CRR RICE FARMERS’ PRESIDENT IN DETENTION FOR 100 DAYS

Abdoulie G. Dibba Today, Tuesday, 9^th June 2015, marks 100 days of Haruna Gassama’s arrest and detention without court appearance. Mr. Gassama is the current President of the Central River Rice Farmers’ Cooperative Ltd. and has been in NIA detention since Monday 2^nd March 2015 without being released or taken before a court of law. The president of the CRR rice farmers’ cooperative was arrested on the day when the staff of the Sheriff’s Division was in the Lower Fulladu District to execute an order of the judgment delivered by the high court on the 12^th of January 2015 in favour of him and his committee as the plaintiffs. The defendants, Alhagi Musa Gimbo Trawally and his committee, were ordered to hand over forthwith the affairs and assets of the Rice Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd. to the duly elected executive headed by Mr. Gassama. They were also ordered to give a true and proper account of the financial state and assets of the cooperative society and to restrain themselves from posing as members of the executive. A family source informed this reporter that their loved one is still detained at the NIA office in Banjul but that they have not yet been allowed access to him. The source added that the family is not aware of any charge preferred against him. Speaking on behalf of the family, the source said they are appealing to the head of state to intervene to secure the immediate release of their loved one as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan is fast approaching and he is the bread winner.  ]]>