British Mps Damn Gambia Excesses

Anne McLaughlin 

British MPs Condemn the Gambia government’s excessive use of force against peaceful protestors three weeks back. They call for a full and independent investigation into the deaths in state custody.

More than 20 British MPs have signed a motion condemning the Gambia government and its security forces for using excessive force against peaceful protestors leading to the death of political activists of the main opposition United Democratic Party. The Motion enjoyed support from all political parties in the British Parliament (House of Common).

A copy of the Parliamentary motion follows below http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/1417/

The EDM tabled by Anne McLaughlin of the Scottish National Party (SNP) who also doubles as the party`s spokesperson on civil liberties, expressed concern at the continuous incarceration of members of the UDP including Party Lawader Ousainou Darboe.

British MPs call for a full and independent investigations into the deaths which occurred after the arrests of peaceful protestors by Gambian security forces. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had earlier called for the immediate and unconditional release of those in detention.

MPs further calls on the Gambia government to uphold its international obligations the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the rights to peaceful assembly.

The Campaign to secure British Parliamentary opposition to the killing and arrests of opposition officials and activists has been assisted by the UK based Campaign for Human Rights in The Gambia(CHRG-UK).

We hope this Parliamentary motion will from the House of Commons and the numerous condemnations across the world will send a very clear message to the Gambia government and the security forces that the systematic abuse of human rights in the Gambia will not go unpunished.We will continue to consult and confer with the International Community to ensure diplomatic pressure is brought to bear on the Gambia government to respect human rights of the Gambian people, CHRG-UK Alieu Ceesay said.

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