Source AfricaNews
The president of the Gambia Press Union, Ndey Tapha Sosseh has declared that the Union is today "more determined than ever to leave no stone unturned" in its mission to trace the whereabouts of Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh and to determine who is responsible for his disappearance.
Her statement follows a National Assembly declaration on Monday by the Attorney General and SOS for Justice, Mary Saine Firdaus of the government’s stance that Chief Ebrima Manneh is not in state custody. It was in response to a question on the issue, posed by Minority Leader, Momodou Sanneh.
Sosseh also expressed surprise that a legal person of the AG’s statue could make such public assertions, and directed her to Articles 9 and 10 of the supplementary protocol A/SP.1/01/05 of the ECOWAS Community Court which cover the human rights jurisdiction of the Court and access to the Court respectively.
“The above provisions clearly indicate that there is no requirement for exhaustion of local remedies. I think it is irrelevant and unnecessary to make claims which would actually cause doubt as to one’s abilities to handle certain positions of trust and influence.”
“I would expect that such senior legal person would be au fait with all international legal instruments and protocols that this Government is signatory to and not only that but interpret them to the Gambian public with utmost competence and in good faith,” she stated.
Sosseh added that these instruments are not “here for us to bend and weave to suit a particular position or issue” on the contrary in line with ECOWAS’ vision to move from a Community of Heads of States to a Community of peoples, these instruments are meant to safeguard the position and interests of the people of the ECOWAS.
She said that the fact that the government is aggrieved by the Court’s ruling is something else and there are ways of remedying the situation as she is sure they are aware.
“However, I’m also sure our able Attorney General would also know that the same Court has given the Gambia government ample time and notice, in the process, subpoenaing named Gambian security personnel. How come these people, were not then afforded the opportunity to clear the name of the authorities and The Gambia in this most competent Court of Law?”
She added that “the beauty and uniqueness of the ECOWAS Court decision is that decision of the Court is final” and as at now, there is no superior court to reverse the decision.
“We must also be mindful of the fact that the focus here is not only on the ECOWAS Court ruling re suit No: ECW/CCJ/APP/04/07 but also on the circumstances leading to the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh. I wish more time and resources would be spent by the relevant authorities in investigating claims of disappearances and in protecting the lives and properties of all Gambians irrespective of ideological, political, religious, tribal and other orientation.”
“I also sincerely hope that now that the state has made its stance clear, the relevant authorities will take it upon themselves to commence investigations into the much talked about disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh.”
This reporter has also learnt from a senior official of the ECOWAS Community Court that “the only provision for the court to re-examine its decision is where there are very vital new facts unknown to the litigants at the time of hearing and which may influence the decision.”
Also reacting to the Attorney General’s statement that local remedies were not exhausted, a member of staff of the Media Foundation for West Africa who spearheaded and financed the Chief Manneh case said the “complainant does not have to exhaust local remedies. Why would the Court hear the matter if there is a proviso that domestic remedy must be exhausted?”
Meanwhile, members of the GPU Executive body on Wednesday paid a visit to the Manneh family in Lamin village where they handed over at least 5000 letters of support from concerned individuals all over the world following a joint GPU/Amnesty International campaign to globally highlight the issue of Chief Ebrima Manneh’s disappearance.
Speaking to the family members, Sosseh expressed the Union and other international institutions concern and continued determination to trace Chief Ebrima Manneh.
Sosseh also pledged the continued support to the family and said that other activities aside, Chief Manneh is always remembered in their prayers. She prayed that they remain steadfast in their belief that one day, hopefully in the not too distant future; the truth shall come to light.
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