Supporters of Gambia's opposition NationalAlliance for Democracy and Development are giving new details about what mighthave led to the arrest of their leader by Gambian police. Halifa Sallah, one ofthe most outspoken critics of President Yayah Jammeh's government was arrestedMonday outside the capital, Banjul.
AmnestyInternational has expressed concern about political and media freedom in Gambiasince Jammeh seized power in a bloodless coup in 1994.
Sam Sarr, a seniorparty member and editor of the Soroyaa newspaper told VOA Sallah wasarrested soon after visiting the village of Makumbaya outside Banjul wherethere had been allegationsof rights abuses.
"Manythings have been happening in Makumbaya. The newspapers have been reporting ofpeople who were abducted and taken to a place called Kololi which is about 25kilometers from the Capital, Banjul. What they normally do when they take themthere, they take them and give them concoction to drink. They also forced themto make confession that they are witches who have eaten this person or thatperson," he said.
Sarrsaid Sallah was concerned about who was behind the abductions and the inhumantreatment of the villagers.
"Whatmakes very strange is the fact that it is accompanied by people putting onmilitary uniforms and armed by rifles. They are also accompanied by a group ofyoung people, militants of the ruling party who are normally know as "greenboys" and "green girls". So on Saturday Halifa visited Makumbaya on a factfinding mission to talk directly to the victims who are involved. They narratedtheir experiences to him, and these things were recorded, and the following dayhe was arrested," Sarr said.
In2007, President Jammeh claimed he could cure AIDS in three days. With thereports of witchcraft being practiced in some parts of the country, Sarr saidGambians must act to reverse the negative image of their country.
"These are really thingswhich have to be reversed because if at all people are being forced to makeconfessions that they are witches are being treated in this manner, then theseare acts which a violation of the constitution because the treatment can beconsidered as inhuman and degrading treatment because you are taken somewhereagainst your will first to drink something which you do not know about andwhich many of those who are narrating claimed has affected their health," Sarrsaid.
Amnesty Internationalhas expressed concern about political and media freedom in Gambia since Jammeh seizedpower in a bloodless coup in 1994.
Religious leadersin the country recently urged the ruling AFPRC to give amnesty to all politicaldetainees.
Gambian leader Jammeh reportedlysaid the detainees committed crimes that were tantamount to treason and shouldhave been killed under normal circumstances.
VOA has made repeatedrequests with current and former Gambian information ministers for interviewsto address issues about the country. But too often the officials would eithercancel or postpone the interview at the last minute.