Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) leader, Mamma Kandeh, has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of party members on Sunday, saying the era of arbitrary arrest and intimidation is over.
“We will not be cowed nor will we sit idly by to watch this orchestrated effort to thwart the will of the people of Jimara,” he said in a statement seen by this reporter.
Seven party representatives and their family members were arrested over the weekend in Basse before being released on bail and asked to report on Monday. GDC MP for Jimara, Hon. Alhagie Sowe, and newly elected councilor, Manneh, and others appeared before and charged with incitement to violence and criminal trespass.
Mamma Kandeh said GDC will take all legal actions necessary to defend its representatives. “GDC will seek justice on their behalf against those who have sought to deny their rights for nefarious political motives,” he warned.
In an attempt to set the record straight, Kandeh further stated that the incident that led to what he termed as “unlawful arrests” of the GDC reps was caused by the actions of United Democratic Party (UDP) supporters “who are unable or unwilling to accept the fact that voters in Jimara exercised their democratic right to choose a GDC councillor to represent them in Julangel ward.”
Throwing a jab at the law enforcement body, GDC leader decried the fact that the police failed to take account of both sides of the story upon their arrival at the scene of the incident.
He said the enforcement action mounted by the police targeted GDC reps, adding that if they are found guilty it would prevent them from taking up office as elected representatives.
“This is a politically-motivated act designed to instil fear in our elected representatives and in our supporters. GDC therefore condemns these illegal arrests in the strongest terms possible,” Kandeh said.
Mamma Kandeh seized the opportunity to reiterate GDC commitment to rule of law and democratic principles of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
“GDC wll always defend these rights against any person or institution wishing to deny Gambians of these rights,” he voiced out.
Written by Abdoulie JOHN
Well it’s good that Mr Kandeh said he will seek justice as he must believe Justice now exists in The Gambia/ I think Mr Kandeh needs to stop bellyaching at the slightest opportunity/ Much better if he demonstrates Presidential qualities and does some community work/ I don’t think leadership needs these aggressive qualities/
It takes two to tango!
These arrests and re-arrests of opposition members does seem to suggest so much anger in the New Gambia/new desperation, something not expected. People who fault the laws are expected to be have some explaining to do but when it is frequently those in the opposition, it will most likely than not ring the wrong bell!!!!
As Gambians we need to learn how to Manager Anger and need-based prioritise our efforts to address the urgent needs for the whole nation. Acting on emotions can have serious consequences we do not need right now and no other time. ‘Actions speaks louder than the voice’ is a common saying we need to remember before acting.
OJ (Agriculture Minister) is one of those who lost so much in the wake of the 1994 change of government, but he appears to have got the strength, the courage and the ‘Mandela aptitude’ to manage whatever anger or loss, he courageously said:
”PROSECUTING JAMMEH ALONE NOT ENOUGH” OJ, The Standard online news, 18/04/2018.
I salute OJ for the courage to speak about something painful but something that can lead The Gambia forward. Prosecuting all the actors in the previous regime is near impossible. Despite the pain many people/families went through, compensating the victims and moving our nation forward is the best, safest, cheapest and surest way to enable The Gambia/Gambians focus on developing the nation. What Gambia/Gambians experienced during the previous regime have left painful memories but cannot ours is not more than what was experienced in South Africa, Rwanda, Liberia, etc. Those were far worst and its a fact that had Nelson Mandela opted for revenge, no one or law can fault him. He had every reason or legal right to do it but he opted to let go his personal ego and chose the common good.We are all witnesses to the results of that decision he made certainly with a great degree of pain. That pain he swallowed is the PRICE one has to be ready to pay at least for the good of the nation (PEACE)
Besides, no amount of prosecuting on this earth will bring COMPLETE JUSTICE. COMPLETE JUSTICE is only in Allah’s court (for those who believe -99% Gambians). There will always be human limitations which will result in a miscarriage of justice, may Allah forbids, that can cause chaos and hunt us all. The Janneh Commission can serve as an example of this. Some of the people gave statements clearly indicating acute failures on their part in executing the duties they swore to carry out without fear or favour but today they openly confirm their failures based on exactly that (fear but surely some were for favours to retain positions). And they are still living BIG TIME in Gambia. Where else will they go? We have limitations and acknowledging them, commitment to improve on them and move on with rebuilding the nation is the wise and sure course of action for our common good. right now!!!
Again we are seeing today (our executive still fail to declare their assets) before they assume public office. Is the Janneh Commission not enough for all to learn from and do the right thing? We should try hard at this crucial moment in the life of our dear nation to do the right thing so that The Gambia does not have to spend more millions on another commissions in the future. This is the opportunity we must grab and focus on to set a clear path for our national ship. The anger and revenge mood (palpable even at the top) and holding onto the past and not letting it go is already distracting the national ship. After this government, who can verify the properties or assets of the top officials? No one, since we do not have record of it when they assume office, it’s an open secrete that they are not creating the conditions for straight dealings in the public offices they occupy and no chance getting anything back after they left). What is distracting Gambia from ensuring officials doing the right thing right from start? Could it be ANGER? REVENGE? Even compensating the victims whose cries contributed to gains enjoyed top officials today have (as far as I know) not been publicly settled one year plus into New Gambia, while their cries are being echoed on a daily basis, names of the dead being sung at every opportunity, is this not enough distraction. Dwelling in the past due to anger is enabling new politicians to open national windows of regret in the future by making the us believe that continuously singing the faults of the previous regime is in itself a success!!! I disagree, it is not!!! For me the immediate commitment must not be limited to forming centres for families or friends left behind by those who died, it should start with and be based on the creation of appropriate mechanisms to ensure a proper, adequate and proportionate compensation and welfare for them within the first 100 days in New Gambia or at the least the first 6 months. Using the names of the dead for any other purpose (seeking favours, political advantage, etc should be reduced or stopped all together to avoid commercialising other people’s suffering and agony. Each time a dead person’s name is mentioned, his or her love ones are forced into a thought process of recollection of very painful memories which most of those mentioning the names no longer feel or never before have the extent the families or friends they left behind. We most be sensitive to those underlying effects of our efforts/actions in seeking redress if at all our mission is not meant to score cheap political goals on the pain of others.
The victims families calling rallies to seek for compensations or support to their families is a shame and disgrace for Gambia, lets own up to it and address it. If we choose to keep the ANGER and seek REVENGE, we should be prepared to face consequences tomorrow. Politicians normally or always gain when they succeed raising emotions often to divert attention from current needs (including official corruption, nepotism, misplaced priorities, wrong policies as evident in many cancelled/re-instate, cancelled/re-instate contracts to companies with shady dealings) each costing tax payers fortunes!!!
May Allah help The Gambia!!!