By Lamin Njie, editor in chief, and Adama Makasuba
The Gambia government should impose a ban or suspend the APRC party until the ongoing TRRC is concluded, victims of former president Yahya Jammeh ordered the Barrow administration on Saturday as they took to the streets to demand that the former leader be brought to justice.
Former President Jammeh ruled the country for 22 years but an ongoing investigation has revealed his rule was dotted by gross human rights violations and abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture and enforced disappearances.
Hundreds of Gambians who were victims of his rule took part in a less-than-a-kilometre march on Saturday calling for Mr Jammeh to be brought to justice.
The victims are however not happy with his supporters and are calling on the Barrow administration to ban the former leader’s party, APRC.
Sheriff Kijera, one of the leaders of Saturday’s march, said in a petition letter to the Gambia government: “Victims continue to raise concerns that despite the various testimonies by both victims and perpetrators alike, there still exist a section of out society that is in blatant denial of the atrocities committed by the former president to the extent of demanding for his return as an ordinary citizen, which is a mockery and a provocation to victims. This provocation can incite violence and jeopardise the ongoing investigation of the TRRC and negatively impact on the reconciliation and healing process.
“It is against this background that the victims community and CSOs are demanding the following; the Gambia government to impose a ban or suspend the APRC party until the ongoing TRRC is concluded; the Gambia government condemn any threat towards the victims and take appropriate legal measures for remedy…”
Saturday’s march attracted Gambians from all walks of life as they chanted, ‘we want justice, now!’
Former PPP interim leader Omar Jallow who took part in the march bashed Jammeh’s over their campaign for the former president to return to the country.
“After all the treacherous and violations of human rights and people’s rights that had happened here in 22 years of Jammeh’s regime, all those Gambian sons, daughters who were killed, tortured, raped, still the APRC wants Yaya Jammeh to come back here in honor.
“And they are praising him for all those terrible crimes he had committed. I think, what the APRC should have done is to show remorse, to beg for forgiveness and to accept their faults,” Mr Jallow said.
