THE GAMBIA: MORE DETAINEES RELEASED, OTHER

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