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Lawyer Martin raises concern over death penalty for drug offenders
Friday, 08 October 2010 13:18
By Kemo ChamLawyer Assan Martin has joined chorus of condemnations of the newly introduced law that could see drug offenders executed if found guilty in Gambian courts.
Lawyer Martin told the Voice of America Thursday that human rights defenders did not support the new proposed law which could see people in
possession of more than 250g of cocaine or heroin put to death. He said even though they do not support drug trafficking, they are equally against the hash penalty. “As lawyers or any other person, we never supported any drug trafficking or drug trafficking activities by any syndicate. But, the issue whereby there would be death penalty for anybody, we do not support the death penalty to be part of the penalties for such,” Martin stated.
Lawyer Martin’s qualms are based on the premises that innocent people could be executed for crimes they may have not committed. “The fear is that an innocent person may also suffer or may end up being a victim. We don’t support anything of collective punishment of both the innocent and the guilty,” he said.
The discovery of 2 tons of cocaine a couple of months ago in Gambia positioned the country as a leading transit point of drugs to European and Latin American destinations. President Yahya Jammeh immediately reacted with stern warnings against the practice.
This new measure, despite the expressions of disapproval it was greeted with upon its announcement, is clearly President Yahya Jammeh’s way of hammering home is message of ‘zero tolerance’ for drug trafficking, something key members of his own government have constantly been linked to. A number of former close allies of his, who have since been identified with drug related activities before their appointment to key positions in government, notably the former head of Gambian police, Ensa Badjie, are presently standing trial on drug related charges.
However, the failure to indict even a single Gambian accomplice in that June massive cocaine discovery remains a contending issue for many Gambians who believe the government is reluctant to dig deep on the investigations. President Jammeh himself is no stranger to accusations of drug dealing, given his largely unexplained extravagant spending.
The VOA cited some analysts worrying that the government could in fact use this new measure to further suppress the opposition or dissenting views.
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Comments
Keep on the good work, Martin. Some day your effort will pay off, God willing!
Just where is The Gambia heading?
Just how much is a Gambian's life worth?
..and what about The British governments position of supporting the Gambia's judical system through the 50 million dalasis donation of tax payers money.... and active participation into The Gambia's judicial system/ though DFID.
More mounting International concerns are surely on the way.
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