News, Politics

Gambia Forbids Peaceful Street Protest

IGP Landing Kinteh

(Jollofnews)- Authorities in the Gambia have warned against any protest at the busy Westfield junction against the continuous power and water shortages.

A group of Gambians had planned to gather at the WestField junction and hold a peaceful assembly against the state owned National Water and Electricity Company (Nawec).

Organisers have used social networking sites to reach out to discontent Gambians and have also applied for a police permit in accordance with the country’s archaic public order laws.

But the Inspector General of Police Landing Kinteh said: “After a thorough and careful review of the request, the office the IGP has decided not to grant the request for protest/demonstration, for the fact that it is likely to cause the breach of the peace.

In view of the above, the general public especially those intending to take part in these proposed demonstration are hereby warned to desist from such actions. Thus any attempt to hold such demonstration will constitute an unlawful assembly and then police will therefore apply the full force of the law in dispersing any such a gathering or assembly as provided by Section 5(2) of the public Order Act Cap 22:01 Volume 4 Of the laws of the Gambia (2009).

The right to peaceful is guaranteed by the Gambian constitution, but restricted by the country’s Public Order Act introduced by the then colonial government in 1955 to “circumvent those who wish to create a breach of the peace, or to take into themselves powers of control which rest property in the hands of government.”

Ironically, while in opposition, both the country’s new Interior and Foreign Affairs ministers have spoken out against the law and have accused the previous regime of Yahya Jammeh of using it to strengthen its grip on power.

PapaK

8 Comments

  1. Now we understand what I have been saying for months. I cannot find the difference in the standard of leadership. So whilst Jammeh law prevails, Jammeh law will rule.
    All the other fine words from the coalition must now be taken as meaningless. So does this mean the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning ?
    Is The Gambia in safe hands or have they dropped the ball ? Own goals continue.

  2. Sections 25 of the 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

  3. The results of the one government full of inexperienced friends and family , it was Jammeh’s police today’s Barrow ‘s friends in the office , poor Gambians no way to go no chances to complain no rights to demonstrate even more people are suffering . Gambian has Regretted

  4. Some people are expected everything to fall in place at one time.Problems that lingers on in almost across the continent cannot be remedied without the unpartisan approach by citizens.
    The difference between the two governments concerned is clear as daylight.Their stance toward the common ggod for has been there all the years. The new keyposition holders we have seen living a honourable life toiling for their survival like any dignified person should.
    We hope and pray that our problems never spriralled beyond the Nawec problem and those who are bent on havoc, may Allah show them before the light to reason out before fall pray to populous activism.

  5. Tax evaders who used their political parties fund to be able to be qualify to vie a presidentak opposition ticket?
    Assylum Document forgers rescued from prison?
    Toiling and living honourable lives? Come on camrade let stop the kidding!

  6. This is really shameful. The bedrock of democracy is the right to protest and it is s shame that Adama Barrow is allowing this infringement on people’s rights while hiding under some obsolete laws. I strongly advise that Barrow should allow protests because they are the building blocks of a truly democratic society.

  7. This is really shameful. The bedrock of democracy is the right to protest and it is a shame that Adama Barrow is allowing this infringement on people’s rights while hiding under some obsolete laws. I strongly advise that Barrow should allow protests because they are the building blocks of a truly democratic society.

  8. Martin, actually the bedrock of democracy is talking. That’s why you have a National Assembly were people’s representatives can debate issues. The law that you referred to as obsolete is the same law that gives the right to protest, so is that also obsolete?? The main reason for the planned protest is to bring to the Government’s notice that people are really suffering. The Government is engaged with the organisers in a dialogue to address their grievances, so please tell me if you would rather they stop the dialogue and let people protest and then resume the dialogue? There is no democracy in the world that does not have some laws that limits the right to protest because one’s right to protest can only go insofar as it does not encroach on the rights of others. After the Kanillai incident everyone accused the Government of not engaging in dialogue first, now that they are engaging in dialogue the same people want the Government to abandon dialogue and take the confrontational approach. It should not be for politicians to decide who get a permit or not to stage a demonstration, that should be a matter for the police to decide. And when they make a decision we as citizens should respect that decision and not call on politicians to overturn that decision, because Martin that will be the quickest way to erode our civil liberties.

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