(JollofNews) – The United States government has urged Gambia to immediately release opposition figures who were arrested earlier this year after a second detainee died in custody on Aug. 20, 2016.
The State Department said on its website it was “deeply concerned” by the death of Ibrima Solo Krummah, an official of the main opposition United Democratic Party, who had been held since May. Krummah died after an operation but it wasn’t clear why he was in the hospital, Agence France-Presse reported on Monday, citing a member of his party.
In April, Amnesty International announced the death in custody of Solo Sandeng, a well-known activist and organizing secretary of the UDP. Gambia carried out a wave of arrests after a rare public protest to call for electoral reform.
President Yahya Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, rules The Gambia with an iron fist.
His regime is regularly accused by rights groups of forcibly disappearing opponents.
He has blasted the UN and Amnesty International for demanding an investigation into Sandeng’s death, saying they could “go to hell”.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
WHY IS THE STATE STILL WAITNG TO RELEASE OUSAINOU DARBOE AND OTHER UDP MEMBERS WHEN IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT SOLO SANDENG IS DEAD?
The UDP leadership sought to find out whether Solo Sandeng is dead or alive. This is why they ultimately found themselves under arrest and now convicted. The state has evidence of his death which should have been immediately released to a Coroner. Hence there would not have been any need to find out whether he was dead. The state failed to do what should have prevented the action taken by the UDP leadership.
The only reasonable and justifiable act is to release all those who are convicted in connection to the 14 and 16 April incidents and discharge those on trial in connection with the April 14 and 16 incidents.
Link
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/11791