The Gambia police Friday dropped false publication and broadcasting charges against leading human rights activist Madi Jobarteh, an official source said here.
The discussion to drop all charges against Jobarteh was taken in consultation with The Gambia Police Force, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Gambia Bar Association and The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO), NHRC chairperson commissioner Emmanuel Daniel Joof said in a statement made on Friday.
“I am happy to announce that as Inspector General of Police of The Gambia Police Force, we are dropping all charges against Mr. Madi Jobarteh as from today Friday. “No other action will be taken against him as far as this case is concerned,” he said.
He said this milestone followed the advisory role of the National Human Rights Commission and frank discussions.
He also said that on Thursday the minister of Interior Ousaman Sonko raised concerns regarding the case.
He revealed that TANGO and GBA reiterated that the state was the primary duty bearer and had the obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the fundamental human rights of all persons residing in The Gambia.
“They called on the Gambia Police Force and all other State security agencies to continuously assume their critical roles as the number one defender and protector of the rights and freedoms of the people,” he said.
Commissioner Joof commended the IGP for the willingness to engage in the discussions and in his commitment to drop all the charges against Jobarteh.
He pointed out that suspicions and speculations were minimized when the public was regularly informed and made aware of cases under investigations by the police.
He said that in their discussion, both TANGO and the GBA encouraged the state and its security apparatus to engage with civil society, communicate in a timely and accurate manner and build strong partnerships to foster a smooth transition following two decades of arbitrary rule by the former president.
“The National Human Rights Commission wishes to remind the Government of its obligations to respect and protect the right of the people to free speech, in accordance with Section 25 of the Constitution of The Gambia, 1997, which guarantees every person living in The Gambia the right to freedom of expression, conscience, assembly, association and movement, as expected in a democratic nation anchored on the rule of law, good governance and dues process,” he said.
