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UK Politicians Urge British Gov’t to Press for Democracy in The Gambia
Saturday, 23 July 2011 01:27
(JollofNews) - At a rally, organised by The Campaign for Human Rights in The Gambia UK, Amnesty International joins,
Scottish politicians and union representatives in Glasgow Friday 22nd July calling on the Gambian authorities to end human rights abuses and the culture of fear which has led to hundreds, including many journalists, being tortured, killed or disappearing.Green Party MSP Patrick Harvie told the rally: 'I get a bit hacked off when I see what happens in our Parliament and in our media. But it is easy to forget what happens when you don't have a backstop of Human rights legislation. Then you have a vicious government which will imprison and torture journalists and others
who investigate what is going on. Such a government has the power of life and death over people. For one third of my life The Gambia government has had total disrespect for the rights of its citizens. Therefore we must encourage the Scottish Government and the Westminster Government to continue to put pressure on Gambia through all the correct international channels open to them to bring democracy back."Labour MP Anas Sarwar for Glasgow Central congratulated the Campaign for Human Rights in the Gambia for the 'tremendous energy' it has. He said: ‘’I promised before I was elected that I would stand up for human rights in the Gambia. And I’ve done that and will continue to do so. I organised a meeting for the Campaign with the Foreign Office and I put down an early Day Motion. The Minister of Justice in Gambia contacted me to berate me about what I was doing. I told him he should be called the Minister of INJUSTICE. I am proud of the city of Glasgow and of the people of Scotland who stand up to fight for what is right and just. As a proud Glaswegian and a Scot I will continue to do that.'’
Kate Temple of Amnesty International told the Glasgow rally in an emotional speech: ‘' There are enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and torture going on in The Gambia. It is horrendous. Confessions made under torture are accepted as evidence in court.'’ She went on to say that this month (JULY 2011) is the fifth anniversary of journalist Ebrima Chief Manneh's disappearance. 'We will continue to call on the Gambia High Commission to find him and investigate his whereabouts. He was arrested by Government controlled forces and was seen in their hands just once since then. But even the Media Foundation for West African took his disappearance to the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) who demanded that The Gambia government produce Ebrima - all to no avail.
At 18, Austin Sheridan is one of the youngest elected representatives who spoke at the Glasgow rally of Friday 22 July 2011. He is a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP). He recollected how he was the first person to turn up at the first rally and vigil held in July 2009 out of interest. When he learned, then, about the human rights abuses in The Gambia he helped form the Campaign locally and has continued to support that cause. 'But,' he added ‘'No matter who is in power in the Gambia, we must send a strong message to them that the human rights abuses we are aware of are not acceptable.’’
Alieu Badara Ceesay, Exiled Gambian Journalist said The Gambia campaign is proud to be associated with the Gambia Day of Action to draw attentions to a government that has dismantled every form of dissent in the Gambia and can shamelessly claim to be celebrating Freedom Day when even the regime knows freedom has become an illusion in the country."We want the Gambia government to realise that the rights to free speech, right to assemble, are not western imposed values but they are human rights to be enjoyed by all not for some".
The rally held at the top of Buchanan Street in full view of the statue of Donald Dewar the first Minister of the Scottish Parliament also heard passionate speeches from Danny Alderslowe Councillor Glasgow City Council and Dee Dee Cudily Secretary Geneal NUJ Glasgow Branch. The rally was followed by leafleting in the city centre of Glasgow to draw attention to the so called freedom day. It is recalled that Gambia day of Action is part of a calendar of protest against the repressive Jammeh regime that seized power on 22 July 1994. Each year as the regime in Gambia calls for celebration of the military overthrow of a democratically elected government, concerned Gambians and international partners including Amnesty International organise global Day of Action to counter the Jammeh government false claims of democracy in the face of gross violation of rights.
Written by JollofNews
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Comments
23 protestors way in Scotland. Go to Gambia and tell them about Scotland and 99.9% will ask you again "where"? Moreover, as you rightly stated what has Scotland ever done for Gambia? So what is the significance of Scotland for Gambia? Absolutely zero.
So let them, cyber day-dreamers fool themselves to console their sad, desperate and hopeless situation.
The same rethoric since july 22nd 1994.
What are you see? Progress, progress and progress....
Move on with your desperate situation. Yaya Jammeh is the present President of the Republic of the Gambia.
What can you do about that? Frustrated? That's your birr bu daw
Hey Desparado,
You have some things common with the Norwegian LUNATIC that caused havoc to his nation - desperation, hopeless, misarable, the lack of self-exsteme to be able to understand, respect, accept and allow the fact that YOUR ego is not synonymous to that of national interest.
And the differnce between you are is -you are a mere LUNATIC with no gutts but only a daa baa / gemeñ bu raye rekk, and that's it. Remember, 17 yrs - you are still making empty noise.
Issiso firring / dampal sa hol
Ahhh! Now it is treaths? A typical bad looser syndrome
You really are hopeless.
TIME seems not to be on your side.
No threaths but a promise that your leader will never have 20yrs in that seat if u dont know i will tell u this,for u guys are on ur last legs.Read the signs,but anyway fools cant see sign but u will see.Can all this innocent people u are murdering be wrong and u talking about threats.What we ready for jammeh will be a lesson for all future dictators and leaders.That day is just round the corner.YOU WILL LEARN.
Ahhh! Now it is treaths? A typical bad looser syndrome
You really are hopeless.
TIME seems not to be on your side. You've been wating for TIME for 17 good years and you are getting hopeless and hopeless every time you count your TIME.
I understand you frustration:cry : Poor soul!
HAPPY July 22nd.
cause they fear for their famillies back home cause of the rule of fear by the must wicked government in west Africa or Africa today.you followers of Jammeh you are the one fooling yourselves.The day u will be arrested with your leader that day u will regret all you are doing to innocent people.Who will support murderers and thieves.TIME WILL TELL
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