Saidykhan, editor-in-chief of The Independent, a banned bi-weekly Banjul-based newspaper, is among scores of victims who were illegally detained and suffered all manner of cruelty including torture at the  hands of  President Yahya Jammeh’s security agents  in the aftermath of an alleged coup attempt in March 2006.

“I was stripped naked while live-electric shocks were administered on  all over my body including my genitals. I was told by my torturers that electric shocks on my genitals were meant to make me impotent,”  recalled Saidykhan. 

Following a news report of the attempted coup, The Independent’s offices were raided and its entire staff arrested and briefly detained.

On the night of March 27, 2006 a combined force of armed soldiers and policemen arrested Saidykhan in his home and took him to the notoriously feared National Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters. He was held incommunicado for twenty-two (22) days without any charge during which he was tortured until he became unconscious. The continuous torture left physical scars  on his back, legs, arms, and his right hand which was broken in three  places.

Following persistent threats, Musa joined the growing number of Gambians fleeing the flagrant disregard for human rights of the regime of President Jammeh.

The Independent until its closure had never had peace under Jammeh’s rule. Since its shut down, security personnel have made the premises one of their base.

In Gambia, journalists are frequently detained incommunicado without trial for long periods because of their work. Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter of a pro-government newspaper, Daily Observer is still languishing in detention since his arrest in July 2006.
 

Kwame Karikari, Prof.

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-21-24 24 70

Fax: 233-21-22 10 84

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.mediafound.org