Despite the adoption of the word “Occupy” likening their action to “Occupy Wall Street” in the USA, I still maintain my unwavering support and utmost admiration for these young comrades for having the audacity to make DEMANDS of the regime for the basic need of water and electricity. This service to provide water and electricity is not free as it has been alleged to be free in Kanilai during Jammeh’s reign of terror.
The Gambian people pay for the services, therefore NAWEC is obligated to provide these services. An ant-hill issue was unnecessarily elevated to the height of Mount Kilimanjaro by the “guardians of the beyond reproach Barrow regime”. This issue could have been resolved amicably without resorting to personal threats and bogus allegations of possible violence. Where is the evidence of the “impending violence” and the people who were to hatch this violence? This “secret society” approach of the current administration only heightens speculations. During this long period of water shortages and power outages, the vast majority of our suffering people complained endlessly with no relief in sight. A protest of any kind against NAWEC’S negligence is justifiable.
All the reactionary attacks against these young comrades seem to have emboldened them to defy the revocation of the permit to protest and assembled at Westfield in a peaceful and disciplined manner. The only potential violence that could have happened on Sunday, November 12, 2018, would have come from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) all dressed in their “uniforms of brutality” attempting to provoke an incident, but the young comrades accomplished their mission and refused to give them the pleasure to repeat the savagery of April 10 and 11 2000, when 14 students were killed, many wounded and maimed for life. The fundamental concern about this matter should have been the conduct of the PIU or the recycled left over thugs that Jammeh sent to spill and drank the blood of the students in 2000. They have a history of violence and brutality not the “Occupy Westfield”.
It is a common practice among neocolonial African regimes never to admit to their political blunders with its very serious social consequences. And, when the masses express their outrage through protest and demonstrations, the “ruling class” is quick to blame “outside agitators” as if the masses, including students are not capable of organizing a peaceful protest. The PPP and AFPRC-APRC regimes both engaged in the “outside agitators” blame game and now the “tactical coalition” government, only eleven months on the “saddles of power” is outdoing its predecessors in the blame game.
It has become an undisputed truth that these young comrades have brains of their own and didn’t need Ous Mbenga, DUGA, others “grown-ups” and “senior citizens”, allegedly, to plan this protest. It is these like-minded “character assassins” that called the students on April 10 and 11, 2000 thugs, rude and without home training.” Some went to the extent of saying they deserved that treatment. The African police, army and “security service” know only how to brutalize the population.
What these “character assassins” fail to realize is that the Gambian masses (students included) are gaining political maturity and will not be intimidated by the meaningless and empty “threats to national security”. In fact, the IGP poses the greatest “national security threat” to the so called “new Gambia”. What are you afraid of? The people who “lifted you on to the saddles of power”? If a mere protest against one of your incompetent institutions rattled you this much to resort to bogus allegations of violence, to deny the issuance of a permit, then you better reprimand your Inspector General of Police (IGP), PIU and all the security forces involved in this unnecessary tension with these young comrades. The intent of this administration is clear. You want to smother the culture of protest, the only last resort the people have to get your attention.
A new day has dawned! With all due respect, those who witnessed the murders of April 10 and 11, 2000, and didn’t protest the brutality, like many others, are stuck in the past 52 years of politics as usual. Politics as usual is rot. It is the main reason for how things degenerated to the level we currently find ourselves. Our social conditions have gotten worse with neocolonialism (colonialism in black faces).
You must be willing to embrace REVOLUTION, revolutionary politics at best. Revolution is good, it’s the best thing a slave has against the slave master. The best thing the oppressed have against oppression. Revolution is the only solution to our wretched social conditions. Don’t let anyone scare you about revolution, the forces that control our livelihood through AID, FUNDING and GRANTS know the benefits of revolution. Liberation without social transformation (eradication of poverty and impoverishment) is meaningless. This is the best period to rescue our beloved Gambia from another 52 years of the “cart before the horse” governing. The masses of our people want a radical transformation of our wretched conditions of living. You took a revolutionary step contrary to all the attacks against you. So, don’t step backwards!
All power to the people! African power to the African masses! We will win!
Written by Ousainou Mbenga
Very revolutionary thoughts, indeed. I don’t know what to think of the rapid resort to that abominable word (National Security) to prevent a simple protest to express dissatisfaction with the water and electricity situation, but it is not what many expected from this administration. Moreover, why the indecision in government: denying them a permit, holding discussions to resolve issues, issuing a permit and then revoking it so soon afterwards. Such behaviour just isn’t good and those responsible need to be called to order, and given stern warnings, at the least. The poor handling of the permit issue of that incident could have led to the very consequences they were seeking to avoid. They youths, contrary to accusations, showed immense maturity and respect for authority, with little or no signs of violence or violent behaviour. So, kudos to the youths. Their objectives (to show officials that Gambians will no longer suffer in silence) has been achieved. Well done guys.
“All power to the people! African power to the African masses! We will win!”
Well said my brother.
Mr Ous Mbenga, I divergently see evidence to realistic change in effect, for the better, in the current Gambia, if any…
This change is real & evidential in system, as well as politically too under the current government learning the curve in driving seat…
The occupy demonstrators were listened to initially, instead of being arrested for dare to sought permission (when aprc demonstrations never ever sought permits before taking to streets & were never arrested); they were issued with permit only to rescinded; the demonstrators defied & went ahead anyway; the demonstrators were re-engaged again & peacefully dispersed in civil & human sacrosanct treatment; we have all at least observed at one point or another, on the media what obtains in mature democracies & other places, where defying official permit to demonstrate leads to; references to April students & electoral demonstrations under the kanilai killerdom, among them…
The lack of permit obtaining was the only reason, I believe, for the low size of demonstrators & the orderly handling; not to mention some of them resisted openly on camera, towards the security officer who engaged them to disperse; it could’ve turned the other way, had it been left to be chanced upon by the ulterior motivated some of whom in no doubt are behind this inducement & others; to wreck havoc on our very selves collectively together; but for the very selfish political interests of the politicians contrarily not for any meaningful reasons towards ‘electricity & water’ facilitations in pretense…
Where one’s right ends individually, is where another one’s right begins; when in deliberately encroachments extremely are where sources of conflict derives & thrive into inferno & strife…
Hence, the common communal interests together, always (must) takes precedence above all…
The tourism industry will get affected at all costs, by all & any means, if the Westfield occupy instigated demonstration turned bloody; as it is susceptible to hijack by elements under the current induced political climate of ours; but if hijacked as possibly can, would the resultant violence positively help or impede our genuine efforts to energy attainment & stability overall? as indicative in all efforts by detractors with only the ultimate aim to see the current administration’s failure at all costs; even if it means & turns into the Gambia destruction; if not for the political aspirations of ‘those who entitled’ only…
Yes, political maturity currently is taking shape; both in uptrend civic awareness elevating & of course, the current government judicious dispensations among; which are all tell-tales in the real system change we aspire to, in the political change recently obtained…
However, this change naturally & realistically, can only be nurtured & encourage to elevation, in gradul progression only; not drastically attainable in total, as being peddled & promised…
Otherwise, there’re more pressing areas deserving our urgent attention too; if not more in priority necessarily for the collective community together; than individualistic & partisan adventures at society’s detriment…
God bless the Gambia; Ameen…
Bax, in life one has to be careful what one wishes for. The Occupy Westfield original organisers may have had a very noble intention, but like most noble intentions, I belief it was hijacked by people with ulterior motives. I say this because of few things and Bax I would like you to logically analyze these points; (1) Why were certain people insisting on the protest going ahead when the youths were having dialogue with the authorities? (2) should we not have promoted dialogue over protest even if protesting is our enshrined right. Doesn’t that right come with a responsibility? Personally I think choosing dialogue over protest is a far more responsible way to achieve ones demands and I am on record praising both the Government and organisers for showing maturity. At that time many people couldn’t see the trees for the wood because of their individual and collective hatred for Mai Fatty. Social media was set on fire with vitriols against Mai for not granting the organisers a permit even though it was the IGP who denied them a permit. Fast forward few days when the issued permit was revoked and security forces dispersed the protesters, no one called for the head of the man overseeing Interior. Bax, that can only be described at best as double standards and at worst as hypocrisy. Mai Fatty at least sat with the organisers but neither Ba Tambedou nor anyone else did the second time round, yet the same voices that were loud when Mai was the Minister went quiet. (3) why were they not shouting about freedom of speech and freedom to protest anymore. Bax correct me if am wrong but is it not the same Salieu Taal who is one of the organisers who has been named by Amadou Samba as Yahya Jammeh’s lawyer??? If it is him then thats food for thought. Me thinks this has more to do with distracting people from the revelations in the commission than human rights.
The Right to Peacefully Assemble and the Right to Protest Peacefully is the Fulcrum on which Democractic Dispensations or Governments Operate or are suppose to Operate. Abridging or Circumventing such Rights by Claiming National Security, is but a sign of Draconian Kneejerk reaction at the least and Despotic at worst. National Security is an essential part of any viable governments’ tool to Maintain Peace and Security within the given Countries’ boundaries. Without it, all else may fall apart. However, it is a given that those in Power, especially, the Insecure and Conspiratorial type of Leaderdhip and their Supporters tend to have a Propensity to Hear and See “Violence” and “Insecurity” at any Event or Gathering they did not Organize, Sanction or Control. That is, a textbook case of Paranoia and Fear. Paranoia and Fear of the Unknown cannot be used as the Justification of declaring Free Assembly and or Protest Null and Void. The UDP GOVERNMENT of Adama Barrow needs an in-depth Self-examination and Assesment with regard to what it Wants or Needs its Legacy to be. They can choose to do as Jammeh did in his later years, that is, be as Intolerant, Authoritarian and Despotic or break that Umblical cord of Authoritarianism and embrace a “We the People” Democractic Dispensation the “alleged” New Gambia” was and is Expected to Deliver to the Gambians, all Gambians. Not my Gambians, your Gambians or their Gambians. All Gambians without hyphenations of any kind. On any given day, if Gambia fails, all Gambians would be affected directly or indirectly. If Gambia and Gambians are Successfull in managing their National Security without Insidious Subterfuge, all Gambians would be better off. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One Individual, Ethnic Group or Region. Let the People Have Their Say.