(JollofNews) – The government of the Gambia has warned against the celebration of 22 July military coup which brought former President Yahya Jammeh and his regime to power.
Mr Jammeh’s supporters are planning to mark the 23rd anniversary of the revolution which they have credited for transforming the Gambia into one of the fastest developing nations in Africa with a university, modern airport, schools and improved infrastructures.
But the Gambia government has denied issuing Mr Jammeh’s supporters a permit to mark the anniversary arguing that it should not in any way be glorified, hailed or celebrated by any well-meaning Gambian.
“The Gambia government maintains that the 1994 coup was an illegal act, staged principally, to usurp power and subvert the popular will of the Gambian people who fought through their sweat and blood to establish and nurture a democratic culture for 30 years that became an envy of the whole world,” said Demba Ali Jawo, minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure.
“Memories are still fresh of the brutality that the July 22nd coup brought on Gambians. Families were torn apart; innocent citizens willfully killed; businesses unlawfully closed and so many of The Gambia’s most experienced and finest brains forced to flee the country because of the organized and systematic abuse of their fundamental rights.
“Notwithstanding its unwavering position to respect and broaden democratic principles and personal freedoms of citizens, the government of The Gambia maintains that the July 22nd coup still leaves painful reminders of torture, unexplained disappearances, killings and plunder of state resources.
“This day therefore should not in any way be glorified, hailed or celebrated by any well-meaning Gambian. Furthermore, the government of The Gambia warns that any public gathering which requires a public address system needs a police permit. It is on record that the Inspector General of Police has not issued any such permit to authorize any individual, political party or any other group to hold festive celebrations of the July 22nd 1994 coup.
“The general public is therefore warned to be law abiding and follow due process especially in matters related to public safety and national security and to avoid anything that may endanger national security.
Thank God for this statement and position. I was going to ask for someone with the skills to generate a petition on President Barrow’s official website, so that we can communicate our objection to any official endorsements of a criminal act against the state. I have been spared the trouble. Once again, thank you Hon D. A. Jawo.
Pls anyone out to glorify this day should be send to mile 2
Gambians have the right to celebrate and mark any idiot or event they want. The government has no rights to deny any one of their rights. I personally find it offensive to mark or celebrate anything that has to do with Yahya, but that is my choice. I don’t need Barrow or anyone to trample on my rights. Jammeh’s supporters are ignorant. They have the right to be fools if they choose. Not giving them a permit to exercise their rights as Gambians is undemocratic and shameful.
God Bless The Gambia
It’snot shamefully , nobody celebrates an Adolf Hitler Day or Poll pot, of Cambodia, Brutal dictators who abuse the people and steal the money should never be celebrated. Well done toPresident Barrow
Not celebrating Hitler is a choice, it is NOT because the government banned or proclaimed that it should not be done. Nobody supports Yahya or what he represents, however the preservation of our rights as Gambian citizens trumps our disdain for his ugly legacy. You don’t follow a rat into the sewer.
I don’t think not celebrating Hitler is a choice in many, if not all, countries of the world, including Germany, where even displaying a Nazi symbol or doing the Nazi salute can land you in jail because these are banned.
Admittedly, Neo-Nazi parties, often called “far right” parties, are tolerated and allowed to hold public processions to express their political views, but only as long as they draw no explicit links with the Nazi regime.
Any followers of the cruel and evil speciman of mankind that was ever allowed to be a follower or represent The gambia and ex president should be removed from this world..
Simply Untainable. Practically Unconstitutional.
Sidi, please help me: can you name one country in the whole wide world, where supporters of a military coup are allowed to celebrate the coup, after the coupists (and those aligned to them) have been completely removed from power.
Democracy is not a system where anything goes. Protection of citizens’ rights is fundamental in a democracy, but rights are not open ended and I think it will be stretching the concept of “Rights” a bit too far, if we believe that the State should endorse, encourage and facilitate illegality, whatever form that may take.
Rights also go with responsibilities and our foremost responsibility, as citizens and residents, is to respect and even defend the constitution; not to celebrate its overthrow or any actions that are illegal under it.
July 22nd is a military (not political) event that overthrow a legitimate government, through the forced seizure of power, and a democratic dispensation which replaced it, should not endorse, encourage or facilitate its celebration.
Indeed, the government has a duty to protect our fundamental rights, but it also has the same duty to remind us of our responsibilities and where necessary, to take appropriate steps to hold us to those responsibilities.
I think it (government) has done that in this case because allowing the celebration of July 22nd will be an affront to our efforts to rebuild our shattered democracy and an insult to the victims of July 22nd, dead or alive.
When Adolf Hitler the worlds most notable dictator killed nearly six million Jews and erected mass death camps to kill more Jews the whole world said no.Enough is enough. Then whole world gathered troops to stop Hitler. The move paid off. Does any one in Germany today dare commorate those days?If yes then The APRC can.The APRC can go ahead with their daily activities as a political party which is their constitutional righs but to celebrate July 22 makes them all rebels and criminals.Who ever wants to celebrate this rebellious can go to Equatorial Guinea that is where Yay Jammed lives if you understand what I mean
Apples and Apples Please. As a Gambian, I do not want to be told who and what to Celebrate or Not Celebrate as long as my Celebration is Not Ilegal. I do not directly Celebrate Jawara when I Celebrate February 18th, 1965 as Independence Day. Nor, are those who want to Celebrate July 22 Revolution Celebrating Jammeh. They are as Fellow Gambians Celebrating the Second Republic of July 22 Revolution. Some may be Opposed to it. But that does not entitle them to a VETO POWER OVER ALL OTHERS. I have never and will Not Celebrate it as a Matter of fact and Principle as I do not Do likewise February 18th, 1965, but I don’t think it to be Constitutional and Worth the “Sweat” and “Dust” to Disenfranchise those Gambians who want Celebrate it. What Crime would they be Breaking? How are they Adding or Subtracting anything from the Gambian “Reality”? Governance is Not and Cannot be based on Feelings and Believes of a CHOOSEN Segment of the Citizenry. It must be based on a Universal Franchise For and To All. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One Ethnic Group or Region. One People, One Destiny.
You have a point Dr Sarr, not a solution. The APRC are still relevant, and still have a leader. The Barrow government have a real and growing situation on their hands.
I regret this situation is set to continue without a solution;
Anyone who celebrated this july 22 in Gambia yiu are the grate criminal in would an anyone who things that jammeh willed come back to Gambia you are a full.
Sorry comrades i stand to disagree with sentiments of not allowing people to celebrate, commemorate even if what they are commemorating or celebrating was an illegal act.Freedom of assembly is legal and god giving rights of all Gambians regardless of their political affiliations. We can’t stop petty and shameless APRC supporters from being what they are. Lets just see their commemoration as a celebration of their defeat, a celebration of the end of tyranny in our land. Lets not give these people any prominence by denying them their right to assembly, that they may use as pretext to brand themselves as victims. Only cowards celebrate the deaths and destruction of a society and that is what APRC party and their supporters together with their shamed leader Jackal Yahya Jammeh are, COWARDS.
Celebrate your shame and defeat by the Gambian people.
Shaloum! Shaloum.
July 22nd brought havoc in Gambia. Jammeh and his so call supporters should be asking for forgiveness and not celebrations. Why would anyone want to celebrate a military coup? Let jammeh and celebrate with them, what a bunch of fools. This is not a right, I disagree with that. They took the country illegal and steal our coffers and yet people have the audacity to celebrate?
The country was taken without the will of the people, its unconstitutional, period.
Democracy does give impression of late, all around the world, that democracy is failing, because we are human. Strong on idea’s, but weak on implementation. Words are cheap, deeds are weak. The world is short of effective leadership. As for Gambia, the commentators on Jollof News are way ahead of the substance and ambition of your government. I think the problem is a modern technology one where all are under such scrutiny by the people. There is no longer anywhere to hide from responsibility.