THE GAMBIA: FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHE ON ICRC REPORT ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000615 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHE ON ICRC REPORT ON PRISONS REF: A. BANJUL 564 ¶B. STATE 147570 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D) ¶1. (C) Ref a reports Ambassador's demarche, per ref b instruction, to the Interior Minister to urge granting of access to detainees by the ICRC. Ambassador used October 3 meeting with the senior presidential advisor, Secretary General Mambury Njie (other topics covered septel) to make follow-up demarche. Njie, in response, said he had thought that the ICRC continued to enjoy access to prisons; when Ambassador reiterated that our information indicated otherwise, Njie undertook to look into the matter. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: We will continue to monitor the issue of detainee access for the ICRC and others; it is an issue that became even more compelling following authorities' roundup of 50 or so suspects -- some subsequently released -- in connection with the failed coup plot in March. Our requested meeting with the Vice President, per ref a, has yet to materialize, but, in any event, we regard the Secretary General as more influential within senior GOTG ranks. END COMMENT. STAFFORD