FREE THE GPU SIX NOW!!!

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    All right thinking Gambians and friends of The Gambia, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the European Union, the Commonwealth, the United Nations, and all inter
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On Thursday August 6th, 2009, Justice Fangbele, a Nigerian mercenary judge in the service of criminal Gambian president Yahya Jammeh, convicted and sentenced six innocent Gambian journalists to jail. The journalists only crime was to criticize Jammeh for speaking very ill of their slain colleague Deyda Hydara in December 2004. The journalists are GPU Executive members Emil Touray, Sarata Jabbi Dibba, and Pa Modou Faal; Point newspaper publisher Pap Saine and editor Ebou Sawaneh; And Foroyaa newspaper editor Sam Sarr. They were all convicted on all six counts of sedition and defamation brought against them and have been sent to the notorious Mile Two State Central Prisons.

The sentences, which run concurrently, read:

Count 1 - 2 year prison term.
Count 2 - A fine of Dalasis 250,000 (US$10,000) or a two-year prison term
Count 3 - A fine of Dalasis 250,000 (US$10,000) or a two-year prison term
Count 4 - 2 year prison term
Count 5 - 2 year prison term
Count 6 - 2 year prison term.

The GPU-USA joins GPU-Gambia, all decent Gambians and the international community in vehemently condemning the unjust convictions inflicted upon six innocent Gambian journalists for merely criticizing the president. We echo the sentiment that this criminal conviction of the journalists is yet another blatant manifestation of the criminal nature of Gambian president Yahya Jammeh and his criminal coterie of mercenary judges. That such heavy sentences are unjustly imposed on six innocent Gambian citizens is a measure of how low Jammeh will stoop to terrorize the Gambian people and ensure that his politics of insult and impunity go unquestioned and unchallenged.

We call on the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the European Union, the Commonwealth, the United Nations, and all international human rights and media rights organizations to compel the criminal regime of Yahya Jammeh to immediately release these innocent persons. We also call upon Gambian civil society organizations, especially the Bar Association and opposition parties to do everything in their power to ensure that this criminal act is immediately rescinded. To the Gambia Armed forces, we say that your duty to protect the security and integrity of the Gambian nation demands that immediate action be taken to stop the further criminalization of the Gambian state by Yahya Jammeh and his criminal thugs parading as judges from Nigeria.

THE GPU-USA EXECUTIVE

90 Signatures

  • Baba Galleh Jallow
    • Comments
    • Yahya Jammeh must be forced to stop his criminal oppression of innocent Gambians. The Gambian people must stand up to this brutal regime and reclaim our dignities as human beings and our rights as Gambians. Cursed be the oppressors of innocent human beings!!
  • soffie ceesay
  • Fatou Jaw Manneh
    • Comments
    • Unbelievable!! We are not going to cry though. We are going to fight!
  • Dave Manneh
  • Edrissa S. Sanyang
    • Comments
    • The Blatant disregard of ABUSES MUST END.
  • Mohammed Jallow
    • Comments
    • Release the journalists now and stop all forms of repression...No Press Freedon, No justice!!!!
  • martin s
  • Donald R. Wright
    • Comments
    • В
  • Ambroise Pierre - Reporters Without Borders
    • Comments
    • These 6 innocent journalists must be freed now!!!
  • Yero Jallow
    • Comments
    • Free the 7 Gambian journalists now!!
  • Lamin Dampha
    • Comments
    • free the gpu six now
  • Muhammed Lamin Touray
    • Comments
    • This is real travesty of justice. Down with Jammeh and thugs and power to the poeple of the Gambia. This is the time to take firm stance against the criminal regime of Jammeh.
  • Yaya Dampha
    • Comments
    • This is really a travesy justice, concerted efforts must be made to to end the tyranny in Banjul. Jammeh is really mad.
  • Mobeh Mobeh
    • Comments
    • What now Fankung Fankung? Must we also clap for yaya for convicting these innocent mother, brothers, uncles? Allah's curse be on Yaya Jammeh and all who blindly support him.
  • Omar Joof
    • Comments
    • Those who did not know, should now understand that The regime of president Yaya Jammeh in The Gambia opposes the development of the elements of democratic governance in the country. The Jammeh administration is a brutal dictatorship that has since rigged the electoral process in its favour. Governments and all peoples who cherish the ideals of democracy should come to the aid of our citizens who are determined to reintroduce democracy in the west African state. The criminal conviction of the six journalists is deliberately calculated to undermind a fuctional private media in the country. Thus we call on all of you to join the struggle for democracy in The Gambia. A mere condemnation of this travesty of justice in light of the regime's record, would constitute a waste of time.
  • Gheran Senghore
    • Comments
    • This is a shame to justice and a shame to The Gambia
  • Sheikh Njie
    • Comments
    • I am asking myself where are the Gambian religious leaders.They are seeing what is happeniong in the Gambia and they are all silent.One thing that Yahya Jammeh and his Government should know is that they will not be in power forever.Release these Gambians Journalist now for they have done nothing wrong..Down with all these Nigerian Marcenaries.
  • Matarr Sillah
    • Comments
    • В
  • Momodou Bah
    • Comments
    • If I didn't know these acts were 'unGambian' I would have been ashamed to be a Gambian. I must say though that this is a shame on our democracy.
  • Amadou Alpha Lowe
    • Comments
    • I wiil support a massive demonstration.
  • Cherno B Jallow
    • Comments
    • These verdicts are a great travesty of human rights and liberties. This comes as no news to us. This has become part of the inescapable realities of Gambian life. There is no end in sight to this fraudulence of public justice and the pain that comes with it. Let the journalists be. Free.
  • Doris E. Wright
  • Fatou Touray
    • Comments
    • If the courts that people should seek redress in the gambia are not free then i don't know where we are heading to. This journalists are innocent under the eyes of every genuine and just person. I say bravo to them because they are prisoners of conscience and history will record everman's deeds whether good or bad. Mandela have been jailed for 27 years for fighting for justice but atlast the truth has prevailed over there so one day the truth will prevail over here too. we shall never give up the struggle for independence and justice. The struggle continues. Aluta Continua!
  • Bailo B. Jallow
    • Comments
    • Freedom of speech and expression seriously assaulted once again by the murderous despot, Yahya Jammeh and his gang of mercenery judges.
  • john allen muhammed
  • justice touray
    • Comments
    • This should be a coursre of concern to every sane gambian that what is happening in our home soil and to other family members of our fellow countrymen is not right and should be condemned by any means necessary. lets cross our fingers and pray so that justice will prevail in our homeland mother gambia. same to jammeh the animist, vampire, the witch who is thirsty of blood and should be poach, captured and brought to justice.
  • Kinteh Darboe
    • Comments
    • All fair minded Gambians and the rest of the world need to stand up against this abuse of power. This is unjust and uncalled for innocent Journalists to jailed without doing anything wrong.
  • M Njie
    • Comments
    • Free the six journalists now. This is real injustice that never happen anywhere. Down with all dictators and terrorists
  • Momodou Olly Mboge
    • Comments
    • The truth shall prevail. I salute the GPU and 6 jounalists for standing for justice and truth. This so-called guilty verdict further cements the resolve of the movement against tyranny in the Gambia. I am proud of the leadership of the GPU. Her dynamism and fearlessness is commmendable and encouraging.
  • Jabou Joh
  • Demba Baldeh
    • Comments
    • This is an act of barbarism and jungle justice - This Judge did this to preserve his position... Guess what? Not a single level of activism will spare you... Ask Magistrate Jawo? Down with dictators and oppression! In hell you all belong!
  • Musa Jeng
  • karamba touray
    • Comments
    • I demand the immediate unconditional release of all the wrongfully convicted members of the GPU
  • Sillah
    • Comments
    • This is one of the sadest days of this regime. Free all 6 now!!!!!!!
  • Saidou Touray
    • Comments
    • Down with injustice! Down with Yaya Doma Jammeh!
  • alagie barrow
  • Sheriff Sarr
  • Alas
    • Comments
    • Gambians should not allow this happen. Let us all get up and kick the hell out of this mad man
  • Christine Sukuna
    • Comments
    • This is just another example, in the sea of the uncountable, of just how confused Jammeh is and how he is hopelessly failing to represent and carry out his responsibilities in an effective way. In laywoman's terms; he basically can't do anything right at work and I think he has long been aware that he can call it quits anytime but then again, what is there to do after curing Aids, organizing witchhunts, and terrorizing your fellow citizens on a daily basis not excluding making up stuff as you go along without as much as a handslap. God Bless all Gambians and all concerned individuals who believe and can envision something way beyond what Jammeh can execute for the country. My heart resides with the journalists, their families and friends. Hold tight to your beliefs for your path is one of truth and sacrifice for the greater good. A concept Jammeh has no ability to grasp.
  • S Dabo
    • Comments
    • В
  • Sarah Johnson
  • Alieu Badara Sowe
  • Allen Howard
  • Omar Bah
    • Comments
    • We must come together now and get this idiot of a president out of our midst. This is sickening. For the GPU Six, our hearts are with you.
  • suntou Bolon
    • Comments
    • Free them now!
  • Kebba Foon
    • Comments
    • Its time for us Gambians to know that Jammeh is the problem. Lets put our differences aside and confront Jammeh, what else does he need to do to innocent Gambians?
  • Tony Smith
    • Comments
    • I wonder what freedom of speech means to the Gambian President. I think a man with all his titles and degrees should know. Bravo to the GPU we are all behind you. May be the President forgot his own words " Transparency and accountability is the order of the day"
  • PK Jarju
    • Comments
    • The jailing of the six journalists exposes the harsh environment Gambian journalists are operating under Yahya Jammeh. Its also shows the determination of the Jammeh regime to to keep the Gambian people in a perpetual state of darkness and passive subjugation.
  • Bayil Nyom Sam Sarr
    • Comments
    • There sould be an impicment process for Jackass Jankanding Yahya Jammeh, imediately. I totally condem his governments action.
  • Adama Dabo