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UK Parliamentarian takes interest in Gambia’s human rights issues
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 23:34
Glasgow is one of 16 centres around the world which will highlight human rights abuse in the Gambia on Thursday
22 July.Gambian journalist, Alieu Ceesay, is leading the Glasgow campaign through the National Union of Journalists and Amnesty International.
“We will hold a vigil at the Donald Dewar statue in Buchanan Street and invite passers-by to sign a petition,” Alieu was quoted as saying. “Currently, there is a harrowing human rights situation for Gambian people. Citizens are arrested daily. People disappear. There are summary executions, detention without trial, curtailment of civil liberties and a compromised
judiciary. Ebrima Manneh, a journalist who worked with me on the same daily newspaper was arrested by security agents in July 2006 and has never been seen again. Deyda Hydara, the editor and co-proprietor of another daily paper was shot dead and in July of last year, six of my colleagues were jailed on charges of sedition for simply criticizing the 
President in print.”The well-documented facts are listed in reports by Amnesty International and other human rights organizations. Already, newly elected Westminster MP Anas Sarwar, has taken an interest in Alieu’s campaign. Last year, when the NUJ held a similar vigil, he attended the event and subsequently, when he was campaigning to be elected, he promised to help.
“I will raise this in Westminster and will bring it before the International Development Select Committee,” Said Mr Sarwar.
Elected by Labour MPs as one of the dozen people on the influential cross-party committee, Mr Sarwar will have a powerful say in its work of scrutinizing expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for International Development. That Department has an office in Gambia and recently invested £3million in development projects there.
The situation has also been recognized by the Commonwealth of which Gambia is a member. At the last Heads of Commonwealth meeting – in Trinidad earlier this year - a synchronized campaign by its Human Rights committee successfully embarrassed Gambian President Yahya Jammeh into not attending but sending his Foreign Minister, Ousman Jammeh, instead.
Source: Glasgow Local News
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Comments
Thanks my brother most of these commentators thought that we are selfish, self centred and ignorant because of our political interest. I will never deny that there are political problems as is imminent in any country but my message is, solutions to this require a civilized Gambian approach. Since we have identified the problems then why not we come up with the solutions of which we have to be part of. Anyone dreaming that the west will solve our Gambian political problems you must be having dreams of yesterday when we all credited the UN and EU for honesty. What even doubts me is most of us are living here in the west and we have the opportunity to get first hand information from every corner that tell us who exactly the self proclaimed human right advocators are and we continue to believe in them on human right issues. This is always the happiest moments for most when they read a western making a harsh statement on the government.
You think they don't know what you are talking about? They do! They are simply demagogues who will jump at ANY slim opportunity to spew their propaganda. The UK is part of those who started wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, creating chaos in those countries... and when people flee from the very chaos they have created seeking refuge in the UK, they are detained at detention camps until when time fits to deport them. People whose rights have been violated by their very selves are right under their nose, yet they have the guts to to talk about other's violations of rights. Who will listen to them? Gambia is no one's colony any longer, and this is not over emphasised.
I quote again “Dont tell me you are, because if you really are would have known by now that Britain and other countries are doing what you are calling for”. I once again want to brief you of the latest TAKE HOME of Israel’s prime minister’s meeting with Obama. The peace broker and the one who was voted in a slogan of change, has assured Israel that the US will supply them with nuclear materials. So not stopping them from expansion of settlements, nor demolishing of houses. So this is what the peace noble prize winner is awarded for. Sanctions on Iran whom he hopes might build a nuclear, and supply materials to Israel for self defence. They can always invade as they think they have the power but the unfortunate thing is they never win and never finish but maximize the human right abuse.Keep on the dream for the west to solve the Gambia political problem. GAMBIA PROBLEM IS A GAMBIA SOLUTION.
I agree with you on all the divisions within the Arab nations. I am interested in justice and global peace. We first have to blame the blindness of the Arab nations by allowing the West to divide them. Israel is a created Nation by the west. This is why everything Israel does it’s proclaimed by the west as self defence. Iran which is against is the one they call the brutal nation and dictator. Iran is only a threat to Israel and whatever sanctions passed by the west against Iran is in defence of Israel. They will never talk about the human right abuses of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey because if they do so they will loose to get the support for Israel. So if all of us are reading this that the west will never condemn nations were there interest lye but stand aggressively on nations that oppose there selfish policies, why should we continue thinking that they can solve our political problems?
I understand that the West approach in the Middle East is confusing for you and many. I think, for you to understand it better, as I did, start with the politics of the Middle East first. Here are some clues: Shia and Sunni, Moderates and Radicals, Dictatorship, oil, arm race, etc. Then ask yourself why UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt (closed it border too with Gaza as Israel, turkey, Qatar now Iraq (don’t forget Gadaffi) NEVER in History opposes Israel as Iran, Hizbulla, Hamas, Iran, Syria, Saddam etc. where do you think Israel military exports goes to and where did Israel got oil to fuel its economy). All Africa stood firmly against Apartheid. If they "abandon” Palestine their blood sister country then something is wrong. And the above is some of the clues. I think that’s where Yayha Jammeh got some of his styles from: License to embezzle,Gambia kingdon Style, Sheik name, Imire style, holding the Koran, white white, etc.
Quote:
"If you have interest in the Gaza strip you ought to follow developments there. Dont tell me you are, because if you really are would have known by now that Britain and other countries are doing what you are calling for"? Do we mean making statements or actions? US, UK, Germany were able to corrupt the UN Security Council to pass sanctions on Iran which is unjustified. With regard to Israel they cant stop the demolishment of houses and building of new settlements continue? America senators and the EU passed sanctions against Iran. How many sanctions are passed against Israel? Even the recent Aid ship attack, what did EU and US say? Let the crime suspect investigate and report. Today Israel prime minister is here in the US and Obama is assuring him the security of Israel. When you make your this statement what exactly do you mean? Is the ordinary people in the street demonstrating and calling their governments to cut ties with Israel.
Apology accepted and I know no intent to insult but whatever your intention was I take it in good faith. Well the unfortunate thing is that you telling me if I have interest in other nations like Gaza let me follow that one and forget the Gambia. Why not you say the same to the UK parliamentarian to focus on UK? I always make my judgement by measuring things and this has to be international issues. You hate me when I do this you think am anti-west but the truth is their governments are hypocrits not individuals. The interst I have is justice and peace to all nations. You must be a role model to condem others.
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