We received with mix feelings the news out of Banjul today that the President of the Gambia has extended a pardon to many citizens languishing in Jail including death row inmates. We are so excited for the hundreds of families that would potentially be reunited with their love ones. We believe this was long overdue.
On the other hand we are cautious and firm in our consistent believes that actions speak louder than words. That Gambians must wait to see what happens, who is released and how many people are release come Friday July 24th in two days. This should determine how Gambians react to such open pardon by President Jammeh.
It is our unflinching conviction that It is never too late to do the right thing! That President Jammeh has always had the power to move the country into a different direction towards peace, reconciliation and equal opportunity for all Gambians. We had stated that if the President was serious about reconciliation he could with a strike of a pen declare a truce, release all political prisoners, open the Democratic space, allow a free press, rule of law, respect for human rights and open participation of all Gambians in our political discourse without fear, intimidation, arrest and detention without due process. That these are God given rights that the Gambian people have earned and they must be respected. Anything less would only promote chaos, hatred and violence in the long term.
The President’s step in declaring amnesty to Prisoners is a welcome gesture and can only promote peace and unity within the people of the Gambia. This is long overdue and hope it is the beginning of the end of tyranny and oppression in Gambia.
One thing Gambians must make abundantly clear, our rights as citizens cannot be negotiated, our freedom, dignity and sovereign rights to participate freely in our political discourse cannot be negotiated.. We therefore welcome any change of attitude, policy and approach by the leadership in the interest of moving Gambia forward. The Presidency has the power and constitutional mandate to create this environment and to move the country towards a different directions. We therefore as always hope and pray that this is the beginning of a new chapter in Gambia where all citizens regardless of their political affiliation, gender, tribe or national ambitions are free to exercise their Democratic rights within the boundaries of the constitutional laws of the Gambia…
We will celebrate with the thousands of families who will finally be reunited with their love ones come Friday. This is a priceless gift from Allah that cannot be quantified… We will move with caution and our uncompromising stance for justice and equality for all will never waiver… We hope the President has finally heed to numerous calls for reconciliation and take Gambia to a whole new direction…He is in a position to forgive and be forgiven. Anything less will continue to meet our resistance without fear or favor… God bless the Gambia and May the Almighty Allah who is capable of anything bring change of hearts and lasting reconciliation to all Gambians… Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who could not witness a day like this in Gambia.. We shall forever remember our fallen citizens and we hope that Gambia as a nation will come to its conscience and render justice to all those who met injustice in the name of peace, humanity and conscience. All the prayers from all you great citizens from every corner of the world cannot go unanswered forever…