‘Gambia’s situation an embarrassment’

22 Nov 2009
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford (1)

 

Gambia could very well face expulsion from the Commonwealth because of death threats made by President Yahya Jammeh. Sunday Guardian has learnt that the Commonwealth Secretariat has made recommendations for dialogue with the Government of Gambia surrounding the development. Jammeh, in a television broadcast last week carried live, threatened to “kill anyone who tries to destabilise my country.” Caribbean Centre for Human Rights based in Trinidad, and the India-based Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative have called on Commonwealth leaders to withdraw Jammeh’s invitation to the CHOGM.

It remains unclear whether Jammeh himself will attend the forum. However, there is confirmation that Gambia Vice-President Isatou Nije-Saidy is to represent the country when delegates convene in Port-of-Spain. Outraged by Jammeh’s comments, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation Mark Collins insists that no leader is above the law. In an interview at the University of the West Indies, Second Decade Debate, hosted by the International Relations (IR) Department, Collins said the situation was an embarrassing one for the Commonwealth.

“No one is above the law. The rule of law is one of the key principles of the Commonwealth. “I will be very surprised if action is not taken against the President of Gambia. “He has very strongly-held views, and there are concerns about what was expressed on television by the Gambia leader. His comments will create an atmosphere of fear. “Human activists are defenders of rights for education, proper health care, freedom of speech and much more. What does he mean by saying thesethings?

“All free-thinking people know that there are some areas of human rights still surrounded by controversy, like cultural expressions, and as we well know, sexual preferences and these issues are being discussed. “Why would the President of Gambia make such a statement?
It reflects badly on the Commonwealth.” Collins said he expected the issue to be high on the agenda for the Commonwealth Action Group (CWA) at the People’s Forum. Meanwhile, the IR department is also expected to launch the Democracy in the Commonwealth Report tomorrow.

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Source URL (retrieved on 22/11/2009 - 5:12am): Published on The Trinidad Guardian (http://guardian.co.tt)

Gambian leader, Yahya Jammeh A.K.A Afang "Ebilis" with the Holy Quran, threatens to  cut off heads of human rights activists in Gambia