PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 27/002/2009

17 June 2009

UA 151/09 Prisoners of Conscience/Incommunicado detention

GAMBIA Emil Touray (m), Secretary General Gambia Press Union,

Sarata Jabbi-Dibba (f), Vice President, Gambia Press Union,

Pa Modou Faal (m), Treasurer, Gambia Press Union,

Pap Saine (m), Publisher, The Pointnewspaper,

Ebrma Saweneh (m), Editor, The Pointnewspaper,

Sam Sarr (m), Editor, Foroyaa,opposition newspaper

Abubcarr Saidy Khan, (m) reporter, Foroyaa,opposition newspaper

The seven individuals named above were arrested by members of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on 15 June. They are being held incommunicado detention at the NIA headquarters in the capital Banjul.They were arrested for the peaceful expression of their beliefs and Amnesty International fears for their safety.

Emil Touray, Pa Modou Faal and Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, who has a 6 month old baby, were arrested at the offices of the Gambia Press Union at approximately midday on the 15 June. Sam Sarr of the Editor of Foroyaa was arrested at his house in Serrekunda at approximately 5 pm. A little while later Abubcarr Saidy Khan was also arrested along with Pap Saine from offices of The Point newspaper.

Their arrests follow the publication in The Pointand Foroyaanewspapers of a press release issued on the 11 June by the Gambian Press Union. The press release criticised the way that the President of the Gambia spoke about fellow journalist Deydra Hydara, a former press union president and editor of the Pointnewspaperwho was murdered in 2004. The press release also reminded the government that since Deydra Hydara's murder there has been no serious investigation into whom was responsible and no one has been brought to justice.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Journalists and members of the media are under serious threat in Gambia. Since 1994 almost 30 journalists have had to leave the country. More than half of them have had to leave in the last two years alone. Journalists have been subjected to an array of human rights abuses including unlawful arrest and detention, torture, enforced disappearance, and unlawful killing.

Gambians should be able to freely express their views as provided for under Section 207 of the 1997 Gambian Constitution and various regional and international treaties, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights (ICCPR) to which Gambia is a party.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:

- urging the authorities to disclose the whereabouts of Emil Touray, Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, Pa Modou Faal, Pap Saine, Ebrma Saweneh, Sam Sarr and Abubcarr Saidy Khan, immediately, and give them access to family members, lawyers of their choice and any medical attention they may require;

- urging the authorities to ensure that they are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated;

- urging the authorities to release the sevenimmediately and unconditionally.

APPEALS TO:

President and Minister of Defence

Captain (retd.) Alhaji Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh

Office of the President

State House, Banjul

Republic of the Gambia

Fax: +220 4227 034

Salutation: Your Excellency

Attorney General and Secretary of State for Justice

Mrs Marie Saine Firdaus

Department of State for Justice

Marina Parade

Banjul

Republic of the Gambia

Fax: +220 4225 352

Salutation: Dear Secretary of State

Secretary of State for the Interior

Mr Ousman Sonko

Office of the President

State House

Banjul

Republic of the Gambia

Fax: +220 4223 718

Salutation: Dear Secretary of State

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Gambia accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 24 July 2009.