By Dbanjulist
On the 21st anniversary of the 22nd July Coup, The President of the Republic of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, has declared pardon for all political prisoners from 1994-2013 with conditions. Jammeh made this announcement during his statement at the 21st July 22nd anniversary in Banjul on Wednesday 22 July 2015 at the Arch 22. The pardon was extended to all those convicted of murder cases and that have served a minimum of ten years. Whilst making his declaration he made a number of exemptions including a convict guilty of cannibalism.
According to our Gainako correspondent the amnesty was extended to all dissident Gambians and alleged coup plotters in the Diaspora. He stated that “even those who spread lies about me and my country.” It was a great surprise when President Jammeh announced the pardon of the convicts; the elated crowd erupted with sounds of clapping and cheering. Even security personnel and high government officials couldn’t contain themselves as they shouted and cheered at the declaration of the prisoner pardon. Some officials felt compelled to extend an immediate congratulatory hand shake with the president after his statement. Some delegates at the ceremony regard the pardon as one of Jammeh’s greatest achievements.
The Gambian dictator expanded his pardon to all those convicted with hard drugs that have served a minimum of five years. Among those included in the pardon are prisoners convicted of trafficking cannabis that have served less than three years although all repeated offenders are exempt from the pardon. The same pardon was extended to all prisoners convicted with possession of cannabis except repeated offenders. The self-named Babili Mansa (Road Builder) also pardoned all prisoners convicted of raping victims aged 20 years and younger but declined to pardon anyone guilty of raping a child. President Jammeh noted that, he will never pardon Infanticides (individuals guilty of baby dumping and people who have delivered and throw away their babies or killed them). He said anyone who has a baby and don’t want it can bring it to state house or take it to SOS, but not to throw it away like that. President Jammeh said that, he want all the pardoned prisoners to be released before this coming Friday prayers. The autocratic Gambian leader declared that “all pardoned foreign convicts will be deported immediately. All those convicted of political crimes and currently in exile have all been pardoned. He further stated that, all those Gambians in the Diaspora, such as America, Britain, and other European countries that spread lies have all been pardoned.”
A political activist noted that “This is the second pardon declared by The Gambian President in the space of two months. I hope that he delivers on his pardon to all political prisoners this time. If the last pardon was anything to go by, Gambians worldwide will be anxiously holding their breath to see who actually gets released on Friday before Jummah prayers. Jammeh’s bitter hoax of pardoning and un-pardoning 85 prisoner a month ago will be fresh in the minds of many prisoners and their families.” Another media commentator alluded to the fact that Prison conditions are a cause for great concern with Mile Two exceeding maximum capacity. “The recent pardons will reduce the Governments expenditure on prisons especially as the economy is in acute decline. Jammeh’s pardon is not born out of truth and forgiveness but is just another scheme to distract Gambians, bring division between Gambians at home and abroad and most importantly, win over support for his declining regime. As the country gears up for 2016 elections Jammeh is preparing himself to spend as little as possible on prisons while allowing prison space for future dissidents should he choose to suppress any opposing voice.”
A Gambian at the event remarked “What great news from President Jammeh, this is the best news I’ve ever heard since birth. Zero tolerance to violence against women and children is a welcomed and positive move. Jammeh is very correct when he said as Muslims and Christians, the Holy Quran taught us about forgiveness and the Prophet (SAW) has demonstrated forgiveness even during the time of the true Jihad”. Jammeh warned that “anybody found on the wrong side of the country will not pay the full price” As a word of caution Jammeh warned all relatives of pardoned convicts to advise the freed victims not to be on the wrong side of the law for the next ten years.
Categories of those pardoned and to be released before Friday prayers include prisoners convicted of;
· Treason and incarcerated on death row ore serving life sentences since 1994 to 2013
· Murder and have served not less than ten years
· Drug related crimes and serving not less than five years
· Trafficking cannabis and serving not less than three years
· Foreigners convicted of rape, murder, drug trafficking and armed robbery
· Dissident Gambians in United States, Great Britain and Europe and to be deported not later than Friday prayers
Exemption to those pardoned include;
· An alleged cannibal who murdered a woman in a farm
· One Mr Hydara who shot his first wife and wanted to wipe out her children
· A group of foreigners who murdered a British National
· Convicts repeated offenders for all crimes
· Convicts guilty of infanticide and crimes against women
· A group of foreigners who killed a British citizen and threw him on the highway