Blog 1: United Nations urge recent executions in Gambia to stop

       For many years, the country of Gambia, a small country on the shore of Western Africa, has been applauded and highly respected by the United Nations for keeping word to not execute those who did not commit serious crimes…until lately.  On August 26, 2012, out of no where, the government officials of this country decided to execute nine victims by gunshot, without even warning the families of this happening.  As to why, the United Nations is uncertain and investigating it further, but for the time being has ordered the country to stop by the means of human rights protection, effective immediately.  Right up until a few days ago, Gambia abolished the death penalty completely from people who committed crimes such as drug abuse, and the last recorded execution took place back in 1985.  
On Sunday, the President of Gambia announced that it was decided to reinstall the death penalty claiming that “those who kill are killed.”  It comes quite ironic to me, though, that of those nine who were suddenly pulled from their cells and executed, three of them were originally sentenced for treason, and two of the nine were simply Senegalese, never actually killing anyone.  The executions were done without warning to the inmates, to the families, or even to the public.  They were completely done in secrecy and very quickly.  The President of Gambia made a statement that the remaining 39 death-row inmates, who have not had a trail yet due to safeguards, are to be executed by the middle of September.  The U.N. is strongly urging the officials to stop this immediately, recommending them to see how respected they have been as a country to have gone over twenty years without it.
I personally believe this is a strict violation of human rights due to the secret and hidden nature of these executions.  Who am I to speak for another country, but being raised in America, not only does it breach our constitution, but is simply morally and ethically wrong.


Links to Articles:
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-28/africa/world_africa_gambia-executions_1_executions-death-sentences-gambia
http://allafrica.com/stories/201208311318.html