PRESIDENT YAHYA JAMMEH GOES FROM BAD TO WORSE

August 22, 2012

It is traditional for heads of state to announce pardons on special occasions, so last Sunday, to mark the happy occasion of Eid-al-Fitr, the Gambian President Yahya Jammeh made his special announcement:

"All those guilty of serious crimes and condemned will face the full force of the law. All punishments prescribed by law will be maintained in the country to ensure that criminals get what they deserve."

And the president means to carry out these executions within a month. Thus ended a 27-year amnesty for criminals and no doubt the occasional political prisoner. Maybe Mr Jammeh wants to make room for other citizens he does not like, such as homosexuals, who can get up to seven years if caught breaking the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 2005, and of course journalists. Only last week, his security forces raided and shut down the Gambian community radio station Taranga FM in Banjul.

Human rights organisations are outraged at his track record of oppression, yet, notwithstanding, he receives awards and accolades from foreign institutions:

• 2004: Honorary Doctorate by the St. Mary's College of Maryland
• 2008: Honorary Doctorate and Professorship from Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica
• 2012: Doctor of Social Sciences (Honoris Causa)” by the USA based Norman Academy in collaboration with the University of Boake - Ivory Coast
• 2012: Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan

I would also like to recommend an award for His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh Naasiru Deen, but I doubt that he would accept it.