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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 28 January 2020
UN report: Chilling

details of Libya

migrant center strike

By ISABEL DEBRE The Tajoura detention fa-
CAIRO (AP) — The United cility, run by a militia allied
Nations revealed on Mon- with the U.N.-backed gov-
day chilling new details ernment based in the capi-
about an airstrike that tal, Tripoli, placed civilian
smashed into a migrant de- refugees "in grave danger"
tention center in Libya, kill- in manifold ways, the re-
ing at least 50 people. port said.
The July attack, which Not only did the center sit
ranked among the dead- in a military complex be- In this July 3, 2019 file photo, debris covers the ground and an emergency vehicle after an air-
liest assaults on civilians side an ammunition depot, strike at a detention center in Tajoura, east of Tripoli in Libya.
since the start of Libya's civil making it a prime target Associated Press
war, sparked international for opposition forces lay-
condemnation and accu- ing siege to the capital, but nearby weapons depot, verify the migrants' claims. for the total shutdown of
sations of war crimes. guards at the center also the report said. Officials questioned by the the detention centers,
The 13-page-report said prevented detainees from The second airstrike directly U.N. denied the allegations. which are an integral and
the conduct of compound fleeing after the first airstrike hit the hangar filled with At least 6,000 migrants from contentious part of the Eu-
officials at the time of the hit. migrants, killing at least 50 Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, ropean Union's efforts to
deadly attack may have Witnesses told U.N. investi- people and injuring over a Sudan and other nations keep migration across the
contributed to the high gators that they tried to es- hundred others. are locked in dozens of de- Mediterranean at bay.
death toll. cape but were stopped by Several witnesses alleged tention facilities in Libya run Refugees held in the Ta-
It also documented nu- guards and forced back that the head of the de- by militias accused of tor- joura facility had long ac-
merous violations of inter- inside. tention center burst into ture and other abuses. Mi- cused officials of various
national law by warring "There are grounds to be- the hangar, shooting and grants seeking better lives abuses, including forced
Libyan militias and urged lieve that migrants and killing three refugees who in Europe often land in Lib- labor. Many told U.N. in-
further investigation to refugees could have been tried to escape, the report yan centers after perilous vestigators that militiamen
ensure accountability. It saved, and their right to life added. Surveillance cam- journeys at the mercy of compelled them to clean
was published Monday by protected, had they not era footage shows at least traffickers who hold them weapons, load ammuni-
the U.N. Support Mission in been prevented from ex- one guard brandishing an for ransom from their fami- tion, offload military ship-
Libya and the U.N. Human iting following the first air- assault rifle between the lies. ments and complete other
Rights Office. strike," which bombed the airstrikes. The U.N. could not Rights groups have called dangerous tasks. q

Gambia arrests 137 in protests

urging president to step down

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — 2016 was celebrated as a tionally elected president.
Gambia's police have ar- new beginning for the tiny Barrow's government also
rested 137 people amid West African nation. When suspended two radio sta-
protests calling for the pres- he came to power he said tions pending investiga-
ident to step down after he would look into call- tions into accusations they
three years in power, the ing for new elections after peddled "incendiary mes-
government said Monday, three years. Last year, how- sages and allowed their
a startling turn for a country ever, some members of the media to be used as a plat- In this Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 file photo, Gambia's President
whose leader has vowed coalition that backed him forms for inciting violence" Yahya Jammeh shows his inked finger before voting in Banjul,
reforms and justice for the supported his remaining in by encouraging Gambians Gambia.
repression of the past. office for the five years al- to join the movement. Associated Press
Security forces used tear lowed in the constitution. The Committee to Protect
gas Sunday to break up the Some Gambians have Journalists said it is investi- Gambia's brutal past." On Saturday, hundreds of
thousands of demonstra- formed a movement called gating reports of journalists "There have been some victims of his rule demon-
tors, worrying many Gam- Operation 3-Years Jotna, being arrested and assault- significant improvements in strated in the capital, Ban-
bians who lived under the which means Three Years is ed, along with the radio the country's human rights jul, demanding justice for
oppressive rule of former Enough. shutdowns. record since President Ad- human rights abuses com-
President Yahya Jammeh On Sunday, Gambia's "It is no longer the era of dic- ama Barrow came to pow- mitted under his regime.
for more than 22 years. government banned the tator #YahyaJammeh. Au- er, but the use of excessive Other marches earlier this
Jammeh flew into exile in group, calling it a "sub- thorities must protect press force by security forces to month by Jammeh sup-
2017 after an election loss versive, violent and illegal freedom & the public's right disperse protesters risks fu- porters called for his return
to Adama Barrow. movement," according to to know," the group said on eling tensions and steering to be allowed.
At least 18 paramilitary a statement from spokes- Twitter. Gambia back to dark days Gambia's Justice Minister
members and seven civil- man Ebrima G. Sankareh. A regional director with of repression," she said. Aboubacarr Tambadou
ians were injured in Sun- The government said the Amnesty International, The clampdown comes has made it clear that Jam-
day's confrontation, the movement never regis- Marta Colomer, said the amid reports that former meh will face an account-
government said. tered and is determined to crackdown on protesters dictator Jammeh wants to ability process if he steps
Barrow's election win in illegally unseat the constitu- had "alarming echoes of return to Gambia. into the country.q