In addressing a town hall meeting organized by DUGA DC in Maryland, former Gambian Press Director and close confidant of President Jammeh Fatou Camara told Gambians that our country is at a cross road and facing the most difficult time in our history. She said “we live in a country dominated by uncertainty, brutality, censorship, injustice, fear and terror among many things”. She pledged to work with brave Gambians the likes of Imam Baba Leigh who she described as a brave soul who “represents the face of strength and morality in modern day Gambia” Below we reproduce Ms Camara’s statement and a call for unity in Gambia…
Statement by Fatou Camara former Director of Press to President Jammeh
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I would like to first thank Allah (SWT) for giving us the health, wisdom and the ability to gather together this evening in the interest of discussing issues that will strengthen us under a banner of unity to develop ways to effect change in our motherland, The Gambia. I would like to thank the organizers of this event particularly Pa Samba Jaw for his Leadership, friendship and commitment to the struggle to free Gambia from dictatorship. I am also humbled to be in company of the likes of Imam Baba Leigh who represents the face of strength, bravery and morality in modern day Gambia as we fight for justice for all, equality and peaceful coexistence of all Gambians irrespective of tribe and district and religion.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have been very vocal about the situation facing us in the Gambia since my illegal arrest and detention in September for 25 days without a formal charge. My arrest and detention by the Government violated my constitutional right as a Gambian and deprived me of the most basic yet essential right of every citizen of any nation, which is the right to legal counsel. Though I suffered this painful ordeal, I am well aware that many have suffered a similar fate before me and many more will after me. My fellow Gambians illegal arrests and detentions, tortures and disappearance of innocent Gambians have become the norms of our society under the leadership of President Jammeh.
My fellow Gambians, I cannot ignore the vehement outcry of my brothers and sisters in the diaspora who express their disapproval of any citizen of our nation that has ever rolled their sleeves to contribute towards our national development under president Jammeh. They have called us names I prefer not to repeat in this forum. Most of them never took the time to know us in person, refused to look at our contributions but rather put us in an unfair generalized category of enablers of the murderous regime of President Yahya Jammeh. I urge everyone to be fair in his or her criticism and look at hard facts to formulate their opinions without prejudice and one sidedness. We live in a country dominated by uncertainty, brutality, censorship, injustice fear and terror among many things. What we say or do have lasting and detrimental effect on our families and us. It will be irresponsible, unwise and idiotic to act as a foolish hero that cannot effect any change yet deprive yourself the ability and opportunity to provide a legitimate living for your family. Unfortunately we do not enjoy the freedom to rally and speak our minds on issues that affect our state as offered in the western world that you guys enjoy here.
In the interest of unity which we all yearn for; I think it is high time to create a unified organization, identify a leader as the face of the struggle, establish an alternate constitution for an interim government after Jammeh, be inclusive and avoid unnecessary in fighting, be tolerant to each other, respect each other knowing that we all have opinions and wish them to be respected, value each other and be positive in our thoughts for each other. If success is inevitable then our unity is essential. I Therefore call on all Gambians far and near, inside and outside of the Gambia, men and women young and old of all tribes and religion to come together, rise above pettiness, put our head and heart together, bring out the best out of each other in our quest to build a better Gambia. Thank you for your time and the opportunity to address this wonderful organization. May Allah bless us all and continue to bless the Gambia and her people.