Pap Cheyassin Secka or Pap Cheyassin Ousman Secka (June 1942 – 29 March 2012) was a Gambian lawyer and politician.
/ref> He was the Justice ministry, minister of justice and the former

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...

of the Gambia.

Life

Pap Cheyassin Secka, more commonly known as Cheyassin Secka was born in the

Gambia Colony and Protectorate The Gambia Colony and Protectorate was the British colonial administration of the Gambia from 1821 to 1965, part of the British Empire in the New Imperialism era. The colony was the immediate area surrounding Bathurst (now Banjul), and the pro ...

in June 1942 by Ousman Secka and Neneh Jobarteh. His children include Oumie Secka and Ndondy Secka. He is the maternal nephew of the Gambian historian and politician

Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof (22 October 1924 – 2 April 2011) commonly known as Cham Joof or Alhaji Cham Joof, (pen name: Alh. A.E. Cham Joof) was a Gambian historian, politician, author, trade unionist, broadcaster, radio programme director, ...

. He was educated at the Methodist Boy's High School in colonial ''Bathurst'' now

Banjul Banjul (,"Banjul"
(US) and ), officially the City of Ba ...

(the capital of the Gambia). By 1962, he became a qualified teacher and taught in the Gambia for many years before pursuing his education in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

. He attended the Hall Academy in

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...

in 1964 before proceeding to the American University in Washing D.C. where he obtained a BA in 1968 and an MA in 1969. It was in the United States where he first became active in politics, as one of the radical political students. Having obtained a fellowship at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manha ...

in 1970–71, he was called to the English Bar in 1973. Cheyassin Secka returned to the Gambia in 1973 to set up his law practice.

Career

During the administration of president Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara (the First Republic), Cheyassin Secka became the leader of the defunct National Liberation Party The Point Newspaper
"Lawyer Pap Cheyassin Secka passes away"
(Retrieved : 17 July 2012) formed on 4 October 1975. However his political career was merred by the country's 1981

coup d'état A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, ...

instigated by the revolutionist Kukoi Samba Sanyang. According to sources, "he was sentenced to life imprisonment for his alleged participation into the Koukoi ukoicoup attempt against Jawara's regime." Having spent nearly 12 years in prison at Mile Two (the country's top prison), he was later granted amnesty. Cheyassin Secka became the Gambian

around 2000, appointed by the Gambian president

Yahya Jammeh Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh (born 25 May 1965) is a Gambian politician and former military officer who was the leader of The Gambia from 1994 to 2017, firstly as chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) from 19 ...

. On 10 and 11 April 2000, Gambian students held a demonstration against the regime of president Jammeh.By Alieu Darboe nthe Gambia Voic

(Retrieved : 17 July 2012) In this demonstration, many student were massacred by the Gambian forces. President Jammeh was accused of giving the order to open arms against the students, although he denied the accusation. Following this massacre, Cheyassin Secka "read out the April 10 Commission Report, which indemnifies the April 10 student killers to the local press." After reading out this report, he was relieved from his post by president Jammeh on 30 January 2001, following "the indemnification of the student killers". He was a barrister at

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vari ...

and one of the renowned barristers of the country. He joined the legal profession in 1973 as a practicing barrister. Foroyaa News : "Legal Fraternity Bid Farewell to late Pap Cheyassin Secka"] (Retrieved : 17 July 2012) He was a member of the Gambian Bar association, Bar.

Death

Pap Cheyassin Secka died on 29 March 2012 in the Gambia. According to sources, he is reported to have complained about a "minor illness" and was taken to hospital. He later died having suffered a heart attack.

References

External links

WikiLeaks WikiLeaks () is an international non-profit organisation that published news leaks and classified media provided by anonymous sources. Julian Assange, an Australian Internet activist, is generally described as its founder and director and ...

: ''U.S. YOUNG LAWYERS REQUEST FOR NAMES OF POSSIBLE INVITEES'', (1978 May 30, 00:00 (Tuesday)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secka, Pap Cheyassinu 1942 births 2012 deaths Gambian diplomats 20th-century Gambian lawyers Gambian politicians Government ministers of the Gambia 21st-century Gambian lawyers Attorneys General of the Gambia