By Jarga Kebba Gigo
Shame on President Barrow, Minister Tambaedou, and all who support the bill that wants to criminalize ‘insults’ against top officials and/or their families. Months before this bill, I publicly suggested to the CRC on how the constitution should be written to help prevent such laws. Insults are bad, but they should always be seen as civil case and never a criminal case, especially in our age. Regardless of their intentions, we should gauge the probable and possible effects of choices.
This Bill literally makes lords among us, wastes resources on low priorities, risks selective justice, risks self censorship and self exile possibilities, mass protests sooner or later towards destabilization. Rebukes, natural and alternative punishment can also be used to minimize insults. How about the opposition leaders who are insulted? Mr. Barrow must understand he cannot use the excuse of ‘separation of powers’ on a bill he likely initiated or saw before us.
He appointed Mr. Tambaedou and have every right to advise him when he is wrong against the people. We are increasingly losing trust on Barrow and even if the bill is withdrawn now, some of us will vote against him and primarily due to this bill. He can step down, or be voted out, to avoid insults. Similarly, to top officials who choose to accept positions and/or make terrible choices that are worse than insults.
Lords Among us: If they are insulted, it becomes a criminal case, but if you and I are insulted, it is a civil matter? This literally means the government cleaner and opposition leaders should be emotionally stronger to bear insults than the minister, president, and other ‘lords’? Leadership comes with lot of privileges, but they must also learn to bear somethings and if they cannot bear even words, what can they bear compare to standards and counterparts around the world. Knowing they may claim different culture or religion to justify their questionable stand, we can confront them on similar lines and beyond. Ch:73:10 and other verses clearly instruct Muhammad (Pbuh) to be ‘patient’ with words, including insults.
May be some Christian and atheist leaders understand or respect such verse than Barrow and cohorts?. So how many ignorant or hypocritical religious leaders will fail to admonish Barrow and may even defend him through questionable verses and so called sayings of the prophet? Our cultures are mixed with good and bad choices, good and bad sayings, so our leanings define us on and beyond culture.
The wollof have a fairly amazing saying, ‘words do not get ugly, it is in the hearing [or processing].’ Feel free to debate the limits of this saying but marijuana shows me it can include even insults. One night, a drunk person insulted me (my parents) around the fence of our compound, while I was high on marijuana – a voice advised me to just ignore him.
I had the option of beating him up, but how about if he dies? I could have actually just call our watchmen to beat him up for me, but again, what will I tell God, especially if it goes wrong? Later, the Lord processed it so differently that I was laughing at him, rather than getting mad.
I do not delete negative comments on my youtube channel, I respond or ignor. In life, there are things we have to defer, if we cannot forgive. If you cannot defer words, what can you defer or forgive to the citizens that gave you ‘lordship’?
Wastes Resources on low priorities: Prosecution takes money and time, so we should do it only on medium and highly essential sins between creatures. Thousands will insult officials in almost any country and If thousand people are charged in a year through this bill, what will be the prosecution cost financially, time, stress, etc?
How many better laws should have been prioritized? When your neighbor has cattle that disturb your garden or prevent others from even starting, you may insult your neighbor or even the negligent officials in anger. I am not justifying such insults, but if you can ask uneducated or barely educated victims to control emotions, how much more should our questionable leaders? The greedy think the law will make them unconscientious money through fines, but those who choose prison will cost us further and by how much?
Risks selective justice: Insult is a very vague term and Barrow must understand leaders coming after him may abuse it, worse than he intents. ‘Shame on the president’, ‘the president is lying or is cruel’, etc may be considered insult by some. Some claim it is only parental insults, how about the parents of opposition leaders, you, and I? The law seems to aim at social media, meaning lot more resources will be used to police social media because our leaders have thin skin, stupid, or simply cruel.
Those in the Gambia will be arrested, but how about those in the diaspora? What will be the threshold evidence of insult? If a minister claims I insulted him/her during a meeting, will the claim be enough? How about if I claim my neighbor or tourist was insulting the president or minister, and bring how many supporting people before it becomes acceptable?
Risks self censorship and self exile possibilities: Some cowards will self censor if hundreds are arrested or successfully prosecuted. Gambians abroad will come on holidays, only to be arrested for insults, giving people arrest and criminal record for what? Thousands will risk coming, and thousands will stay away from Gambia against our financial interest and beyond.
Rebukes, natural and alternative punishment: Just because I oppose the bill does not mean I condone insulting anyone. A big percentage of those who insults get rebuked by individuals, some regret it immediately, some later, and others seem too stupid to learn from gentle words. Nature may punish some later, but government can use alternative punishments than conventional fines and imprisonment.
How about a list of ‘rude and extremely rude Gambians’ with the truncated videos and other evidence attached on a website. Then we can occasionally advertise: ‘ please check the list of rude and extremely rude Gambians before you hire, give visa, or marry to one of them…’ please do not ask me where does it exist. We are marijuana folks, grateful thinkers, who get inspiration from the ever intelligent One. If a famous business person, ambassador, and pretty girl does the advertisement, about how many will rethink insults?
A culture of cameras should also be promoted in and beyond Gambia for countless benefits. If you have a problem with this suggestion, please suggest something better or let us give it a try.
Mass protests sooner or later towards destabilization: This is not the age where such laws can exist without challenge. Like me and many others are writing against it this week. We will write lot more when such arrests starts, challenge the law in court, and mobilize people to protest against the law or even a regime. I am among those who strongly support Barrow on the 3 years issue, but he is losing my trust.
This bill will raise the number of people who will attend protests against Barrow, including the ‘3 years Jotna’ . He is giving a dangerous gift against himself and the country. I still accuse some writers and many political leaders of using language that emboldens the questionable ‘3 years folks’ like Trump does to white supremacists, but now I am adding Barrow and Tambaedou as contributors to that protest. Barrow is much worse than I thought or have some terrible mindless advisors. May he change for the better, or for the populace to wisely vote him out, but choose better. May the Lord bless Showlove Trinity: Let’s learn, let’s work, let’s have fun.
OASN: The Gambia is in a very serious situation, there is a high probability that this was discussed in the executive cabinet. Was there any dissent and how strongly? It seems as they only care about themselves and never give it a serious thought. We are waiting to see how sincere an apology will Barrow and others give. The only good thing I see so far about this bill, is we are debating the problem of insults and suggesting solutions that even other countries may try.
Of course my suggestion or any adapted protection should include protecting ordinary citizens from extremely rude folks. Many violent fights start with insults, because people do not know how to react, have limited evidence, or hate the present police process on such. My point is a great law on insults can reduce violence and gradually improve character. Street, workplace, entertainment venues, and other public spaces should be considered like or above online insults.
If a reasonable percentage of the fine to expunge culprit’s record goes to victims, then many may invest in different types of cameras towards better public space. Media leaders should not only try to kill the bill that already seems dead, but ask Gambians what alternatives they suggest to minimize insults.