UPD breaks silence on Gambian witchraft

For the past few weeks The Gambia and Gambians have been preoccupied with the strange story of unknown and unidentified people engaged in hunting witches and cleansing them of their devilish disposition. Banjul, the Kombos, the Fonis and Niumis have so far been the areas in which the witch hunters have operated or been operating.

The average Gambian believes that witches and witchcraft do exist. Labelling any person a witch attaches to such person stigma that he/she will live with for the rest of his/her life and this stigma continues to stick to all members of that person's family particularly his children.

Those involved in the ritual of administering whatever stuff it takes to expose a person as a witch and those aiding and abetting them by giving them full protection against resistance are not only committing the crime of abduction and/or kidnapping but they are also defaming the character of so-called witches.

It behoves the Government of The Gambia through the law enforcement agencies to arrest this horrible and un-heard of situation which is causing extreme uneasiness in every part of the country. Any responsible Government would on the first time that the issue of witch hunting came into the public domain mount the necessary investigation and apprehend those involved in these criminal activities. The inaction of the Government is incomprehensible in the face of revelations that unmarked vehicles under the control of security agents have provided escorts for the so-called witch hunters.

It is regrettable that those who are expected to investigate the veracity of this saga of witch hunting are now obstacles and hurdles for the unearthing of the truth.

The arrest of Mr. HALIFA SALLAH the spokesperson for the National Alliance for Democracy and Development and a member of the Editorial Board of Foroyaa and his subsequent arraignment before the Banjul Magistrates Court are a naked misuse of the power to arrest and the criminal justice process.

The United Democratic Party condemns in no uncertain terms Mr. Sallah's arrest for the reasons revealed to us in the media. His arrest is nothing but an affront to democracy and the right of every Gambian to receive information on what ordeal if any the victims of the witchcraft hunters went through.

The United Democratic Party is concerned that Mr. Sallah has been indirectly denied bail because the conditions of bail imposed by the court are so onerous as to amount to a denial of bail. It is regrettable that the administration of criminal justice in The Gambia is being exposed to ridicule and suspicion by the imposition of bail conditions such as the surety being the rank of a retired Inspector General or Brigadier General.

The United Democratic Party with other individuals and organizations that firmly believe in the free and unimpeded flow of information stand in SOLIDARITY with Mr. Sallah in this trying times for justice and rule of law. The United Democratic Party does not only call for Mr. Sallah's bail conditions to be reviewed and replaced with conditions that will augur well for his fair trial.

The United Democratic Party

Secretariat

11 March 2009

Halifa Sallah remanded in Mile Two

Halifa Sallah, former NADD presidential candidate and Foroyaa Editorial Board member, told supporters and sympathisers at the Brikama Magistrates Court, that he is willing to become a sacrificial lamb to ensure the liberty and dignity of the people. He made this remark at the close of his first appearance in court since he was arrested on Sunday 8 March, 2009.

“I am ready to suffer for others not to suffer, but what is going on must come to a stop,” he told his audience. He told them that there is no need for them to despair. He asked them to go home, but they need not worry that he could not possibly meet the conditions of the bail granted. He indicated that he was looking for their strength and not their weakness. He stressed to them that they needed to be strong.

These words evidently touched the audience and the grim faces soon became bright.

Shortly after the adjournment of the case he was whisked to the Remand Wing of Mile Two Prison.

Many people in court were dumbfounded when the Magistrate imposed the following bail conditions:
(1) A bail bond in the sum of 1 million dalasis to be signed by three sureties;
(2) Two of the sureties must be Ex-Inspector General of Police or Ex-Brigadier of the army who have been retired for at least eight years;
(3) One of the sureties must be an Alkalo (village head) from Western Region

When he appeared in court, three charges were read to him:
(i) Spying, in that while at Makumbaya, he had obtained confidential information which he knew is useful to the enemy
(ii) Control of processions in that he held a procession while in Makumbaya
(iii) Seditious intention in that he unlawfully assembled the people of Makumbaya in order to collect information that would bring hatred or contempt or excite disaffection against the Government of The Gambia.

He pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

The police prosecutor then stood up at this point to oppose the granting of bail. He argued that they took a lap top from Halifa Sallah’s home which is in their possession and if Halifa is granted bail he may tamper with the ‘website of the lap top’.

Halifa Sallah, who was unrepresented, submitted that the offences alleged are bailable. He further submitted that every accused person is presumed innocent until he/she has pleaded or proven guilty. He also submitted that the hearing of the case should be free and fair. He concluded that the court should not restrain his ability to defend himself.

He opined that what is significant is for the court to ensure his appearance whenever it deems it fit. He pointed out that he had sought the highest office of this land as a presidential candidate in 2006. He assured the court that he would comply with whatever condition the court imposes to ensure his appearance at an adjourned date as long as the conditions are reasonably justifiable in a democratic society. The magistrate did not like the last bit of the statement and after a brief exchange Halifa amended it to: “I will comply with whatever the court deems just.” He therefore asked the court to grant him bail.

He pointed out that the submission of the prosecution regarding the lap top is neither here or there in that in the first place the lap top does not belong to him but his wife.

Fishing Expedition
He asserted that the prosecution were simply engaged in a fishing expedition. He emphasised throughout his detention that he had never been confronted with any witness.

Culled from Foroyaa