PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY MAI AHMAD FATTY, GMC LEADER
Those who took an Oath to protect, defend and enforce the Constitution and other laws of the Land should not be found wanting in their application. Only a regime that thrives on terror and anarchy transforms the State into a serial law breaker. Fatou Camara is reportedly behind bars for well over the Constitutionally stipulated period. Our concern here relates purely to the breach of the law by the State in respect of her due process rights. The regime of Yaya Jammeh must release Fatou Camara immediately, for her continued detention constitutes a serious infraction by the State against her. Those who are managing her case are put on notice that impunity shall attract grave consequences. No matter how long it takes, the citizens of The Gambia shall hold you to proper account. Make no mistake. We hold Yaya Jammeh personally liable in ensuring that her physical integrity is strictly respected.
By extension, we renew our strong demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners and detainees, including Mahawa Cham and Saul Ndow, who were reportedly abducted and are being held under the alleged custody of Gambian authorities. The deafening silence of Gambian authorities on this matter is very disturbing. The Government must very convincingly clear the air or by implication its reputed complicity shall be staunchly established. The physical protection of all Gambian citizens in Senegal remains our top most concern and urgent priority. The regime, its intelligence assets and collaborators in Senegal and diplomatic agents are equally put on notice that we shall not compromise, be oblivious or negligent about the welfare of our compatriots in Senegal. Their general welfare is tied up to the overall poltical struggle for freedom, opportunity and dignity in our Land. We have, with conspicuous prove, communicated our concerns to the Government of the Republic of Senegal, and shared these concerns with the international community.
We urge the Government of the Republic of Senegal, in compliance with its own laws and its international obligations, to protect all our citizens in Senegal, and accord them the traditional Senegambian hospitality for which the ‘Nation of Teranga’ is renown. Most Gambians are peace loving and law abiding peoples. We urge all our compatriots in Senegal to continue to conduct themselves in accordance with the laws of their host country, and serve as worthy ambassadors of our peoples and country. The underlying cause of all these challenges is the predatory governance phenomenon in our country. We must put aside all perceived differences, consult, coordinate and harmonise our individual or separate group efforts into a united endeavour, so as to expedite total changes in our country’s political infrastructure sooner than later. Those of us who claim to have the best interest of our people and country at heart, will fail ourselves and posterity if we fail to unite, or jetison our personal ambitions for political power in favour of the common good. As we move towards the twilight of our years, we should be mindful of what our legacy would be and what kind of future we shall bequeath to the next genetation of Gambians. Our Nation is bleeding. Must we continue proliferating endless meetings, committees and groups with meaningless bickering, inter-partisan contest and acrimony until our Nation is dead and buried? A historic obligation is foisted upon our generation. We have no choice. History shall judge each of us on our latent and pronounced disposition towards our peoples’ struggle.
Dated the 23rd September 2013.