National Assembly Passes Controversial Bill, Wuli And Upper Saloum Members Walk Out The Independent (Banjul) April 20, 2001 Posted to the web April 20, 2001 PK Jarju and Pa Modou Faal Banjul, the Gambia The National Assembly on Wednesday passed the controversial bill to amend the Indemnity Act, with a few amendments, prompting Sidia Jatta and Hamat Bah, members for Wuli and Upper Saloum respectively to walk out in protest. The debate for the bill, which began on Monday generated a lot of controversy as many of those who spoke criticised the decision to bring such a bill to the National assembly which they said was clearly meant to indemnify those security forces who shot the students during the April 10 student riots. Out of the 32 members who were present during the voting, 21 voted for the bill, four voted against and 5 abstained while Sidia Jatta and Hamat Bah walked out. Those who voted for the bill were the Majority Leader Tamsir Jallow, member for Kombo East Kebba Touray, member for Banjul South David Jones, member for Kombo Central Abdou Badji, member for Kombo South Paul Mendy, member for Foni Kansala Fansu Sanneh, member for Foni Bondali Kawsu Gibba, member for Lower Niumi Jain Colley Faye, member for Jokadu Amadou Khan, member for Lower Baddibu Abdoulie Suku Singhateh, member for Sabah Sanjal Kebba Lang Camara, member for Lower Saloum Fafa Touray, member for Serekunda East Fabakary Tombong Jatta, member for Jarra Central Foday Lang Sarr, member for Lower Fulladu West Saihou Foday Njie, member for Janjanburay Daddy Dampha, member for Jimara Kanimang Sanneh, member for Sandu Abdoulie Kanaji Jawla, member for Kiang East Mahawa Cham, member for Basse Selu Bah and the independent member for Kantora Hassan Jallow. Those who abstained were the member for Upper Niumi Ousman Jallow, member for Nianija Dawda Bah, member for Banjul North Sheikh Omar Njie, member for Sami Edrissa Samba Sallah and the Deputy Speaker Cecilia Cole. The four who voted against the bill were all UDP members, and they were the Minority Leader and member for Jarra West Kemesseng Jammeh, member for Bakau Dembo Bojang, member for Jarra East Seedy Amang Kanyi and member for Central Baddibu Lamin Dibba. The rest of the members were absent from the sitting. In his contributions during the debate, Mr. Jatta stressed that there cannot be any form of reconciliation in the country without the prevalence of justice and admittance of the truth over the tragic events of April 10th and 11th student disturbances. He stated that such a bill was a fetter to reconciliation and which he said was also trying to abrogate the powers and authority of the fundamental laws that were already enacted by the National Assembly. He added that the bill was also meant to attack the republic as well as assassinate the freedom and rights of the Gambian people. Mr. Jatta further added that the 1997 constitution has stated that the National Assembly has no powers or authority to pass such a bill as the Indemnity Act was aimed at stopping matters that are already in court yet the bill was passed to them to indemnify officers who have violated the fundamental rights of the Gambia people by putting up a legal fence to cover it. "We cannot precisely do that, for we have sworn to defend the constitution without fear or favour and I am prepared to defend it even to the point of losing my life," he stressed. In his deliberations the National Assembly member for Upper Saloum Hamat Bah stated that the bill was tabled before them "inorder to protect people who have deliberately butchered our school children". He added that if the National Assembly members should pass the bill, which he said was "bent on protecting those murderers, then it would be the saddest day in the annals of the history of this country". Mr. Bah further stated that although the bill sought to foster a conducive environment for peace and continued development and stability in the entire country "yet it violated the constitution, which we all rely as the supreme law". He added that the bill should be rejected and sent back to the executive which should look at other methods of putting an end to the matter, "no reconciliation can be made with the late students' parents if justice is not done" which he said government was trying to impeach. Ahmed kebbeh a nominated member called on his colleagues to carefully consider the bill inorder not to give excessive powers to the security forces to kill innocent people and get away with it. The Deputy Speaker Cecilia Cole stated that if the bill was passed it will refresh the memory of the deceased families most of whom she said have already forgotten the tragic incident of April 10th and 11th. She added that reconciliation has to be made with those people before something else was done. Foday Lang Sarr member for Jarra Central said all criticisms made against the bill by the opposition members was very unfair, which he said was trying to foster national reconciliation. He added that he together with all the people of Jarra Central were interested in the bill and therefore called on his colleagues to vote in favour of it. The Majority Leader Tamsir Jallow called on government to set up a truth and reconciliation commission inorder to put an end to the acrimony connected with the April 10th and 11th incident. Mr. Jallow further added that the bill should not be regarded as a cover up for the role played by the security forces during the April 10 and 11 incident. He added that if it were passed, the Security forces would adopt new mechanisms in protecting the lives of every individual in the country. Mr. Jallow went on to accuse the media, particularly Radio One FM for being used for opposition propaganda. He referred particularly to the Sunday newshour programme, which he said was always one-sided. He said the Indemnity Bill was discussed on the programme before it was even discussed at the National Assembly, which he described as sabotage. He also accused the media for unbalance reporting of events. The member for Jarra East Seedy Amang Kanyi in his contribution urged human rights organizations to take the matter to the International Court of Justice inorder to make sure that the security officers "who committed crimes against humanity" were prosecuted. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------