Street Hawkers Licence anyone?

I don't think the government of Sierra Leone, particularly the City Councils, should continue to allow street hawkers to sell pirated goods along the streets of Sierra Leone. I'm picking on the City Councils in particular because they can make this problem go away overnight.

Right now, many in the music industry suffer from piracy. Due to action taken by locals in-country, myself included, piracy of local music is on a downward trend. Piracy of foreign music goes on just as much, if not more. Today I was offered some foreign music, and the pirates have now stopped using the low quality CDs. They are importing improved quality CDs and even printing images on to their products. This is definitely a new and disturbing development.

I've been saying for a long time now that the Pirates, having been left unchecked for so long, are now financially ready, willing and able to compete. They can afford to hire the best lawyers, they have the network of distributors and they the support of the City Councils.

Why do I say so? Well, it is clear that the City Councils can bring their municipalities to a standstill, if they choose to. In Freetown, for example, the City Council effectively checked citizens for their Local Council Tax certificates a few months back, during a week or so of intense scrutiny. With the same will, they can check the boys selling pirated CDs on our streets, ensuring they have their street traders licences.

This will help fight piracy in several ways. Key to this strategy is firstly, the approach would mean that potential hawkers have to register their personal details with the City Councils in order to get their street hawkers licences. The City Councils can place criteria that binds the licence holders to a particular code of conduct, including, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL PIRATED GOODS. This will protect both local and international rights holders, raising billions in revenue for the Councils, the government, through the appropriate taxes and for rights holders, in the form of royalties payable.

As the debate about the demise of the Sierra Leone music industry rages on, it is clear that music has been responsible for employing thousands of youths and without an alternate system of employment, increased unemployment will be the result.

So, the more I think about it, the more it is clear to me that the government should not allow these youth-man dem, to continue doing what they are doing right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the government should get them off the streets. I am saying that the government should adopt a policy that legitimises the existence of the street traders, to give us all peace of mind that we are buying real products from good people so that, if a consumer ever needs to return a faulty CD, they can do so easily. It will give us, as consumers, a lot more confidence to spend our hard earned Leones, or Dollars as the case may be, which does what for inflation?

You said it! The longer we keep these guys on the streets, the less control we have over our economy and a lot of the good things that the government is trying to do will not succeed due to the environment.

As for me, I will launch a system of distributing products in Sierra Leone, that should go a long way towards fighting piracy not just in Sierra Leone, but in West Africa too. Just ask Oluni, he has a copy of my plan in his email inbox! Hmmmm!

My Blog: Lawrence BOLO Spencer-Coker: Get Sierra Leoneans Reading More Books - 400

My Blog: Lawrence BOLO Spencer-Coker: Get Sierra Leoneans Reading More Books - 400

Google Chrome Browser Leads

Things I bear in mind when creating a winning strategy for Google Chrome is that, when you open a new tab, it shows you your top sites - using graphics from the site. I love this feature and Chrome also loves it because they promote it heavily. With unfettered access, this great feature on Chrome makes me feel exposed. I mean, anyone who uses my Chrome browser after me can see all the top sites I like to visit. In a nicely presented graphical display. I feel exposed people!

Do you really wanna share everything about your habits with everyone who uses your computer? I know I don't. You may use your browser for business and you need to maintain competitive advantage by keeping things to yourself. You may be an adult and you love checking out adult sites on the web. Do you really wanna share all of that? Hmmmm! You can always check out the browsing history on ALL browsers, but it's so much harder to do.

In Chrome, there's also a link - on each new tab - that takes you to your surfing history. So now, anyone who uses my computer not only has access to my top sites via new tabs, adult or not, they can also check out all the sites I've visited with easy click on links to take them there. That means, if I've saved my username and password on any site, like I've done with some sites I use regularly and the person using my computer clicks to those sites, can access those accounts. It's a risk and it'll stop me using Chrome as much as I should, keeping Explorer on top!

What should Google do about this? How does Chrome get to surpass Explorer?

The solution is ... create a special Chrome Development Team so you can focus on your surfers needs! You have one already? Fantastic. That's a start!

Market domination can only be gained via the hearts and minds of surfers, because truth be told, most browsers offer similar functionality.

One of my favourites is Safari. It has such a 'cool' feel! I like the way it shows the Description of websites right at the top of the browser window.

Chrome is missing one great feature - showing the details of a link when you hover over it. Explorer is the pioneer of this feature and it makes a difference to click through rates. I think Chrome should add it but do so in a pop-up box instead, i.e, when you hover over a link, a box should appear near the link showing the details of the link. The exact details that a surfer will find useful will be decided by the guys at Chrome but such a feature is beneficial to surfing.

Simply, Chrome should add the following functionality:

1. Prompt me to enter a password when I open Chrome. If I enter the correct password, then show me the history. Wrong password on No password, then show me a 'clean' version with no Top Sites and no browsing history!

That way, everyone's happy! I will use it more because of the indexing and my friends and colleagues can use my favourite browser without getting access to my secrets. Nice!

What features should be included? That's a whole other article but I have some great suggestions.

Regards
Lawrence Spencer-Coker
Market Domination Consultant
http://www.simplySUPREME.NET

Cocaine Saga

Cocaine set on fire at Kingtom Bomeh dumping site
By Bampia Bundu
Apr 23, 2009, 23:00

The end of the cocaine saga

Sentencing Of Cocaine Plane Convicts: Delivered Yesterday Tuesday 21st April 2009 by the Honourable Justice Nicholas C. Browne-Marke: Consequential Orders: Restitution, Confiscation, Forfeiture
By HON. NICHOLAS COLIN BROWNE-MARKE
Apr 22, 2009, 15:25

The Counts in respect of which sentence should now be passed are as follows:
Count 1:
1st accused, George Aritstizabel Archilla: USD 1M and 5 Years imprisonment
2nd accused, Victor Manuel Aroujo Lastreto (Jnr): USD 1M and 5 Years imprisonment
3rd accused, Julio Cesar Morales-Cruz: USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
Count II
8th accused, Harvey Steven Perez: USD 2.5M and 5 Years Imprisonment
9th accused, Gerardo Quistana Perez: USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
10th accused, Yeimy Fernadez Leandro: USD 1.5M and 5 Years Imprisonment
Count IV
1st accused, George Aritstizabel Archilla: USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
2nd accused, Victor Manuel Aroujo Lastreto (Jnr): USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
3rd accused, Julio Cesar Morales-Cruz: USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
Count V
1st accused, George Aritstizabel Archilla: USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
2nd accused, Victor Manuel Aroujo Lastreto (Jnr): USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
3rd accused, Julio Cesar Morales-Cruz: USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
4th accused, Mohamed Bashil Sesay: Le 300,000,000 and 5 Years Imprisonment
5th accused, Hassan Karim Mansaray: Le 100, 000,000 and 5 Years Imprisonment
6th accused, Patrick Moriba Johnson: Le 25, 000, 000 and 2 Years Imprisonment
7th accused, Chernor Momodu Bah: Le 150,000,000 and 5 Years Imprisonment
8th accused, Harvey Steven Perez: USD 2.5M and 5 Years Imprisonment
9th accused, Gerardo Quistana Perez: USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
10th accused, Yeimy Fernadez Leandro: USD 1.5M and 5 Years Imprisonment
11th accused, Alex Romeo: USD 1.5M and 5 Years Imprisonment
12th accused, Ibrahim Mohamed Manley: Le 150, 000, 000 and 5 Years Imprisonment
15th accused, Alimamy Kabia: Le 150, 000, 000 and 5 Years Imprisonment
16th accused, Sadjo Sarr: USD 1.5 M and 5 Years Imprisonment
18th accused, Mohamed Musa Kamara: Le 50, 000, 000 and 3 Years Imprisonment
Count VI
1st accused, George Aritstizabel Archilla: USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
2nd accused, Victor Manuel Aroujo Lastreto (Jnr): USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
3rd accused, Julio Cesar Morales-Cruz: USD 1M and 5 Years Imprisonment
Fines are cumulative
Sentences of imprisonment are concurrent
CONSEQUENTIAL ORDERS: RESTITUTION, CONFISCATION, FORFEITURE

The provisions relating to these matters, under the general Law, are to be found in Sections 54 to 60 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1965. The most apposite provisions are Sections 55, which deals with a convicted person paying the expenses of his conviction, and Section 59 which deals with the situation where property was taken from a person charged; it permits the Court to restore the property to the person "who appears to the Court to be entitled thereto", which might not necessarily be, the person from whom it was taken.
It follows therefore, that I am not compelled to make the Order prayed for by MR WRIGHT in favour of the 4th accused. The correspondence which was tendered, the undated letter addressed to the 4th accused by the State Chief of Protocol, shows that the 4th accused should have transferred ownership to State House. There is also a letter dated 10th March, 2008 from the Secretary to the President to the Commissioner General, National Revenue Authority, requesting DUTY FREE WAIVER. I presume the request was granted since it originated from State House.
MR. DARAMY’s letter aforementioned is attached to that letter, which shows that it predates the latter. I therefore ORDER that Mercedes Benz Jeep G55 AMG photographs of which are attached hereto, be RESTORED to THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, STATE HOUSE, FREETOWN.
All accused persons have a right of appeal, such appeal to be lodged within 21 days of today’s date. Since I am not presently in a position to say whether any or all of the accused persons might wish to, appeal, I propose, in anticipation of any such appeal or appeals, pursuant to Section 59 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1965 TO RETAIN in Court pending such appeal or appeals, the following exhibits: all Laptop computers; all mobile phones; all GPSs’; all walkie talkies or other means of verbal communication; all correspondence seized either at the residence or residences of any or all of the accused persons, or from their respective persons.
ALSO, all passports of convicted foreigners shall be RETAINED in like manner. In the case of the passports of convicted foreigners, they shall be retained in the custody of this Court, until and unless the time within which an Appeal should be brought has expired; or each and all of them have given a written undertaking in Solemn Form that he or they DO NOT WISH TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT OF APPEAL conferred on a convicted person by Section 57 of the Courts Act, 1965; OR UNTIL FURTHER OR OTHER ORDER.
In the case of Sierra Leone Nationals, any passports in the custody of the Court shall be handed over to the Chief Immigration Officer, from whom the same may be retrieved by the convicted accused person concerned, on payment of the fine and on completion of the term of imprisonment imposed upon him.
Since there is no evidence before me that any Licence or Licences was or were issued by the appropriate Authority in respect of the arms and ammunition found in the residences of the accused persons, and in their vehicles and/or on their respective persons, and bearing in mind that the Indictment herein has not charged any offence relating to the unlawful possession of arms and/or ammunition, it behoves this Court to exercise its discretion as to the eventual disposal of these arms and ammunition. IN THE EXERCISE OF THIS COURT’S DICRETION I ORDER that all arms and ammunition tendered as exhibits in the Court BE HANDED OVER TO THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE ARMED FORCES, for DISPOSAL.
All monies seized from any and all of the accused persons, and tendered as exhibits in this Court, shall be appropriated towards the payment of fines imposed on the affected accused persons. Foreign currencies shall be converted into Leones at the current rate applicable, at the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Limited, Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown, by the Accountant, Judicial Sub-Treasury. On collection of the Leone equivalent of these foreign currencies, they shall be paid into the sub-treasury’s Non-tax Revenue account in favour of the accused person from whom, or in respect of whom, such monies were seized. A proper Account of these dealings shall be submitted to this Court by the Accountant Judicial Sub-Treasury, within 14 days of the date of this Order, for the Court’s approval, and for further Directions.
In view of the quantity and volume of exhibits tendered, all items of a personal nature, i.e. other than those already listed above, tendered in this Court, and which are not related to the commission of any of the crimes charged in the Indictment herein, shall be returned to their respective owners. In this respect, Counsel are asked to draw up lists of such items, such lists to be submitted to this Court for Approval, after which, the Court MAY Order their release to the particular accused person or persons concerned.
The eventual disposal of the Cessna aircraft tendered as exhibits 198 is dealt with by Section 12(5) and (7) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008. Sub-section (5) provides that: "where a person is convicted of an offence under this Part, the court may in addition to the penalty prescribed for that offence, CONFISCATE OR FORFEIT any equipment or property which is the subject matter of the offence or which has been used for the commission of the offence. Sub-section (6) provides that "no conveyance used for the commission of the offence shall be forfeited if the offence was committed by a person other than the owner or PERSON IN CHARGE of the conveyance, and if it is proved to the court that the use of such conveyance for the commission of the offence was without the knowledge or consent of the owner or person in charge of the conveyance and was not due to any neglect; default or lack of reasonable care by the owner or person in charge of the conveyance. Sub-section (7) provides that "in making direction for the purposes of determining any disputes as to the ownership of or other interests in the property or any part therefore; (b) Directions as to the disposal of the property; and (c) such other directions as it may think fit.
I HOLD firstly, that Exhibit 198, the Cessna aircraft fall within the meaning of ‘equipment of property’ in Sub-section (5). A conveyance has not been defined or described in the Act; I should therefore give it, its ordinary. In the Oxford Concise English Dictionary, it is described as ‘the act or process of carrying…a means of transport; a vehicle." I hold therefore that, the aircraft falls within the description of the term ‘conveyance’ in the said Sub-section (6). It follows therefore, that an Order could be made for its disposal in accordance with the provisions of Sub-section (5). On the basis of the evidence led, I HOLD that Exhibit 198, the Cessna aircraft is the subject matter of counts 1 and IV of the Indictment, and that it was used for the commission of those offenses. I ALSO HOLD that on the evidence led, 1st accused was the PERSON IN CHARGE of the aircraft when the offence was committed
PURSUANT to Section 12 (7) (b) and (c) of the Act, I GIVE the following DIRECTIONS:

a) The Cessna aircraft, presently kept in a hanger at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi shall be RELEASED to the custody of the DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION with immediate effect, and he shall also immediately takes steps to protect it.
b) The DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION shall within 72 hours of receiving this ORDER APPRAISE OR CAUSE AN APPRAISAL of the value of the Aircraft. The APPRAISAL shall be submitted to, and filed by him through the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in this court immediately thereafter
c) This court shall examine and assess the APPRAISAL, and if satisfied with it in all respect, shall accept the same. Upon accepting the said APPRAISAL, this court shall DIRECT the DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION to INVITE BIDS for the purchase of the said Aircraft, such Bids to be submitted to him not later than 4th May, 2009.
d) On 5th May, 2009 the DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, through the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, shall file any and all such bids in this court
e) On Tuesday 5th May 2009 this court shall ORDER the sale of the aircraft to the highest Bidder and who shall be prepared to pay for the same, within 24 hours of the Order of this Court.
f) Upon the sale being Ordered, the Master and Registrar shall prepare and Execute a Bill of Sale in favour of the winning bidder, such Bills of Sale to be Registered the same day
g) Upon Registration of the Bill of Sale, the Purchaser shall immediately make arrangements for the removal of the aircraft from its present location
h) In view of Section 12(8) of the Act, there shall be Liberty to Apply.
As states above, Section 12(5) provides that this court may "….CONFISCATE OR FORFEIT any…property which is the subject matter of the offence…….." The subject matter of the offence is count I and IV COCAINE. PURSUANT therefore, to the Powers Conferred on this Court by the said Section 12(5) of the National Drug Control Act, 2008 I ORDER that all cocaine seized in connection with this Indictment, in particular, Exhibits 50 Nos 1-538, 51 Nos 1-61; 87 (1-60); 166 BE CONFISCATED to the State.
PURSUANT to the ORDER made in paragraph 13 above, I ORDER that the said cocaine Exhibits be BURNT publicly within 48 hours of the Order at such place or sites as shall be determined by this Court. For this purpose, not later than 4:30pm today 21st April, 2009 the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions shall file in this Court, proposals for the burning of the said cocaine exhibits. He is at liberty to consult with the ONS, CISU, the Pharmacy Board, the Military and the Police in order to assist him in preparing these proposals.
PURSUANT to the provision of Section 21(1) of the NON-CITIZENS (REGISTRATION, IMMIGRATION AND EXPLUSION) ACT, 1965 as amended I HEREBY CERTIFY that GEORGE ARITSTIZABEL ARCHILLA, VICTOR MANUEL ARAUO LASTRETO (JRN), JULIO CEASAR MORALES-CRUZ, HARVEY STEVEN PEREZ, GERARDO QUISTANA PEREZ, YEIMY FERNADEZ LEANDRO, ALEX ROMEO and SADJO SARR are all Non-Citizens of Sierra Leone, and were on Monday 20th April, 2009 convicted of the Offence of Conspiracy to Import a Prohibited Drug; and in the case ARCHILLA, LASTRETO and MORALES-CRUZ, additionally, being Accessories After the Fact to the Importation of a Prohibited Drug that these are offences in respect of which the Court can impose imprisonment without the option of a fine; I NICHOLAS COLIN BROWNE-MARKE, Justice of Appeal and Presiding Judge DO HEREBY RECOMMEND that an EXPULSION ORDER be made in respect of the above-named IN ADDIITON TO THEIR RESPECTIVE SENTENCES.
Addendum
Exhibits 109 Black Suzuki Jeep and all vehicles seized in connection with this case SHALL be handed over to the Master and Registrar until further order
NICHOLAS COLIN BROWNE-MARKE
21/04/09

Chrome. The Dominant Browser?

Things I bear in mind when creating a winning strategy for Google Chrome is that, when you open a new tab, it shows you your top sites - using graphics from the site. I love this feature and Chrome also loves it because they promote it heavily. With unfettered access, this great feature on Chrome makes me feel exposed. I mean, anyone who uses my Chrome browser after me can see all the top sites I like to visit. In a nicely presented graphical display. I feel exposed people!

Do you really wanna share everything about your habits with everyone who uses your computer? I know I don't. You may use your browser for business and you need to maintain competitive advantage by keeping things to yourself. You may be an adult and you love checking out adult sites on the web. Do you really wanna share all of that? Hmmmm! You can always check out the browsing history on ALL browsers, but it's so much harder to do.

In Chrome, there's also a link - on each new tab - that takes you to your surfing history. So now, anyone who uses my computer not only has access to my top sites via new tabs, adult or not, they can also check out all the sites I've visited with easy click on links to take them there. That means, if I've saved my username and password on any site, like I've done with some sites I use regularly and the person using my computer clicks to those sites, can access those accounts. It's a risk and it'll stop me using Chrome as much as I should, keeping Explorer on top!

What should Google do about this? How does Chrome get to surpass Explorer?

The solution is ... create a special Chrome Development Team so you can focus on your surfers needs! You have one already? Fantastic. That's a start!

Market domination can only be gained via the hearts and minds of surfers, because truth be told, most browsers offer similar functionality.

One of my favourites is Safari. It has such a 'cool' feel! I like the way it shows the Description of websites right at the top of the browser window.

Chrome is missing one great feature - showing the details of a link when you hover over it. Explorer is the pioneer of this feature and it makes a difference to click through rates. I think Chrome should add it but do so in a pop-up box instead, i.e, when you hover over a link, a box should appear near the link showing the details of the link. The exact details that a surfer will find useful will be decided by the guys at Chrome but such a feature is beneficial to surfing.

Simply, Chrome should add the following functionality:

1. Prompt me to enter a password when I open Chrome. If I enter the correct password, then show me the history. Wrong password on No password, then show me a 'clean' version with no Top Sites and no browsing history!

That way, everyone's happy! I will use it more because of the indexing and my friends and colleagues can use my favourite browser without getting access to my secrets. Nice!

Regards
Lawrence Spencer-Coker
Market Domination Consultant
http://www.simplySUPREME.NET

Supreme Inc

Supreme Inc specialize in STAR PERFORMANCE - FULL STOP!!! Our philosophy is 'Strategy By Objective'. You tell us what you want to do and we tell you a great way of doing it!

We are the 1st Market Domination Consultancy! Our corporate objective is to build the dominant MARKET DOMINATION CONSULTANCY this side of the stars. All companies should aspire to dominate the markets in which they operate, so, the service of a Market Domination Consultancy like Supreme Inc, is: helping company executives make informed strategic commercial decisions that lead to market dominance in any industry. The day to day job of a Market Domination Consultant, like me, is (a) to fully understand a given company's marketing needs, and (b) to offer strategic market domination advice to business executives. My name is Lawrence Spencer-Coker. Guided by the teachings of the great Al Ries, the original Focus Consultant, I am on a quest to establish the Market Domination Consultant genre, for, I aim to be, a dominant Market Domination Consultant. My working philosophy is to formulate strategy by objective. "Tell me what your target is and I'll tell you how to achieve it." Skype me @ PROFITSTRATEGIST for a live chat!

Target clients range from start-up company entrepreneurs to Chief Executive Officers managing well known brands and companies. Market Domination Consultants are positioned to work in any part of the world on a consultancy basis. We also supply your company with top Market Domination staff on a temporary basis, as and when you need extra manpower for implementing special projects. Our staffing solution has to be temporary because our Market Domination Consultants go through regular Dominance training modules back at HQ. The Supreme Inc Market Domination Consultancy service and our Staffing Solutions make up the Supreme Total Market Domination service package. The Supreme Inc Total Market Domination service pack is beneficial to your company because, it clears the way for you to FOCUS on what you really want to be doing - be it, making music, managing musicians or corporate events, banking, operating mobile telecoms, mining, agriculture, logistics, security, entrepreneurship.

Focus leads to market dominance! Supreme Inc leads to market dominance.

Find out more about Supreme Inc at http://www.simplySUPREME.NET

Dear Mr Massally.... Well done!

Dear Mr. Massally



On behalf of the officers and members of the National Organization of Sierra Leoneans in North America (NOSLINA) I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected to receive the NOSLINA Diamond Award at our Annual Awards Gala and Independence Anniversary Celebrations. The event will be held Saturday April 25, 2009 at 9:00PM at the Holiday Inn College Park Hotel, 10000 Baltimore Road, College Park, Maryland.



Each year NOSLINA solicits nominations from across North America of individuals who have excelled in enhancing the wellbeing of Sierra Leoneans. The Diamond Award for Distinguished and Outstanding Service is our organization’s highest award. To be nominated for it is recognition by various individuals and groups that you have made a profound contribution that has enhanced the name of Sierra Leone and the welfare of its peoples. This award is an affirmation of your signal, unique, and exemplary contributions. It bestows on you the distinction and esteem held by those whose lives you have touched. For this we are pleased to honor you.



We would be most honored if you could attend our event to receive in person this public pronouncement and recognition of your distinguished service. You will be presented with a plaque and will be invited to offer five minutes of an acceptance speech that embodies the kind of person you are and the inspiration that has guided your public service.



Congratulations for these great accomplishments. We hope your selfless sacrifice will continue unabated and that your contributions to society will continue to be recognized and celebrated for a long time.



We would also like you to inform your relatives, friends, and well wishers of this event and urge them to attend to give you appropriate public commendation and support on this your signal accomplishment. Tickets are priced at $40.00 Single; $70.00 couple, and $120.00 patron (with one accompanied guest). Patrons will be seated at special reserved tables. A regular table of ten can also be reserved for $350.00.



I would be grateful if you could indicate acceptance/attendance by calling me at 916 952 1447 or the Executive Director Suna Nallo at 410 412 4311. Once again, congratulations on your selection for this distinguished award and we look forward to seeing you, your friends and family at the Holiday Inn on Saturday April 25 at 9 PM. Come early because dinner will be served promptly at 9 PM.



With Highest Esteem,





Don Taylor PhD

Chairman, NOSLINA

Missing in Nigeria

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE

16 April 2009

Nigeria: Police ‘disappear’ four in Port Harcourt

Amnesty International today warned that police in the Niger Delta region are increasingly using illegal and violent means to tackle suspected militants and criminals in the area – including enforced disappearances, torture, and illegal killings.

“We are seeing what appears to be a worrying rise in the use of extreme violence by the police in the Niger Delta – despite reported government suggestions of a gun amnesty as a way of trying to resolve some of the serious problems that have been plaguing the region for years,” said Aster van Kregten, Amnesty International’s Nigeria researcher.

On 7 April, Chika Ibeku, a former member of the Deewell, a criminal gang in the Niger Delta, was arrested by police and then held by the Swift Operation Squad (SOS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with three other unnamed men. The four men are now missing.

Amnesty International is concerned that they may have been tortured and killed by the police.

The Port Harcourt police deny any knowledge of the four men.

Today, Amnesty International, along with several other international and Nigerian organizations, issued a public statement of concern for the safety of Chika Ibeku and the three men.

“We are calling on the Nigerian police to publicly confirm the arrest and detention of Chika Ibeku and the three others and immediately disclose their fate and whereabouts,” said Aster van Kregten.

According to information received by Amnesty International, prior to his arrest, Chika Ibeku had surrendered his guns to the police following the recent reports about an amnesty for militants in the Niger Delta.

Chika Ibeku was initially detained at Omoko Police station, where he was last seen by family members on the morning of Wednesday 8 April 2009. His family was then informed by SOS officers that they were holding him at their detention centre, Old GRA, in Port Harcourt. His family and lawyers were denied access to him. On Sunday, 12 April, officers at the SOS centre denied any knowledge of Chika Ibeku’s whereabouts.

“The police’s refusal to disclose the whereabouts of Chika Ibeku is deeply troubling – especially in light of the history of torture and unlawful killings by the police in the Niger Delta region,” said Aster van Kregten. “This amounts to an enforced disappearance – a method usually used to cover up gross human rights violations, such as torture and murder.”

To see a copy of the joint public statement, Nigeria: Enforced disappearances in Port Harcourt, please click here.

END/

Public Document
****************************************

For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 or email: press@amnesty.org

International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW, UK www.amnesty.org



Eliane Drakopoulos I Africa Press Officer I Amnesty International
Tel +44 207 413 5564 I Mob +44 7778 472 109

Amnesty Campaign for Missing Journalists

Amnesty International UK
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: Thursday 16 April 2009

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL UK INCREASES CAMPAIGNING FOR GAMBIAN DISAPPEARED JOURNALIST

Amnesty International UK today pledged to increase their campaigning efforts on behalf of disappeared journalist Ebrima Manneh following the Gambian Attorney General’s assertion that he was not in State custody.

On 6 April the Gambia’s Attorney General and Secretary of State for Justice, Mary Saine Firdaus, declared that Mr Manneh was not in custody in response to a parliamentary question before the National Assembly.

Amnesty International UK Individuals at Risk Campaigner, Kali Mercier, said:

“The Attorney General’s statement has intensified our concern for the safety of Ebrima Manneh. The Gambia’s National Assembly must carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into his disappearance as quickly as possible.”

Ebrima Manneh was seen being arrested by police in July 2006 and has been held incommunicado and without trial ever since. It is believed that he was arrested and brought into custody for attempting to print a BBC article that was critical of the government.

The government had remained silent on Mr Manneh’s case in the ten months since the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice ruled that it should pay him US$100,000 damages for the illegal arrest and release him without delay.

Amnesty International is supporting recent calls by the Gambian Press Union for an urgent, thorough and impartial investigation of the case by the National Assembly.

Kali Mercier continued:

“The lack of freedom of expression is a serious problem in the Gambia. Ebrima Manneh is one of a number of journalists who have been arbitrarily arrested and held incommunicado, without charge.

“His family is desperate for news of him. Amnesty International will continue to campaign for a full investigation into Ebrima Manneh’s case to establish his whereabouts and to ensure he’s quickly released from custody.”

Since November 2008, Ebrima Manneh’s family have received more than 5,000 cards and messages of support from Amnesty supporters in the United Kingdom and around the world.

Many hundreds of letters and postcards have also been sent to the Gambian President, Dr Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, calling for the immediate release of Ebrima Manneh as a prisoner of conscience.

Amnesty International UK launched a new campaign action yesterday to challenge the Gambian government to answer the question 'Where is Ebrima?'. Details on www.amnesty.org.uk/manneh

ENDS

Hi-res pictures of Ebrima Mannah are available from the Amnesty International UK press office.

For more info contact the Amnesty International UK press office:

Steve Ballinger, +44 (0)20 7033 1548
Neil Durkin, +44 (0)20 7033 1547
Out of office hours: +44 (0)7721 398984

Working to protect human rights worldwide

Mighty Dus in the Studio

 

Former Prime Minister beaten by military personnel

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PRESS RELEASE



Guinea-Bissau: Military begins crackdown on critics



Amnesty International today revealed that Francisco José Fadul, a Court President and former Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, was beaten by military personnel at his home in Bissau in the early hours of this morning.



He is currently in intensive care at the Simão Mendes National Hospital in Bissau.



The beating follows an assault by the military of well-known lawyer Pedro Infanda, who was arrested, severely beaten and tortured for four days by military officials before being transferred to police custody. He is also currently in intensive care at the Simão Mendes National Hospital.



Military officials do not have the authority to arrest civilians in Guinea-Bissau.



Both men held press conferences during which the military was criticized shortly before they were attacked by military officials.



“The military of Guinea-Bissau is using extreme measures against any opposition or criticism – instilling fear in any who might consider freely expressing their views regarding military practices,” said Erwin van der Borght, Amnesty International’s Africa Programme Director.



Francisco Fadul held a press conference on Monday 30 March calling on the government to hold the military accountable for corruption and other crimes. He was reportedly beaten in the early hours of this morning by four military officials who hit him with the butts of their firearms and told him he was “too talkative”. He received injuries all over his body – including the head – and a stab wound on his arm.



Pedro Infanda was arbitrarily arrested by military officials on Monday 23 March and taken from his office to the Quartel Amura de Bissau military installation, where he was severely beaten with wooden objects for four days, and tortured. He was denied access to medical treatment, his family and an attorney. His entire body is covered in bruises.



Hours before his unlawful arrest, Pedro Infanda held a press conference in his office speaking on behalf of his client, Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchute, former head of the Guinea Bissau Navy. In the press conference, Pedro Infanda expressed his client’s opinion that the newly appointed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces was not competent for his post.



Amnesty International expressed concern that the military has been permitted to arrest and detain civilians in violation of national laws. The unlawful arrests and ill-treatment by the military were also a violation of Guinea-Bissau’s international human rights obligations.



“The government must investigate immediately these arrests and beatings by the military, and ensure those responsible are brought to justice and that similar attacks do not happen again,” said Erwin van der Borght. “The military must be told in no uncertain terms that they do not have the authority to arrest or detain civilians.”



Notes to editors:



Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchute was accused of leading an alleged coup attempt against the late President Bernardo João Vieira on 6 August 2008. He reportedly escaped house arrest and fled to The Gambia by sea.
Guinea-Bissau is a highly volatile country, with a long history of coups and military rebellions. Since 2000, soldiers have killed three Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, as well as other high ranking military officers. Those responsible for the killings were not brought to justice.
In 2007, four journalists and a human rights defender, fearing they would be arrested and possibly tortured, went into hiding after reporting on the involvement of military officials in the growing drug trafficking trade.
On Sunday 1 March 2009, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, General Batista Tagme Na Waie, was killed in a bomb attack in his office in the Armed Forces General Command in Bissau. Hours later, in the early hours of Monday, 2 March, in an apparent revenge attack, soldiers killed President João Bernardo Vieira, whom they believed was responsible for the death of General Tagme na Waie. The Military pledged to respect the Constitution and a new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces was appointed. In accordance with the Constitution the President of the National Assembly took over as interim President until new presidential elections are held, expected by early June at the latest.


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