The following is culled from The Independent - Distributed by AllAfrica Global
Media (allAfrica.com).

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Students to Commemorate April 10, Peaceful March Along Westfield Junction
Planned


The Independent (Banjul)

April 6, 2001
Posted to the web April 6, 2001

Alhagie Mbye
Banjul, The Gambia

Sources close to the Gambia Students' Union (GAMSU) executive have confirmed to
The Independent that students under the supervision of the student body will
commemorate April 10 (Bloody Monday), the day last year when about 14 students
were killed after security forces opened fire on them as they protested over
some grievances.

Some members of the Gamsu executive, who approached The Independent
voluntarily, indicated that the issue of the commemoration, which was
previously not officially endorsed by the authorities, has been now cleared to
take place. The students claimed that the Department of State for Education has
written to them giving them the "green light" to commemorate the day although
up to press time this was not independently confirmed.

It was reported that a selected number of Gamsu officials also met the police
for the issuance of a permit that would make it possible to conduct the
proposed commemoration. Reports say there was a closed-door wrangling between
Gamsu and officials of the different security units in the country, including
the police, the army and the paramilitary. The students revealed that the
authorities have agreed to issue them a permit but on condition that the
commemoration be done in a peaceful and orderly manner. The students said the
April 10 commemoration would be in the form of candlelights, recitation of the
Holy Quran, prayers in churches and mosques to reflect on the tragic day and
pray fervently for the students killed when they took to the streets in protest
over the unexplained death of a colleague Ebrima Barry and the alleged rape of
a teenage schoolgirl.

The students who said they will never forget what happened to their colleagues
assured that the occasion will be conducted within the confines of the law.
They called on the public to join them in offering prayers for their dead
colleagues.

Meanwhile, The Independent has been informed that the issue of the
commemoration ignited a "tense" debate among the authorities, divided over
whether the commemoration should take place. Reports suggested that as a result
of a protracted impasse, school authorities were on the verge of closing their
schools prior to 10 April to avoid their students getting "mixed-up" in a
possible student-upheaval. Authoritative sources at the Department of State for
Education divulged that the education authorities are resolved to close all
schools before Easter although no statement to that effect has been issued by
the Department. Some fears were being expressed that it would be "dangerous" to
prevent the April 10 commemoration by students whose memories of last year's
bloody incident are still fresh.

According to reports the students are determined to go ahead with the occasion
without the state's co-operation. Sources say a letter has been posted at the
Brikama College campus notice board by the Gamsu executive, urging all students
and sympathizers of Gamsu's cause to converge at the Westfield junction in four
day's time for a "peaceful" march past in honour of their fallen colleagues.
Officials at both the police and the Department of State for Education who
wished to remain anonymous confirmed moves for the proposed commemoration but
said it was premature to elaborate.

In the wake of the bloody riots, President Jammeh made a public statement in
which he promised that those responsible for the student deaths would be
brought to book. Consequently, the government set up a commission of enquiry
and coroner'sinquest to determine the causes of the riots and deaths.

Earlier this year,in a move that was desribed in some quarters as predictable,
the government rejected the findings of both the commission and coroner and
declared it would not prosecute senior members of the security forces as
recommended by the two reports, a move which ignited widespread public anger.
Observers say in spite of the peaceful intention of the students, the planned
march could very well turn violent.



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