Dear Editor,

The following is an open letter to Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago.

I write as the director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

CHRI is an international, non-partisan, independent NGO headquartered in New Delhi, with offices in London and Ghana. We advocate for greater compliance with the letter and spirit of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values which are firmly based on principles of equity, equality and universal adherence to human rights – ww.humanrightsinitiative.org

I write now with deep concern to draw your attention as host to the coming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and incoming chair of the Commonwealth to the shocking statements of the president of Gambia made just prior to the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in September. The statements have caused deep outrage among civil society leaders and human rights groups across the world.

No doubt they have caused you much anguish as well.

The president of Gambia has unequivocally announced that he will kill human rights defenders and that “nothing will come of it”. As I have mentioned in my letter to the secretary general, such statements clearly repudiate all the fundational principles and values of the Commonwealth.

The statements and their vehemence indicate evidence that there is neither commitment to, nor value for the rule of law, and the head of state has made it plain that there is no belief in a fair trial while giving assurances of impunity in cases of human rights violations.

Widespread concern for the safety and security of human rights defenders in Gambia have no doubt prompted the resolution of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights on this issue. Our respect for their mandate requires us to confirm and support their anxiety.

I am sure, Sir, that as incoming chair you will want the Commonwealth under your leadership to reaffirm its belief for its adherence to its fundamental political values in the strongest possible way and will not want to countenance anything that calls these into question. Nor, I am sure, will you agree to welcome at its highest conclaves anyone who has so clearly repudiated them.

In this regard, I draw your attention in particular to a preamble paragraph of the statement of the African Commission’s Resolution on the Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in the Republic of The Gambia dated 11 October that states:

“Convinced that the alleged statement calls into question the commitment of the Republic of The Gambia to the fundamental principles and objectives of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the African Charter and other regional and international human rights instruments.”

In view of the universal condemnation and concern at the statements of the president of Gambia, CHRI strongly urges you to seek a clear repudiation of his statement and a strong re-affirmation of his commitment to the values of the Commonwealth, and in the absence of this to withdraw any invitation that may have been extended to the president of Gambia to attend the coming CHOGM in Trinidad.

I am appreciative of the secretary-general circulating our letter to him to the CMAG at its New York meeting, and steps to remedy the situation caused by the president of Gambia’s statement may already be under way. However, it was a very public statement and we feel that in the absence of public reaction from the Commonwealth’s leadership and the voice of its member states, the Gambian head of state’s presence will send a clear signal to the international community – and more important, to the people of the Commonwealth – that its basic principles will not be rigorously defended by the Heads; therefore we strongly urge the actions suggested above.

Maja Daruwala

Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

New Delhi, India

director@humanrightsinitiative.org