The taskforce on youth development in Sanyang on Thursday called on government to release 22 youth of Sanyang who have been charged with arson.
“Twenty-two of our youths are currently still in detention at the Mile II Central Prison without charges since on the 15th day of March, 2021,” taskforce chairman Yusupha Jobe said in a statement at a news conference held in Sanyang Thursday afternoon.
“We demand the release of your youths. The inaction of the government on our plight has degenerated to the current situation in our community.”
According to the taskforce, the violent protests that erupted in Sanyang were as a result of longstanding frustrations “caused by the lack of justice towards the persistent environmental violations and pollution by the fishmeal factory and mining companies in Sanyang”.
“…we have suffered enough from the activities of the factory and we kindly seek immediate international intervention. So long these factories continue to exist, both lives and livelihoods are threatened, natural resource related conflicts will persist,” Jobe said.
