ANM Darboe
The United Democratic Party has learned with great dismay of the disruption, using disproportionate force, of a civilian event organised by the splinter group of the APRC also known as NO TO ALLIANCE with five elected National Assembly Members serving in the Legislature.
The UDP calls on the IGP to unreservedly apologise to the organisers of event and to compensate for any harm and or damage caused to life or property; and to the nation in general that on the most solemn day in the republic’s calendar the Gambia Police would resort to tactics reminiscent of the brutal dictatorship our Nation is transitioning away from.
It is baffling to witness that a day after the long-awaited National Dialogue to sanitize Gambian politics that the Gambia Police Force uses teargas to disperse a peaceful assembly of citizens on Independence Day no less. A ‘National Dialogue’ is meaningful only within the context of democratic pluralism where all organs and agents of State act with the ambit of the Constitution and guided by the rule of law.
To be clear, this is not the first time that the Gambia Police Force has used excessive force to disperse peaceful assemblies of citizens. One instant was firing teargas into the crowd assembled outside the residence of the UDP Party Leader in December 2021. There are several other cases but suffice it to say policing in a democratic republic requires skill set and tools different from that of an authoritarian state.
Furthermore, UDP has noted with grave concerns that since the appointment of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly in 2022, the APRC politics of weaponisation of State Institutions have made a comeback. Arbitrary arrests detention and state violence forms of intimidation that dictator Jammeh practised extensively to stifle dissent but failed to cow opposition to his tyrannical government. Appointments to high offices of State are based on partisan considerations. This conflates the distinctive role of the permanent professional public services with the elected political class, which requires no professional qualification except senior secondary school certificate.
UDP respectfully urges the security forces and public servants to honour their oaths of office and to faithfully serve the constitution and laws of the Gambia without fear or favour, ill will or affection. Mindful of the necessity to disobey unlawful orders where those orders violate the human rights of citizens. The mantra of the TRRC “NEVER AGAIN” must mean that ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’.
Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to safeguard the state and to secure all life liberty and equal protection of the law. As a nation we cannot say we shall engage in dialogue with a view to cleansing our politics and immediately thereafter attack a rival political group with teargas.
In conclusion, UDP wishes all Gambians happy and peaceful 59th Independence Anniversary.
LONG LIVE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA !! LONG LIVE NATIONAL UNITY!! GAMBIA KANGKILING!! GAMBIA BENA BADD!!
ANM Ousainu Darbo
SECRETARY GENERAL & PARTY LEADER.
