By Alhagie Jobe
The Gambia government has finally admitted in court today, Thursday, June 16, 2016 that Ebrima Solo Sandeg, the opposition United Democratic Party youth leader has ‘indeed’ died in state custody.
The confirmation was contained in a reply by the state to a Habeas Corpus filed on behalf of the late Sandeng at the High Court for the Gambia government to produce him dead or alive.
The Director of Public Prosecution SH Barkun who is representing the state in the trial of the opposition members ended the endless speculations and stories about faith and whereabouts of Mr Sandeng in his reply today saying ‘Mr Sandeng indeed died in state custody and cannot be produce in court”.
Many believe that Mr Sandeng died during interrogation at the hands of the President Yahya Jammeh’s ‘notorious’ National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the body was disposed of at a Tanji NIA office complex.
The late Mr Sandeng was arrested on April 14 at the strategic Westfield Junction for merely calling for justice and electoral reforms. He and dozen others were rounded up by police and detained. He was alleged to have died during torture under state custody and the others were also detained incommunicado for weeks before been produced before the courts, for they were equally tortured and suffering pains and under critical condition.
Mr Sandeng’s death prompted another peaceful demonstration on April 16 led by the party’s leader Ousainou Darboe and top executive members, demanding his release, dead or alive. They were also arrested at the spot, detained at the state central prison of Mile II and currently undergoing trial.
Meanwhile, the state is still confused over the case of the opposition leaders especially those arrested on April 14. Reports are emerging that the Inspector General of Police negotiating with them to promise not to make any further protest so as to drop the case.
Though the confirmation by the DPP of Mr Sandeng story in court is the first time since the case started despite same rumor ongoing, but earlier President Jammeh himself told the French magazine Jeune Afrique that Solo Sandeng died in state custody and rubbished the call by UN Chief Ban Ki-moon and Amnesty international for investigations.
The ongoing political crisis sparked global condemnation. The United Nations, EU, African Union, ECOWAS among others has since deplored the attacks of 14 and 16 April 2016 against the peaceful demonstrators and called for swift and independent investigations into these events, and into the reported death in custody of opposition activist Solo Sandeng.
Electoral reform
Among the new electoral law is anyone who wants to register a political party or run as presidential candidate has to pay GMD500, 000, amounting to US$11,870 or £8,240, which the opposition and critics says is simply aimed at undermining pluralism in the economically-stagnant country and way of weakening the effectiveness of the opposition. The government, however, said the law was necessary to ensure parties are well organized.
Gambians head to the polls in December 2016 in which current president Yahya Jammeh is seeking for a fifth term.
