Human Rights In Gambia

EDM number 1287 in 2013-14, proposed by Katy Clark on 10/04/2014.

That this House congratulates the UK Campaign for Human Rights in The Gambia on raising public awareness about the human rights situation in Gambia; recalls with repugnance the biggest single attack inflicted by the security forces of President Yahya Jammeh on Gambian students for peaceful demonstration on 10 and 11 April 2000, killing 14, and maiming many including Yusupha Mbye, Sainey Senghore and others who were left paralysed and disabled for the rest of their lives; is appalled that security forces and senior government officials involved in this massacre have been indemnified by the Gambian government; notes that the Gambian government has refused to implement recommendations from the coroner inquest after the incident; believes that there should be an immediate international investigation of this massacre by independent international monitors; further believes that the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs should demand a full account of the events on 10 and 11 April 2000 from the Gambian government; urges the Government to work with others in the UN to establish a database for evidence with a view to future justice and accountability; and further urges the Government to actively consider every possible mechanism for accountability of this massacre and other reported killings since 1994, including the establishment of an ad hoc tribunal and to impose targeted sanctions against President Jammeh and his immediate circle, including asset freezing, visa bans and the imposition of an arms embargo on arm sales to the Gambian government and to encourage EU countries to adopt similar measures.

This motion has been signed by a total of 24 MPs.