16TH APRIL, 2000

STATEMENT TO THE NATION

BY PRESIDENT JAMMEH ON THE STUDENTS' DEMONSTRATION
OF 10TH & 11TH APRIL, 2000

BISI - MILLAHI ARAHMANI

FELLOW CITIZENS

MY TASK TODAY IS INDEED A VERY DIFFICULT ONE, AS IT IS WITH THE DEEPEST
FEELING EVER OF IMMENSE DISTRESS AND UTMOST GRIEF THAT I ADDRESS THE NATION
ON THE UNFORTUNATE AND TRAGIC STUDENTS' DEMONSTRATIONS THAT OCCURED LAST
MONDAY AND TUESDAY. ON THESE TWO DARK DAYS IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, THIS
NATION SUFFERED IRREPARABLE LOSS OF LIVES AND INCALCULABLE DAMAGE TO
PROPERTIES.  MOST REGRETABLE IS THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF THE 12 YOUNG PEOPLE
AND THE LARGE NUMBER OF WOUNDED. I THEREFORE WISH TO TAKE THIS SAD OCCASION
TO JOIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF
THE GAMBIA AND THAT OF MY FAMILY, TO EXTEND DEEPEST CONDOLENCES AND
HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO BEREAVED PARENTS, FAMILIES, RELATIVES, FRIENDS,
CLASSMATES AND LOVED ONES OF OUR DEPARTED CHILDREN. LET US ALL PRAY THAT THE
ALMIGHT ALLAH RECEIVES THEIR SOULS AND GRANT THEM ETERNAL REST. LET US ALSO
PRAY FOR THE SICK AND WOUNDED, TO RECEIVE ALLAH'S SPEEDY HEALING AND
RECOVERY. WE MUST OFFER PRAYERS ALSO FOR THE BEREAVED AND THE NATION, TO BE
COMFORTED, TO HAVE THE FAITH AND COURAGE TO SUSTAIN THEIR LOSS. AS WE
REMEMBERE AND COMMIT THOSE WE LOVED DEARLY IN ALLAH'S CARE, I AM HEREBY
DECLARING ONE WEEK OF MOURNING, DURING WHICH ALL FLAGS IN THE COUNTRY WILL
BE FLOWN AT HALF MAST IN LOVING MEMORY AND RESPECT FOR THE DEAD

FELLOW GAMBIANS

I WANT US ALL TO PUT THIS SAD AND UNPRECEDENTED INCIDENT INTO ITS PROPER
PERSPECTIVE, TO REFLECT ON AND INVESTIGATE INTO THE CAUSES AND TO DRAW
USEFUL LESSONS FROM THE EXPERIENCE. WHILE I WAS IN CUBA ATTENDING THE G 77 -
SOUTH SUMMIT, I HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH MY GOVERNMENT ON THE
EVOLUTION OF THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND. EVERYONE WILL AGREE THAT THE
PRIMARY DUTY OF ANY GOVERNMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT PEACE AND STABILITY
PREVAILS IN A COUNTRY, SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS OF EVERYONE TO LIFE AND
PROPERTY, AND GUANRANTEE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR. MY
GOVERNMENT WILL THEREFORE CONDUCT A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THE EVENTS OF
THE 10TH AND 11TH APRIL 2000. IN THE INVESTIGATIONS, NO STONE WILL BE LEFT
UNTURNED IN OUR SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH. CONCURRENTLY, A CORONER'S INQUEST WILL
BE HELD ON THE CAUSE OF DEATH OF THE TWELVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR
LIVES IN THIS UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT.

IN THE DAYS THAT LIE AHEAD, I WILL BE COUNTING ON ALL GAMBIANS, RELIGIOUS
LEADERS, LEADERS OF CONSCIENCE TO HELP BRING BACK THE PEACE AND STABILITY
THAT HAS ENABLED US TO HELP NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES TO AVERT THE DANGERS OF
INTERNAL CONFLICT AND STRIFE. WE WANT TO BUILD A SOCIETY WHOSE YOUTH WILL BE
PROUD OF THE EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
AVAILABLE TO THEM. THIS WILL ENABLE US TO BUILD ON THESE FOUNDATIONS WHICH
WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE GAMBIA A HAVEN OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE
SUB-REGION AND AFRICA AT LARGE. THESE ARE CERTAINLY SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL
PRE-CONDITIONS FOR ATTAINING OUR VISION 2020 OBJECTIVES.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND PRAY THAT THE ALMIGHTY ALLAH CONTINUE
TO SHOWER HIS PEACE AND BLESSING ON THE BEREAVED, THE WOUNDED, AND THE
COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.

ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WARAH MATULLAHI WABARA KATUHU


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