(JollofNews) – Police in the Gambia have refused to grant an opposition party permit to hold a meeting in the weekend.
The Gambia Democratic Congress party (GDC) was due to hold a rally in Brikama, Kombo Central, on Saturday and had applied for a permit in accordance with the country’s Public Order Act.
Despite completing all the necessary paperwork and receiving assurances from the Inspector General of Police, the police failed to issue the party with the permit.
The GDC is the largest opposition party in the Gambian parliament and is holding series of political events to shore up its grassroot base ahead of next April’s local government election.
The party’s leader, Mamma Kandeh, was last week questioned by the police after revealing what he described as serious corruption in the heart of government.
Mr Kandeh has since accused the police of being partisan and undermining his party’s effort to hold the government accountable and expose any wrong doings.
In my books, the new Inspector General of Police has failed the first test! The Public Order Act was the instrument Jammeh used to stifle political debate and sensitization by denying the Opposition parties permits to organize and hold rallies. One would have expected that the new IGP – a supposed lawyer – would know and do better. All he had to do was to grant the permit and deploy a team of Police Officers to the rally to ensure that peace prevailed. What is so complicated about that? By denying the Opposition a permit to organize and hold a rally, the IGP has abdicated his responsibility to political considerations and thus perpetuating the dictatorship of stifling the efforts of the Opposition at any cost. The Opposition comprises citizens who have the constitutional right to assemble and hold free speech. The current AG breathes the language of free speech and assembly and respect for the rights of citizens, so the question is: where is he in all of this when the IGP is directly contradicting him and his Government’s avowed stance on respect for the rights of citizens? This is very disgraceful, especially from an IGP that I thought was qualified for the position. We need stability and progress in our country and we do not advance that by trampling on the rights of citizens, be they the Government or the Opposition!!! The IGP just needs to do what is legally and constitutionally right and worry less about losing his job – being placed in that seemingly difficult position comes with the territory of holding the office of IGP.
Why is it so difficult for us to learn from past mistakes? There is nothing to gain, and everything to loose, by denying any Gambian their rights to peaceful assembly. Why are these Cavemen acting like Jammeh incarnate. Mr Barrow what are you thinking? Why is lawyer Darboe silent? Is there anyone in Interior with an ounce of common sense? Who is the Captain of this Ship headed for perilous waters? Did we forget so soon why SOLO paid the ultimate price with his life? God Help us.
It’s shocking, to say the least. Very disappointing too. I hope whatever the reasons for this permit refusal are, they are resolved asap, so that the GDC can get on with their political activities unhindered.
It is very sad that a UDP led Coalition Government would rely on this archaic law to address challenging political issues it faces.
To deny GDC a permit and obstruct its ability to conduct its political activities, soon after making allegations of corruption against ministers, doesn’t bode very well for the accused. It’s like an attempt to silence him.
Let’s hear what Mr Kandeh has to say and if he says anything that’s untrue, he should be taken to task by those concerned. That’s the The Gambia we want to nurture.
And that’s the only way democracy works.
I am no fan of GDC but as Gambians they have every right to be issued with permit. It looks like we are returning to Jammehs era. Am surprised too, why is lawyer Darboe quiet about this
Its wrong and they should be issued permit as soon as possible, or is the government leaning towards dictatorship.
Mini dictatorship to silence the opposition , Africa is Africa
Free publicity for Mama Kanteh and the GDC. An own goal for the former opposition now know as the coalition government. So what’s this all about then ?
I told you so !!!
It would appear from the comments that you think Ousainou Darboe is behind all this and everything else. De plot thickens.
While GDC was denied permit, a so-called unity ralky was held in Sukuta and guess what? Attended by lawyer Darbo as guest speaker. This was a political rally by all indications. The slide to dictatorship has started
If the public are disgruntled with the slow pace of change, one could imagine that a GDC rally could be a conduit for the people to express its dissatisfaction. That being the case, one can fully understand why the ” chuckle brothers”, would not want that opportunity to emancipate itself through Mama Kandeth. A man who has said this government is worse than the Jammeh government. The coalition are running scared already. sorry about that.
The police were wrong for denying GDC a permit to hold their rally. This is what we have been fighting against in the past under Jammeh regime and they should have known better that that shouldn’t be done at all in the new Gambia. It is unacceptable.
However in my view they were inline to invite the Leader of GDC Mr Mama Kandeh to give them more information so that they can investegate his claim to gather evidence against those he claimed to be involved in the mismagement of public funds so as to bring them to book. Mr Kandeh should not take offense at that if what he claim is true.
He and his party and all those who regard themselves as politicians should know that they have a moral obligation not to misinform our people in the name of politiking. To do so is criminal and shameful. Such culture of politics has no place in the new Gambia. We have to do away with it for good if we are to move forward as a people.
It is not politics at all and in fact it is a disservice to the nation to be misinforming the people in order to win their support so that they can entrust you with managing their affairs. That is an act of deception which is sinful, shameful and criminal to say the least. It is my believe that transparency can never be ensured in the management of public affairs by spreading false information.
Information in my view is such an important ingredient of development that it should not just be pass to the people without ensuring its accuracy the task of which is the responsibility of everyone more so those who are aspiring to or are presiding over the affairs of the people.
One cannot turn a Vulture into an Eagle. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Let’s pray, but at the same time Agitate and Advocate For Free Assembly and Applied Constitutional Democratic Dispensation in the Gambia.
Most people on here have tried very hard to be supportive of the coalition. But recent events have dissipated that support. Each prominent member of the coalition, prior to gaining office publicly condemned, the additions to the Constitution, that took away freedom. Yet now 7 months into office, they are using these same provisions to cower freedom, of assembly and warnings that sedition will not be tolerated. We also note that torture of a soldier and detention without recourse to legal representation, have occurred.The torture being claimed to have been inflicted by former members of the notorious NIA. Protesters have been shot, with death and injury regrettable. This is not what was expected. Clearly this government says one thing and does another. So what’s fresh ? Why did we think it would be different ?
Poor quality , I honestly have found this government as buddies and finger pointing familiar and also partisans very far from professional so don’t expect any good changes , maybe from Jollas to Mandikas
African governments break hearts minds and spirits. Soldiers with a difference and Coalitions with a difference… are all the same. The only thing that changes is the names of the politicians on the payroll.
Here’s to the new boss,,,same as the old boss.
Unfortunately yes African leaders break hearts and everything police officers banning opposition leader the main opposition leader of the country because the CIP as army chief both are Udp militant thats too far from professional affairs this is new Gambia xxx
As the saying goes..”if the cap fits, wear it”
Must be one of those old colonial sayings that the Mandinka have commandeered to make there own. You say drag the donkey to the well>> we say drag the horse to the well, but you can’t make it drink.” As mad as a Hatter” comes from Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. It’s english by definition, but I have heard it used by Gambians in Gambia. { to my pleasant surprise.}..and others too. If the cap fits ???
Time and Tide wait for no man; History is yesterday, today and tomorrow. We can never change the past, but we can alter our tomorrow’s.