“10/11 April 2000 was perhaps the darkest chapter of the 22 year rule of former President Yahya Jammeh”. Justice Ministry

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE ON THE 18^TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF THE 10/11 APRIL 2000 SCHOOL KILLINGS

The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of The Gambia today joins thousands of Gambians and families of the victims in commemorating the 18^th anniversary of the killing of unarmed school children in The Gambia.

10/11 April 2000 was perhaps the darkest chapter of the 22 year rule of former President Yahya Jammeh. In broad daylight, gunmen shot and killed numerous unarmed school children who were exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly by protesting the manner of investigations into crimes allegedly committed against two of their colleagues. The reaction by the security forces at the time to these peaceful protests was disproportionate and callous. Several survivors of the incident have been maimed for life while others have lived a life of exile in genuine fear of harm to them and their families by Government agents.

The Ministry of Justice stands in solidarity with the victims and their families in condemnation of this senseless and heinous crime against innocent school children.

The Ministry re-iterates the commitment of the new Government to establish the whole TRUTH about the circumstances that led to the death of the unarmed students. We are confident that, inter alia, the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission shall provide a unique opportunity to establish the truth about the many unanswered questions still surrounding this unfortunate incident. We remain hopeful that appropriate lessons will be drawn in order to prevent recurrence of such egregious crimes in this country again.