Halifa
Sallah, a senior member of the coalition and National Assembly member for
Serekunda constituency, has said that the recent protest in Kanilai village
which was quelled by the military should not have been seen as a threat.
“They
[protesters] should not have been seen as threat but part of the Gambian
population,” he said at a press conference on Sunday at the PDOIS building in
Churchill’s Town.
The
conference was in reaction to a protest in Kanilai on 2 June 2017 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.
Hon.
Sallah said the Gambian people should understand the role of ECOMIG and know
that the forces are in the country to defend the sovereignty of The Gambia and
its people.
“It
is not to take part in an ethnic strife or political infighting,” he said “The people should understand that the ECOMIG
forces came into The Gambia to enhance the unity among the people.”
The
veteran politician said it is important for the military forces stationed in
Kanilai and other places to be given orientation to ensure that they are guided
by republican and democratic values and the spirit of caring for others.
On
the other hand, he said, the communities should also be able to accept that the
security forces protect life just as doctors do.
