9 October 2007
Lagos — Gambia yesterday released on bail two foreign workers from rights group Amnesty International, who were detained at the weekend on suspicion of spying when they attempted to visit a detained opposition politician.
Tania Bernath, who holds joint British and United States (US) citizenship, and Ayobele Ameen, a Nigerian, were released on payment of a 100,000 dalasi ($5,376) bond but authorities retained their passports.
Gambian journalist Yaya Dampha, who works for opposition newspaper Foroyaa and was accompanying them on their trip, was also freed on bail.
The suspects-Messr Ayodele Ameen, a citizen of Nigeria and Ms Tania Bernath, a national of the United States-were arrested and detained in Basse 250 kilometres (155 miles) away from Banjul, the capital city of Gambia.
Rueters reported that both Ayodele and Bernath "are staff members of Amnesty International, a human right watchdog.
Messrs Yaya Dampha is the third suspect, a Gambian journalist working with the pro-opposition Newpaper called Foroyaa in the country.
Amnesty International Spokesperson, Ms Eliane Drakopoulos confirmed their arrest yesterday, stating that "two researchers documenting human rights in Gambia have been detained along with a local journalist."
Drakopoulos, who is in charge of Amnesty's Africa office stated that the researchers "have not been charged for any offence, though detained"
She said the human right watchdog "is working to clarify the situation" and "seeking unconditional release."
Working for the international human rights group, Bernath and Ayodele were taken into police custody on Saturday.
Drakopoulos said the two Amnesty workers had entered the country legally and had informed Gambian authorities of their purpose for coming there.
"We've been in contact with them through a lawyer. To the extent of our knowledge, they have not been charged," she said.
But a senior Amnesty International personnel in Senegal said the two were on "an official mission cleared by the Gambian government." The suspects were being held at police cells in the capital Banjul.
Quoted in Reuter report, Dampha said "We were detained on suspicion of spying," after the three were detained in Basse some 275 km East of Banjul.
Mr. Sam Sarr, managing editor of the opposition newspaper said Dampha had been arrested at the same time as the Amnesty International delegates.
"There is no charges preferred against them except that they (police) suspect them of spying," Sarr said. Report also said they were not allowed access to lawyers as at yesterday.
The managing editor said the Amnesty International team had visited an opposition local government councillor, Ousman Jatta, who has been held at a police station near Basse for unknown reasons since August 2006.
He said they were nabbed shortly after that on allegations they did not have permission to visit the police station in Basse, 250 kilometres (155 miles) away from Banjul.
"Up until last night the police have not said anything clear except they are waiting for instructions from their superiors," Sarr said. He denounced the "escalation in the suppression of democratic rights" in Gambia.
In the recent years, many human rights organisations have described the government of Gambia in their respective reports as one of the most repressive as far as media and other freedoms are concerned.
In its latest report on Gambia, Amnesty International said harassment of journalist critical of the government intensified last year with at least nine local and foreign journalists being detained, some of them reportedly tortured.
It also expressed concern over the treatment of some 70 suspected coup plotters arrested and held for long periods after a foiled attempt to topple President Yahya Jammeh early last year.
It expressed concern at impunity in the country of 1.5 million people saying "there has been were no official investigations into past human rights violations".
The three were detained on Saturday some 275 km (170 miles) east of the capital Banjul. They had been hoping to visit Ousman Rambo Jatta, a member of the opposition United Democratic Party who was arrested during elections last year and has been in detention in the town of Fatoto ever since.
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