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Momodou
Denmark
11714 Posts |
 Posted - 24 May 2010 : 22:11:48
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Democracy Suffers A Set Back: As The Police Frustrate Another Opposition rally
May 22, 2010 witnessed a serious set back of our fragile democracy, as the police in the Central River Region barred the opposition-National Reconciliation Party (NRP) to hold a political rally in Fass village in the Upper Saloum Constituency. Upper Saloum until the creation of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) was a stronghold of NRP’s leader Hon. Hamat N.K.Bah. Bah who lost to the ruling APRC in a bye-election was an outspoken critic of the APRC government, in the first and second parliament.
What beat the imagination of thousands of supporters of the opposition NRP is the fact that they have a police permit for the rally dated 19 May 2010, copied to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of police Central River Region, Director General NIA, and Commissioner of Operations (CIU) signed by Omar Jawo Commissioner of Operations, which was refused to take place by the police in the region?
Where is the order coming from to say the rally cannot be held? Is this a law of the jungle or in-subordination so to speak? Why are the police not allowing a legal function to take place? Why Femi Peters of the United Democratic Party was sent to jail? Is it not for holding a political rally or the use of a public address system without a police permit?
If sending Femi Peters to jail is reason of not getting a police permit to hold a political rally, then the police who frustrates the NRP rally should be tried and face the consequences for violating the law.
police are there to serve and not to bully. And in this case it is all clear that the people who were supposed to be served are bullied by their own police. This is a department who should live by examples when it comes to the respect for law and order.
The signals on the wall clearly indicate that the political ground is not leveled at all. If the police can deny opposition parties from holding rallies even with the permit they themselves issue, where then is the democracy? We can certainly ask.
The police complaint unit should investigate this disallowed rally and punish whoever is responsible. We call it insubordination because how can the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and his commissioner responsible for operations issue a permit, only for that to be disallowed by another officer who is undoubtedly a junior officer at the regional level.
If the NRP militants were not law abiding what could have come out of such a blockage? There can be violence, to an extent nobody can imagine. Who would have been responsible then? Of course the police officer or officers who blocked the legal rally. This is a very serious matter and the whole government mercenary should take this seriously together with the interparty committee. This will only be possible if and only if none of the above is not party to this very ugly episode.
Government of the day should see justice done in this blockage if the world is to take them seriously come 2011 elections. How can the opposition parties be denied rallies, whilst the ruling party is campaigning day in day out.
Allow the oppositions to hold rallies and your achievements will be your edge over them if that is the case. Stopping the opposition from holding rallies, then there is a doubt in what you are saying in terms of achievements. The question of a one party state or the no elections campaigns are beginning to be translated into actions by the constant denial of oppositions holding rallies. It is either they are not given permit or have permit and denied holding rallies. This is ridiculous.
We in the Gambia cannot crown ourselves as champion in every thing including democracy, when the very democracy is suffering in the hands of our governors. What one cannot easily understand is that, if the government is taking people to court for not obtaining permits for their rallies, why should it turn around and deny a rally that is permitted? They might as well immediately release Femi Peters who is serving a jail term for not getting a permit for the UDP rally. This is a mockery of justice.
The vehicle, in which our reporter was traveling heading towards Panchang, was forced to make a U turn-along Panchang/Fass route, by a group of armed and unarmed police officers who mounted a road block on the route. After managing their way through to Fass, they were not allow to disembark from their vehicle by an already infest Fass village with police. The police were all over not allowing party militants to get any where close to the rally grounds.
Frustrated Hon Hamat NK. Bah who proved to the police officers that he has a permit approved by the police boss by showing a copy could not convinced the police on the ground to let him hold his rally.
Democracy, rights to movement, rights to association and the rights to gathering suffered in the hands of our police. It is unfortunate, and the earlier something is done the better. We conclude this editorial with a quote:
Those who love freedom must recognize that others have equal rights to their freedom as well, and only by recognizing this fact will all be totally free. That means that all individuals must restrict their freedoms to harm others, or none will be free to enjoy their rights to life, liberty, and property"
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 25 May 2010 : 05:54:10
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This goes to validate Karamba's insistence in exposing a criminal. Yahya being a criminal will only use thugish methods to stop the tide. Gambian will not rest untill he is brought to justice. Those ignorant police officers need a lesson in who they are serving. Bravo Hamat for speaking out.
It is wrong for them to deny you your constitutional rights. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
Posted - 25 May 2010 : 06:35:36
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Who is gonna stop what criminal? I doubt a criminal from Upper River,50 miles from Basse can do it................................................................Peace
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I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
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