**A new case and update to IFEX alert of 21 June 2000** (IFJ/IFEX) – In a 21 June 2000 letter to Colonel Yahya Jammeh, the IFJ expressed deep concern about the detention of Madi Ceesay, editor with “The Gambia News and Report” magazine, and the recent harassment of two journalists from the “Daily Observer”. The […]
**A new case and update to IFEX alert of 21 June 2000**
(IFJ/IFEX) – In a 21 June 2000 letter to Colonel Yahya Jammeh, the IFJ expressed deep concern about the detention of Madi Ceesay, editor with “The Gambia News and Report” magazine, and the recent harassment of two journalists from the “Daily Observer”.
The organisation was informed by its affiliate in Gambia that on 20 June, Ceesay was charged with the murder of one Alieu Njai, a driver of the ruling APRC party, together with twenty-five others belonging to the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP). Since Sunday 18 June, Madi and about 100 UDP members, including the party leader Ousainou Darbo, have been detained at a police station in the town of Basse, about 400 kilometres from Banjul. They were taken there after the UDP campaign party with which Madi was travelling ran into an ambush by supporters of the ruling party in which Njai died. They have since been detained at the police station and they are not allowed to see or speak to anyone, even relatives.
Moreover, two other journalists from the “Daily Observer”, who also accompanied the UDP tour party, were subjected to harassment by ruling party supporters. One of them, Lamin Darbo, who lives in Basse, had to run from his house and seek refuge in the police station when he said some members of the ruling party attempted to abduct him. The other journalist, Augustus Mendy, was asked to leave Basse for his own safety by the town’s police.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the colonel:
- calling on him to assure the humane treatment of Ceesay and to allow him access to his family and lawyer
- urging him to conduct an immediate investigation into this case and to release Ceesay unconditionally if it is established that he has not committed a recognisable criminal offence
Appeals To
Colonel (Retd.) Yahya Jammeh
President of the Republic
State House
Banjul, The Gambia
Fax: +220 22 70 34
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
