You may disagree with the whole idea or rationale behind #OccupyWestfield. You may shout from the rooftop “Down with OccupyWestfield”.
It is your right. It is to dissent, to disagree. But you cannot insist the organiser(s) cannot shout #OccupyWestfield or even go to occupy WestField. That would be a violation of their right. To deny them that right is to force them to accept that your position is right. That, in my humble view, would be dictatorship. Organise a counter #UpWithNAWEC” campaign if you wish. That would still be your right.
And No, one does not have to exhaust “all local remedies” before one can protest or show one’s frustration with the workings or acts of commission/omission of the Government. What about spontaneous protests? What if one feels, right or wrong, that the agency is not doing good enough- your best may be my average.
And Yes, rural Gambia was in the dark for a long while. So? Are you celebrating a denial of a right. The lack of electricity in rural Gambia was injustice, a discriminatory approach of a Government which took services only to its supporters. If those people never protested it may be because they were afraid of the State, didn’t know how, weren’t organised or were forced to be stoic. It was not because they never wanted electricity or portable water.
No part of the Gambia should go without the basics which make life worthy and dignified. If rural Gambia is “enjoying” electricity now and Greater Banjul isn’t, we should still ask why and protest if need be. It should not be the case of or support in favour of reverse discrimination.
We should protect the right to protest and insist the State respects and fulfils it. It would be a right we would come to enjoy unencumbered, when we have a cause to protest. The denial of this right and its violent and needless suppression in the past remain a dark chapter in our chequered political history.
It gave us freedom nonetheless. Remember when these patriotic citizens marched for freedom and dignity, at their peril, some of our people derided and scorned them. What was seen as an individual fight against one of the most ferocious and deadliest Governments gave birth ultimately to freedom now being enjoyed by all. It was a fight for a right just as #OccupyWestfield is, fight for a right. I don’t think we should pooh-pooh it as a sanctimonious irrelevance.
Gambia, when a person believes a certain social condition needs redeeming or a right needs respect, protection or fulfilment by the primary duty bearer, we should support at most or not hinder at least. Imagine if most of us had joined the late Solo Sandeng and co on that fateful day or Darbo on long match or with Baboucarr Ceesay and Saidykhan when they wanted to protest against the execution.
Imagine what a movement and a message we would have sent and the ground swell we would have created. Nothing can stop People Power in the long run. But some of us were condescending and patronising. It was “their” fight. “Not in my name” we shouted with glee. Who now is not enjoying the fruits of these sacrifices? These and #OccupyWestfield are about rights, even if different rights.
And yes, even if it is just one person out of our 2.8 million people who feels dissatisfied with NAWEC, the 2.8 million do not have rights greater than that of the one person and vice versa nor can one silence the other.
Salaam.
A honourable action would be calling for the renaming of Westfield to #SOLO SANDENG JUNCTION! He was the prominent of heros who lost their lives so THAT today we live in freedom and regain our sanctity.
I am sure any President or head of state would be proud to satisfy the socio.economic well being of his or her people.But for example lets consider Gambia as the world, how many percent of the population are financially stable. Frankly we are talking about a very limited proportion.
And this is just the state of affairs in the world; Governments especially from our part of the world are not well off financially and are therefore cut on cross-fire between the disatisfied citizenry and the global multi-million dollar,euro or pound heavywheight indurstrial companies and institutions that are at the helm.
A constructive critism or critic which or who did not take these facts into consideration can be very successful in a country like the Gambia where illitracy out-weights literate analytical minds.
Therefore, politicians who have command of the words,activists whos advocacies are reflecting the present difficulties and problems, are in an advantageous position compared to the Governments in power in those less developed countries.
Unfortunately other forces came into play like the ills of society that are propelled or triggered by nagetive cultural practices, greed,opportunistic tendencies just to name a few.
According to the facts unfolding now at the Janneh Commission, which have the been case in many African countries,governments are on the defensive when it comes politics,but are critics and political opponents having that truthful and selfless dedication to country and people?
Mostly,No, Because the moment they took up the reins of Power,we see different characteristics and behaviours that are counter-productive,this claim is clearly substantial according to the revelations and what we have experienced during the era of the Past administration.
We have also seen the impact of fovourism,lending support to an individual candidate because he or she is a relative,friend culturally or otherwise and not by the persons delibrations in life towards the common good for all.
To celebrate difference is not bad but it is when you intrude on someones privacy or infringe on his or her right
Changes is as indespensable in the circle of live in the world,And it is always better to the reason out and make room for the cononesequencies of ones actions.Because life is science,if you fail to build according to the formular it bound to fail.Every little bit of the formular has to be in the specific outlines and accuracy.
Th silent DICTATORIAL administration with the British Argos watchman at the helm has already denied permission to the organizers of the WESTFIELD demonstration.
That’s the beginning of their estrangement with the masses. Once an INCOMPETENT, CORRUPT, TRIBALIST administration cannot afford the people’s aspirations it resorts to FASCIST methods of governing.
We have harder days to come!
Babu, I contrarily believe we can only have softened days from now on…
Deliberate blatant sanctioned & ordered sadistic murders & barbarities will be in the past…
Democratic credence, far from the finished product at the moment but surely can only improve in the positive from now on…
You & the likes are the Gambian proverbial deposed/dethroned (former) ‘Alkalo who never wish the village well’ after…
Always wishes the village to set afire; & would go any lengths to cost inferno personally or through incitements…
The would be ‘Westfield occupy’ have other avenues to exploit & resort to, amongst the constitutional rights if the demonstration permitted is denied on this application…
Together we’ll build Gambia better place for humanity at large but only progressive & gradual…
God bless the Gambia…
Bajaw,
I hate people who would say: “I was born poor so if I remain poor, it’s fate”, “I was born illiterate so if I remain illiterate, it’s fate”.
So Bajaw, stop supporting a group that will not acceed to the needs and aspirations of its people, simply because Babu Soli opposes them. Your people count more than these USELESS group.
Are you sincerely condoning the denying of a mass demonstration that would show the people’s preoccupation and denial of an abhorrent situation? The people are in dire need of electricity, water and other essential amenities. While all that is treading on their livelihood, this CORRUPT, INCOMPETENT, TRIBALIST; INEPT administration continues its USELESS diatribes and nonsensical talks about “what they intend to do”.
Would you therefore agree to the fact the 14 students that died in 2014 was a justified account since they went into the street without authoritative permission?
I know a better Gambia will be built but not with the presence of these CORRUPT bunch of SELFISH administrators in office
Demonstration is permitted by law & constitution, Babu, whether permissioned (by authority) or not; I’m not in denial & never will ever be…
However, the current political climate is loaded & induced which can be hijacked by your likes & evil aprc mechanism remote controls from the Equator kanilai devil…
I please refer you to Alagi Yorro Jallow’s piece on the ‘Westfield occupy’, it is food for thought…
I believe the situation is not ripe for such yet without assured security support set ups to safeguard lives & properties which will go along permit issuance from police…
The ‘Occupy Westfield’ organisation reportedly, is already intended to seek other legal ‘high court’ injunction, which I for one believe it’s the sensible option to take…
One mustn’t espect always to demand one’s rights from community (Gambia) to be provided at all times(which we always expect); but while in anticipation, one too must always expect to live up to expectations & uphold one’s own obligatory contributory requirements to betterment of society one lives in too; though this isn’t the case always…
I believe the would be Occupy Westfield demonstrators haven’t exhausted the avenue yet…
While personally I believe there’s enough pressure already surmounted upon the government on energy & water issues presently…
I believe, things can only get improving progressively, under our watchful critiquing eyes behind the current & other governments envisaged in future…
The April 2000 demonstrations were about rape & murder of students which were never looked into despite various demands over the time for justice & redress for the victims fell on deaf ears…
The current energy & water situation too are of the deliberate greedy making of the evil kanilai murder & countless thieves & mercenaries & not for any faults of the current government, though it’s their mandatory responsibility to find fixes to…
Realistically there can’t be instant permanent fix solutions achieved, especially within the current unreasonable time of being in charge…
That insistence (in doing so) will be far fetched for real…
Section 25 of the same constitution was being used by UDP protesters during 2016 as their right but now there is no right with same section in the new government even with the acclaimed learned Lawyers in the government? A paradox
Babu, certainly yaya Jammeh won’t do runner to the equator for asylum if it was up to any good in the past 22/so years…?
If so let yaya come back on its own accord, with right protection if anyone thinks so & face the commission & let history be the judge for the world to witnes…
I’m sure, the murders & inhumane barbarities untold, on their own, will nail the kanilai murderer up…
The resources embezzlement are materialistic, which can only realise what (how much) can be recoverably salvaged; as collateral (material & financial) damages have been made disproportionately already; not to mention the socioeconomic damages too which are enormously immeasurable as in the current energy, indebtedness & other political problems faced among …
However, the sadistic killings won’t go away until yaya Jammeh’s extradition to face the humanity crimes committed under the evil kanilai fiefdom which only realistic justice & redress for the direct victims & Gambia community as a whole in extension to the subregional & international community as global village…
The truth commission must & the Gambians will surely see to that for the sake of humanity…
God bless the Gambia; Ameen…
And what do you call that; ‘development’…??
But you & likes demand the contrary (heaven & earth) from a nine month old transition…??
Koto Babu, for an intellectual, you are too blinded by hatred to a point that you are denying young Gambians the opportunity to learn from the wisdom of your age and experience. Koto, I do expect all of us to shred the Government into pieces when they do wrong but to also give them credit where due. There was a commission of inquiry when Jammeh came to office but there was not a single occasion when it was mentioned that Jawara was withdrawing cash from the central bank or any other bank. His Worldly possessions were a house in Barajally, a house in Fajara, a house in UK and two gardens in Banjulnding. And I must add some of these he owned before becoming president. Fast forward 2017 we all know the story so far. President Barrow has slashed the presidency’s budget by 75% yet you claim that he is corrupt. If you want people to regard you as a reputable Gambian intellectual who is genuinely concern about the affairs in his Homeland you should stop sounding like a broken record without facts. People who tend to see Tribe in everything are usually the Tribalist ones. Am beginning to think that you are very Tribalistic and that you are only using freedom of expression as a cover. However I would like to be proven wrong because something tells me that you might be a nice person on an individual level.
Babu Soli is a prankster who might be one of the real yaya jammehs men.
Buba Camara, read Section 25 further, to be precise subsection 4 of Section 25 and you will see the limitations the Constitution places on Subsections 1 and 2 of Section 25. Let me paste it here for you and others to read
(4) The freedoms referred to in subsections (1) and (2) shall be
exercised subject to the law of The Gambia in so far as that
law imposes reasonable restriction on the exercise of the
rights and freedoms thereby conferred, which are necessary
in a democratic society and are required in the interests of
the sovereignty and integrity of The Gambia, national
security, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to
contempt of court.
Bro then educate the acclaimed UDP Lawyer who challenged his sentenced at the supreme court claiming that they needed no permit to protest.
Where is the truth and the allegation against the jammeh regime . A proxy double standard !