The Gambia
Opposition more courageous in demanding human rights

afrol.com, 16 August - On a UDP party rally in Serrekunda last week, United Democratic Party leader Ousainou Darboe went far in criticizing president Jammeh's political leadership. The Gambian newspaper The Independent quoted Darboe saying that Jammeh's 'so called revolution has woefully failed, plunging The Gambia into most difficult and unbearable circumstances with no regard for the rule of law and fundamental human rights.' This confirms a trend in The Gambian agenda.

Ousainou Darboe was roared on by thousands of party supporters crying "Sopi! Sopi!" meaning Change!

Darboe further claimed that Jammeh had failed to address the country's current socio-economic and political 'dilemma' but instead is engaged in a programme of 'repression and intimidation of the innocent,' according to The Independent. He went on arguing that what is being experienced today is 'total retrogression instead of revolution,' adding that the constitution is being constantly violated with impunity by the regime.

The profound critics of the UDP party leader are not without foundation and in many ways reflects the image The Gambia has obtained in the international community over the last years. Darboe marches in step with the majority of human rights organisations when criticizing Jammeh's "violations of the constitution". 

Especially the case of Citizen FM has been noted abroad. In its report "The Gambia: Freedom of expression still under threat - The Case of Citizen FM," the recognized human rights organisation article19 writes:

Both the general legal atmosphere and the individual circumstances surrounding the Citizen FM case and the Observer newspapers leave little room for optimism. This report was written ahead of the 14 June 1999 hearing scheduled for the appeal which Baboucar Gaye has lodged against his conviction for operating a radio station without a licence. The fact that the government representative did not appear at the first appeal hearing before the High Court allows for the possibility that the government has no desire to see this matter resolved quickly and that they have every intention of prolonging the silencing of Citizen FM. 

Neither the U.S. State Department's report about human rights in The Gambia (released in February) is a flattering lecture. "A poor record" is the general judgment given Jammeh's human rights record:

The Government's human rights record generally was poor, and serious problems remained. President Jammeh's dominance and restrictions on opposition parties continued, and in practice citizens still do not have an effective right to change their government. Security forces sometimes beat or otherwise mistreated detainees and prisoners. There was at least one credible report that police severely beat an opposition figure while in custody. Prison conditions remained very poor. Security forces at times arbitrarily arrested and detained citizens, particularly opposition politicians and journalists. Some of the detainees alleged harsh treatment at the hands of their captors. The courts reportedly are subject to executive branch pressure, particularly at lower levels, although magistrates occasionally demonstrate some independence by ruling against the Government.

Justice, when occurring, has come through the courage of individuals - be it of the courts, of the press or from the opposition. This was most strongly demonstrated in the case of Citizen FM, were a courageous judge quashed the conviction and sentence as well as the forfeiture of the radio station to the state.

Lamin Waa Juwara was quoted in The Independent (11 August) saying "Elections must take place in this country whether President Jammeh likes it or not and if the President is ignorant of the dynamics of a revolution, I am willing to teach him how to go about a revolution."

The opposition is also getting more and more courageous in its critics, calling for the human rights Gambians are entitled to by the Constitution. Jammeh will find himself in a more and more isolated position, both nationally and internationally.

Human rights are getting more and more the subject of discussion in The Gambia. On a seminar about human rights held in Banjul on 13 August, Gambia Bar Association vice president Bola Carrol introduced by saying that the domestic application of international human rights law in The Gambia is at its infancy. Human rights certainly is on the agenda in the Gambian press as well, especially in the Gambian daily The Independent.

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