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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Jul 2013 : 22:56:32
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IRONY OF HISTORY – PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOR JULY 22ND AND NO PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOR 24TH APRIL
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Yesterday,22nd July,2013 we could not go to press because it was declared a Public holiday. The Government claims that it is the nineteenth year of its revolution. The objective of Foroyaa is to publish the truth in good faith in the public interest. It is important for the Government to be realistic to tell the people the truth.
The fact of the matter is that what happened on 22nd July 1994 was a coup d’etat. What happened on that day was to suspend the Constitution, banned the executive and the House of Representatives as well as political parties and political expression.
Decrees were made supreme and detention without trial was decreed. The ruling council that was established made the law as well as collected the revenue without any parliamentary oversight. Hence, the Republic was suspended and the sovereignty of the people alienated.
If the system of Government which came into being after the July 22nd was credible then there would not have been any need for a consultative committee or the drafting of a constitution and the birth of the second Republic. There is no doubt that the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council was a quasi monarchy which ruled without the consent of the people.
It could be remembered how Ministers went shopping for commodities to bring for the cooperative union only to disappear with the money. The cooperative union has since then become bankrupt just as the one in the first Republic and no one could speak about transparency and accountability during the coup period. Where then is the revolution? Revolution is about freedom, but today many people are under detention without trial against the provision of the Constitution.
Poverty has forced many to become beggars who could scramble for biscuits in the streets. Where is the dignity and prosperity that should go with freedom? The Gambian people attained the status of Republic in 1970. That is 43 years ago.
On the 24th April 1970 the Gambian people were no longer to be subjected to monarchical or autocratic rule. The people were supposed to be sovereign. All authority was supposed to be derived from them and such authority should have been utilised to promote their liberty dignity and prosperity. For the past 43 years there have been deficits in liberty and prosperity.
The Government should become realistic and put July 22nd behind us, embrace electoral reform, respect fundamental rights and freedoms, lift the ban on Taranga FM, The Daily News and The Standard and open up the media to divergent views. It should accept that what it is presenting as its best performance is not good enough to guarantee the liberty, dignity and prosperity of the people.
Source: Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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