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Momodou
Denmark
11682 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 12:24:19
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MARIAM DENTON’S APPLICATION
By Surakata Danso
Female members of the Gambian bar, on Monday 17th and Tuesday the 18th, appeared before Justice Monangeng in the Banjul High Court and demanded the release of Mariam Denton who is incarcerated at the Central Prison in Mile Two. The team which is made up of fifteen Lawyers put forward a spirited defense of their case.
Mrs. Denton (a senior lawyer) who has been detained without charge for more than 100 days, on the 10th day of July 2006, filed an application for bail against her continuous detention. It could be recalled she has been in detention since 6 April 2006.
In moving the application Madam Ida Drammeh who led the team of female Lawyers told the Court that the applicant, Mariam Denton had filed an application on the 16th of July 2006 for bail. She added that Mariam Denton, was arrested on the 6th April 2006 from her residence in Churchill’s Town. Lawyer Drammeh noted that since the day of her arrest she had been in detention at the central prison in Mile Two without charge for 103 days. Madam Drammeh further indicated that the applicant is a legal practitioner, a widow and a mother of two children. She also added that their client was stricken by malaria during her detention, and was not taken to hospital. Madam Drammeh also noted that their client had also been denied food from her family and had not been able to practise her profession to enable her to take care of her family and herself. Ida Drammeh further pointed out that the health of Denton’s 83 year old father has deteriorated due to the shock he suffered.
She further stated that since she is not charged with any offence, it is a great violation of her constitutional and Fundamental Rights to keep her in detention. Madam Drammeh in a move to support her submission, cited sections 37.19 and 5 of the 1997 constitution. She pointed out that section 19 provided for the protection of a person against arbitrary arrest and detention, and violation of fundamental rights.
She also cited the relevant portions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the UN Declaration on Human Rights, the case of Sabally VS the State. She referred to the affidavit of the State which stats that continuous detention of Mariam Denton is in the public interest. Madam Drammeh dismissed the assertion that the continuous detention of Denton is in the public interest. She cited the case of Abiola and Abacha in 1998 in Nigeria. She finally contended that since The Gambia is a democratic state with a constitution, it is good to uphold the rule of law. She then urged the court to grant the applicant for bail and all other prayers sought in the application.
The matter was at this stage adjourned till July 18th, but on the 18th July, the matter could not move due to the late appearance of the Acting DPP, who told the court that he has been at the treason trial and left that place late. In adjourning the case, Justice Monageng expresses surprise over the conduct of the Acting DPP. She added that she had expected that since the matter is a constitutional one, it should have overridden everything. She finally asserted that “come rain come sunshine”, the case would move even if she would set aside all matters.
source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 55/2006, 20-23 July, 2006
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 12:33:24
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| Watch out Gambia, women are on the move. Let us hope that commonsense prevails that Ms Denton is released asap. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 12:40:11
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Free Mariam Denton!! Free Mariam Denton !!
She has been locked without any charges brought against her for 103 days let her go free!!!
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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kajaw
70 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 19:53:29
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Omega,
As painful as Mis Dentons detention is, this has become routine in the Gambia this is precisely what i have been trying to get you to understand. We are in a state of lawlessness. only God knows how much toture she had to endure or even if she is alive. I know Mariam personallywhen i worked at the Tresury. Her husband was the Accountant General and my boss. I also lived just behind her father (Sir Alieu Jack) home in Churchills Town. So i feel her plight on a personal level. Yet this is not new. If you saw the pictures of WA Juwara's body after he was released, you will be horrified. His skin was all brused and broken up a victim of the babarity of the dungons at the NIA.
The problem with this forum Omega, is that some of you speak out just when the people they care for are victims. Injustive anywhere is injustice everywhere. When this happened to members of the oposition, the media.....one must condem it with the same vigor. I have often been charactarized as a member of the oposition when i critize the JAmmeh regeme in it babarity. Yet at the same time i have been called a jammeh simpatizer when i point out that the same dungons existed in the Jawara regeme under the defunct NSS.
The broader picture however is that we must ask ourselves whether we want to continue living in tyrany or whether we are tired enough to force this mad system out of existance. I am not sure what exactly the answer is. One thing i am sure of is that innocent people are suffering. I am also not so naive to assume that this culture of intolerance and impunity will end with the end of this regeme. We as a nation must rethink the whole subject of crime and punishment. The truth that no one seem to be willing to confront is that we are brought up from childhood to use violence. It is fair to say that almost all of us here have been beaten by our parents from a young age, we were bullied by our peers in elementary and high school we were abused and beaten up by our teachers and when we become older, we were abused and beaten up by the government and their agents. When i was in high school, some of our seniors (Eg the lawyer Mai Fatty) organized a student protest march to protest lack of school buses . This was in the Jawara regeme. The protest march was broken up some of us were arrested. I was in banjul police station for three days. All of us were beaten up, ice cold water was pored on our heads and we slept on the bare floor with our wet clothes. many of us were cramed in one room. I remember one guy i just know his first name as morro. He had sustained injuries and had no medical attention and was moaning at night. one of the police guards outside told him to shut up and when he did not, he came in and assulted him. I was only 15.
So brother and sisters, it is a deeper social issue that we must comfront. I have to admit, i do not have all the answers but i know clearely that almost every police station in the country, and virtually all the security aparatus in the country use toture as their principal mode of investigation. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 20:06:03
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quote:
Originally posted by kajaw
Omega,
As painful as Mis Dentons detention is, this has become routine in the Gambia this is precisely what i have been trying to get you to understand. We are in a state of lawlessness. only God knows how much toture she had to endure or even if she is alive. I know Mariam personallywhen i worked at the Tresury. Her husband was the Accountant General and my boss. I also lived just behind her father (Sir Alieu Jack) home in Churchills Town. So i feel her plight on a personal level. Yet this is not new. If you saw the pictures of WA Juwara's body after he was released, you will be horrified. His skin was all brused and broken up a victim of the babarity of the dungons at the NIA.
The problem with this forum Omega, is that some of you speak out just when the people they care for are victims. Injustive anywhere is injustice everywhere. When this happened to members of the oposition, the media.....one must condem it with the same vigor. I have often been charactarized as a member of the oposition when i critize the JAmmeh regeme in it babarity. Yet at the same time i have been called a jammeh simpatizer when i point out that the same dungons existed in the Jawara regeme under the defunct NSS.
The broader picture however is that we must ask ourselves whether we want to continue living in tyrany or whether we are tired enough to force this mad system out of existance. I am not sure what exactly the answer is. One thing i am sure of is that innocent people are suffering. I am also not so naive to assume that this culture of intolerance and impunity will end with the end of this regeme. We as a nation must rethink the whole subject of crime and punishment. The truth that no one seem to be willing to confront is that we are brought up from childhood to use violence. It is fair to say that almost all of us here have been beaten by our parents from a young age, we were bullied by our peers in elementary and high school we were abused and beaten up by our teachers and when we become older, we were abused and beaten up by the government and their agents. When i was in high school, some of our seniors (Eg the lawyer Mai Fatty) organized a student protest march to protest lack of school buses . This was in the Jawara regeme. The protest march was broken up some of us were arrested. I was in banjul police station for three days. All of us were beaten up, ice cold water was pored on our heads and we slept on the bare floor with our wet clothes. many of us were cramed in one room. I remember one guy i just know his first name as morro. He had sustained injuries and had no medical attention and was moaning at night. one of the police guards outside told him to shut up and when he did not, he came in and assulted him. I was only 15.
So brother and sisters, it is a deeper social issue that we must comfront. I have to admit, i do not have all the answers but i know clearely that almost every police station in the country, and virtually all the security aparatus in the country use toture as their principal mode of investigation.
powerful stuff kajaw. I am sure brother martin luther is turning in his grave as you touch the key boards when he said "... injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere... gradualism leads to standstillsm whch leads to doing nothingsm..." GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE.
WAS MRS BENSOUDA NOT THE PRESIDENT OF THE GAMBIAN BAR ASSOCIATION. MAY BE LAWYERS SHOULD BOYCOT THE COURTS FOR TWO MONTHS AND BRING THE JUDIACIARY TO A GRINDING HALT. I BET IT WILL WORK.
THEN AGAIN, WHO WILL BELL THE CAT. I SOMETIMES FORGET, IN THE GAMBIA WE ONLY HAVE FAIR WEATHER FRIENDS AND HONESTLY WITH NO APOLGIES.
THE MOST USED WORD IN THE GAMBIA SINCE 1994 IS "NDEYSAN" USED TO SYMPATHISE WITH SOMEONE GRIEVING.
THEN AGAIN as shakespeare said: When beggars die, there are no comets seen, the Heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. MAY BE GAMBIANS SHOULD UNDERTAKE 30 DAY NATION WIDE PRAYER FOR HER RELEASE.
As the Prohet once said: AL MUSLIM AKHUL MUSLIM so should we be each others keeper. Today is Mariam and tomoroow is Kondorong. |
Edited by - kondorong on 20 Jul 2006 20:12:10 |
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kajaw
70 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 21:19:06
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First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak out for me.
by Martin Niemoller
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak out for me.
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 21:28:53
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| ALI MAZURI SAID SOMETHING SIMILAR WHEN HE SAID IF THEY COME FOR ME DURING THE NIGHT AND YOU KEEP QUIET, THEY WILL COME FOR ALL OF YOU DURING THE DAY. GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE. GOOD JOB KAJAW |
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kajaw
70 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 22:04:51
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Omega
go to this site and see for your self the handiwork of the Jammeh goons http://www.ndam.org/ see for your self what they did to Waa Juwara |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 22:46:54
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kajaw
this slide show makes me sick to the stomach. TIME IS THE REAL ENEMY. WE WILL CROSS THAT BRIDGE TOGETHER. SLOWLY BUT SURELY. SO SHALL IT BE WRITTEN SO SHALL BE DONE AND SO SHALL IT COME TO PASS |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 23:16:45
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| ALhassan,Madiba and Mbay have you seen the slide Show.NO offence but Yaya is Evil.peace |
There is no god but Allah |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 23:39:35
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Kejaw,
youve put tears to my eyes.I have not cried for ages but as I watched this,I can't keep my tears running down.
I truely don't belief Gambian citizens can cause such a toture upon a fellow citizen no matter what crime even murder.
I have lost faith in our brothers who can without thinking of their families and what tomorrow hold for them to inflict such a pain on a fellow human being.Even an animal shouldn't be beaten like this.
Peace
Janyanfara |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2006 : 23:47:08
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| BROTHER JANYANFARA THIS IS WHAT AM TRYING TO GET TO THE GAMBIANS THAT GAMBIA IS A LAWLESS COUNTRY,YAYA AND HIS NIA ARE CRIMINALS.AS I SAID TO MY MR HEALTH FOE THAT IS UNLAWFUL TO FORCE ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING. |
There is no god but Allah |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2006 : 00:07:26
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Kajaw, you are very brave to post about something so close to home for you.
I agree with you that the rethink needs to be about the upbringing of children. Violence breeds violence. Barbarity breeds barbarity,
Children should NOT be routinely beaten, or they will turn into bullies and possibly torturers later down the line. If we want to live in peace then we have to teach peacefulness.
The things children see and hear affect their mental state. If they see alot of violence they can become desensitised to it.
In my view in Gambia there is TOO much respect for authority. People in general dont question things enough. This is partly due to lack of education, partly due to fear of those in authority and partly due to religion teaching people that things are gods will and they should be accepting of the status quo.
If people had less respect for authority, more education, less fear of those in authority and didnt believe in allah, then I think there would be a revolution in Gambia.
I would like it to be a bloodless revolution to a socal democratic state.
Please dont give up hope. ONe day your time will come. |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2006 : 00:17:21
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| GAMBIANS WILL ALWAYS BELIEVE IN ALLAH AND NO ONE CAN CHANGE THAT.MAY ALLAH FORGAVE US ALL OF OUR SINS. |
There is no god but Allah |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jul 2006 : 00:21:14
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quote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
Kajaw, you are very brave to post about something so close to home for you.
I agree with you that the rethink needs to be about the upbringing of children. Violence breeds violence. Barbarity breeds barbarity,
Children should NOT be routinely beaten, or they will turn into bullies and possibly torturers later down the line. If we want to live in peace then we have to teach peacefulness.
The things children see and hear affect their mental state. If they see alot of violence they can become desensitised to it.
In my view in Gambia there is TOO much respect for authority. People in general dont question things enough. This is partly due to lack of education, partly due to fear of those in authority and partly due to religion teaching people that things are gods will and they should be accepting of the status quo.
If people had less respect for authority, more education, less fear of those in authority and didnt believe in allah, then I think there would be a revolution in Gambia.
I would like it to be a bloodless revolution to a socal democratic state.
Please dont give up hope. ONe day your time will come.
I learnt my lesson two weeks a go when my son told me he would treat his family the same way i treated him. I had refused to buy the same kind of toy for his sibling and instead told them to share toys instead of each having his "own".
So watch out. This is why i put up a topic titled we deserve our present situation. many did not like it though but it really resonates home. SOCIETY CONTRIBUTES ALOT ABOUT HOW WE RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER. |
Edited by - kondorong on 21 Jul 2006 00:22:39 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
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