Ebrima Manneh

Ebrima Manneh B. (* 1970 in Lamin, named " Chief" Ebrima Manneh ) is a journalist in The Gambia. During his stay is unclear since July 2006, it is speculated that in prison he met his death in 2008. According to official government figures, however, this does not know anything about his whereabouts.

Life

Working as a journalist

Manneh was since 1998 in the daily newspaper The Daily Observer worked as a journalist. The newspaper is considered close to the government. There he was a reporter and columnist in the area crimes.

Arrest

The organization Reporters Without Borders expressed on 20 July 2006 first concern about the disappearance of two journalists, including Manneh. He is missing a message to the row since July 7, his family expressed the belief that Manneh after his arrest by the National Intelligence Agency ( NIA) managed to escape and since then hiding. As abduction date partly July 11 was called. According to information of the Media Foundation for West Africa ( MFWA ) Manneh was arrested on July 11 by two plainclothes officers in the offices of the Daily Observer Bakau of the NIA and detained at Mile 2 prison without charge and incommunicado. According to the MFWA Manneh is accused in July at the African Union Summit in Banjul, to have made ​​a week before his arrest, " harmful " information to foreign journalists. The NIA denied the detention Mannehs, the MFWA.

Signs of life in Fatoto

The Gambia Echo reported on 13 January 2007 that Manneh had found in December 2006 in the police station of Fatoto. He is said in the last five months before - have been detained in various police stations in the country - the last three in Fatoto. Human rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders had, in the meantime, a petition to the Gambian President Jammeh written to secure the release Mannehs. During recent months the government had continued to deny knowing anything about the whereabouts Mannehs. End of February 2007 for the first time expressed a spokesman for the police publicly about the case Manneh. However, this should never have been detained in the designated police stations. The police said that they obtain from the population relevant statements about the whereabouts Mannehs.

When researching a reporter in April 2007 Manneh was no longer in Fatoto, he was reportedly transferred in February to an unknown destination. While the police stated not to know anything about him., , It was assumed that he was then moved to combo.

Indictment before the Court of ECOWAS

The Media Foundation for West Africa had at the Court of Justice of ECOWAS in Abuja lawsuit against the Gambian government filed to force the release Mannehs. The hearing took place on 16 July 2007, was responsible for the prosecution of lawyer Femi Falana Nigerian. The complaint alleges a violation of the right under Article 4, 5 and 7 of the African Charter of Human Rights and the rights of peoples. It also violates Article 6 of the African Charter of Human Rights and the rights of nations, which guarantees his right to personal liberty. A representative of the Government of the Gambia was not present at the first hearing, the case was adjourned to September 26, 2007.

Signs of life in Banjul

In July 2007, has also been suggested that the Managing Director of the Daily Observer Jammeh and confidant, Saja Taal, stands as the mastermind behind the arrest Mannehs. At this time Manneh, according to the statement of the President of the Gambia Press Union Madi Ceesay also the journalist who had ever been incarcerated for the longest time in Gambia. End of July 2007 to Manneh have been seen at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital ( RVTA ) in Banjul, he was allegedly used to treat high blood pressure there. He had been moved to a nearby military hospital later.

At the hearing in September, no representative of the government also appeared at this time, however, the judgment should be made in November the same year. The end of September, the International Federation of Journalists expressed concern that Manneh was killed in prison and demanded that the Gambian government counter-evidence. They relied on a credible from their visual statement of an employee from the Mile 2 prison. So Manneh said to have been brought there in RVTH after the stay and he was told that he would not live to see the next day.

In the day of the trial in November at the Court of ECOWAS three prosecution witnesses were interrogated. A judgment should then be announced until the end of January. In January, the court adjourned on 13 March 2008, to even the testimony of the two NIA officials who had allegedly arrested Manneh to be able to listen.

Shortly before the hearing in March it was announced that now five witnesses were invited to Abuja - Three military security forces and two high-ranking police forces. Since these are not, as one representative of the government, are not published to date, the verdict has been postponed to June 5, 2008. On March 10, an attempt was made by the NIA, to kidnap one of the former witnesses, namely the journalist Yahya Dampha in exile in Senegal. Dampha who could flee, stated to have been getting threatening phone calls. Next he told the press that his neighbors were questioned about him.

Judgment of the Court of Justice of ECOWAS

With a landmark decision of the Court of Justice of ECOWAS had delivered judgment on 5 June 2007. The verdict declared the arrest of Chief Ebrima Manneh illegal and ordered the immediate release. The court also awarded him a compensation sum of $ 100,000. As usual, the Gambian government remained silent on the case Manneh.

Second anniversary of the imprisonment

On the second anniversary of the imprisonment Mannehs Momodou Sanneh called, Minority Leader in Parliament (English Minority Leader ), in July 2008 the government to recognize the judgment of the Court and allow Manneh immediately release.

On 6 April 2009 denied the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Marie Saine Firdaus - continue to know something in Parliament about the whereabouts of Manneh. Foreign politicians sent a petition in April 2009.

In the Amnesty International Media Awards 2009 was awarded Chief Ebrima Manneh in the absence of the Special Award For Journalism. Yayah Jammeh remarked in an interview for the first time in July 2009 to the fall Manneh, his statement was: "How can we release somebody who is not arrested by us" ( "How can we someone release, which was not arrested by us ").

Edward Gomez, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, denied in October continued that the state knew anything about the whereabouts Mannehs. The The African Editors Forum ( TAEF ) honored Manneh in the same month with the Hero of African Journalism Award.

Fifth anniversary of the imprisonment

On 16 March 2011 Jammeh is said to have the level of press representatives made ​​a statement. He assured at that time that the government had nothing to do with the death of Chief Mannehs ( "Let me make it very clear the government did Has nothing to do with the death of Chief Manneh. "). Rumors of the death have been spread in June 2009.

Awards

• 2009 - Special Award For Journalism Amnesty International ( in absentia)
• 2009 - Hero of African Journalism Award from African Editors Forum ( in absentia)