Gambia Coup Plotter Pleads Guilty

Exposing the Betrayals, Papa Faal speaks in court.

“The intent was not to kill anybody” unless fired upon, Faal said in court. “It turned really violent. … We were surprised by the fact that we had more resistance than anticipated.” Papa Faal

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges stemming from last month’s failed attempt to overthrow the government in the West African nation of Gambia.

Papa Faal, 46, admitted in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis that he participated in the Dec. 30 attack on Gambia’s State House, where he said he believes most of his co-conspirators died.

“The intent was not to kill anybody” unless fired upon, Faal said in court. “It turned really violent. … We were surprised by the fact that we had more resistance than anticipated.”

Prosecutors say Faal, of Brooklyn Park, and another man, Cherno Njie, traveled separately from the United States to Gambia to participate in the unrest. They were charged upon their return to the U.S.

Faal pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to export firearms to Gambia without a license and one count of conspiracy to participate in an attempted overthrow of a country with whom the U.S. is “at peace.” Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Faal told the court that in August he joined a group of men who wanted to change the regime in Gambia. Court papers indicated he was motivated out of concern that elections were being rigged and for the “plight of the Gambian people.”

Faal, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Gambia and former member of the U.S. military, said he participated in calls with others who were trying to overthrow Gambian President Yahya Jammeh and he received emails that contained links to operational plans for the ambush.

Faal said one person gave him money to buy weapons, and Faal bought eight semiautomatic rifles in Minnesota and hid them in barrels that were shipped to Gambia.

Faal said he met up with other members of the group in Gambia. They initially planned to ambush the president, but changed plans once they learned he was out of town, he said.

A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date.

Njie, 57, of Austin, Texas, made his initial court appearance in Baltimore earlier this month and is being transported to Minnesota to face charges. Faal identified Njie as a financier of the group.

Human rights activists have long criticized the government in Gambia for targeting political opponents, journalists, and gays and lesbians. The U.S. government recently removed Gambia from a trade agreement in response to human rights abuses.

The U.S. denounced the coup attempt.

Source: AP news Agency

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/73d46c17bf9540c2a16926f618d60817/minnesota-man-pleads-guilty-gambia-coup-attempt

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Gambians Protest In Westminster Parliament Square

Siray Touray and others at Protest ground Westminster Parliament

By Siray Touray (At Protest Ground In London

The day of Action Against the Unlawful Detention of relatives of alleged December 30th coup plotters

Following on the footsteps of Gambian activists in England, I attended the protest today, the 26 of January 2015 to voice out the displeasure at the arrest and unlawful detention of many Gambians in the aftermath of the 30th December foiled coup plot.

The Gambian government hasn’t still made any public declaration about the faith of the 30 plus civilians detained beyond the 72 hours constitutional limit. I have written in the past, calling on the Gambian dictator to resign and give peaceful change of power and transition possible for the 1.8 million law abiding and peace loving citizens.

The Jammeh administration is hell-bent on furthering the repressive style of government. Mr. Jammeh is not willing to learn bitter lessons on the loss of lives of four Gambians last year.

The political situation in theLondonrstaff constrained and the people are trapped in a situation where no other voice matters. Gambians resorted to affirmative action on December 30th, and it proved fatal for the brothers many people desperately yearning for change calling them ‘Heroes and Freedom Fighters who sacrificed their lives for our freedom’. As a people, we all know 20 years of one man rule has taken its toll on our conviction on seeing a regular change of government. As conscientious citizens of the Gambia, we have been forced to resort to voicing out our opinion in safe countries, so that the international community, and in particular the British law makers, can hear us loud and clear.

Our choice to protest at the West Minster parliament is to reiterate to the British authorities and MPs that the Gambia is still bleeding. The rule of law does not exist like it does in civilised countries. President Jammeh can decide to hold Gambians for months without fear of public outrage, yet the European Union and the United States maintain regular and normal diplomatic ties with the Gambia. This is our frustration and determination to protest at the parliament square in London.

We know that the Gambian embassy in London sends spies to look out for activists, however, people cannot be afraid in the Gambia, and be scared to voice out their opinion here in U.K. We call on the British MPs to look into the plight of Gambians and support activists and opposition parties in bringing the needed change Gambians are struggling to achieve all these years. Evidently, we cannot keep on protesting continuously if all goes well at home.

I am delighted to participate in the demonstration and voice out my opinion against the unlawful detention of the Gambian civilians and military officers, and also the continuous repressive human rights abuses in the Gambia.

I call on the Jammeh government to change its ways and dissolve the government, initiate an all-inclusive transitional government, which will surely heal the Gambia of the 20 years of pain and dictatorship. Our people have suffered far too long, unimaginable in a country known for being the bastion of everything good during the Jawara days.

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13 year old son, relatives detained for 21 days

By Mustapha Jallow

Yusupha Lowe, who is 13 years old, Pa Alieu Lowe, 19 years old, and Jarriatou Lowe, who are the son, brother and ex-wife of Baboucar ‘Bai’ Lowe, Warrant Officer Cass 2 of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), are all being detained for 21 days now (today) without release or bail, according to a family source.

Bai Lowe is alleged to be part of the insurgents who attacked the state house on 30 December, last year, who is said to be on the run.

The source said the family is worried about the arrest and continued detention of their loved ones and especially the schooling of both Yusupha and Pa Alieu. He said they have made attempts to visit the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) office in Banjul to take clothes to them but were told that they are being held there.

The source indicated the trauma that the detention is causing the family as access to them is denied and their whereabouts unknown.

He said the family is calling on the authorities to release their loved ones including the boys who are now missing their classes.

The trio was arrested in Lamin around 3pm on 1 January 2015 by men in plain clothes who claimed to have got their orders from the Office of the President and whisked away in a waiting vehicle with tinted glasses to an unknown destination.

Their detention, however, has exceeded the 72 hours required by the 1997 Constitution of the Second Republic of the Gambia for the detention of a person without a court order

ourtsy www.foroyaa.gm

Gambia Fabricates Coup Report

Suspects/Image Provided Courtesy of Standard 

The Gambia government earlier this month issued a statement detailing the public about what it called “attack by dissident Gambian terrorists”. The report was received with sigh of relief, especially from a government that has effectively been sitting on vital information throughout.

Some people however remain skeptical about the content of the entire report. Their argument was based on several factors such as why does such a report issued after the appointment of Neneh Mcduall-Gaye and Sheriff Bojang. President Yahya Jammeh made his intention clear for hiring these two prominent journalists when he asked them to portray a better image of the Gambia, a country mired in negative international media limelight mainly because of its poor human rights credentials and disrespect for democracy.

The propaganda report as some people called it left plenty of room for doubt and speculation to flourish or thrive. For instance, it is hard to see any logic in the government’s statement that the alleged coup suspects planned to bomb Gamtel or Central Bank of the Gambia.

We at Kairo News have since been trying to connect the dots in our effort to bring truth to light. And gauging by the information we are receiving, it is crystally clear that the Jammeh government is on a publicity stunt. “The government’s coup report was a trash of junk, we in State House laughed off when it was issued,” one State House confided in us.

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Undocumented Prisoners And Secret Detention Centers

After weeks of large-scale investigation, Kairo News is today making public the locations of the Gambia’s unofficial secret detention centers. The number is pegged at three.

Our trusted sources said these unofficial prisons have been holding people termed as “security threat to the Gambia.”

Disturbingly, some of these secret detainees are either reeling with physical disability resulting from brutal tortures or major health problems. “None of these detainees is allowed access to medical treatment,” our erudite source confirmed.

Kairo News is digging deeper into the story to uncover the names of detainees in these secluded or secret detention centers.

Top among the undocumented detention centers is the one situated between “Kanilai (birthplace of President Yahya Jammeh) and Kanfenda in Foni.” This centre holds people dictator Jammeh wants people to speculate as dead or killed.

Our sources also spotted out an unofficial prison situated at the compound of the old Kartong Police Station. People housed here are considered posing less security threat to the country.

The final location of the unofficial prison is located in the Sankuley Kunda junction area. The area, heavily guarded by paramilitary officers, was a defunct agriculture centre. This secret center houses people abducted or arrested without a warrant. Also living here under horrible conditions are those in possession of sensitive information.

Kaior News wants securtity officers to remember that they took oath serve their country people with sincerity. As such it is their responsibility to provide the names of detainees in these secret centers across the country. Exposing their names will dry tears on the eyes of many families as well as raise their hopes. These families have been left in a quagmire because they don’t know whether their missing loved ones are dead or alive.

So many abducted Gambians, including Mahawa Cham, Saul Ndow, Alagie Mamut Ceesay and Ebou Jobe, remain missing. Kairo News will do its utmost best to establish the identities of the secret detainees and their state of mind and health.

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Gambia: Charge or release family members of alleged failed coup plotters

                                   

                                                 


Gambian authorities should either charge or release family members of people suspected to be involved in December’s alleged failed coup, and grant them immediate access to lawyers, Amnesty International said today.
 
According to Amnesty International’s information, Gambian law enforcement agencies including the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Presidential guard have arrested at least 30 people, including a 16-year-old boy, since the beginning of January. They are being detained without charge. Security forces have threatened to arrest anyone demanding the release or whereabouts of those arbitrarily detained.
 
“The arrest and prolonged detention of family members of the alleged coup plotters, who have had no opportunity to challenge their detention, violates the basic legal protections provided for by the country’s constitution, as well as regional and international human rights law,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for West and Central Africa. 
 
“If the Gambian authorities want justice, they should either charge those arrested with recognizable criminal offences, if there are legitimate reasons for doing so, or release them. Keeping so many people detained arbitrarily would be more about instilling fear in the country than pursuing justice.”
 
Gunmen attacked the presidential palace in the Gambian capital Banjul on 30 December. At least four assailants were reportedly killed and one captured by the security forces. The Gambian authorities have not returned the bodies of those killed to their families and there is currently no information on the whereabouts of the person who was captured.
 
Since the attempted coup, there has been a wave of arrests, detentions and harassment across the country targeting family members of those suspected of involvement in the failed coup.  
 
Family members of Bai Lowe, a man suspected of having taken part in the attack against the State House, have been in detention without any charge since 1 January. Five NIA officers raided their compound in a village south of Banjul with a list of people to arrest. They arrested Lowe’s 16-year-old son, his ex-wife and his brother. There is still no information about their whereabouts.  According to the Gambian constitution, anyone arrested should be brought before a court within 72 hours. 
 
The NIA also arrested Omar Malleh Jagne, the brother of another suspected coup plotter, Njaga Jagne, who was killed by the security forces on 30 December. Omar Malleh Jagne, a father of nine children, was taken to an unknown location and has not been heard of since. 
 
Several other family members of suspected coup plotters have fled the country in fear of reprisals. According to Amnesty International’s information, soldiers suspected of being involved in the attempted coup are expected to be arrested and tried before a military court soon. They face the death penalty if convicted.   
 
Amnesty International is calling on Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to stop using the alleged coup as excuse for a clampdown on peaceful dissenters.
 
On 14 January, President Jammeh announced that the authorities were willing to work closely with the UN to investigate the events of 30 December.  
 
“This investigation must include the arrests and detentions that took place following the attempted coup. The Gambian authorities should provide unfettered access to detention centres, including those run by the military,” said Steve Cockburn. 
 
The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Gambia is a state party provides in Article 6 that “every individual shall have the right to liberty and to the security of his person. No one may be deprived of his freedom except for reasons and conditions previously laid down by law. In particular, no one may be arbitrarily arrested or detained.”
 
    
 
For more information or to arrange an interview please call Amnesty  International's press office in Dakar, Senegal on:+221 77 658 62 27; or in   London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 
Email : sadibou.marong@amnesty.org, press@amnesty.org 
 

Lamin Mboge,s appointment was revoked on the same day he assumed office

By Mamadou Dem

Senior Private legal practitioner Lamin K. Mboge yesterday confirmed to Foroyaa that it is true that he was appointed as Solicitor General of the Ministry of Justice; adding that his appointment was revoked on the same day he assumed office without any reason advanced for his removal.

Barrister Mboge was called to the Gambian Bar in 1993 and served as a Magistrate from 1994-1998. Since then, he has been a private legal practitioner. He dealt with high profile cases including that of treason.

Prior to his appointment and subsequent removal, Mboge was defending Lamin Waa Juwara, former Minister of Lands, Regional Administration and Traditional Rulers; the erstwhile Secretary General and Head of the Civil Services and Presidential Affairs Minister, Njogu Bah; and the Caliph General Muhideen Hydara, amongst others.

On the other hand, when the current Solicitor General, Cherno Marena was contacted to shed light on the issue he said he wasn’t aware of Mboge’s appointment, adding that as far he knows, he still remains the Solicitor General at the Ministry of Justice.

Courtsy of www.foroyaa.gm