A Call For Immediate Action: Release Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, The UDP Executive, and Other Gambian Activists.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I write to call on you, your organization, and Government, to act in favor of freedom and justice, in the ongoing trial of the United Democratic Leader, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, his UDP Executive, and host of other Gambian Activists, under Gambia’s brutal leader, Yaya Jammeh, to act without delay and petition the Gambian Administration to immediately release Darboe, the UDP Executive, and host of other Gambian Activists unconditionally.
In a peaceful call for electoral reform in April 2016, the Gambian authority heavy-handedly arrested, tortured, and continues to seize the freedom of over three dozen Gambians who committed no crime, other than calling peacefully for electoral reform –election term limits, level playing ground, age limit barriers, etc. In the process, one Solo Sandeng, a youth mobilizer of the UDP, is alleged to have died with scores of others tortured by the Gambian security forces, an instruction that came from Yaya Jammeh.
While the cases are ongoing, the Defense Lawyers complained that they are not allowed to interact with their clients because of the forceful interruption by Gambia’s Security forces, a strict violation of the court’s code of conduct. As a result of the court’s lack of
impartiality, unfairness, kissing off to Jammeh’s iron fist rule, and being economical with the truth, the Defense Team walked out of the court on Wednesday May 8th 2016 in protest. The case is adjourned for Monday June 13th 2016. There is no indication that the administration or the courts under the type of presiding mercenary judges will respect the defendants and their clients for a fair trial. This is a continued cause for concern.
Meanwhile Jammeh in a recent speech threatened to kill and bury his opponents many feet deep down the ground. His threats cannot be taken lightly as he is an armed bandit in the presidency. He continues to divide the Gambia on tribal lines, and to the level even threatening to kill all the Mandinkas in the Gambia. It is feared and widely rife that he plans to do harm to the Defendants and their Lawyers. Last year, I addressed Jammeh’s bad-mouthing of Citizens, “Jammeh’s Bad-mouthing at Citizens a Cause for Continued Concern” (Gainako 5/17/2015, Culled from the web: https://gainako.com/jammehs-bad-mouthing-at-citizens-a-cause-for-continued-concern/).
Knowing the above, I therefore call on you to do all within your power as citizens, Human Rights Activists, and believers in justice, to call for their immediate and unconditional release from custody. The same call is also extended to Gambia’s Security forces and they are hereby cautioned to serve honorably and desist from any further tortures and following of Jammeh’s criminal orders.
Sincerely,
Yero.
1 Comment
Sit at home protest has been done in many African countries specially Guinea Conakry, let us choose a working day and stay at HOME protest. No public transportation movement that day.
Unless we defy Jammeh and stay at home protest, we will not be respected as human beings.