Home : News : Gambia News : Gambia opposition chief arrested: police sources
Gambia News : Gambia opposition chief arrested: police sources
Gambia's main opposition leader was arrested Monday, sources in the police and his party said, signalling a further hardening of a regime regularly criticised for rights violations.
Halifa Sallah was "was picked up from his house and currently detained at Yundum police station," around 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the capital Banjul, a police source told AFP.
The police "could not even explain the reasons for his arrest because the order came from the top," another police source said of Sallah, leader of Gambia's main opposition National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD).
"This must stop. We are not ruled by the law of the jungle," Sallah reportedly told supporters gathered in front of the police station, after being led out briefly following his arrest.
Sam Sarr, one of Sallah's closest aides, said that the opposition leader had been picked up on his return from a visit out of the capital.
"He had been visiting people who have over the past few days complained to him about fundamental violations of rights and freedom taking place in their area," said Sarr.
Gambia, the smallest country on the African mainland, has been ruled by President Yahya Jammeh since he grabbed power in a bloodless coup in 1994.
Sallah, 56, is one of the government's most outspoken critics who has been arrested on a number of occasions in the past. He stood against Jammeh in the last presidential elections in 2006 which were won comfortably by the incumbent.
Members of his coalition party said his latest arrest was "politically motivated" and demanded his immediate release.
But police have so far refused to release him on bail, his party said.
Jammeh's regime has progressively toughened its response towards all forms of opposition.
Several journalists have been arrested and charged in recent months and two British missionaries are serving hard labour sentences for criticising the president.
A November report by Amnesty International said Jammeh's opponents are subjected to daily rights violations including torture and unlawful arrests. It also detailed a crackdown by authorities on the media.
Jammeh, a former wrestler, has brushed off criticism, saying in an independence day address last month that the west African country "has earned the respect and admiration of the world."
2511 times read
- No Gambian loves Gambia like Halifah Sallah does, that man shall never do anything wrong to jeopardize the Gambian state. He is been there for the Gambians since that post bad regime now he face a worst regime which can just wake up from sleep then start pointing fingers to its fellow citizens that this is whitch, this is whitch, wow! i could see that there are many Gods in Gambia today who would just geoge human beings as whitches today without capturing evidence to show the public, wow! this is really weird, Now is no more aids cure instead now is arresting whitches and wonderful good and caring politicians. A day will come when they will start to arrest every police, soldiers,lawyers,students, mums,dads and anything even birds in the sky, wow! this is no more a joke. Yahya pls wake up and grow up you are destroying your own legacy as president, give up the state if you are scared of your own people.
(Posted on March 15, 2009, 12:30 AM Abu Jammeh)
- I think what Kalifa is saying is right. People right shouldn't be neglected. Overviewing witchcraft in one society means creating enemynity in one society. UN human right should take action against this inhumanity action.Example if one mother is accursed of doing such act then the whole society or community is affected.
(Posted on March 11, 2009, 4:49 PM Lamin Ceesay)
- you ar makin our country goin to a bad country.
plz stop it we don't want that is our country. u ar not a king to do any thing you want to do.
let Salleh free we want peace in our country
(Posted on March 11, 2009, 9:06 AM RASTER)
- A lesson for Jammeh, look what happened to Charles Taylor, Sadam Hossain, Mobuto, the rebels in Sierra Leone, and the list goes on. Oh, most recently, Guinne Bissau.
You can never go with impunity in these times of of world order. You have done some good in the Gambia and continue to, however the constant abuse of the citizen and disappearnces ought to stop. There will be accountability and justice someday, trust me.
I hope the international community speak to these rights abuses in the country.
A concerned Gambian.
(Posted on March 10, 2009, 9:07 PM Saul)
- The Gambian People should get up and so there Rights, Jammeh is now over coming the gambia, we need the international world to help to take him out , the UN and others,Jammeh is evil. Let my Salleh go or let all Gambians come in full first and demonstrate on wednesday for jammeh to go .
(Posted on March 10, 2009, 11:58 AM omar jallow)
|
Gambia News
Gambia Archive
Newsletter
Poll: 2011- Gambia General Election
Comment on This Gambia News (8 posted)
Syndication
