the U.N. Decision Just Received!

At long last, I am attaching the final opinion of the U.N. on the Manneh case we tried so long ago before the ECOWAS Court in Nigeria. The opinion suggests that Manneh may yet be alive and held in some secret prison. Alas, our sources tell us that he is no longer alive. See my previous posts on this aspect of the case. Next, we need to see what sacnctions can be imposed. And so it goes...I am quite pleased for the Manneh family and the MFWA and the attorneys who brought this ultimate result about. Below is my email to Kwame' and the others.


Kwame' et al: On behalf of the International Senior Lawyers project I am very pleased to send across the ether the attached final opinion from the U.N. which presents a total and ultimate victory to the Manneh family. This result has come about due to the years of strong and unremitting effort of Kwame Karikari and the MFWA and my sponsoring orgn, The ISLP, and the attorneys in W. Africa (Femi Falana and AkotoAmpaw) and especially the Freedom Now orgn and lawyers at Hogan and Hartson (Brendan Groves, Erica Mintzer, Rose Hickman, Jeremy Zucker) all of whom caused this decision at the U.N. to come forth.

OPINION No. 14/2009 (REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA)

Communication addressed to the Government on 28 May 2009.

Concerning: Chief Ebrima Manneh.

The State is a Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Update on Manneh et al.

For you who are still following my blog, I am pleased to advise that the U.N. has issued a decision in the Manneh case which is pending there. The decision has been sent to the government of Gambia for its review and reaction prior to its publication to all of us. Thus, we do not yet know the content of the decn but I do anticipate something favorable for the Manneh family and against Gambia. I have been told that a we will learn of the decn and its contents sometime in Nov. so stay tuned for for this event,

I also want to report that six other jailed journalists in Gambia have at last (Sept 7, 2009) been released from that state's custody after a presidential pardon. This action was primarily due to constant pressure from the MFWA and Kwame its director. These journalists were jailed on Aug 17, 2009, so it took some time for this to occur. All were initially given two year prison sentences and were serving those terms during an appeal when the pardon was given.

Maybe Gambia is finally responding to the world's attention. Let us hope so. Until next time...