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As UN convention against enforced disappearance comes into force
Friday, 24 December 2010 23:00
Gambia continues to avoid the signatoriesBy JollofNews Staff Writer
Countries where enforced disappearances are the order of the have been urged to ensure the eradication of this crime by bringing those responsible to justice.
This call was made Thursday by a United Nations experts group tasked with assisting families to determine the fate or whereabouts of their family members who have gone missing under such situation. On the same day, the landmark global UN treaty aimed at deterring enforced disappearances entered into force.
The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006, took effect after Iraq became the 20th State to ratify it. The entry into force of this Convention is viewed as an important step towards countering a scourge that has become a weapon employed frequently against political opponents or people perceived as such especially in Africa.
In Gambia, journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh is perhaps the most prominent among a number of Gambians whose families have grown hopeless about the prospect of ever seeing their loved ones again.
“On this important occasion we urge States to make all possible efforts to prevent and eradicate the heinous practice of enforced disappearance and to bring to justice all those believed to be responsible for the crime; refrain from any act of intimidation or reprisals against those persons who contribute to the eradication of the practice; and take effective measures to realize the rights to truth, justice and reparation,” a statement by the independent UN experts task with the work said.
According to UN’s definition, enforced disappearance is the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State. And according to the UN working group, this new convention breaks new ground in the fight against the bane of enforced disappearances as it includes, for the first time in a treaty, the right of any person not to be subjected to enforced disappearance. It recognizes the right of all the persons affected to know the truth about the circumstances of this crime, the progress and results of the investigation and the fate of the disappeared person.
Hopeless affected Gambian families
States parties that ratify the Convention commit themselves to conducting investigations to account for the disappeared person, prosecute those responsible and ensure that compensations for survivors and their families are duly paid.“This is a momentous step, a day that has been looked forward to by many in all parts of the world, including families of those who have disappeared,” the independent UN experts said.
However, the Gambia’s failure to sign the convention thwarts the hopes of many of its citizens, especially family members of the increasing number of Gambians who continue to languish in bewilderment, hopelessly nursing the trauma of not knowing about the fate of their loved ones. Unlike Gambia, its neighbor Senegal was among the initial 57 signatories of the convention and it is among the only 20 countries, as of December 23rd, to have ratified it, guaranteeing Senegalese the opportunity to challenge ay such crimes perpetuated against a citizen.
Gambia’s most popular disappeared person is the former Daily Observer journalist Ebrima Manneh, who went missing after people identified as state security agents arrested him from the offices of his newspaper.
Three people have been identified as chiefly responsible for Manneh’s arrest and subsequent disappearance - Saja Taal, a former ally of president Yahya Jammeh, and now a lecturer at the University of the Gambia; Pa Malick Faye, a militant of the ruling APRC and former colleague of the disappeared journalist, who was accused by other colleagues of reporting him leading to his detention and subsequent disappearance (he is now heading the Daily Observer); and Momodou Sanyang, a close ally of the president and present head of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS).
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Comments
I wonder what their reasons are for not ratifying this convention.
Is Saja Taal,Malick Faye and Momodou Sanyang really responsible for chief Manneh's arrest or did they merely give info that led to his arrest?
Whilst their shameful act led to the arrest & subsequent disappearance of an innocent man,they should not be held responsible. Ofcourse, they cannot be completely blameless and if they have any decency in them at all,they should bury their heads in shame for what they did(if thats what they did)
But the real people responsible are those who arrested and took him into custody as well as those who ordered it.And they must never be allowed be get away with their crime.
My advice to you is try to do good so that you can still be happily live among your folks.
What would it cost President Jammeh to have these three people mentioned in Manne's arrest? Taal, Pa Malick and Momodou Sanyang have absolutely no significant bearing on today's APRC, yet they continue to go free while one of the country's most mysterious problems continue to go unchecked.
These kind of things makes it very difficult for some of us who find it hard to accept out right dismissal of the regime.
As the people named, remember that even if you escape this world, there hereafter will never be a safe heaven; never!
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