Yate Town Council questions Gambia twin link
A link between Yate and a village in The Gambia is being questioned by civic leaders following the treatment of two British missionaries.
Former army major David Fulton, 60, and his wife Fiona, 46, were recently sentenced to a year in prison with hard labour after admitting sedition charges in a Gambian court.
They had been arrested after sending an email to individuals and groups allegedly criticising Gambia's government.
Yate Town Council said it was deeply concerned on humanitarian grounds for the safety and welfare of Mr and Mrs Fulton and the "disproportionate" response of Gambian police, government and judiciary.
It said it called into question the safety of any foreign national visiting The Gambia, which depended on tourism for its national income.
Yate has been twinned with Genieri for more than 20 years and regular visits are made between the two communities.
The council said in a statement: "There are many links between communities in The Gambia and UK groups, but if a comment of the kind alleged to have been made by Mr and Mrs Fulton can result in this sort of response, then it calls into question the safety of participating in this sort of friendship link.
"Members of this council have visited The Gambia in the past as tourists, or Genieri as part of the link. We will not feel able to do so until such time as there are reassurances about free speech for people visiting the country."
The link was set up after a visit to The Gambia by sixth formers from Brimsham Green School in 1986.
2 Comments
by Vic, Bristol
Friday, January 16 2009, 12:39AM
“It wouldn't seem to serve any purpose by Yate severing links with Genieri. What grievance have the Town Council got against the people of Genieri? It wasn't they who convicted the missionaries. Why punish the innocent for the deeds of others?
I don't hear the people of Genieri making threats as a consequence of the deportation of a genuine Gambian asylum seeker from Britain.”
by Steven, North Bristol
Thursday, January 15 2009, 10:43AM
“The question Yate Town council should really be asking is what on earth these religious fanatics were doing meddling in the political affairs of a foreign country.”