OJ Seeks NIA DG, IGP’s Intervention

Mr. Omar Jallow, fondly called OJ, a renowned political bigwig in the opposition National Alliance for Democracy and Development camp, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency to look critically into and act in the case of Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh as required by the Constitution of the land.

Mr. Jallow was speaking at a Symposium organized by the Network of Human Rights Journalists on the 1st anniversary of the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a senior reporter with the Daily Observer, who went missing since 6th July 2006 just as he was preparing to cover the AU thanksgiving ceremony at the July 22 square in Banjul.

According to the NADD bigwig, the claim that government will not compromise the security of the state can only be accepted when the lives and properties of each and every Gambian are protected. “Every week in radio and television, government says the security of this country will never be compromised. As long as that does not happen, then it is just blowing air.”

He pointed out that anybody who swears to uphold and protect the constitution should make sure that the laws are respected.
OJ pointed out that one is only guilty when he/she is taken before a court of law.
The Gambia, he went on, is fraught with problems owing to the fact that people get shot, killed, tortured while some disappear amidst general manipulation of the rule of law without any appreciable reaction from people who are generally indifferent.

Mr. Jallow went on to call on civil society organizations, the press, human rights organizations, politicians including both the opposition and the APRC regime to come together in a national conference so as to solve the problem.

Mr. Jallow expressed dismay at the seeming pretence surrounding Chief Manneh’s whereabouts, calling on every Gambian to stand up and speak the truth for The Gambia.