Human Rights Issues

FOROYAA NO.20 2007 FEBUARY 20th
AT THE COURT MARTIAL
I WAS ELECTROCUTED, KICKED, BEATEN- CAPTAIN MENDY
Captain Pierre John Mendy, the ex-commanding officer (CO) of the Fajara Barracks had revealed to the court martial that he was electrocuted, kicked and mercilessly beaten by officers at the NIA headquarters. Captain Mendy made these revelations at the court martial on Thursday 15th February 2007.

No.24/2007 28th February 
AT THE COURT MARTIAL
I WAS HAMMERD STABBED AND FIXED TO ELECTRIC WIRE
Second lieutenant Pharing Sanyang of the Gambia Army Force, who is standing trials for his alleged involvement in the March 21st 2006 abortive coup plot against the government of the Gambia, has informed the court that he was subjected to serious torture before his statement was obtained. Counting his testimony, second Lt Sanyang indicated that while he was in the vehicle with Lance Corporal Malick Jatta, corporal Ismila Jammeh and Private Alieu Jeng, he was mal-treated by Malick Jatta.
Malick Jatta told me, yesterday was your day but today is me; I asked him, how could you talk to me like that? He told me he would show me what he was going to do next .He tore off my uniform and started putting off his cigarette on left shoulder .The cigarette burned my skin and I still have the scare. Sanyang lamented.

NO.24/2007       28-1st March 2007
ARREST OF DISABLED PERSONS
UNGODLY SAYS NUDY PRESIDENT
Mr, Ebrima Dibbasey the President of the National Union of Disabled Youths (NUDY) condemned the arrest and detention of disabled people by the police. In an exclusive interview at his office in Churchill’s town on Thursday Mr. Dibbasey told this reporter that what is happening these days is alien to Gambian culture and is ungodly.

No.24/2007 28th Feb-1st March 2007
RAPE CASE ADJOURNED AGAIN 

The rape trial involving Abdoulie Bamba and the state was on Wednesday 21st of February 2007 adjourned till the 6th of March .The case which was presided over by magistrate E.F. Mbai was adjourned because of the absence of the accused (Abdoulie Gibba) who is remanded in custody. The police prosecutor ASP Badjie is said to be on an official mission .the accused is alleged to have used force to have carnal knowledge of a peace cops volunteer (name with held). The accused has pleaded not guilty .The alleged rape was said to have happened at Sintet Village in the Foni Jarol districts.

No.36/2007   28-29 March,2007

RAMBO HELD INCOMMUNICADD AT SARE NGIA

Foroyaa has been reliably informed that the councilor for Cape Point Ward ,Ousman Jatta alias Rambo has been held incommunicado at Sare Ngai Police Station ,Wulli East District, a remote area in the eastern end of The Gambia. When one of our reporters approached the  station officers ,he flatly denied that Rambo was held at that police station our information is that Rambo   has been detained at the said  Police station for more than two months after he had been transferred from Fatoto Police Station .
Rambo’s continued detention is contrary to a High Court order issued last year that he be released unconditionally .Rambo was arrested on 23rd September  ,2006, six months ago ,a day after the pPesidential election.

28-29 March 2007
ACCUSED PERSON EXCESSIVE TORTURE BY POLICE

An accused person (name withheld) in a rape case has informed the court that police officers tortured him to the point that he had to make a false confession .The accused alleged that he was severely beaten by the police intervention unite officers at the Briklama Power station on 14th February 2007.He made these remarks on Tuesday 27th March at the Brikama Magistrate Court before Magistrate E.F Mbia .
 The accused person further said that he was told by P.I.U officers to accept that he had carnal knowledge of the complainant ,an 18 years ,old girl ,or risk being tortured severely .The accused said he has accepted to have committed rape in order to escape the severe beatings of the P.I .U officers .The accused person  further told the court that his confession was imposed forcefully on him .He asserted that if he was not beaten , he would not have accepted having committed rape .He also told the court that the compliant is his girl friend .A prosecution witness ,Alhagie Faye ,a Police officer attached to the Police intervention Unite in Brikama ,said he is unaware of the alleged torture and was not present  at the scene .The accused person, who pleaded not guilty , is accused to have had carnal knowledge of an 18 year old girl

No. 37/2007 30 March- 1st April ,2007

IMMIGRATION OFFICERS BRUTALIZE SUSPECT
At the Wellingara Police Station on Wednesday at about 11.30 am to be precise ,when three immigration officers brought a young man into the station they physically and verbally assaulted him .The incident found this reporter standing inside the station who therefore witnessed the whole scene when the three immigration officers arrived at the station on board a taxi they hurriedly whisked a young man out of the car sweating and looking very angry ,lifted the young man and dropped him on the floor of the station verandah .One scolded him at the neck ,one sat on him holding his hands while the others  were kicking and beating him .Some of the other police and immgration  officers rushed to help their colleagues .The young man was dragged into the station .He was shouting at the top of his voice trying to explain something .but the officers would not listen or even care what he was trying to say .He was put behind the counter sweating and breathing heavily in a ragged shirt .One of the female police officers was trying to get a clue of what he was trying to explain one of the officers who brought him, who was still sweating and raging with  fury kept  on shouting on him ,shut up you think you think you can stand  your officers in Nigeria?

No.38/2007 2nd April-3 April,2007    
WHERE IS FATOU JAW MANNEH? AT THE NIA HEADQUARTERS?                                                          

Foroyaa received information that relatives and friends of Fatou Jaw Manneh, a journalist who has been resident in the US for many years went to the airport on Wednesday 28th March 2007 to welcome her home .Unfortunately  ,they missed to see her when she arrived .Foroyaa reported this in the last issue. On Friday Foroyaa started the search by contacting ,the police ,the immigration and NIA .Before the end of the day it was clear that Fatou was neither  arrested by the police nor the immigration .Foroyaa has reliably learnt that she is at the NIA Headquarters .We have contacted family members to confirm this finding and they have confirmed that they visited her daily .
Section 19 (1) of the  constitution states “there shall be a National Intelligence  Agency which shall be under the command of the president.”
The NIA is therefore directly under the command of the President .Foroyaa wishes to advice the President to establish a unit at the president’s office to receive complaints regarding arrests made by the NIA so that he can be kept informed of all developments .

April 2 –3 April ,2007
GIRL 16, ATTEMPTS SUICIDE DUE TO FORCED MARRIAGE

A report reaching Foroyaa has it that ,one Mama Danso ,a 16 year old girl of Basse  Kaba Kama attempted to take her own life by consuming a solution of the powdered mixture of the black substance founded in radio batteries .The girl  was said to have attempted to take her own life because of the decision of her parents to get  her married to a man whom she dose not love .According to a source at Basse  Health Center .the 16 year old , Mama Danso was discovered to have ingested a poison .
The source went on to say the victim was unconscious  as at the time she was brought and admitted .He said that gastric aspiration was done via nasogastric tube  and the ingested poison was  therefore drained. The nurse said that the  patient was later referred to the Bansang Hospital for further treatment.

No.35/2007  26-27 March,2007
   TAMSIR JASSEH AND CO TREASON TRIAL

Tijan Bojang ,the independent witness during  the obtaining of statements from the suspects of the March 2006 alleged coup plot ,on Wednesday , March 21st ,appeared before justice Yeboah at the High Court .
Tjan Bojang told the court that he knows Lamin Cham ,the police detective ,who called him to appear as a witness while he was obtaining the statement of the 5 accused person Tamsir Jasseh Bojang made this statement when he was cross examined by the defense team .

IS BETRAND SAMBOU CHARGED    26-27 March
The police spokesperson , Superintendent Famara Jobateh ,has indicated to this paper that Betrand Sambou is a state detainee .When asked whether he is charged, Jobarteh added that he could not dwell on the matter, but that Betrand is detained by the state .Betrand Sambou is a native of the Casamance region in the Southern Senegal and was arrested by the Sibanor police some months ago .according to a relative of Mr .Sambou who lives in the Gambia, he was arrested after one youngman was apprehended by the police at a checkpoint in Bulock .Mr. Sambou was said to have been  taken to the  Sibanor police post where he was later transferred to the serious crime unite at police Headquarters  in Banjul .

Vol,16 No.71 APRIL 3rd 2007 POINT
NIA CONFIRMS DETENTION OFA JOURNALIST FATOU JAW MANNEH
The President of the Gambia Press Union ,Mr. Madi Ceesay ,yesterday intimated to this paper that the National Intelligence Agency( NIA)  has confirmed the reported detention of Fatou Jaw Manneh  ,a US based Gambian Journalist.
Mr.Ceesay stated that a delegation led by GPU and comprising of the Chief Executive of the different media houses ,including Pap Saine of The point ,Swaebou Conateh of News and Report and Sam Obi of Daily Express had a meeting with NIA to express their concern over the continued detention of Fatou Jaw Manneh. The GPU  President revealed that up to the time of the meeting ,Ms Manneh had not been charged with any offence .he however said the agency promised to speed up investigations into the matter.

Vol 16No. 72 APRIL 4th ,2007
PRESIDENT JAMMEH TAKES THE JUDICIARY TO TASK

The President of the Republic of the Gambia  ,Dr Alagie Yahya Jammeh ,has strongly condemned the judiciary for what he called “lapses in the execution of their duties” .President Jammeh was speaking at a meeting with the cabinet ,the Chief Justice ,the Director –General NIA ,and the Inspector –General of Police .He made specific reference to lapse in criminal cases, unending adjournment of cases ,and corruption in the judicial system ,saying that the trend is totally unacceptable He charged that the Gambia is the only country where murder cases involving Gambians and non Gambians have lasted for years ,coupled with indefinite trials and detentions .He further opined that the independence of the judiciary depends on its performance ,nothing that it must also work according to the laws of the country .
The Gambian leader advised work-weary civil servants to leave office of their own accord ,calling on members of his cabinet to ensure their people under their respective  departments perform their duties ,warning that necessary action would otherwise be taken to rectify the situation .Meanwhile President Jammeh has also announced at the meeting that he will be curing diabetic. Dr Jammeh disclosed that he had registered success with an initial trial of five diabetic patients .He said the treatment of diabetic  is not as complicated as that of Hiv/AIDs saying that people interested in the treatment must first be diagnosed as a diabetic patient.

FOROYAA No 41/2007 11 APRIL –12,2007
FORMER CHIEF AND CO.HELD INCOMMUNICADO.

The former District Chief of Foni Kansala ,Mr. Momodou Lanmin Nyassi and two other persons ,all residents of Bwiam  Village in the Foni  Kansala District have been kept incommunicado for four months .
The other two persons are Ndongo Mboob, and Buba Sayang .According to family sources ,the trio were arrested in November 2006 at their native village of Bwaim ,in the western Region and access to them has been curtailed by the authorities .the reason for their arrest remains unclear .
Respective family sources allege that they are unable to locate the whereabouts of their loved ones despite making frantic efforts. We visited the Central Prison ,then  Police headquarters ,the  NIA headquarters and numerous police station but we were unable to know their whereabouts stressed a family  source .Sources further claimed that the trio are yet to be arraigned in court .When contacted ,the police PRO, Nfamara Jobateh stated that his office is unaware of the arrested of the trio and their subsequent incommunicado detention .

FOROYA
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE GAMBIA
On 10 April 2006 ,Lamin Fatty a reporter of the Independence Newspaper was arrested by the National Intelligence Agency and detained for 63 days contrary to the requirements of the constitution that a detainee must not be held for more than 72 hours without being taken before a competent court of law .Lamin Fatty has been charged with false publication contrary to the Criminal Code (amendment) Act 2004 and if found guilty is liable to a fine of between D50,000 and D250,000 or imprisonment for a maximum period of one year in accordance with the Criminal code (Amendment) Act 2004.
On March 27 2006 ,the editor –in-chief of the Independent Newspaper,Musa Sadikahn ,was arrested, and detained for 21 days . On 28 March 2006 The General Manager Madi Ceesay was arrested and detained for 22 days ,the premises of The Independent has been inoperative since 28 March 2006.
Apart from the Independent the only private radio stations that have been broadcasting   local news items –Citizen FM and SUD fm remain closed without any court order .
Section 25(1)(a) of the constitutions stipulates “freedom of speech and the expression ,which shall include freedom of the press and other media.”
Section 207 (1) of the constitution also states “every person shall have the right to freedom and independence of the press and other information media are hereby guaranteed “
The constitution even gives the media responsibility to scrutinize the government. It states in section 207(3)”the press and other information media shall at all times ,be free to hold the government accountability to the people of the Gambia “

FOROYAA No43/2007 16 APRIL –17 APRIL ,2007

FATOU JAW MANNEH’S TRIAL
APPLICATION FOR VOIR DIRE OVERRULED
In the trial of Fatou Jaw Manneh at the Kanifing Magistrates Court on Friday, the court turned down an application by the defense for a trial within a trial on the ground that  the accused faced “mental torture at the time her statement was being taken.” This matter arose when the prosecution attempted to tender the cautionary and voluntary statements of the accused.

BANSANG ALKALO REMANDED
16-17, April

The Alkalo of Bansang Mr.Saiba Darboe and Yerro Sey were recently arrested by the police in Bansang and charged contrary to section 368 of the Criminal Code. The duo were on Wednesday April 11th arraigned before Magistrate Paul Baldeh ,a traveling magistrate at Bansang court house which was packed full of curious onlookers and relatives .When the matter was called the police prosecutor read out the charges .

NO.45/2007 20APRIL –22 APRIL 2007
AT THE COURT MARTIAL FOUR SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRESONMENT
The protracted criminal trial of ten  officers of the Gambia Armed Forces ,who are standing at the Court Martial at the Yundum Barracks for allegedly trying to overthrow the Government of The Gambia on 21st March 2006 has come to an end .On Thursday the 19 April 2007 they were all convicted on different charges and sentenced to different jail terms to run concurrently .Captain Bunja Darboe Captain Yaya Darboe ,Captain Wassa Camara and Second Lieutenant Pharing Sanyang were all convicted  on five counts .Namely counseling or procuring persons to commit mutiny ; causing or conspiring with others to cause mutiny ; mutiny ,treason and ;conspiracy to commit treason .They were all found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment .However ,Capatin Yaya Darboe was acquitted on count two ,that is causing or conspiring with others to cause mutiny contrary to section 47 (b), of the Gambia Armed Forced Act..
Captain Pierre J. Mendy Captain Abdoukarim Jah ,Lieutenant Momodou Alieu Bah, Corporal Samba Bah , Lance corporal  Babou Janha and Private Aligie Nying were each convicted on three counts : failure to report mutiny ,of treason and concealment of treason.
Captain Abdukarim Jah was sentenced to 25 years in jail in respect of each of the three charges to run concurrently .Captain Pierre Mendy ,Lieutenant Momodou Alieu Bah ,Corporal Samba Bah ,Lance Corporal Babou Janha and Private Aligie Nying were given ten (10) years in respects of each of the three charges to run concurrently .As the Presidents of the court was reading the verdict,  the relatives and loved ones of the convicts became emotional and wailed .Some even fainted and had to be rushed to the Yundum Barracks .An old woman ,who is said to be the mother of Corporal Samba Bah ,was shouting at the top of her voice, saying “I have no other son, all are dead .Please God help me! ”The court room was filled to capacity with heavy security presence .
Before the court commenced sitting ,all the family members were told that they would not be allowed to enter .The security at the gate could not advance any reason for the decision .but with the intervention of the defense counsels the press,  and  the family members were allowed in. The trial was compose of military officers as panelists and a judge advocate. The panelists were Captain Lamin ,Captain Bubacarr Sanyang ,Captain Sillah Kujabi ,Captain Gibril Bojang and commander Sajor Fofana (as the President of court ).

FOROYAA NO 46/2007 23 APRIL,
BRIKAMA POLICE OFFICERS DETATI ED

Reports have it that last week the police officers at Brikama Poice station in Centeral River Region were arrested and taken straight to Janjanbureh Prison ,where they are currently detained .The officers are said  to be eight in number and they include the station officer.
According to the reports ,the police officers arrested one man from Senegal in relation to cattle theft but the suspects escaped from custody . The station Officer Sowe is said to have been arrested at Janjangbureh while Lance Corporal Mballow is said to have been arrested at his home Village ,Fulabantang where he is the Alkalo.

FOROYAA 23 April 24, 2007
CHIEF MANNEH’S WEREABOUT NOT KNOW
Chief Ebriama Manneh ,a journalist working with the Daily Observer, was arrested by the two agents of the National Intelligence Agency at his work place early July 2006 .He was since been detained at the NIA headquarters in Banjul before being transferred to Gunjur ,Sare Ngai and Fatoto Police Stations. When this reporter last saw him it was in Fatoto in January 2007.However this time this reporter went to all these stations but could not establish his whereabouts .Sources at Fatoto have it that Mr. Manneh was transferred to an u n k n o w  d e s t n a t io n  sometime in February many believed that he is taken to a station in Kombo .

NO. 47 APRIL 25-26 2007 FOROYAA
PROSECUTOR’S ABSENCE DELAYS LAMIN FATTY’S TRIAL
The absence of Police prosecutor, Momodou Mballow ,from court on Monday led to the adjournment of the trial of Lamin Fatty ,a journalist with the closed bi-weekly ,The Independent .
Defense counsel, Lamin S.Camara told the court that in the interest of justice he had no option but to adjourn the case.
The Presiding magistrate, Buba Jawo of the Kanifing Magistrate, court ,deferred the case to the 30th of April .2007 .Mr Fatty is standing trial for allegedly publishing false information.  

NO 46/2007 30APRIAL –2007 FOROYAA
IN SONKO’S TREASON TRIAL

Lieutenant Colonel Biran  Saine, The Gambia National Guard (GNG) Chief of Staff on Thursday ,April 26 continued his testimony in the treason trial of Abdoulie Sonko who is accused of murder and treason following the November 1996 military assault on the Farafenni Military Camp .
Lieutenant Colonel Saine under cross examination by defense counsel ,Mai Fatty ,adduced that the attack started at about 3 am and lasted for eight hours . He said that he did not know the exact number of attackers but saw six of them .He added that none  of the attackers was in the Gambia Armed Forces ,and none of them lived in the barracks .
O/C COLLEY HELD INCOMMUNICADO AT MILLE 2
FOROYAA
Foroyaa has been reliably informed that the former station officer of  Sabanor police station ,Assistant Superintendent Abdoulie Colley has been held incommunicado at the state Central prison.
According to reliable sources ASP Colley was transferred about two months ago from Janjangburreh Prison where he is reported to have been detained since his arrested on 14 August 2006 by security officers ASP Colley ,according to family sources ,has been held incommunicado for more than six months .According to the sources ASP Colley’s arrest came in the wake of intensification of the fighting in the Senegalese region of Cassamance last  year .
NO.51/2007 4 MAY –6MAY ,2007
SOCIETY MEDIA AND IMPUNITY
The lessons Behind Press Freedom
Governments are supposed to exercise authority without fear affection or ill will in accordance with prescribed laws or constitutional provisions .impunity constitutes the exercise of power  outside the guards and fences of the law in gross disregard  of truth and justice .Press Freedom Day is designed to remind government and  people the need to respect freedom of expression which is the foundation of every society based on represent ion .In short ,representation goes hand in hand with accountability .Accountably in impossible without  security .

4-05-2007 
Foroyaa 
FORMER SIBANOR STATION OFFICER RELEASED
Foroyaa has been reliably informed that the former station officer of Sibanor in the Foni Bintang district ASP Abdulie Colley has been released by the authorities .According to Assistant Superintendent Colley was on Monday 1 May ,2007 released  from detention at the state Central Prison where he was  reportedly held incommunicado .ASP Colley ,according to family sources was initially detained after on 14 August 2006 at Janjabureh Prison and later transfereed to the state Central Prison .  

FOROYAA 8 MAY   
BATTLE FOR THE RELEASE OF TWO
KANYIBA KANYI AD RAMBO JATTA
In a bid to secure the release of Kanyiba Kanyi and Rambo Jatta ,a writ of Habeas Corpus was on Monday ,May 7, filed at the High Court calling on the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Inspector General of Police to produce the two detainees before a court .
The requirement of such a writ is to secure the production of the detainees before a court and for the detaining authority to justify their continued detention If they can justify their detention it will continue ,otherwise the court will order that the detainees be released .

VOL.16 NO.93 WEDNESDAY MAY 09, 2007
POINT
EX-VP CHIEF PROTOCOL RELEASED
Mr Baboucarr Jobarteh, former protocol officer in the office of the vice President, was released from detention last Monday .
He had been in detention since October 27 2006. Our sources added that a court ordered Mr  Jorbateh to pay the sum of ten thousand dalasis . He is currently admitted at the RVTH , our sources disclosed .Meanwhile ,Mr Omar Ndow ,the former Managing Director of Gambia Telecommunications Company (GAMTEL) who was arrested sometime ago ,has been released ; like wise Superintendent Abdoulie Colley ,the former Officer commanding of Sibanor Police Station.

FOROYAA No 54 /2007 11 may –13 may 2007
BOY ,20 DIES
PANDEMONIUM ENSUES
Reliable sources told Foroyaa that Shriff Minteh aged 20 met his untimely death after a brawl involving him and the security agents .The said incident occurred at Serrekunda ,London Corner ,on Wednesday 9 may at about 22:00 hrs .According to the brother of the deceased ,(name withheld ) he came out to buy cigarettes and found some boys being searched by PIU and plain clothed officers .He said that he later heard people shouting “ they have stabbed Sheriff” .He said that he rushed to the scene and found Sheriff lying on the ground and a mob beating the suspect (a security agent). He added that he then rushed to the Serekunda Police station to report the matter .He said that upon his arrival at the scene with the police in two pick up vehicles they found the mob surrounding a compound where the suspect was said to have entered into and sought sanctuary .He said that suspect was taken to an undisclosed location.
The neighbors said the registration numbers of the vehicles are BJL 2394E and GPF 10. Neighbors added that on Tuesday night witnessed the same incident when the PIU and plain cloths officers came to their areas, and searched the boys who sat at the junction and that some of them were seriously  beaten and arrested .A sister to the deceased stressed that she     came to the scene and found his brother lying on the ground saying, “he is the man who stabbed me ,don’t let him escape.”
She also added that the day before ,PIU and plain cloths officers were at the place beating and arresting boys and later whisked them into a waiting “gelle-gelle.”. a closed friend of the deceased told Foroyaa that he was with Shrieff when they saw the police pick up vehicle approaching them .He said that Shrieff ran towards his house and was pursued by the plain clothes officers. He said that he also ran after them and found Shrieff  on the ground and the  officer sitting on him .He added that Shrieff was telling him that, “he  stabbed me twice ,please don’t let him go”. He lamented that at the moment ,the suspect was asking “where is my mobile ?
According to the family members ,Shriff was stabbed on the buttocks and on the groin .they  said that  he was rushed to Serrekunda Health Center where upon arrival before being taken to RVTH. The death certificate indicates that Shrieff died of cardiac respiratory arrest due to severe hemorrhage in the pelvis, rectum of pelvic viscera due to deep stab wound .The community of London Corner and Bundung expressed concern about the heavy security presence in their community all these days .Residents of the area are emotional following the death of the young boy ,who was  described by many as a talented footballer.
FOROYAA May 10 2007
DETAINED FOR OVER 1 YEAR
A good number of persons who have served in the armed forces or the security services have been held for more than a year without being tried by a competent court of law .They include:
• Sergeant Buba Jammeh of the Gambia National army
• Sergeant buba Mendy of the Gambia National; Army
• Retired Colonel Vincent Jatta ,Former Chief of Defence Staff
• Musa Dibba ,Former Officer at the NIA
• Buba Saho ,Former officer at the NIA
• Phoday Borry, former Acting Deputy Director General of NIA
• Ngorr Secka ,former Acting Deputy Director General NIA
• Abdoulie Kujabie former Director General of the NIA
Foroyaa will enquire from the Department of State for the Interior and from the Attorney General’s Chambers why they are still being held without trial after one year and what offence they allegedly committed .

FOROYAA 11-13 may 2007
A CATALOGUE OF ATTACKS ON THE MEDIOA IN THE GAMBIA
A. Murder
Dyda Hydara
Former Managing Editor and proprietor  of the Point News paper and Treasurer of WAJA .The point was then a privately owned newspaper published  three times weekly .
It is now publish daily .He was shot dead at the close range in the vicinity of the Police Garage and the Police intervention Unite (paramility force) at Kanifing ,12 Kilometers from the capital ,Banjul while he was driving two member of his staff home .The National Intelligence Agency (the intelligence service ) took over the investigation  from the police and soon after issued an interim report ,then coming up with a credible lead as to who Killed Deyda the report tended  to cast suspicions on Deyda as being responsible for his death .After  his interim report no progress has ever been reported  on the investigation of the crime by the  security forces .The call by the Gambia Press Union for the President to set up a commission of injuiry or to invite Foreign independent investigators since they have not made any progress on the investigation has gone unheeded.

B. Arson Attacks
18 August  2001, Radio 1 Fm
Was subjected to arson attack in the course of which the proprietor, Mr George Christenson, sustained injuries and was admitted at a clinic .The attack took place between 2 am and 3 am. According to the proprietor, a group of people upon arrival cleared all the people in the vicinity of the arson. They then proceeded to spray both the proprietor and watchman with a chemical ,The proprietor sustained injuries and burns on several parts of his body .after spraying them with a chemical ,they proceeded to empty a twenty liter container of gas oil on the main doors and set them ablaze.

2.On 10 August 2001,there was a second attack on the house of Alieu Bah, a journalist at radio 1FM,a privately owned radio station, which organized programmes that facilitated debates between politicians and other prominent personalities of divergent views and dissenting opinions. At about 3 am the front door of his house was bolted from the outside. They poured gas oil on it and set it ablaze while he was sleeping with his family.
3.The Independent’s offices were set on fire on the evening of 17 October 2003 at about 3am.Acting editor, Sidi Bojang, told reporters that three men came, sprayed the caretaker with a chemical and hit him with iron bar, that while he was being taken to hospital, four men climbed over the newspaper’s institution wall and set it on fire through the windows. They fled on the arrival of several employees of Uncle Sam security agency contracted to protect some premises in the vicinity.
4. 13 April 2000,now the printing facilities of The Independent at Kanifing south were attacked. The staff present at the time said that six men putting on camouflage uniform and mask assaulted the staff around 2am.According to the employees, they got into the printing room, poured petrol on the machine and set it ablaze. The machine was completely burnt and became dysfunctional.
5.Sunday, 15August 2004, there was yet another mysterious attack on the home of Gambian born BBC reporter, Mr.Ebrima Sillah at about 3am.According to sillah, the assailant removed the wire gauge on one of the windows of the sitting room, removed the louver glasses, pour fuel into the sitting room and set it ablaze at a time when he was asleep in his bedroom. The heat and smoke woke him up and he escaped through the window of his bedroom. Prior to this attack sillah had received an email purported to be from the “green boys’ threatening him.
Arrests And Detention
1.Mr. Abdoulie Sey, editor-in-chief of The Independent, a privately owned bi-weekly. According to the staff of the independent, he was arrested by three men from the NIA (the intelligence unit) at about 6pm on 19 September 2003 who took him away with a black ford pajero with no registration number displayed on the number plate. He was released four days later.
2.Mr Musa Saidykhan, editor-in-chief of The Independent was arrested and detained for a brief period soon after his return from the Editors” Forum in South Africa. Interrogation centered around suspicion that he gave adverse information to very senior south African officials about the state of the press and human rights in the Gambia.
3.MONDAY 27 MARCH 2006, the Editor –in Chief of Independent ,Musa saidiykhan was arrested by the NIA    from his home a few day after two articles critical of the President were published a few days after alleged attempted coup of 21 March 2007 .
4. TUESDAY MARCH 2006, the General manger  of the independent ,Madi M.K. Ceesay was arrested by the NIA when reported for work on that day .Both  Madi M.K. Ceesay and musa saidykhan were released on after three weeks without being charged .

5.10 APRIL 2006, MrLamin M. Fatty ,a reporter of The independent was arrested from his home by the NIA and taken to the NIA Headquarters in Banjul where he was held up to the 63rd day of his detention .upon released he faced a trial on false publication .the trial before a magistrate has been on since 12 June 2006. The penalties for the offence is  between a fine of D50,000 ($1800) and d250,000($9000) or imprisonment for a minimum period of one year.

6.25 APRIL 2006, Mr. Juldeh Sowe ,a receptionist at the independent was arrested when he reported for work on that day .he was released on that day .
7.JULY 2006, according to employees at daily observer, chief ebrima Manneh .a news editor of the paper was arrested on that day when he reported for work by plain cloths security officers believed to be NIA officials .Foroyaa newspaper reported that he was seen at fatoto  Police Station in the  far eastern end .But the police and  the NIA have denied that he is in their custody .At the moment ,his whereabouts is not known.
8. ON 24 MAY 2006 , the following journalists were arrested after the freedom Newspaper saga.
(a) Mr. Musa Sheiff a report at News and Report, a privately owned weekly magazine.
(b)  Mr. Pa Modou Faal of Gambia Radio and Television Services, the state owned broadcasting house.
(c) Mr. Lamin Cham, a Gambian born BBC report.
(d) Mr. Sam Obi, who reports for Radio France intentional.
(e) Mr. Malick Mboob, the then communications officer at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH)
After the hacking of the address book of Freedom Newspaper, a list of alleged subscribers and informants were published in Daily Observer.
This was followed by a wave of arrest which included these five journalists. But no official reason was given for their arrest. Malick Mboob was released on  9 October 2006. The others were released on different dates.
9. September 2006, Dodou Sanneh, a GRTS reporter who was covering the campaign of the UDP let opposition coalition was recalled from his assignment and arrested when he reported for work. He was released on Monday 27 September 2006 and sacked on the same day without reasons being given. He was reinstated but later sacked again.
10. 28 March 2007 Fatou, Jaw Manneh, a former reporter of Daily Observer who now now resides in the USA was arrested by the NIA upon arrival at Banjul International Airport. She had come from the USA to visit her family. She is changed with sedition. The following is said to be the seditious matter:
“Betrayal, Jammeh is tearing our beloved country into shreds, he debunked our hopes and became a thorn into every issue that is related to progress in the Gambia, be it social, political and economic. Worst of all, he is a bundle of terror. There is need to spek out. If you look around The Gambia, particularly at the condition people live in, you will see what I mean that Gambians are desperately in need of an alternative to this egoistic frosted Imam of APRC. Jammeh is full of  energy but very negative energy and he totally lacks direction. What he needs is to come clear to the Gambian people and say that he has failed us all miserably, that he will be doing everything to revitalize his promises to the Gambian people, excuse his ten years in office, rather than farcing us to recognize the developments that do not exist.
D Assaults
1. 16 December 2005,   
Ramatoulie Charreh who was then with the Daily Observer was ruffled by police when participants at the international conference attempted to visit the site where late Deyda Hydara was gunned down.
2. In 2006, Njameh Bah a reporter of The Point was attacked and severely beaten by her attackers.
3. On 12 December 2006, Baron Eloagu of the Daily Express a privately newspaper was attacked and beaten. This followed the severe beating up od Abdougafar Olademinji, also of the Daily Express.