FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
8 March 2008
The Save The Gambia Democracy Project has called for the liberty of Gambian Journalist Fatou Manneh who was arrested a year ago upon her arrival at the airport from the USA where she resides. She is still on bail while her trial lingers on.
According to the release, every Gambian within and outside the country is an involuntary witness to the violations of civil and fundamental liberties; the hiring and firing of civil servants and the personalization of power by the president.
The release goes on to say that one year has passed since Fatou's dutiful trip to mourn the death of her father was cut short at Banjul International Airport by agents of the regime who whisked her away into what has since become a clownish circus of trial for treason. Fatou's intended and short visit with her family has turned into a nightmare of a juridical circus. The release asserts that in Fatou's case, the Government of the Gambia has a message to all Diaspora Gambians - that you can exercise your democratic rights as long as you are not on Gambian soil, to remind us that those rights will not be protected in the Gambia.
STGDP continues to join Fatou in her fitting struggle to fight for her freedom from the injustice going on in The Gambia. The release has urged the government of President Jammeh to recognize Fatou's inalienable rights and immediately halt what it calls these kinds of judicial embarrassments.
The STGDP is an organisation of Gambians in the USA
Last July before the completion of the trial of Fatou Jaw Manneh at the Kanifing Magistrates Court, the case was transferred to the Banjul Magistrates Court. This court then held that it should be transferred to Brikama Magistrates Court. In the interim, the state appealed. Upon appeal, the High Court returned the case to the Kanifing Magistrates Court in December 2008. But since that time the case has not proceeded.
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