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IDHAE INFORMATION
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At
least 28 people, including those named above, have been arrested in
connection with an attempted coup that allegedly took place on 21 March. At
least 12 more people are known to have been arrested in connection with the attempted
coup of 21 March. Fourteen detainees have been released, and five have
reportedly escaped. At least 20 remain detained incommunicado and without charge,
at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Lawyer
Mariam Denton was arrested on the morning of 6 April and taken to the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters in the capital, Banjul, for questioning
in relation to the attempted coup. Businessperson Raif Diab is now known to
have been arrested on 24 March, and is detained at Mile 2 central prison in
Banjul. Aged around 70, he has heart problems requiring regular medical
treatment and a special diet, and his family fears that in prison he may not
be able to get the medical attention he needs. Independent
journalists Musa Saydikhan and Madi Ceesay are still held incommunicado and
without charge. They are detained at the NIA headquarters. The newspaper's
office is still closed, as the security forces have not returned the keys. According
to a statement issued the following day by the Office of the Inspector-General
of Police, Warrant Officer Alpha Bah escaped with four other detainees on 3
April. On
22 March the office of the president announced that "all those involved
[in the attempted coup] are presently in custody and helping the security
forces in their investigation, except the leader who is still at large."
President Alhaji Yahya Jammeh declared on national radio and television on 25
March that "any attempts to unconstitutionally overthrow this government
will be crushed without mercy," and that he "will set an example
that would put an end to … treachery and sabotage." On
28 March, some of the detainees were shown on national television reading a
statement confirming that they had been involved in an attempted coup. None
of them is known to have been formally charged or produced before a judge. All
were detained in the capital, Banjul, and are now held incommunicado. The
authorities have not disclosed where they are held, and relatives and lawyers
have been turned away from the prisons where some are believed/known to be in
custody. They are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Lawyer
Antouman A.
B. Gaye, was released on 3 April and twelve others, were set free. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Presidential
elections are due to take place this year and President Jammeh has announced
that he will be running for a third consecutive term in office at the head of
the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC). Repression
of journalists and members of opposition political parties have been reported
over the last few years. In November 2005 three members of a newly formed
opposition coalition were arrested for what the authorities called
"subversive activities". The arrests followed by-elections in which
the opposition coalition won three of the four seats that were contested. RECOMMENDED ACTION : Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as
possible, in English or your own language :
APPEALS TO : President
and Minister of Defence Captain
(retd.) Alhaji Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh Office
of the President State
House, Banjul Republic
of the Gambia Fax
: + 220 4227 034 Salutation
: Your Excellency Minister
of Interior M.
Baboucarr Jatta Ministry
of Interior 71
Dobson Street, Banjul Gambia Fax : +220 420 1320 Salutation : Dear Minister Attorney
General and Secretary of State for Justice M.
Sheikh Tijan Hydara Department
of State for Justice and Attorney General’s Chambers Marina
Parade Banjul Republic
of the Gambia Faxes
: + 220 4225 352 Salutation
: Dear Secretary of State PLEASE SEND APPEALS
IMMEDIATELY. |
