By Abdoukarim Sanneh, London

'End Media Repression Now' The Banner Reads

London, UK- Dozens of protesters marched in a demonstration outside The Gambia High Commission in London as part of international day of action organised in three continents to stand up against Yahya Jammeh’s reign of terror in The Gambia. The demonstration in London came on the eve of July 22nd celebration in The Gambia, which bought President Yahya Jammeh’s to power in a military coup, 15 years ago. The London demonstration was organised in the eve of what is called Freedom Day in The Gambia. On the same day, a similar demonstration took place at the Gambian Embassy in Washington, DC and across West Africa in Dakar, Senegal, Benin, Sierra Leone, Mali, Togo, Liberia, Burkina Faso Cote D’Ivorie, Ghana and Nigeria as well as at The Gambia’s Permanent Mission in New York, the following day.

The demonstration in London was organised by Amnesty International UK, The British Trade Union Congress and the National Union of Journalists (UK and Ireland) in collaboration with the Gambian Community in United Kingdom. Part of the series of events that took place in three continents was to highlight the sharp increase in the recent years of media repression and massive human rights violations in that small West African State. The London demonstration raised topical issues such as the enforced disappearance of journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, the murder of Journalist Deyda Hydara, the on-going trial of journalists and members of The Gambia Press Union in what is perceived by many as a classical kangaroo tribunal before Justice Wowo on charges of sedition. Demonstrators also highlighted issues of extra judicial killings, The Jambur 4, enforced disappearances, murders and other documented cases of gross violation of human rights since July 1994.

The demonstration started with chanting-Where is Ebrima? Free him now! Gambia Shame on you! Freedom from the rule of fear now! At the demonstration, Representative of Amnesty International Kali Mercier Individual at Risk Campaigner, The Trade Union Congress and National Union of Journalist handed to the High Commission a letter and a photo album compiled by activists from around the world all of them asking: “Where is Ebrima?”

During the demonstration and amid the chanting and angry emotional remarks, we suddenly noticed the appearance of Foni Kansala’s Member of Parliament for the ruling APRC, Hon. Abba Sanyang turns in. Currently in the UK allegedly running errands for President Yahya Jammeh. It is believed that he is involved in the so-called Presidential sponsorship of students in bogus colleges using Gambian diplomatic passports for easy entry clearance into UK. Once Honourable Sanyang was recognised by this reporter, he was visibly embarrassed and felt humiliated by the angry protesters. Aba Sanyang was repeatedly asked to tell the protesters the whereabouts of missing journalist, Ebrima Manneh? The world wants to know! Where is Ebrima Manneh? As a Gambian lawmaker, you need to tell us they told Sanyang.

Every officer in the High Commission hide behind as chanting continues for more two hours. Gambia shame on you! Freedom from the rule of Fear! BBC World Service try them for interview none was available to speak on behalf of the criminal regime of Yahya Jammeh. Among the protestors Gambia's Former season diplomat and retired civil servant Abdoulai Bojang and Abdoulai Jobe all granted interviews to the BBC Focus on Africa Program. Both men gave brief accounts of the prevailing human rights violations, lack of press freedom and a pervert judicial system. In a press release after the demonstration, Amnesty International UK Campaign Director Tim Hancock stated " it's an absolute sham to celebrate the 22nd July take over as a freedom day in a country where journalists and others in the media are not allowed to freely express their views or opinions. He went on, “we regularly hear of journalists and others who express their views facing persecution and an array of abuses, including unlawful arrest, arbitrary and incommunicado detention and torture.”

In the same release, General Secretary of Trade Union Congress Brendan Barder said “Freedom of speech and Freedom of association are fundamental human rights who are often targeted twice over by repressive regimes”. He said, “I hope that the Gambia Government will respond on world wide protests by recognizing that free press and free trade union movement are the hall marks of democracy and vital for development”.

The General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Jeremy Dear in the release stated "Our colleagues in The Gambia Press Union need our support more than ever, with journalists in the court on the eve of July 22nd marked by Yahya Jammeh's regime as freedom day facing charges of sedition, just because they spoken out. He went on, "Media workers in the country have disappeared, been killed in mysterious circumstances and arrested, how can the government claim to celebrate freedom when the press continues to face such a repressive regime?" Mr. Dear concluded that the Gambian authorities must recognise that free media plays crucial role in a society with respect for human rights. These threats to journalists and journalism must be lifted. Jim Boumelha, current president of The International Federation of Journalists and Executive Committee member of NAT was among the demonstrators.