Gambia confirms execution of 9 death-row inmates

 
The Gambia's Interior ministry issued a statement on Monday to inform the general public on the execution on Sunday, not Thursday (uhun O_o), of nine death row inmates by "firing squad". This is not just a giant leap, but millenia-long leap (dont even know if it exists).

When I got information from Banjul on Sunday of heavy armed people in strategic place and security screening at airport, I knew something went wrong at least, somewhere. And when high-level sources switched their phones off whole weekend.....I knew what will come out wont be pleasant, at all....

Here follows the details on the inmates executed by "firing squad" as if we are in North Korea. Ohh, I wish this was a nightmare and I would wake up anything. Unfortunately, its reality...after official execution where is this country heading?! This tells a lot about the Banjul administration. The following is the descriptions in the ministry release:

Dawda Bojang:
Charged with the offence of the brutal and gruesome murder of RONALD STANLEY FORD, a British national contrary to section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10 Vol. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990. He was convicted by the Kanifing Magistrates Court on 29th August 2007 and sentenced to life. He appealed the life sentence which was dismissed and substituted to death, pursuant to Section 188 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10, Vol. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990 on 30th July, 2010.

Malang Sonko:
Charged with the offence of the murder on one Buba Jawara by hitting him with a wooden stick on his neck thereby causing his death. Contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10, Vol. III Laws of the Gambia. He was convicted by the Brikama Magistrates Court and sentenced to death on January 30th, 2012. No appeal was filed by the convict.

Ex-Lieutenant Lamin Jarjou:
Ex-SGT alias Ex Lt. Alieu Bah:
Ex-SGT Lamin F Jammeh:
The trio were charged with two counts of treason, two counts of murder of lance Corporal Kebba Drammeh and Private Bakary Ceesay, 4 counts of unlawful wounding with intent to do grievous harm, two counts of robbery and two counts of abduction contrary to section 35, 187, 212, 273 and 236 respectively of the Criminal Code, Cap. 10, Vol. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990. They were convicted and sentenced to death by the High Court of The Gambia with three sitting on the 27th of October, 1998. Their appeals were dismissed and there were no further appeal.

Tabara Samba:
Charged with the offence of the murder of Ebrima Nyang her husband on account of marrying a second wife poured hot cooking oil on him at Jeshwang thereby causing his death, contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10, Vol. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990. She was convicted on the 26th September, 2007 and sentenced to death. She appealed to the High Court of the Gambia, which appeal was dismissed.

Buba Yarboe:
Charged for the gruesome and brutal murder of her biological mother Jainaba Jarjou at Busumbala by hitting her on the head with an iron rod thereby causing her death Contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code, Cap 10, Vol. III Laws of the Gambia, 1990. He was convicted and sentenced to death by the High Court on November 3, 2010. He did not appeal against his sentence and conviction.

Lamin BS Darboe:
He was charged with the offence of the brutal murder of Muhammed Ould Faal, a Mauritanian national by hitting him with a blunt object on the head on the 2nd April 1985 at Sinchu Alagie in the Kombo North, contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10 Col. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990. Pursuant to Section 188 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10, Vol. III, he was convicted and sentenced to death on the 3rd December, 1986. He appealed against conviction and sentenced on 13th day of June 1988 and the aid appeal was dismissed.

Gebe Bah:
He was charged for the murder of one Njuga Samba by causing him a deep stab wound on the left ear side of the head on the 18th December 1997 at Mariama Kunda village in the Kombo North District, Western Region. Judgment was delivered on the 30th day of January 2004 in which the accused was sentenced to death. He appealed the conviction which was dismissed."

Of course, the release had to THREATEN people: "The general public is hereby warned that the rule of law as regards the peace and stability and the protection of lives, property and liberty will not be compromised for whatever reason."

Not stopping at that, they promise the execute remaining inmates. "That all acts of violence, criminal activities and indiscipline resulting to murder, treason, arson, trafficking in drugs and humans and the likes of such offences attracting death sentences shall not be tolerated. Therefore, all sentences as prescribed by law will be carried out to the letter including the death penalty. "

Its ironic that government is talking about human rights, when the basic right to life, even after a sentence, cant be upheld. "The general public is further called to respect the fundamental human right of all citizens and residents in the Republic of the Gambia," Interior added.

To conclude, the release hammers us with the usual tralala/blablabla "The Republic of The Gambia is a sovereign state, which, like other sovereign states currently implementing the death penalty, has the right to implement its domestic laws as stipulated in her constitution."

CSAG confirms execution of nine death row inmates

 

                                                                 Press Release

August 24, 2012

The Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG) can confirm that nine (9) death row inmates at the Mile Two Central Prisons were executed between the night of August 23 and the morning of August 24, 2012.

The nine, including two Senegalese nationals are:

1.      Lamin B. Darboe

2.      Alieu Bah

3.      Lamin Jarju

4.      Dawda Bojang

5.      Abubacarr YARBO[i]

6.      Abdoulie Sonko

7.      Lamin F Jammeh

8.      Gibril Bah (Senegalese)

9.      Tabara Samba (Senegalese, female)

It is still unclear exactly which location the executions took place in and what method of execution was used.  What is however clear is that inmates were rounded up at 9.30 pm Thursday August 23 and that by the morning of August 24, the bodies were actually lying in the Mile Two Prison yard. It is also confirmed that the families of the Death Row Inmates are yet to be contacted.

Many family members are contacting rights groups to intervene for fear that their husbands will be part of the group to be executed tonight or that they have actually already been executed.

CSAG views the secret executions as inhumane and cruel, and demands that President Yahya Jammeh and his brutal regime put an immediate stop to this wanton disregard for human life. 

It can be recalled that last Sunday, August 20, President Yahya Jammeh threatened to execute death row inmates in Mile Two Central Prison. His remarks prompted an international uproar and CSAG in collaboration with Amnesty International, RADDHO and other rights organizations around the world demanded that Yahya Jammeh rescind his threats. 

Since and despite statements from the African Union, ECOWAS, the French government, Nigeria’s President Jonathan Goodluck, and rights groups, expressing dismay at his announcement, President Yahya Jammeh has started the unthinkable by actually executing nine (9) death row inmates. 

CSAG is once again calling on the Senegalese, Malian, Nigerian and Guinea Bissau authorities to stand by their nationals and do what is right by them. All the necessary arrangements must be made to save the lives of these individuals.

We also call on the Senegalese authorities to do whatever it takes to ensure that The Gambia Government throws light on the executions of its two nationals Tabara Samba and Gibril Bah.

We call on all Gambians in particular the families of the death row inmates, religious and political leaders, human rights groups, journalists and the legal fraternity to stand up together and say “ENOUGH is ENOUGH”.  

All Gambians must do something in our little way to ensure that the necessary actions are taken to ensure that our blood thirsty dictator does not get away with MURDER.

May the souls of the unfairly executed rest in perfect peace, Amen.

Signed

CSAG Executive

---

[i] Abubacarr YARBO did not feature in the CSAG release (list) of August 22 as our prison source only found him (actually sick and abandoned) late yesterday afternoon. 

 Gambia, ohh Gambia....dead penalty

Hours after the world cried of outrage on the reported execution of nine (9) of the forty-seven (47) death row inmates in The Gambia, the government of Yahya Jammeh issued a statement read on national TV GRTS at 8pm, to deny "rumours and speculations" on the President's Eid message (which by the way were no longer current news), but moreover to WARN people that the "peace and stability must at all cost be preserved and jealously guarded."

My disappointment is that the serious issue at hand was not being addressed: Were the nine (9) inmates executed or not? No one seems to know in Banjul, I spent hours on the phone trying to get reliable "independent" confirmation or denial from both government and others. It  seemed no one knew anything, must were hearing the news for the first time. I knew more than people breathing the Banjul air.

I felt sad, and I feel bad, angry as I write these lines. All day long, I kept praying this news wasn't true. But up to the time I am posting , I gathered no other information denying the executions.

Here is the statement a good friend, I spent the whole day harassing, took pains to text me. It was painful but hey guys, am worth it (winks :):

"The government of the Republic of The Gambia hereby informs the general public that contrary to the widespread rumours and speculations on the pronouncement made by His Excellency the President of the Republic on the implementation of the death penalty in The Gambia, it wishes to state for the records that such irresponsible spreading of information is wrong.

"The laws of the Gambia on the death penalty are very clear and provide. Section 18 (1) of the Constitution of the The Republic of The Gambia states:

" No person shall be deprived of his or her life intentionally except in the execution of a sentence of death imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction in respect of a criminal offence for which the penalty is death under the laws of The Gambia as they have effects in accordance with subsection (2) and of which he or she has been lawfully convicted."

"In due compliance with the provisions of the law as above, it follows that all persons on the death row have been tried by the Gambian courts of competent jurisdiction and whereof convicted and sentenced to death in accordance with the law. They have exhausted all their legal rights of appeal as provided by law.

"The general public is hereby warned that the peace and stability of our beloved nation as regards the protection of lives, liberty and property of individuals must at all cost be preserved and jealously guarded." End

Anyway, the government published what it thought was fit in such a situation. I think this statement is irrelevant after the "execution of the nine inmates".

I have been wondering since receiving this statement, is it slow reaction on the part of the Gambian government or is it just wilfully ignoring issues at hand.

Gambia: death row inmates that risk execution

 

Condemning the Gambian head of State, Yahya Jammeh, statement on Sunday on the Muslim end of fasting fest, Eid-El-Fitr, that he will execute death row inmates, the Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG) gave further information on Thursday in a release on those whose lives are on the line.

CSAG said Mile Two Central Prisons is home to Forty Seven (47) [i] death row inmates. One of these is a female, eleven (11) are political prisoners, the longest serving was sentenced in 1986 before the abolition of the death penalty by former President Dawda .K. Jawara’s government, the eldest inmate is 84 years old .

There are eight (8) suspected to have developed severe mental health issues., and an additional eight (8) of the death row inmates are foreign nationals, namely; three (3) Senegalese, one (1) Bissau Guinean, two (2) Malians and two (Nigerians).

 

Adding its voice to that of  world leaders and international human rights organizations that have decried Gambian head of State, Yahya Jammeh, statement on Sunday on the Muslim end of fasting fest, Eid-El-Fitr, that he will  execute death row inmates by mid- September, Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG) called on Thursday on all Gambian civil society groups, political parties and religious leaders to join CSAG “to take all the necessary actions to ensure that the Gambian regime does not proceed with its intention to execute innocent prisoners.”

In the statement signed by its executive, CSAG deplored that “when Muslims the world over seek forgiveness, extend messages of peace and love, show solidarity with one another and those in distressing conditions, President Jammeh chose once again to show his brutality and repressive nature by informing Muslim leaders that he would execute prisoners.”

CSAG averred that any execution is a further indicator of the brutality with which President Jammeh’s regime is bent on crushing political dissent, given that the Gambia Government uses the death penalty and other harsh sentences as a tool to silence political dissent and opposition.

 “CSAG is strongly convinced that most of those who were convicted to death for treason went through unfair trials and considers their convictions politically related,” it said.

 

CSAG CALLS ON NEIGHOURING COUNTRIES TO ACT

CSAG called on ECOWAS, the African Union among others and neighboring countries, in particular Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Nigeria whose nationals are also on death row, to pressurize the Gambia government to withdraw from its decision to execute condemned prisoners.

 “We also call on the Governments of these nationals to take the Gambia Government to task and work on modalities to ensure that their citizens are not executed in The Gambia,” it added.

 

LIST OF DEATH ROW (Mile 2 Central Prisons) INMATES

 

NO.	Name	Nationality	Sex
POLITICAL PRISONERS
1.	Lang Tombong TAMBA	Gambian	Male
2.	Kawsu CAMARA (Bombardier)	Gambian	Male
3.	Lamin Bo BADJIE	Gambian	Male
4.	Abdoulie (Laye) JOOF	Gambian	Male
5.	Modou GAYE	Gambian	Male
6.	Omar B. MBYE	Gambian	Male
7.	Gibril Ngorr SECKA	Gambian	Male
8.	Alieu BAH	Gambian	Male
9.	Lamin JARJU	Gambian	Male
10.	Lamin F. JAMMEH	Gambian	Male
11.	Abdoulie SONKO	Gambian	Male
OTHERS
12.	Lamin B DARBOE	Gambian	Male
13.	Ngang NJIE	Gambian	Male
14.	Bakary KANYI	Gambian	Male
15.	Baba Galleh JALLOW	Gambian	Male
16.	Samba Dorro BAH	Gambian	Male
17.	Nfali COLLEY	Gambian	Male
18.	Suleyman CEESAY	Gambian	Male
19.	Lamin CEESAY	Gambian	Male
20.	Batch FAYE	Gambian	Male
21.	Essa JAWO	Gambian	Male
22.	Tapha GAYE	Gambian	Male
23.	Musa BAH	Gambian	Male
24.	Lamin FAYE	Gambian	Male
25.	Sherrifo MANNEH	Gambian	Male
26.	Dodou GAI	Gambian	Male
27.	Almamy SAWANEH	Gambian	Male
28.	Kalilu CONTEH	Gambian	Male
29.	Morro DEMBA	Gambian	Male
30.	Abubacarr TUNKARA	Gambian	Male
31.	Dawda BOJANG	Gambian	Male
32.	Yusupha CONTEH	Gambian	Male
33.	Abba HYDARA (84YRS)	Gambian	Male
34.	Alieu MBOOB	Gambian	Male
35.	Modou COLLEY	Gambian	Male
36.	Bakary DEMBA	Gambian	Male
37.	Yaya MBALLOH	Gambian	Male
38.	Dodou JANNEH	Gambian	Male
39.	Bakary DAFFEH	Gambian	Male
FOREIGN NATIONALS
40.	Salieu NYANG	Senegalese	Male
41.	Gibril BAH	Senegalese	Male
42.	Tabara SAMBA	Senegalese	Female
43.	Jawo JALLOW	G. Bissau	Male
44.	Amadou DIARRA	Mali	Male
45.	Sunkara KANTEH	Mali	Male
46.	Micheal IFUNANYA	Nigerian	Male
47.	Stanley AGBAEZE	Nigerian	Male