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DE RUEHJL #0249/01 1111611
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O 211611Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6598
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUFGAID/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANJUL 000249 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DAKAR PASS RAO, DAO, AND ODC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS CASC ASEC PHUM KMCA GA SG
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: MORE DETAINEES RELEASED, OTHER 
DEVELOPMENTS 
 
REF: A. BANJUL 233 
     ¶B. BANJUL 225 
     ¶C. BANJUL 222 
 
BANJUL 00000249  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D) 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
 
¶1. (C) The General Manager and Editor-in-Chief of the 
journal, "Independent," are among detainees released April 20 
and ostensibly cleared of involvement in the aborted coup 
plot March 21.  Ambassador met April 21 with Interior 
Minister Jatta and pressed again for access to Amcit detainee 
and for respect of detainee' rights; Jatta made no 
commitment. The European Union and local Bar Association 
issued statements expressing concern over detention of 
plot-related suspects without charge beyond the 72-hour 
maximum period stipulated by law.  Two knowledgeable sources 
said they could not rule out another attempt at a "palace 
coup." Ambassador will meet April 24 with Foreign Affairs 
Permanent Secretary and press for access to Amcit detainee. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
MORE DETAINEES RELEASED 
------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) Following authorities' April 15 release of former 
National Assembly Speaker Sheriff Dibba (ref a), another 
seven detainees picked up for suspected involvement in the 
aborted coup plot March 21 were released on April 20. 
Corroborating media reports, our sources confirm that the 
seven were all civilians and that among them were General 
Manager Madi Ceesay and Editor-in-Chief Musa Saidykhan of the 
journal "Independent," closed by authorities March 27.  We 
are told that all seven were released without charge, but 
that they had been held beyond the 72-hour period within 
which, by law, detainees must be charged.  As for the 
estimated 18 remaining detainees, among them are 
"Independent" journalist Lamin Fatty and former senior 
official with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Keemo 
Balajo, picked up again after being released April 15. 
(COMMENT: Authorities' picking up Balajo again so soon after 
his release highlights, per ref b, the disarray besetting the 
NIA following the foiled coup plot. END COMMENT) 
 
MEETING WITH INTERIOR MINISTER 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (C) Ambassador met April 21 with Interior Minister 
Baboucar Jatta and repeated his previous requests (ref c) for 
prompt access to detained Amcit (dual U.S.-Gambian national) 
Tamsir Jasseh, expressing our deep concern over the delay in 
GOTG's granting access.  Ambassador also conveyed deep 
concern over ongoing reports of torture of detainees. (NOTE: 
Well-informed media source claimed that among those released 
April 21, former Mayor of Banjul suburb of Kanifing, Lai 
Conteh, showed clear signs of having been severely beaten. 
END NOTE)  Pressed by Ambassador, Interior Minister Jatta 
declined to say when access to Jasseh might be granted. As 
for reported torture incidents, he acknowledged that some 
detainees "might have been roughed up" for refusing to 
provide information under questioning.  Ambassador urged 
Jatta to ensure proper treatment of detainees and bring to 
account those responsible for abuses; Jatta took this on 
board,  but made no response. 
 
STATEMENT BY EU, BAR ASSOCIATION 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) British Charge provided copy of recent statement by 
European Union "strongly condemning" the failed overthrow 
plot and "welcoming" the Gambian public's "calm and 
restrained" response (full text being sent to AF/W). 
However, the EU went on to express concern over the holding 
of detainees without charge beyond the 72-hour period and 
over closure of the "Independent."  The Gambia's Bar 
Association, in an April 20 statement, also noted the 
excessive detention periods and called on the GOTG to "adhere 
to the rule of law in all stages of the arrest, detention, 
and trial of coup suspects." 
 
ANOTHER POSSIBLE COUP ATTEMPT? 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (C) In recent conversations with us, two knowledgeable 
sources said they could not rule out the possibility of 
another attempt to overthrow President Jammeh. One source, a 
 
BANJUL 00000249  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
former GOTG Minister, said that he had been aware, prior to 
the March 21 incident, of another group opposed to Jammeh 
that had spoken to him of planning to oust him.  This source 
declined to identify members of this group and professed 
ignorance of precise details of their possible scheme, but 
surmised that they had not been dissuaded from going forward 
due to the thwarting of the plot March 21. Both sources 
asserted that a follow-up overthrow attempt would likely be a 
"palace coup" that would not disturb the country's underlying 
stability in any significant way. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. (C) Ambassador is scheduled to meet April 24 with Foreign 
Affairs Permanent Secretary William Joof and will press again 
for access to Amcit Jasseh and for respect for detainees' 
rights.  We sense growing public concern over the GOTG's 
continued silence over the status of remaining detainees and 
timetable for trials.  The reports of torture are adding to 
the undercurrent of jitteriness, amidst an otherwise calm, 
business-as-usual atmosphere.  Sources' assertion of another 
possible coup attempt is ominous, and highlights need for 
careful monitoring of the internal situation here, one month 
after the failed overthrow plot. END COMMENT. 
STAFFORD