For over twenty years, Gambians have experienced and suffered denial and violations of their basic human rights under Yaya Jammeh’s regime. Even though the severity of the violations continue to traumatize the nation and gained international condemnation, the exercise and demand for rights is still stifled by intimidation, brutality and division among opponents, all of which extends the tenure of this regime. Dictatorship therefore reigns as there is no viable force to oust it.
The lack of action, lack of demonstration of a sense of urgency, and failure to act on what unites us, remains a deterrent to the ousting of this oppressive regime. Failure to exercise and demand our rights under all circumstances provokes the thought for a lack of awareness that human rights are our God-given rights. Our rights are entitlements that we do not have to beg for, neither are they negotiable. Under good governance and democratic environments, governments and citizens share an equal responsibility of ensuring that these rights are exercised and preserved. Despite the fact that human rights are entitlements as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other civil rights treaties, they remain elusive making the declaration seemingly non-universal and ineffective in certain regions of the world. For the universal declaration of human rights to convey its true meaning, respect for human rights must receive both national and international backing. It is obvious that oppressors ignore international demands to fulfill their obligation to serve the interests of their people. They do not believe in diplomacy nor do they believe in upholding the rights of their citizens. Their love for power and focus on selfish endeavors result in blatant defiance to international laws.
The rights and freedom that we were accustomed to eroded under Yaya Jammeh. This did not happen by mistake. It was intentional on the part of the dictator, caused by our own miscalculations, failure to protect our social values, and naivety are all to blame for where we are today as a nation. The failure to safeguard our rights resulted in a totalitarian rule in which one man dictates over all state and public affairs. Suppression of rights to include the most sacred right, freedom of religion or worship, became the new norm Gambians have to deal with. To deny people their right to exercise their religious belief is unconstitutional and anti-religion. How free are we as a people if we cannot safeguard our right to worship and connect to a higher power? If denial of these scared rights can go unchallenged at the national level, how much do we value our rights? If human rights are our natural rights, then fighting for our God-given rights should come natural. If natural law dictates that people have the right to protect their rights and property, one can conclude that conformity and acceptance of rights violations in the Gambia totally defies natural law.
There have been a lot of mistakes and lessons learned during this ordeal. We have collectively realized that the politics of division and intimidation using brutal measures are still used against us. The perceived ignorance of our people is still used as a tool for deception. Monetary and other forms of enticements are still used to enhance loyalty to dictatorship, and our youths and women remain the primary targets and victims. The religious leaders and parents who shoud be standard bearers and instill morals and values in our society, have ignored this important obligation of defending and advocating the truth for personal gains. Their knowledge of the scriptures did not make them God-fearing to speak against injustice. The intellectuals likewise, have suppressed moral thinking and fair-mindedness for expediency. They lack integrity and patriotsim and only exercise courage to defend the lies and false promises of dictatorship. The ineffectiveness of the representatives is reprehensible. They idly sit and accept constitutional amendments that lead to violation of rights and abuse of innocent citizens. Instead of providing the checks and balances that prevent the abuse of power and ensure accountability, they legitimize undemocratic laws. This clearly indicates how disconnected they are from the communities they are suppossed to represent.
The history of oppressed poeple and their oppressors highlight the important fact that power is never conceded and therefore must be demanded. We have to surmon courage and make the hard choice of fighting and demanding our rights. As we look around the world and throughtout history, it is ordinary citizens that are demanding justice and eventually effecting regime change. If we are looking for reasons why we must fight, the painful experience of living under dictatorship should suffice. We can no longer condone the extrajudicial kilings, arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, tortures and illegal detentions of our families and neighbors. “Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” wrote Thomas Jefferson. This statement clearly indicates that people reserve the power to replace that government if it no longer serve their interests. We have been held hostage by our weaknesses and allowed the obstacles to determine the outcome. Our commitment and desires for social justice should determine the outcome, and not the obstacles. We have pursued personal interests at the detriment of public welfare. Under Yaya Jammeh, every decree and amendment has been acceptable leading to the passing of the recent despicable electoral reform. We must emulate generations before us that fought for full voting rights and refused to compromise on unfair conditions. They realized their vote represented their voices and therefore protected this right adamantly.
We must be willing to put up a fight, overcome the obstacles and liberate our people from this bondage. When conditions are unfavorable, responsible citizens intervene to save their country. The true conviction that they are doing justice to their people inspire relentlessness. They believe that not doing so will be cowardly and a betrayal of their belief and commitment to equal rights and justice for all. Not doing enough to eliminate and end injustice is inexcusable. There are many examplary behaviors and legacies of great men and women we can emulate, yet we make the poor choices of not intervening appropriately. We can no longer ignore the suffering of our neighbors and fellow citizens. We have come to realize that what affects one affects all. Let us reignite our patriotism and fight for country. When we adopt this mentality, we will fight together. We are challenged as a nation to improve the education standard our people, enhance awareness and improve informed consent. Citizens with informed consent understand their rights and will challenge unjust laws such as bad electoral reforms, overregulation, bad business practices, unfair taxations, and all other forms of injustice.
We must admit that our problems are shared and no one is spared from the wrath of dictatorship. Let us be emboldened by our shared pain, cast away greed, and bear the conviction that “We the People” have the power to topple a government that ceases to follow our will. We must overcome our failure to coalesce under one banner and get rid of the obstacle to the reinstitution of a democratic society. Let us compliment each other, indulge in constructive criticism and desist from destructive behavior. As a society, we must realize that we need each other. To achieve our shared goals, we must build positive relationships to enhance our ability to work together while exercising divergent views. As a nation, we are faced with a difficult task of ensuring an end to this regime on a destructive path that will leave the future generation with an unbearable burden. We must accept this situation as a collective problem that requires our immediate attention. Intervening to prevent human rights violations is both a noble and humanitarian gesture. Tyrants and oppressive regimes should no longer be allowed to use sovereignty as a shield from external intervention while committing gross human rights violations. The international community must take a collective and precise stance against human rights violations, and send a clear and stern message that human rights can longer take a back seat to sovereignty.
History and our experiences taught us that tyrants do not last forever despite how long they try to cling to power. Like other countries that went through the same ordeal, this one will elapse. We are optimistic that we will transition back to democracy and rule of law. While it is important that we reconcile our differences to close this dark chapter of our history, it will be imperative to set up a truth commission to uncover the gruesome abuses and human rights violations caused by the dictator and his aides. The law enforcement officials, for the most part, are to blame for keeping the nation under hostage and fear. Yaya Jammeh could not succeed in brutalizing the citizens without the cooperation and enabling efforts of the NIA and other law enforcement agents. Your actions constitute a breach of trust, serious betrayal and denial of the establishment of a democratic society. Be reminded that the long delayed justice will surely be served, and you will account for your roles in denying the people their freedom and peace. This is the only way the country in general can make amends with the horrid past, reinstate rule of law so the citizens can enjoy their right to due process.
There are numerous distractions and obstacles, but our believe in the greater good should motivate our persistence to keep fighting. Our understanding of true patriotism will guide us in realizing that we all have a stake in the fight for country. With this understanding, there will be no quitting despite the challenges. We must build on the momentum of unity, work together and return the country to a democratic and inclusive culture in which the voices of the people will be honored. In the end, there will be good over evil, and democracy will defeat tyranny. We will forever be indebted to our comrades who paid the ultimate sacrifice. We salute the unwavering commitment of our brothers and sisters who continue to fight against injustice to advance the interests of their people. Your sacrifices will not be in vain, and God will reward you abundantly.
The points expresed here have no governmental or institutional affiliation. They are strictly my opinions and exercise of my civil rights.