(JollofNews) – State prosecutors in the Gambia have slapped criminal charges against a soldier accused of threatening to defend the properties of former President Yahya Jammeh at all cost during a demonstration in Kanilai by residents of Foni against the militarisation of their community.
Prosecutors said the demonstration was an illegal assembly, and Omar Sanneh had incited and threatened violence.
He was also accused of threatening in an audio recording on 2 June 2017 to kill or injure any government official who dare to forcefully seize former President Jammeh’s assets.
Sanneh who was arrested and detained for several weeks, pleaded not guilty and was given a D1 million bail by Principal Magistrate Omar Cham of the Brikama court.
Sanneh was among thousands of Foni residents who earlier this month gathered in former President Yahya Jammeh’s native village, Kanilai, some 119km from Banjul, and displayed banners calling for the immediate withdrawal of officers of the Senegal led military intervention force in the Gambia (Ecomig) in the area.
Although the demonstrators were unarmed, they were shot at with live ammunition at by the officers, killing one and wounding six.
The Gambia Government has accused the demonstrators of engaging in provocative acts against members of the security forces in the area and has so far not shown any desire to open an investigation into the matter.
Mai Ahmad Fatty, minister of the Interior accused the demonstrators of failing to secure a permit from the Inspector General of Police to organise their protest contrary to the laws of the Gambia and has vowed to come down heavily on the demonstrators.
Mr Fatty said while the government will continue to respect and protect the right to peaceful and democratic protest, it will not accept any form of violent protest.
The investigations are Mandatory upon government; & can’t be matter of choice for anyone to ponder about much more opt out; surely will be seen to sometime; such as truth commission for justice & truthful Reconciliation; essential for healing to scars, that remain permanently in memory for life…
Foni, just like whole &/ any part of Gambia have equal rights to protest & demonstrate peacefully as enshrined in the constitution…
But it’s the Constitutionally incumbent responsibilities of all residents &/ any &/everyone within &/ without borders of Gambia (not citizenry only) to strive to the utmost to safeguard the security of Gambia, &/ humanity’s at large…
No one can be blame for demonstrations &/ protests peacefully within your inalienable rights; BUT we all will put heads together & question the real &/ ulterior motives , catalysts &/ inciters, etc lingered behind &/ within…
It’s our individual &/ collective rights to safeguard our communal society; nobody can, should &/ must assume for flinch, yet dare think, more so believe, (that) you’ll be able to pull wool over our individual & collective face to set Gambia afire…
God bless Gambia…
You leave me nothing to say Bajaw.
Mike; Gambia belongs to all in humanity; not just citizenry &/ residents within the boundaries…
Gambia don’t &/ never wishes anyone any evil at anytime; Gambians &/ humanity at large won’t stand idly by &/ let Gambia be destroyed; never; Insha Allah; Ameen…
We all condemned the many times Men, Boys, Women, Students and Opposition leaders and associates, were arrested by the Jammeh Government for the bravery of the march and the protest. This government has so easily forgotten that necessary principal. Since when does outrage or free speech or the right to join hands to walk the walk >>need a permit ? The promise of reform lays wanting. To revert to such Law is democracy in reverse. We say>> Never ! Never ! Never ! >>again.