President
Adama Barrow has warned that the kind of protest that took place in Kanilai,
the village of former president Yahya Jammeh, would not be tolerated from any
community or group from anywhere in The Gambia.
The
Gambian leader was reacting to a violent protest in Kanilai on Friday when
dozens of youth from in and around the village took to the streets near the
military camps in Kanilai demanding the withdrawal of ECOMIG soldiers from the
vicinity of the village.
In
his reaction through a Facebook post from Liberia, where he was attending the
ECOWAS Summit, Barrow said he would promote democracy, freedom and rule of law
and encourage reconciliation in The Gambia.
“But
I will not accept violence, lack of respect for authority, and the rule of
law,” he said, adding that Gambians have decided a change of government on the
1st December 2016.
“I
call on all to join my government and promote democracy, freedom and rule of
law. Let us focus on our reform agenda
and build a foundation where democracy and development will thrive and citizens
live in dignity and respect for rule of law.”
One
died, 22 arrested
In
a televised statement yesterday, Interior Minister Mai Ahmad Fatty condemned
the protest, calling it an act of provocation against members of the security
forces.
According
to him, security reports revealed that some members of the protesters were
armed with traditional weapons and one of their demands was the removal of
security personnel from the Kanilai area.
“Unfortunately,
during the tense standoff between the group of armed demonstrators and members
of the security forces deployed in the area [Kanilai], two members of the group
and one ECOMIG soldiers were wounded resulting in the regrettable death on 3
June of the demonstrators at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul,”
he said.
Meanwhile,
the minister confirmed the arrest of 22 protesters.
“There
were 22 people arrested from the incident while the village head of Kanilai and
others went into hiding but efforts are on the way to find them,” he said.
Fatty
pointed out that President Barrow had convened an emergency security meeting
with the security chiefs to address the circumstances prevailing in the country
particularly the Kanilai incident.
He
said the presence of the ECOMIG soldiers in The Gambia was caused by the former
president when he refused to step down and hand over power peacefully after he
was voted out of office on December 1 presidential election.
He
noted that the Constitution of The Gambia guarantees the rights for peaceful
protest or freedom of assembly or association but it must be exercised within
the confines of the law.
“You
either abide by the law or you will be consumed by the law,” the tough-talking
interior minister said.
