USA Africa Dialogue Series - BRITISH MPs CONDEMNS ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN GAMBIA

BRITISH MPs CONDEMNS ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN GAMBIA
EDM calls for international pressure on the Gambia government.

• Twenty Four British MPs have signed a House of
  Commons Early Day Motion(EDM1140) which condems the
  continues abuses of human rights in The Gambia and calls on the Coalition
  government to do everything it can to place international pressure on the
  Gambian government in support of fundamental human rights.
  
  The EDM tabled by Labour Party MP Anas Sarwar appluad members of the
  Gambian human rights campaign in Scotland for continue to raise
  awareness on this tremedously important issue.
  The motion express solidarity with the people of the Gambia in lights of the
  reported human rights abuses been comitted in their country.

It further notes that according to independent report by Amnesty International the alleged abuses includes abitrary
arrests,torture,incommincado detention,unfair trials,rape,disapperarance and extra-judicial executions.
The campaign to secure the British Parliamentary opposition to the human rights situation in the Gambia has been
assisted by the Campaign for human rights in the Gambia UK through its Campaign Officer Alieu B Ceesay.
The sponsor of the parliamentary motion Anas Sarwar who sits on the Commons International Development Select
Committee said today "I have grave concerns about human rights abuses in The Gambia i was pleased to facilitate a
meeting with the Foreign Office,All Party Parliamentary Group on Human Rights and representatives of the Scottish
Campaign for Human Rights in The Gambia"

"The Scottish Campaign for human rights in Gambia is doing a great work to draw attention to a government that rules
by intimidation,torture and killing its crucial that the coalition does everything it can to place international pressure on
the Gambian government,so i am pleased that EDM 1140 has attracted cross party support from 24MPs"
"Its important that brave campaigners like Alieu are given a voice in Parliament thats why i have asked parliamentary
questions about challenges facing Gambian citizens  in their country and abroad"He said
"I am fully behind the campaign for human rights in Gambia and i will continue to press the coalition government. he
concluded

Plaid Cymrus Elfyn Llwyd MP from Wales said "The human rights violations taking place in the Gambia are horrendous
and require vital international attention.
"Opponents of the Gambia government are routinely arrested and held without charge,while a culture of enforced
disappearances,unfair trials,and horrific infringements on human rights reigns in this troubled country".
"But more must be done and urgently.The UK government must make this a priority in working with the international
community to ensure the Gambian government meets its human rights obligations,and to bring an end to the wave of
terror that has swept the people of that country.

Alieu B Ceesay Campaign Officer of the (SCHRG) said "We hope this parliamentary motion will send a strong signal
from the British Parliament to the Gambia government that arbitrary arrests,torture,incommicado detention and exra-
judicial executions are serious violations of human rights, the Gambian peoples rights under the countrys constitution
and under the International law must be respected.

A copy of the Early Day Motion will be forwarded to the Gambia High Commission in London which all adds up to the
pressure and to let Gambia government know that public opinion is been mobilise in defence of fundamental human
rights.Ceesay said.

The campaign is greatful to Anas Sarwar for standing up for human rights in Gambia and all those MPs who have
signed this EDM "We welcomes the cross party support at the House of Commons am pleased that this motion is rapidly
attracting support from MPs of all parties it shows that these are important issues of human rights and we must speak up
and mobilise opinions in the UK against these abuses".said Arthur West Chairman Campaign for Human Rights in

Gambia UK

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Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222  (fax)
http://www.toyinfalola.com/
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
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