(JollofNews)-An opposition leader in the Gambia has used his Eid message to pay tribute to Gambians who are being persecuted by the APRC regime of President Yahya Jammeh.
The Gambia is ruled with an iron fist by President Yahya Jammeh who came to power in a 1994 military coup. He keeps on making headlines for recurrent attacks on gays and lesbians; gross human rights violations including crackdown on the media and political parties.
To further strengthen his grip on power, Mr Jammeh has used his ruling party dominated parliament to pass a law allowing him to execute his critics found guilty for non-capital offences.
He has also made it a criminal offence punishable to long imprisonment to protest against his government or use the internet to caricature and criticise his government or officials by Gambians including those living outside the country’s jurisdiction.
Despite these draconian laws and restrictive political environment, many Gambians particularly those based in the Diaspora have continued to clamour for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law.
In his message marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, leader of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP),took his hat off to these ‘gallant patriots’ who are striving to restore democratic freedoms and unity in the West African nation.
He also paid tribute two members of his party, Amadou Sanneh and Kanyiba Kanyi who are currently languishing in state detention.
“In humility and national service, I salute all the gallant patriots that continue strive towards national unity and a free political and religious space. And our prayers are also with fallen comrades who have fallen in past year,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
“ Let us continue to stand for human rights, tolerance, equality and piety. We owe it to our country to never give up in seeing a Gambia that respect and value her citizens regardless of tribe, religion, gender, social class, and political persuasion.”
