Chief Manneh’s Father Speaks Out Against Impunity

Thursday, 24 January 2013 18:11

(JollofNews) – In the wake of the dismissal of Pa Malick Faye as Managing Director of Daily Observer, Sarjo Manneh, father of 'disappeared' Gambian journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh, has spoken out against impunity and called on human rights organizations to bring to book any person linked with the 'disappearance' of his son.

"It may be obvious stating that Pa Malick Faye allegedly played a role in the arrest and 'disappearance' of my son. If that is the case, he must be brought before a court of law," the elderly dad told JollofNews in an exclusive interview.

Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh went missing since July 11, 2006. He was arrested by officers believed to be from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). Three people, among them Pa Malick Faye, were reportedly cited as being the instigators of the journalist indictment. Mr Faye has reportedly absconded to neighbouring Senegal.

After years of denying that the missing journalist is in their custody, Gambian government officials recently came up with a ‘new’ finding suggesting that the disappeared journalist was alive and was living in the United States of America.

President Yahya Jammeh’s ex-Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Edward Gomez, was behind what now appears to many as a surrealistic statement...

"I can still remember at a time when my son was arrested, Pa Malick Faye came here with his wife. That very day, they brought a bag of rice and a 20-litre gallon of cooking oil," Old Pa Sarjo Manneh recalled.

"During our discussion, he assured me that efforts were being deployed to ensure the release of Ebrima Manneh, and he promised to get back to me."

But Mr Manneh was quick to add that the then Observer reporter failed to keep his promise...

The old man’s hopes were cruelly dashed when he went to Pa Malick Faye’s compound in Lamin and was told by his wife that he had travelled.

"She did not know that upon my arrival, one of their neighbours informed me that he was inside," Mr Manneh said.

Media reports linking the late Momodou Sanyang of GRTS, Dr Saja Taal, a former MD of the Observer, and Pa Malick Faye with the 'disappearance' of his son ended up letting Pa Manneh know about the involvement of the former Daily Observer boss in the sad
predicament of someone he once called his friend.

"I am expecting that justice will prevail, and anyone involved in this case will face the law with all its toughest ramifications," he said.

Sarjo Manneh seized the opportunity to call on the United Nations Human Rights Council to initiate a proper investigation into the 'disappearance' of his son.

At the 2011 EU talks, the Gambia government agreed to invite the UN Secretary General to commission an inquiry into the 'disappearance' of Chief Ebrima Manneh and the assassination of Deyda Hydara.

The UN SG has since referred both cases to the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights, headed by the South African Navi Pillay. But due to unknown reasons, the much-awaited mission is yet to take place...
Written by Abdoulie John