Gambia’s rights activist calls for permit to protest
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) – Madi Jobarteh, one of Gambia’s leading human rights activists, has called for re-negotiation for proper police permit to enable a group of Gambians pressing for President Barrow’s resignation to stage a peaceful protest.
“The right to protest is not a charity from the Gambia government to the people of the Gambia. It is the fundamental right of the citizen guaranteed in the Constitution. The Constitution makes it clear that this right cannot be denied but only restricted. Such restriction should be lawful, necessary in a democratic society and serving a legitimate purpose,” Mr. Jobarteh said in a statement obtained by PANA on Thursday.
The Gambia Police Force reluctantly issued a permit to a self-styled protest group “Three Years Jotna” which is calling for President Adama Barrow’s resignation in fulfillment of his election promise of not to serve more than three years in office as a coalition leader.
The group, then threatened to stage a peaceful protest in the Gambia as a reminder for leaders to recognise the need and importance of keeping their promise and also a last resort to possibly push Barrow out of office.
But the permit issued by Gambia’s Inspector General of Police came with restrictions much to the dislike of activists such as Mr. Joberteh.
“Therefore, to grant a permit to protest to a group of citizens by restricting them to the bushes away from human life contrary to their request is absolutely in bad faith and not necessary neither is it legitimate. Hence 'Three Years Jotna' must refuse this permit,” he argued.
“The 'Three Years Jotna' leaders must rather demand a review of the permit immediately because that permit is as good as no permit. There is no justification why citizens cannot march into Banjul to protest or even protest inside Banjul.”
“Banjul is the capital city and the seat of Government of the Gambia. Hence citizens who have disagreement with the Government have a right to manifest their disagreement peacefully inside Banjul as it happens in any democracy around the world. There is absolutely no security concern in Banjul since the President himself held a massive rally there less than a week ago without any incident!” Jobarteh noted.
Jobarteh cautioned Gambia’s Police chief against responding to the fundamental human rights of citizens with bad faith.
-0- PANA MLJ/MA 12Dec2019
