Brussels, 19/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - Speaking on behalf of the European Union, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said she was very concerned at the death sentence passed in Gambia on Thursday 15 July on eight people found guilty of treason and conspiracy. Among these people, who were tried for an attempted coup d'état in 2009 against the government of Yahya Jammeh, are the former head of the Gambian army, the former head of the intelligence services, the former assistant chief of police and businessmen.
In a statement published on 16 July, Ashton says: “The EU urges the Gambian authorities not to carry out any executions against the convicted individuals, and expects the authorities to respect their right of appeal and to take all necessary steps to ensure that their right to a fair trial is fully guaranteed”. Repeating its longstanding opposition to the death penalty, the EU calls on Gambia to establish a moratorium on capital punishment as a first step towards abolishing the death penalty. “Such a step would be in line with the global trend towards abolition,” the statement says. (A.N./transl.rt)