THE GAMBIA: CONVERSATION WITH HUMAN RIGHTS NGO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000354

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AU GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: CONVERSATION WITH HUMAN RIGHTS NGO
DIRECTOR

REF: BANJUL 348 AND PREVIOUS (NOTAL)

Classified By: POLOFF ELIZABETH SCHWEFLER, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)


1. (SBU) Poloff met on June 1 with the Executive Director of
the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies
(ACDHRS),Hannah Forster (protect),to discuss her
observations and her NGO's activities regarding the current
human rights environment in The Gambia. Ms. Forster had
recently addressed the 39th Ordinary Session of the African
Commission on Human & People's Rights, attended by the
Ambassador. She was the only speaker at the Session to
publicly mention the need for the Gambian government to
respect the rule of law and the rights of detainees held in
connection with the failed coup plot in March (reftel).


2. (C) When asked her opinion of the human rights situation
in The Gambia, Ms. Forster summed it up with one word,
"grim." She reports that ACDHRS has taken on an increasingly
active role as an advocate for the families of those in
detention, making calls on their behalf and working to
deliver food and clothing. While her official requests for
access have been refused, she has used contacts at the prison
to pass information and supplies for the families. She also
stated that she has used her contacts with the NGO community
in Dakar to help those who fear arrest or persecution to get
to Senegal and receive aid and support once they are there.
She stated that she is not afraid of the Gambian government,
but that she is trying to keep a low profile and work behind
the scenes. There have been no government reprisals against
ACDHRS, but she believes that her phone is tapped and is
suspicious that some counterintelligence operatives may have
approached her under the guise of wanting to flee the country
in order to learn more about her operation. She continues to
have access to high levels of the Gambian government,
including the Interior Minister and the Attorney General, but
reports that they will not answer her direct questions and
that the Interior Minister has warned her to "be careful."


3. (C) Ms. Forster does not expect the African Union
Commission on Human & People's Rights to issue any reports
that are critical of the Gambian government. She pointed out
that the Commission has yet to critically report on human
rights violations in Zimbabwe, Ethiopia or Sudan and
expressed frustration that it is a "highly political
organization that has not been an effective advocate on human
rights." She plans to speak at the Gender Forum and CSO
Forum at the upcoming AU Summit here, and she doubts that
there will be any criticism coming from the AU towards The
Gambia.


4. (SBU) Ms. Forster plans to increase ACDHRS focus on
programs that will raise the Gambian population's extremely
low awareness of their legal rights. An example of this was
a poster in the ACDHRS lobby entitled "What is Bail?" with
simple illustrations explaining the legal process of posting
bail in a way that the general population can understand.


5. (C) COMMENT: ACDHRS is a well-established NGO with solid
international funding, which gives Ms. Forster some freedom
and security to take an increasingly activist role on behalf
of detainees and those who fear arrest. We fully share her
characterization of the human rights situation here as
"grim." We will be exploring possible funding opportunities
to work with ACDHRS on increasing human rights awareness in
The Gambia. END COMMENT.


6. (U) Septel follows on status of detainees and other human
rights issues.
STAFFORD