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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 20 Feb 2024 : 20:41:12
POLICE TEAR-GAS NAM, APRC FACTION SUPPORTERS
FEBRUARY 20, 2024
By Amadou Jadama
https://standard.gm/police-tear-gas-nam-aprcfaction-supporters/
Riot police on Sunday evening fired tear gas at a crowd of supporters belonging to the “No-to-Alliance” faction of the APRC at the Tallinding Youth Centre. Among those tear-gassed was the National Assembly Member for Foñi Jarrol, Tumanding Sanneh.
At a press briefing in Lamin yesterday, the “No-to-Alliance” leader, Yaya Tamba, said two hours into the fundraiser, the police invited the organisers to Bundung station and told them that the permit issued to them was revoked and that they should stop the event.
He said while they were negotiating at the station, a PIU contingent was sent to disrupt the fundraising event, fire teargas and arrest people. Among those tear-gassed was NAM Sanneh who, he said, was trying to calm the situation.
Mr Tamba said at least 20 were “victimised” and that nine people were admitted at the nearby Ahmadiyya and Bundung hospitals.
He said a score of people were arrested and detained at the Denton Bridge and later released.
In the ensuing melee after the police fired the tear gas, he said many people lost their valuables including mobile phones with one woman losing D11,000 cash that was in her purse.
Mr Tamba said they applied for a permit on 31 December and it was approved on 2 January and that on Sunday between 5 to 6pm Police Commissioner Gass Sabally conducted a spot check and ascertained that there was no violation of the permit rules.
“Between 7 to 8pm, the taskforce responsible for the fundraising were called for a dialogue at Bunding Police Station only to be informed that the permit was revoked at the time when people were at the venue…” he explained.
Tamba said they were informed that they were using a logo of APRC, a party they did not belong to.
He said they organised similar fundraisers in the past two years without even requesting for a permit and that they were not harassed.
He said the action of the police was “unethical, unprofessional, and very irresponsible” ” and that the “brutality” meted out to his people was “callous and unjustified”.
“Is this the type of government that we expect to provide peace and security for Gambians? We want the whole world to understand that there is no justice in The Gambia with regard to political affiliations. This is the most criminal, illegal action by the security forces,” he charged.
Calls for investigation
Addressing yesterday’s press briefing, Foñi Kansala NAM, Almameh Gibba, called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately investigate the “police brutality”.
“We are calling on the police to investigate as soon as possible to know the cause of disrespecting the honourable member who is voted to represent his constituency. Justice must be seen to be done, and justice must be accorded and the rule of law must be respected… The police are supposed to guard and protect the lives and properties of people. So, this is uncalled for and we are calling for justice in this matter,” he urged.
The Standard repeatedly contacted the police spokesperson for a reaction without success. |
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Momodou |
Posted - 20 Feb 2024 : 20:46:04
UDP condemns use of tear gas on Jammeh’s ‘APRC’ supporters
FEBRUARY 20, 2024
https://standard.gm/udp-condemns-use-of-tear-gas-on-jammehs-aprc-supporters/
The United Democratic Party has condemned the use of tear gas and “disproportionate force” by police against supporters of the APRC faction known as “No-to-Alliance Movement” on Sunday at the Tallinding Buffer Zone recreational park.
A statement from the party leader Ousainu Darboe issued last evening read: “The UDP 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.
“UDP calls on the IGP to unreservedly apologise to the organisers of the 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 sanitise Gambian politics that the Gambia Police Force uses tear gas 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 within the ambit of the constitution and guided by the rule of law…
“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 including 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…
“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 tear gas.” |
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