The malicious audio circulating on social media since yesterday May 10 in which an apparently Mandinka woman was releasing poisonous diatribes against the Sarahuleh community clearly and squarely constitute hate speech, incitement to violence and discrimination of a group on account of their ethnicity and threat to national security.
Her unhealthy and hateful outburst is a direct violation of the Constitution as regards freedom of expression, right to culture and protection against discrimination as well as violating several sections of the Criminal Code. For that matter the police must arrest and charge this lady accordingly in maintaining law and order.
Failure to arrest this lady potentially means the police would be allowing hate and violence to flourish in our society hence jeopardizing fundamental rights and freedoms and security of all Gambians. If there is any situation that warrants the police to invite a citizen for questioning, this is the perfect situation. Yet since this audio became public we are yet to see the Gambia Police Force invite the lady or issue a statement to that effect or address hate speech.
If the Gambia Police Force could invite Dr. Ismaila Ceesay or Dr. Amadou Scattered Janneh or Seedy Njie or Mama Kandeh for merely expressing their opinions without hate or arrest Gunjur youths for attempting to protest without violence or deny Occupy Westfield group to protest or attempt to disperse environmentalists at Monkey Park, one wonders how come this lady is allowed to enjoy her freedom in our community without urgent police intervention.
Intolerance of any kind must not be allowed to rear its ugly head in the Gambia. Ethnic, political or religious difference cannot and must not be a basis for our participation in the life of the community. More seriously, differences in tribe, political affiliation or religion cannot be used to discriminate or promote violence against any people. Hence the police must investigate the entire episode in Dippa Kunda to ensure that those who engaged in violence, in words and actions are brought to book.
In the same vein, it is also necessary that political parties and their leaders speak out urgently and strongly against any of their members or sympathizers who perpetuate bigotry. Therefore we expect that the leaders of UDP and Talib Bensouda as well as Papa Njie to come out firmly and clearly to condemn any of their supporters and sympathizers who may have perpetrated such bigotry and hate!
Democracy is about choice which implies citizens having divergent and dissenting opinion. No opinion must be perceived from a sectarian perspective to the point that hateful speech is used against the persons or groups holding that opinion. The Gambia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society hence to perceive any person, group or opinion from the point of tribe or religion can only breed hate, discrimination and violence. The police and political parties must be seen to therefore stand up against such bigotry with urgency and firmness.
The Gambia does not belong to any single tribe or religion. Regardless of the size of a tribe or religion, no Gambian tribe or religion must feel or entertain the idea that only they own or do not own the Gambia. In terms of the sovereignty of the Gambia there are no majority or minority tribes or religions. All Gambians, regardless of one’s particular tribe and religion, are equal in rights, dignity and sovereignty of the Gambia.
For the Gambia, Our Homeland.
Thank you Madi Jobarteh for being true to yourself and the Gambia. One day, I hope soon, most Gambians will awaken to the realization that what goes up must come down, unless it has the power to defy gravity. The most telling of all, is not just the deafning Silence and Indifference of the Politicians especially, those in Power in the current government, Police and Civic leaders toward the Vile and Noxious brew of this individual’s words. Since May 11, 2018 when you posted your Oped, made a Plea for the relevant officials to Publicly Condemn the woman’s Hate speech and for the Police to “invite” her into their office as they did with the Opposition Party Leaders, Members and some Gambians of a specific Tribe, who were accused of “insulting” or dared say anything that the current government considers “Malicious” or “threaning” the National Security of the Gambia, nothing has come of it. Even the Online trolls have taken a “Vow of Silence” and an Indifferent approach to such an unacceptable, uncivil and undesired attack on a Whole ethnic group, the Serahuleh. To the extent that the Police are tethered to the Ruling Party, and the leaders of that Party fail to apply the Law of the Land equally without favour or prejudice, the new government is in danger of becoming what it alleged to have fought against, IMPUNITY, SILENCE, AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF OTHERS TO INCITEMENT VIOLENCE against fellow Gambians they see and feel like insulting and wanting to “relegate” to a Second Citizenship. To President Adama Barrow, Vice President Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang and Ousainou Darbo; the Gambia Police are too politicized and beholding to the Executive Branch and as such Law enforcement is been carried out in a manner not consistent with the Principles and Aspirations of a Democratic Dispensation. The “New Gambia” should endeavor to be different in a meaningful and desired disposition to all Gambians, not “Our Ethnic or Parties” Gambians. The Police or Law enforcement officials are not or should not be used as tools of coersion or repression of those who do not support the government, the Opposition. Nor should the Police or Law Enforcement officials be used as a tool to empower, encourage and support Supporters of the current government by Commission or Omission. Several Gambians including women have been Arrested and Detained for lesser charges in the First Twelve Months of the current government. Most of those arrested or as the Police like to call or label it, “Invited” to the Police Station for questioning were the Opposition Party Leaders, Members of the Opposition Parties or Members of the Jola Tribe of former President Yaya Jammeh who were collectively seen as guilty by association and by proxy. In 2018 moving forward, the Gambians wish the current government would depart from the old insidious Party Politics of rabid, ethnic and tribal intolerance. This woman’s behavior is a throw back to the old Party Politics of the PPP VS. United Party at least in the rural areas where I witnessed Opposition United Party Members attacked during Campaigns and personally as well as their property destroyed. The only difference between then and now, is that the PPP leadership in many instances Condonmed the Violence and in several instances the perpetrators were arrested and restitution demanded. Whether paid or not I don’t know. It seems to me that the current government in its quest to “appear tough” due to personal and national insecurity pervasive in the Gambia, decided to not rock their Support Base, nor apologies for any wrong deeds. They seem to see acts as a weakness. Correcting a wrong is not a weakness nor is keeping Silent and do nothing in the face of wrong deeds and potentially criminal behavior a sign of bravery. Let’s build Bridges of Unity” among all Gambians without regard to Ethnic group, Party affiliations or Regional Residence. We must learn to tame our inner demons and control our savage impulses before, during and after elections. Vote for the Candidate and Party of your choice and give the same Right to others who have a different choice. Gambia is More than the Sum Total of One Ethnic group, Party, or Region. Allah/God bless the Gambia and all Gambians.