In
a news release, The Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) has urged that security
forces must guarantee safety and security in any procession in the New Gambia
and try to become champions of “never again”.
Below
reads the full text of the party’s press release
The
GDC is shocked by the recent contentions between the “3 Years Jotna” and the
Barrow administration despite all the mediation efforts undertaken by the Party
responded to by the Movement and not the Government. However, we will
relentlessly continue to seek audience from both parties to safeguard the
interest of our country.
The
security forces must use professionalism in dealing with protesters and respect
the fundamental rights and freedoms of speech, assembly and the press as
guaranteed in the Gambian 1997 constitution. Chapter IV (4) of the constitution
forbids the inhuman treatment of citizens, the Public Order Act 1961, amended
in 2009 did not state for any inhuman treatment in protests or demonstrations
of discontent. Security forces must guarantee safety and security in any
procession in the New Gambia and become the champions of “never again”.
The
General Order (GO) of the Gambia Public Servants clearly states in Section
03109 “An Officer will be liable to disciplinary proceedings if he/she is
subject to serious pecuniary embarrassment. A Head of Department who becomes
aware of such a situation will take the disciplinary action required by the
Regulations”.
In
the wake of the above therefore, we are asking the government to drop all
charges against those arrested and order the re-opening of all the private
radio stations closed and seek dialog instead of confrontation.
We
are also calling on the Government of H.E Adama Barrow to conduct a thorough
investigation in the treatment of protesters and provide redress to discourage
any similar incidence in the future.
