At least someone is speaking up.
Enjoy!
Daily Observer (Banjul)
Sept 17th
NRP leader, Hamat Bah, has taken Justice secretary, Pap Cheyassin Secka, to
task for his "failure" to publicise the long-awaited coroner and commission
reports on April 10 and 11 students demonstrations, which left at least 13
young people dead. The Upper Saloum representative was speaking on Thursday
before the National Assembly during the ratification of a motion on the Afri
can Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Bah said, "the Justice Secretary promised Gambians that the Coroner's
Report would be publicised within one week. He also said the commission
will present its report within three weeks.
But up to date, the report of the coroner and the commission has not been
presented to Gambians." Mr. Bah said "young Gambian students were butchered
when demonstrating for their rights." He added that the young Gambians who
were brutally murdered, were exercising their constitutional rights. He cite
d Mali and the Central Africa, where he said children were also being butche
red for exercising their rights.
He expressed the need for African governments to come up with measures to
penalise governments who violate treaties they have signed. Bah also
expressed the need to protect and defend the rights of young children.
But Hamat's statements riled some members of the ruling party. Kanaji
Jawla, an APRC member, accused Hamat Bah of trying to gain "cheap popularity
by making ridiculous remarks to entertain the public gallery" and in order
to hit the Daily Observer front pages.
He said the April 10 and 11 incidents were adequately addressed by
President Jammeh during his nationwide television address. "Government is
very concerned about the incident.
Nobody should talk about it to gain political capital. The government of
the day is doing everything possible to ensure that the rights of the
children are protected.
This is a mature government with a leader who has vision for this
country," said Jawla. Netty Baldeh also added, "This house does not intend t
o dramatise and politicise the deaths of the students.
We rather prefer to forget and reconcile." Kemeseng Jammeh, the minority
leader who welcomed the motion said, "It is a move in the right direction."
He commended SoS Secka for bringing the motion before the House. He, however
, supported Hamat Bah's statement on the students riots.
"The students were violently prevented from staging a demonstration,
which brought about the killing of 14 children. These children have the
constitutional rights to stage a demonstration." He also expressed concern
over the delay in publicising the coroner and the commission's report.
"We are interested in the administration of justice." He also spoke about
the code of conduct imposed on students which he said is causing a lot of
controversy in the country. Reacting, SoS Secka told Hamat Bah, "You will
have the opportunity to debate the commission's report when it comes to the
House." He denied saying that the coroner's report would be publicised withi
n a week.
"I did say that the coroner will be appointed within a week. The coroner
has submitted his report to the Justice department and I will advise governm
ent on the report." SoS Secka said he was not aware of codes of conduct impo
sed on students."
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