The 3 Years Jotna protest on
Sunday turned violent as security personnel clashed with protesters resulting
in firing of tear gas to disperse the crowd from reaching Denton Bridge.
Thousands of protesters
resorted to throwing stones and burning tyres, sparking confrontation with
security as protesters marched from Sting Corner towards Serrekunda. The clash
resulted in the revocation of the permit issued by the police who accused the
protesters of being violent.
All businesses closed in
Westfield and people ran to avoid inhaling the gasses.
Speaking in an interview with
some protesters at Sting Corner, one protester told The Point that their
intention was to have a peaceful protest until the agreed time and then
disperse.
“But before that happens, the
security personnel started throwing tear gas to the protesters which eventually
turned to violent. The violence is caused by throwing of the teargas. The
teargas should not have been thrown,” the protester added.
Amadou Ceesay, a protester
said they had the right to demonstrate, citing that President Adama Barrow
needs to respect the three years agreement with the Coalition.
Sarjo Ceesay, another
protester told this reporter that, it was their constitutional right to
demonstrate, arguing that Mr. Barrow has failed the agreement he made with
coalition partners. “So he should step down.”
Reports have emerged that
police followed protesters to the swampy rice farms and arrested them.
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