he has ever seen in the Gambia. “This is a man who has served his country, set up his own private business, employ citizens and continue to do his best to help any citizens in need” he therefore does not deserve to be paraded on TV with baseless and made up allegations to settle political scores. Nyassi again called for the immediate release of Amadou Sanneh and his co accused. “This is nothing but a political witch hunt that has been targeting Amadou and many for a very long time”