UTG Students Want Prof. Kah Out

Prof. Muhammadou Kah

Kairo News has just got news that the angry students of the University of The Gambia are bent on sending the Vice Chanchellor, Muhammadou Kah, home.

The students have been fuming over the increment of tuition fees, the sudden changes to the grading system and the appalling general condition at the West African country’s only university.

“The students are ready to send Vice Chanchellor Kah home,” a trusted source told said. “Students say there will be no turning back. They have threatened to halt all lectures if their demands have ot been met.”

Kairo News has also been informed that Faculty of Law students are more adamant in seeing their demands being met. “It is a serious issue. The faculty of law are fighting it hard to see all their demands being met,” our impeccable source said, adding that majority of the university staff have thrown their weight behind demanding students. “They applaud the students’ move and even call it a wonderful one.”

source www.kaironews.com

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Gambia fails to heed UN warnings on deteriorating human rights

                                                  Dictator Jammeh of The Gambia

Gambia has effectively thumbed its nose to the international community after it failed to accept a raft of recommendations to address its deteriorating human rights situation, Amnesty International said today.
 
The government of Gambia only accepted 93 of the 171 recommendations at the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva. 
 
“The significant number of rejections on key human rights issues demonstrates the government’s weak commitment to addressing its deplorable human rights situation - including unjustified restrictions on the right to freedom of expression, enforced disappearances and the use of torture to stifle dissent,” said Sabrina Mahtani, Amnesty International’s West Africa Researcher.
 
“Human rights defenders, journalists and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex people have all been targeted, and Gambia’s human rights situation will continue to deteriorate unless the international community takes action to engage Gambia to strongly adopt the recommendations it rejected.”
 
Gambia provided responses to 171 questions, comments and recommendations made by more than 60 countries during the UPR, urging the country to take greater steps to promote and protect human rights.
 
Despite adjourning the UPR adoption last week at the last minute, the government disappointingly did not send a delegation to Geneva, instead opting to submit its responses in writing.  
 
Gambia did not accept recommendations concerning the ratification of the UN Convention against Torture, recommended by 13 states, as well as the abolition of the death penalty. The government also rejected non-criminalisation of sexual orientation or gender identity and co-operation with Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council. Likewise, it rejected recommendations to amend legislation to remove restrictions on freedom of expression.   
 
The human rights situation in the country has severely worsened since Gambia’s UPR review in October 2014. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture released a report in March 2014 highlighting the high risk of torture, arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearances in the country. 
 
The Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Executions visited Gambia in November 2014. During their mission they were refused access to the Security Wing of Mile 2 Central Prison in the capital Banjul, where death row prisoners are held. These restrictions are unprecedented since the establishment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Torture 30 years ago. 
 
President Yahya Jammeh signed an amendment to the Criminal Code in October 2014 which introduces even harsher sentences for LGBTI people who face a life sentence for “aggravated homosexuality”. This was despite strong recommendations against this during the UPR review. At least 14 people were arrested in November and December 2014 because of their presumed sexual orientation.
 
Gambian law enforcement agencies have arrested at least 30 people since the beginning of January 2015; relatives of those suspected of being involved in the failed coup on 30 December 2014. Some people have been released but other family members have not been heard from in almost three months and it is unclear how many remain in incommunicado detention.
 
On 14 January 2015, President Jammeh announced his government’s willingness to work closely with the UN to investigate the events of 30 December. On 28 February 2015, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued a resolution to invite the Commission to conduct a fact-finding mission. However, no independent investigation has taken place. A court martial has been set up to try six soldiers supposedly involved in the coup. The trial is being held in camera without access to the media. They face the death penalty if convicted. 
 
“Gambia must ensure that due process is guaranteed for those on trial. It should co-operate with the international community and carry out prompt, impartial and independent investigations into the events that led to the coup and subsequent government response that led to arrests and detentions,” said Sabrina Mahtani. 
 
“UN Member states need to ensure more sustained involvement regarding Gambia’s deteriorating human rights situation and its disrespect for international human rights mechanisms. Gambia must implement those recommendations it has accepted without delay and accept those it rejected on fundamental human rights issues, such as the death penalty, torture, freedom of expression and rights of LGBTI people. The international community cannot continue to watch how Gambia’s human rights situation is deteriorating without taking action

Banka Freed On Self Bail

Banka Manneh freed on bail

By Yero Jallow

In a dramatic twist on Thursday March 19th, Minnesota Federal Magistrate, Becky R. Thorson of St. Paul, granted conditional bail to a Gambian activist who had earlier surrendered to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Mr. Banka Manneh has been on the FBI investigation list since some Gambian dissident abroad attempted to force out President Yahya Jammeh from power on December 30th. The event followed loss of lives and trial of alleged conspirators both in the U.S and The Gambia. In the US, the accused persons have been charged with violating the U.S Neutrality Act, a law that forbids using the U.S territory to forcefully dislodge a friendly foreign government.

Texas businessman Cherno Njie, Minnesota Air Force U.S veteran Papa Faal, and the Tennessee U.S Military veteran Alhagie Saidy Barrow have all neen charged with violating the Neutrality Act of 1896.

After months of investigation, the FBI finally raided Banka’s home late last week, and summoned him to appear in court, to answer to pending charges against him. In a layman’s language, Banka is charged with “aiding and abetting” the December 30th alleged coup. But Banka is an activist, a sincere Gambian comrade whose simplicity and companionship is celebrated in all corners. Banka is loaded with a spirit to help oppressed Gambians and lift the nation from dictatorship to democracy.
Magistrate Thorson found Banka legible for both self-bail and public defendant (lawyer), after reviewing his alleged involvement and financial earning. The Federal Prosecution pressed on having Banka restricted on access to the internet and computer. At that point, a defiant Banka Manneh told the court he needed the computer to do his job. After a careful consideration, the magistrate allowed Banka to use the computer for work related activities.

Banka’s next hearing is slated for Thursday March 26th 2015 when he is expected to enter his plea. Within the time, Banka has been advised to surrender his passport, to not do any international travels, and appear in court as and when needed.

What many activists are furious about is where the FBI are heading with their investigations. What do they really want? What are they looking for? What interest do they have in this case that it is giving them sleepless nights? People understand about the U.S neutrality law, but agreeably, any investigations, and bringing of alleged conspirators to court needs to be done respectively according to the stipulated law. In the case of Banka, the U.S government and the FBI hav been greatly criticized in many Gambian quarters in the manner and nature they raided his home. Banka is a family man and raiding his home with two dozen FBI agents at around 5am, may not necessarily be against the law, but poses serious questions over its motive. An organization like the FBI is expected to maintain its respect and relationship to have cooperation from communities. The U.S and FBI are well equipped with all resources, therefore a case like this, needs to be investigated from the root cause and the very element provoking citizens to try act in the way allegedly acted on December 30th 2014. The U.S and FBI do not want to go down in history as having to sympathize, aid, and abet a tyrannical regime as destructive as that of The Gambia’s current dictatorship, under the worst of world rulers, Yaya Jammeh. Yes, the FBI has a job to do and no one is saying they don’t, but Gambians too have a job to do, to liberate themselves and their citizens from the clutches of tyranny. The Obama administration must not be taught history, when our pioneer fathers liberated the United States from its colonial master, Great Britain, under treasonable conditions. A law must be reflective of time and current events. A law must represent the interest of those it is written for. A law is unfavorable if it victimizes citizens rather than uplifting them. It is really a shame for a nation as powerful as America to position itself in such a funny situation.

Regardless of the daunting frustration of having to deal with the nagging trials, it was clearly a victory today for believers of justice. It was important to see Banka go home to his family and to be able to continue work. The judge didn’t make any mistake as it is the right thing to do.
To those that believe in freedom, equality, and justice, everything that happens is an inspiration. The Minnesota Civil Society group extends its appreciation for the sincere solidarity from Gambians and their friends the world over.

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The Woman Who Confronts Child Abuse

The woman who exposed the mistreatment of a 10-year-old girl has become news herself. Aminata Manneh, a third year university gender activist student and intern at an intern at the American Corner in Banjul, disappeared after she posted the video of a traffic police man beating the helpless young girl went viral last night. The video invited so many comments on the social media – home and abroad. Among those expressing concern about the disturbing video was Jeffrey Smith of Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in New York who twitted thus: “Just saw a highly disturbing video of a Gambia police officer beating a young school girl in broad daylight. Sadly not an uncommon episode.’’

Aminata soon started to get anonymous calls and Facebook messages, with all of them demanding to meet her urgently.  Aminata’s family could neither locate her, nor  reach her on the phone, despite repeated calls.

The case of the gender activist is not a rare coincidence in a country where security officers have been known for kidnapping, arbitrary arrest and detention, especially the government’s perceived enemies. It is against this background that accusing fingers have been pointed at the National Intelligence Agents.

It all started while Aminata was on her way to work on Monday, when she saw the police officer repeatedly canning a young girl. Her conscience would not allow her to leave without taking video of the horrible incident. She then shared it with her close to 5,000 followers. Aminata shared the video with a comment asking since when does a traffic police officer have a right to lay a hand on a young schoolgirl? What has become of our authorities?”

Aminata is admired for her steadfastness in defending the rights of people. Her family is appealing to Gambian authorities to help them establish Aminata’s whereabouts.

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source.www.kaironews.com

Mina’s Video Exposes Police Brutality

Women’s right activist Aminata [Mina] Manneh

A University student was arrested after she was accused of spreading police brutality video. Aminata Manneh is still in detention. A colleague human rights activist with Tango, Madi Jobarteh, stood up with the woman affectionately called Mina.

I Stand Up With Mina

“What crime has she committed other than to have helped the police to better themselves by addressing the excesses of this officer beating a child on the street?

Have the police not created a Complaints Unit? And a Human Rights Unit? And a Child Welfare Unit? And a Community Policing unit? Is Minah’s video not enough and an urgent matter for these units to get very busy to ensure that professionalism and civility characterize all the men and women of theforce?

Let them please release Minah and address the issue in the video, and avoid more international attention being focused on our Beloved Little Gambia for nothing.

Minah deserves an award for standing up for a Good Gambia. Who should be against that? The police should join her and commend her.

Minah is an angel. Decent. Peaceful. Beautiful. Patriotic. Pious. Easygoing.”

Madi Jobarteh

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Banka Manneh Former CORDEG member Surrenders to FBI

Banka Manneh

Banka Manneh a Gambian civil society and political activist surrendered himself to the FBI earlier today in connection to the ongoing 30 December foiled coup investigations. Banka Manneh is an Executive member of CSAG and STGDP and also a former executive member of CORDEG. Mr Manneh is a media personality and a vocal member of the Gambian dissident movement in Diaspora, attending several conferences in furtherance of the struggle to restore democracy and rule of in the Gambia.

According to reliable sources, Banka Manneh was briefly detained by agents of the FBI after an early morning raid on his house in Atlanta on the 12 of March 2015.

The FBI agents equipped with a search warrants took several items from Mr Manneh’s house including, computers, documents and cell phones. It was after the raid that Mr Manneh took the decision in consultation with his lawyer to hand himself in to the Minnesota intelligent agents. Banka Manneh is expected to appear in court on Thursday morning the 19th of March 2015.

The arrest of Mr Manneh brings the number of Gambian American citizens and residence to four that are alleged to be involved in the failed 30 December 2014 attacked on the Presidential palace of the Gambian President.

It could be recall that after the 30 December 2014 assault in the Gambia, The U.S authorities are prosecuting suspected individuals of violating ‘the Neutrality Act’ between the the United States and a friendly nation. Kairo News will follow developments of Mr Manneh’s plight

DR Congo: Mass Arrests of Activists

Crackdown on Free Expression Raises Election Concerns

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  Pro-democracy youth activists from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Burkina Faso hold a press conference in Kinshasa just before the mass arrests of many of the activists and others on March 15, 2015.
  © Private

The Congolese government’s detention of pro-democracy activists is the latest alarming sign of a crackdown on peaceful protest ahead of next year’s presidential elections. Congolese authorities should immediately release those detained if they haven’t been charged with a credible offense and ensure access to their lawyers and families.

Ida Sawyer, senior Africa researcher

(Kinshasa) – The arrest of at least 26 activists and others in Kinshasa on March 15, 2015, raises serious concerns of a broader crackdown on free expression before the 2016 Democratic Republic of Congopresidential elections, Human Rights Watch said today.

The arrests, including of foreign journalists and a United States diplomat, followed a news conference by the pro-democracy youth movement Filimbi, organized with support from the US embassy in Kinshasa.

On March 17, 2015, the authorities arrested and roughed up at least 10 Congolese activists in the eastern city of Goma during a peaceful protest outside the office of Congo’s National Intelligence Agency (Agence Nationale de Renseignements, ANR), calling for the release of those arrested in Kinshasa. ANR agents beat a Belgian woman bystander who was later hospitalized, and briefly detained a Belgian journalist.

“The Congolese government’s detention of pro-democracy activists is the latest alarming sign of a crackdown on peaceful protest ahead of next year’s presidential elections,” said Ida Sawyer, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Congolese authorities should immediately release those detained if they haven’t been charged with a credible offense and ensure access to their lawyers and families.”

Human Rights Watch called on United Nations Security Council members, who are due to discuss the situation in Congo on March 19, to publicly press Congolese authorities to immediately release all those detained for their peaceful activities and speech.

Among those arrested on March 15 were Congolese activists, musicians, journalists, technicians, and bystanders; youth leaders and activists from Senegal and Burkina Faso; a US diplomat; two French journalists; and the French director of a production company. The US and French citizens and two Congolese were released after several hours. The others remain detained, possibly by the intelligence agency. They have not been brought before a judge, officially charged with offenses, or had access to their lawyers or families, raising concerns for their safety.

Following the news conference at the Eloko Makasi music studio, men in military police uniform arrived at about 4 p.m. and began arresting people. Witnesses said that the officers at first targeted foreigners. They then began arresting Congolese as well, including those who were preparing the concert stage, and bystanders. The security forces were very rough with several Congolese and West Africans, witnesses said, banging the head of a Senegalese activist against the door of a pickup truck and beating others.

The security forces also took computers and other documents and materials from the hall and destroyed banners.

The military police drove those arrested away in at least three unmarked, white pickup trucks. The US and French citizens were taken to the headquarters of the ANR in Kinshasa, where they were interrogated by senior intelligence officials, then released after several hours. It is not known where the Congolese, Senegalese, and Burkinabe citizens are being detained.

Communications Minister Lambert Mende told journalists that the activists from Senegal and Burkina Faso were “promoting violence through a form of training … coaching of certain youth groups close to a certain opposition to use violent means against other groups or against the institutions of the republic.”

Several Congolese pro-democracy organizations had organized a workshop to introduce Filimbi (“whistle” in Swahili), a new Congolese youth movement. The workshop’s objectives were to promote civic engagement and youth mobilization, and to discuss how Congolese youth can organize in a peaceful and responsible manner to fulfill their duties as citizens.

Youth leaders and activists from Senegal and Burkina Faso came to Kinshasa for the workshop to share their experiences. The Senegalese were members of Y’en a Marre, a group involved in protests against former President Abdoulaye Wade’s controversial bid for a third term in 2012. Those from Burkina Faso were part of Balai Citoyen, a group that participated in protests against former President Blaise Compaoré’s attempt to change the constitution to extend his 27-year term.

“Y’en a Marre and Balai Citoyen are well respected organizations that have worked to promote responsible, civic engagement by youth in West Africa,” Sawyer said. “They came to Kinshasa to share their experiences with Congolese youth, including the importance of peaceful means for youth to engage in the political process.”

Filimbi worked in partnership with Eloko Makasi, a socially conscious music and video production company based in Kinshasa’s Masina neighborhood. Musicians who participated in the workshop went to the Eloko Makasi studio on March 14, 2015, to create a song based on what was discussed at the workshop to encourage Congolese youth to be involved in the democratic process and to promote a free, transparent, and peaceful electoral process.

In a March 16 statement, the US embassy in Kinshasa said the Filimbi workshop was one of many activities the US government supports that involve youth and civil society. “These well-known, well-regarded, non-partisan youth groups as well as the organizers of the weekend’s events intended to promote Congolese youth participation in the political process and encourage young people to express their views about issues of concern to them,” the statement said. “DRC government officials and ruling coalition parties were invited to and some were present during the event.”

Under Congo’s constitution, presidents may serve only two consecutive terms. President Joseph Kabila’s second term ends in 2016. While presidential elections are not scheduled until November 2016, political tensions have been rising across the country. In January 2015, at least 40 people were killed when security forces brutally repressed demonstrations in Kinshasa and other cities to protest proposed changes to Congo’s electoral law that would have delayed elections and enabled Kabila to prolong his term. Numerous political party and civil society leaders have been arrested after speaking out against proposed changes to the constitution or Congo’s electoral system.

“These latest arrests signal a worrying clampdown on freedom of expression and assembly in Congo – fundamental elements of a free, transparent, and peaceful electoral process,” Sawyer said. “Youth leaders, musicians, and activists should be able to meet, discuss, and learn without fear of arrest.

ource.www.hrw.com