The arrest and detention of the leader of the United Democratic Party Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and several executive members and party militants of the UDP is unlawful and violates their Human and Constitutional rights. The reported death of Ebrima Solo Sandeng newly elected UDP National Party mobilizer is despicable and is a crime against humanity. Mr. Sandeng reportedly was arrested on Thursday with over a dozen UDP militants including several women.
The alleged report that one Fatoumata Jawara and Nogoi Njie; two women protesters have also been beaten by security forces into coma is the worst crime the Jammeh regime and his security forces has ever committed. It is the most heinous of all crimes for men in uniform to lay their hands on unarmed women and tortured them to death. There is nothing that can and would ever justify violence against citizens much more women.
President Yahya Jammeh, Yankuba Badgie, Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy, information minister Sheriff Bojang, Justice minister mama Sighateh, the Police commander who ordered the arrest and torture of Solo Sandeng and his colleagues must be held account by the international community for the death of these innocent citizens who were out to exercise their constitutional rights.
It is barbaric, cannibalistic and destitute beyond any conscience for any government to unleash its torture machine and killings on innocent citizens. President Jammeh has consistently killed and maimed Gambians and world citizens for over 20 years with impunity. The Gambian people and International community continue to watch a president butcher his citizens in broad daylight and no institution dare lift a finger. Instead, they have continue to finance him, invite him to international conference with his hands tainted with the blood of his citizens. There is no political crisis in Gambia, there is no civil disobedience or civil war in Gambia, there are no opposing parties or terrorists groups fighting against each other or the government in Gambia, there is no religious war in Gambia. What we have is a government that continue to murder citizens it swore to protect who are the most law biding. A government that has no respect for its international, regional or national obligations. The world continue to nurture a Hitler like monster who has no iota of humanity in him.
If the political leadership in Gambia cannot defend its citizens, ECOWAS, the United Nations, The EU, the United States, next door neighbor Senegal stand by and watch Gambians be massacred, if their government cannot and will not protect their lives, liberty and dignity who will? Who will defend innocent school children in Gambia? Who will defend women and the elderly in this otherwise tiny peaceful country? Does the international community have an obligation to protect life and liberty of the Gambian people?
The ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is a Gambian born and bread; she has defended against citizens of Guinea, Sierra Leonne, Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan etc. Why can’t she defend her own people and innocent citizens of this world. Does she has an obligation to come to the defense of innocent women and children being murdered by a regime that has enjoyed 21 years of peace and respect from its citizens despite all the arsenals, hiring and firing, illegal detentions and enforced disappearance. The world immorally stands by and watch a murderous regime kill innocent citizens of the world with impunity.
The Gambian political opposition, the elites who aspire to lead the nation has stood by and allowed Yahya Jammeh and his brutal securities to continue to violate the constitution and treat citizens like animals. Despite ample evidence of gross mismanagement of state resources, arrest and extra judicial killing of citizens, enforce disappearance; the Gambian opposition continue to remain silence even when their own colleague and his men were out demanding electoral reform. When leaders aspire to lead a people, they must establish credibility and trust by standing up for what is right and to protect innocent citizens. If you cannot speak against, stand against the torture and killing of innocent women, how do you present a credible face to seek to lead a nation. Gambian political elites have failed the moral test of leadership and must be shame of facing the people for their votes. Fatoumatta Jawara, Nogoi Njie, Fanta Darboe and many others does not deserve to be arrested, spend more than 72 hours in detention much more being tortured into coma. Where are you and what do you stand for? Leaders have the moral responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in society. Anything less leaders will make the footnotes of shame in failing to stand up for justice and constitutional rights of citizens. Mr. Darboe and his colleagues deserve your undivided attention. This is not the time to run away from responsibilities, this is the time for national leadership. Who will stand up and be counted on by innocent Gambians? Will you?