Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:12 hours 42 min ago
‘Gambia’s situation an embarrassment’
Published: 22 Nov 2009
President Yahya Jammeh.
Gambia could very well face expulsion from the Commonwealth because of death threats made by President Yahya Jammeh. Sunday Guardian has learnt that the Commonwealth Secretariat has made recommendations for dialogue with the Government of Gambia surrounding the development. Jammeh, in a television broadcast last week carried live, threatened to “kill anyone who tries to destabilise my country.” Caribbean Centre for Human Rights based in Trinidad, and the India-based Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative have called on Commonwealth leaders to withdraw Jammeh’s invitation to the CHOGM.
It remains unclear whether Jammeh himself will attend the forum. However, there is confirmation that Gambia Vice-President Isatou Nije-Saidy is to represent the country when delegates convene in Port-of-Spain. Outraged by Jammeh’s comments, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation Mark Collins insists that no leader is above the law. In an interview at the University of the West Indies, Second Decade Debate, hosted by the International Relations (IR) Department, Collins said the situation was an embarrassing one for the Commonwealth.
“No one is above the law. The rule of law is one of the key principles of the Commonwealth. “I will be very surprised if action is not taken against the President of Gambia. “He has very strongly-held views, and there are concerns about what was expressed on television by the Gambia leader. His comments will create an atmosphere of fear. “Human activists are defenders of rights for education, proper health care, freedom of speech and much more. What does he mean by saying these things?
“All free-thinking people know that there are some areas of human rights still surrounded by controversy, like cultural expressions, and as we well know, sexual preferences and these issues are being discussed. “Why would the President of Gambia make such a statement? It reflects badly on the Commonwealth.” Collins said he expected the issue to be high on the agenda for the Commonwealth Action Group (CWA) at the People’s Forum. Meanwhile, the IR department is also expected to launch the Democracy in the Commonwealth Report tomorrow.
Gambia's Embarrassing
Gambia's Embarrassing Performance - Violation of Human Rights:-
Countries within the Commonwealth stand for freeedom and democracy for all. The publicised statements from the Gambian President is an embarrassment for all Commonwealth states.
Calls were made by the Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative for the 'host' and the "incoming Chair ... "to seek a clear repudiation of his (Gambian President) statement and a strong re-affirmation of his commitment to the value of the Commonwealth". That if he fails to comply, he would not accept the invitation to attend the CHOGM.
The President of Gambia is on record as stating publicly that he "will kill human rights defenders and that 'nothing will come of it'." Then again in a T.V. appearance he threatened to "kill anyone who tries to destabilise my country."
Unfortunately, our Prime Minister has not heeded the call for him to take appropriate action. Added to this Mrs. Paula Gopee-Scoon, our Foreign Affairs Minister has shrugged her shoulders and given the impression that she is not really bothered by this issue. How sad and embarrassing for T&T. The lack of action and the behaviour exibited by T&T leaves much to be desired. Silence and lack of concern on this serious matter does not look good on our senior politicians and by extension the people of T&T.
The UN and the African Union Commission for Human Rights have both spoken out against the statement made by Gambia's President. This subject will certainly raise it's ugly head at the CHOGM; and if it does not it will bring the Commonwealth and its mandate into disrepute. Yes, Mr. Collins "no leader is above the law".
Gardenia
Gardenia, you have to
Gardenia, you have to understand that politicians who live in glass houses cannot afford to throw stones. The shoe might be on their foot next day.