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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jun 2019 : 11:27:37
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The Minister of Interior Must Respect Citizens Right to Protest
by Madi Jobarteh
It is highly concerning that the Minister of Interior Ebrima Mballow would equate protesters with ‘troublemakers’ and to go further to say that the police will use the water canon truck to pour hot water on them. This is indeed one of the most undemocratic and violent statements that should not have come from any minister or government. For that matter I wish to urge the National Assembly to invoke Section 75 of the Constitution to discipline the Minister for making such a violent and unlawful remark against citizens.
The statement by the Minister clearly indicates that he has already perceived demonstrators as troublemakers who deserve to be washed with hot water. Such a statement is against the Constitution which already guarantees the right to peaceful demonstration. Mr. Mballow must be told that he has no powers to deny the right to freedom of assembly, which is one of the fundamental rights of citizens in ensuring transparency and accountability of government, private businesses and other entities in society.
Freedom of assembly is one of the key tools in the hands of citizens to make public institutions deliver public goods and services efficiently and responsively as well as ensure that private businesses do not engage in unethical business practices or sell poor quality goods and services to consumers. Therefore, freedom of assembly is a necessary tool for the building and nurturing of democracy and good governance in any society.
Each and every Gambian citizen has a right to protest for or against any issue of concern to him or her. This is a right guaranteed by the Constitution. A citizen who demonstrates is not a troublemaker or a criminal and demonstrations or protests are not crimes or trouble. What is required is that the Government through the police to protect citizens to enjoy their right to freedom of assembly at all times. Therefore, Minister Mballow must be told that the Gambia Government must not in anyway damage the right of citizens to demonstrate.
What we expect from the Minister of Interior is to, first of all conduct comprehensive reforms of the police. Such reforms should seek to review the Police Act in order to transform the institution from a force into a service institution. Secondly such reforms should address the welfare and wellbeing of police officers and enhance their working conditions. More importantly those reforms should seek to empower the police with the necessary education and skills about human rights so that they are guided by human rights values and standards in executing their job.
The police are one of the leading national human rights protection agencies in any society as the law they enforce concerns the rights and freedoms of citizens. Therefore, the police must not be seen damaging rights in anyway. For that matter the tools, resources and equipment and the training given to the police can only be used in line with human rights values and standards.
As the civilian authority overseeing law enforcement agencies, it is necessary that Minister Mballow is the first to recognise and uphold fundamental rights and freedoms. He must not be seen threatening citizens or damaging rights. We must note that power lies with civilian authorities because they make laws and policies and ensure its implementation. Law enforcement officers such as the IGP and his officers are only enforcers or implementers of the law. Hence if the civilian authority does not believe in human rights it means he or she will order security officers to use force to damage human rights. This is why Minister Mballow’s statement is utterly worrying!
Therefore, it is not strange to see that while the Minister has failed to do the urgent and necessary reform of the police, he went ahead to further equip the police with weapons that can only damage rights and harm citizens physically. After 22 years of Dictatorship it is indeed grossly shameful that this Government will procure an armoured vehicle to purposely harm citizens and then have the Minister of Interior to refer to demonstrators as troublemakers.
I wish to therefore call on the National Assembly to summon the Minister of Interior to first of all disclose the source and purpose of this despicable vehicle meant to unleash violence on citizens. The National Assembly must not sit by while the President and his Ministers publicly release statements that suggest violence and threaten citizens. The Government has the constitutional duty to protect human rights and ensure good governance in the Gambia. Any attempt to damage this duty must be confronted with the strongest resistance.
For the Gambia Our Homeland
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2019 : 12:49:36
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Protest & demonstrations must be allowed BUT protesters & Demonstrators MUST be aware that IF THEY become VIOLENT OR UNRULELY in the furtherence of their protest or demonstration THEY are breaking the LAW the Police are charged with preserving the peace,by the same token the GOVERNMENT has a duty of care to its employees,in this case the police so they have chosen a water cannon vehicle to ensure that their employees are not injured whilst performing their duties.
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Snippet version.
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
The Minister of Interior Must Respect Citizens Right to Protest
by Madi Jobarteh
It is highly concerning that the Minister of Interior Ebrima Mballow would equate protesters with ‘troublemakers’ and to go further to say that the police will use the water canon truck to pour hot water on them. This is indeed one of the most undemocratic and violent statements that should not have come from any minister or government. For that matter I wish to urge the National Assembly to invoke Section 75 of the Constitution to discipline the Minister for making such a violent and unlawful remark against citizens.......................................................................................etc.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 18 Jun 2019 12:54:09 |
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toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2019 : 21:05:03
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By Alagie Manneh June 20, 2019
The opposition Gambia Democratic Congress has slammed ‘threats by Gambian ministers’ against protesters as “unacceptable”.
Interior Minister Ebrima Jallow was over the weekend was quoted as saying “hot water will be sprayed on protesters who are bent on disrupting the peace and tranquility of the country,” a remark widely seen as an attempt to intimidate would-be protesters.
“Whether Barrow and his ministers like it or not people will protest when the time comes and let’s see where it will end,” the GDC national youth president, MC Cham Jnr, warned in a write-up sent to The Standard.
He went on: “Gambians cannot be threatened by any government anymore. The days of dictatorship are gone and Gambians will continue to exercise their legal rights and freedom and will continue to hold government accountable on every national issue.
As Interior minister, Mballow should have called on Gambians to respect and obey the law instead of issuing threats against the citizens.
Both Ministers Mballow and Bah should withdraw their statements and apologise for threatening Gambians and persuade people to obey the law and exercise their rights within the limits of the law.”
MC Cham reminded Minister Mballow that Gambians have seen the likes of former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko, “who once claimed to be former president Yahya Jammeh’s ‘Baye Fall’ but where is he today?”
MC said the so-called New Gambia was expected to be a country where rights are protected and freedom and democracy allowed to flourish because that is what Gambians voted for.
“Enough is enough, and Barrow must respect the people’s power and voice.
He made a promise and must come back to tell Gambians his position and why he made a U-turn.
Politics is not about deceiving people and Gambians will no longer take that type of politics for anyone,” he said. Meanwhile the GDC are currently on a nation wide tour.
https://standard.gm/gdc-slams-threats-against-protesters/ |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 20 Jun 2019 21:08:59 |
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The Minister of Interior Must Respect Citizens
