Reports of human rights violations and abuses were rife under the 22-year rule of the former president Jammeh, Ousman Kujabi said.
Kujabi, who is a legal fellow for the Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations, said this remark during a commemoration of December 1st dubbed ‘National Democracy Day.’
“Human rights violations and abuses that were reported between 1994 to 2017 were characterized in the form of killings, disappearances, sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and detentions, indiscriminate and illegal use of force, acts of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment amongst others, meted out on citizens and residents in The Gambia,” he said.
On Saturday, the civil society organization and cross section of Gambians observed December 1, as a day of liberation from what they called ‘dictatorship to democracy’.
In addition, Mr. Kujabi said the victim centre is a non-profitable institution set up to seek justice for the victims under the rule of ex-president Jammeh.
He blamed Jammeh’s two long decade ruled of curtailing and abusing the rights like, freedom of expression, association and assembly for citizens.
He then said: “A number of ordinary citizens, government officials, members of civil society including journalists, were abducted, arrested, illegally detained and imprisoned. An Intimidation was used to suppress dissent and preserve the former President’s to grip on power.”
The legal practitioner called the victims of human rights violations and abuses to register with the Center solicit truth, assuring continues rights of advocacy from the victim centre.
The mission of the Victims’ Centre is to be an advocacy platform for Truth, Justice, Accountability and Reconciliation, he emphasised.
He outlined the mission of the centre as a platform for the voices and grievances of victims to be heard, engagement of possible redress in collaboration with both governmental and non-governmental bodies in the fight against impunity and for truth and justice.
Author: Sulayman Waan