I do not say this often, but I hope I am wrong. Our National Human Rights Commission deserves better than the feckless political leadership.
They have been undermining the mandate of the commission, and Gambians decry ” selectivity Agenda” and work method of NHRC in addressing human rights concerns and violations. The Paradoxical National Human Rights Commission is mind-blogging.
I do not utter these words by way of criticism. On the contrary, I submit respectfully that today the Gambia National Human Rights Commission stands on the precipice, on the brink of plummeting into the abyss.
However, it also stands at a moment of immense opportunity. It is poised to take off to a new, more glorious future, marked with vision, excellence, determined focus, and an air of certainty in its bowels.
When the Constitution says that a particular institution, commission, or office is independent, it only talks of independence from improper influence or control. The Constitution does not confer any independence from the rule of law or any of the national values and principles of governance set out in the Constitution.
Moreover, for the record, the national values and principles of governance: include patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, democracy, the participation of the people, human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, non-discrimination, protection of the marginalized, good governance, integrity, transparency, accountability and sustainable development. I thought all Gambians should know.
We all want to ask, “How did the Chairman of the NHRC allow this to happen? However, the real question is, “How do we as Gambians allow the government to get away with this shameful non-performance of execution the recommendations of the Faraba Bantang Commission of Inquiry report submitted to President Adama Barrow without a government Whitepaper.
The Commission of the Inquiry report and recommendations found culpable 3 Paramilitary officers killed unarmed civilians and wounded several other civilians leading to the resignation of the Inspector General of Police Mr. Landing Kinteh.
Why are the Paramilitary officers found culpable not yet prosecuted and to execute the commission recommendations that gather dust? Why is Haruna Jatta’s case not investigated? Is selective justice Injustice?
Let us forget the intelligent legal and semi-legal arguments from various political quarters. The so-called conflict of interest is too remote to be of any legal consequence.
However, perhaps what should worry us is not the remoteness or otherwise of the alleged conflict of interest. What should worry us is that the political class is ready to vilify and destroy a critical institution, the NHRC, just for the sake of votes.
Moreover, the semiliterates among us cannot see the big picture. Whoever bewitched us must have died. Or is it the melanin?
