Gambia

….As Lawyer Darboe Speak Tough On Gambia’s Human Rights Crisis

By Our Banjul Bureau Chief Ansumana Jammeh

Banjul:8/27/08- Addressing thousands of jubilant party supporters, leader of the opposition coalition, Lawyer Ousainanou Darboe, says he is not too old to contest the country’s Presidential elections, which is scheduled for 2011. Mr. Darboe who  celebrated his 60^Th birthday, on August 8^Th, 2008, says his Presidential eligibility was in tact, as far as the country’s constitution was concerned. The leading human rights lawyer rubbishes claims that he is too old for the Presidency. Mr. Darboe who was applauded by the excited crowd said the age limit set for the Presidency was 65 years and he is less than 65 years. He says he “ is qualified to contest the pending Presidential elections."

A career lawyer, Ousainanou Darboe, was addressing a mass political rally, held in Budung at Serre-Kunda Central, this past weekend. He has signaled to his opponents- the Ruling APRC that he is determined to contest the coming elections, if selected by his party.

Mr. Darboe also branded the APRC party as a  one man show. He says the APRC is not a solution to Gambia’s political and economic woes, while he made reference to the numerous rights abuses perpetrated by the regime. He says there is a rule of law and human rights crisis in The Gambia.

Mr. Darboe calls on the Jammeh regime to make an end to the random arrest and detention of Gambians. He says such arrest and detentions without trial, was a gross violation of  The Gambian constitution. He says some of the detainees have been held incommunicado for years without trial.

Darboe calls for the immediate release of journalist Ebrima Chief Manneh, Kanyiba Kanyi and other political detainees. He also said that judges are dismissed in the country without undergoing the right procedure, citing the recent cases of two High Court Judges(Mrs.Haddy Roche and Mr.B.Y.Camara).

   Reacting to the president Jammeh's promise to remove rice subsidy come September,Darboe said that is not a good idea and will not help the people. He posited that, as a leader, the president should plan to meet the challenges of the changing world.

The UDP Leader blamed the continued and uncontrollable price hike in the country on the government authorities, pointing out that importers are charged with high tax and duty price, transportation cost, handling cost, among others. He said the money that the president gave to students and others for partying is extravagant, opining that those huge sums of money could have been used wisely, such as on duty to reduce the price of rice for the interest of all Gambians. Finally he asserted that the president's call to go back to the land is primitive.