Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Jammeh produces the disappeared in court

Modou Medun Ngum with protest banner
Faced with ever increasing domestic as well as international pressure, the Gambian dictator has started to produce some disappeared and unaccounted for persons arrested during two weeks of protests against a corrupt and incompetent regime.

Produced today in court were the following persons who were previously listed as unaccounted for.  They are Nogoi Njie, Fatou Camara, and Fatoumatta Jawara. 

Modou Ngum who photo is shown here was not among those produced in court contrary to initial reports.  We hope he will be produced soon, together with numerous others still unaccounted for.

Some of those still unaccounted for include the following : Solo Sandeng, Modou Ngum, Kafo Bayo, Ebrima Jabang and Lamin Jabang.  We will provide a full and complete list of all those still missing and unaccounted for.

The fact that these Gambians, all victims of torture while in custody, have been classified as prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International is testimony to the repressive nature of this corrupt and incompetent regime that is in the practice of using violent means to quell peaceful protests.

As they were being paraded before the judge today,  visible evidence of torture can be seen from afar. Some were limping as they struggled to walk and the display of pain was equally visible.

In the past, all of those produced today would have been killed by Yaya Jammeh's torture team.  But because of the pressure exerted by human rights activists at home and abroad, these lives were spared.  There are still many yet unaccounted for and for which we will continue to hold Jammeh personally responsible until every person has been accounted for.

Meanwhile, the monitoring and cataloging of atrocities by Yaya Jammeh against Gambians will continue and so will the advocacy for the release of all known victims of this corrupt and brutal regime will continue. In fact, the campaign will intensify going forward until Jammeh steps down.  We will not go to elections with this criminal.   #JammehMustGo