By Binta Jaiteh
Ahmed Mai Fatty, Leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) has argued that the Gambia Government could have done better in responding to violence that occurred on the 26th January 2020, between members of Operation 3 Years Jotna and Security forces, saying “alleged breach of law must not provoke executive excesses.”
GMC Leader made this statement at his party headquarter in Kairaba Avenue where he also urged the Gambia government to drop all charges against members of the Operation Three Years Jotna currently incarcerated at state central prison in Mile Two while called out for the banning of the Gambia for Five Years Group.
“Government should do better than responding to violence with violence. Alleged breach of the law must not provoke executive excesses just like what is expected of the citizens. Every action of the state must be predicated on the law. The state must not be in the business of manipulation, a pretext to deploy national security reasons to achieve partisan political advantage,” GMC Leader disclosed.
While condemning the violence meted out on members of the Three Years Jotna protesters, Mai Fatty enjoined nationals to always observe and adhere to the rule of law, disclosing that violence and lawlessness are twins that must not be given a breeding ground to flourish in the country.
In his words “I condemn violence regardless who perpetrated it, violence and lawlessness are twins.”
He emphasized that the government leads by President Adama Barrow to immediately withdraw all charges against members of the Operation Three Years Jotna, adding that if government decided to ban Operation Three Years Jotna it should also take similar stance or position against Gambia for Five Years.
“There are two movements – 3 Years Jotna and 5 Years Peace and Development, which came as response to the Operation 3 Years’ movement they should be treated equally,” Mai Fatty observed.
According to him, the nation is in need of healing and the government should be in forefront of actions that will expedite national healing process. He noted that the national healing process should be led by none other person than President Adama Barrow.
“I call on the President of the Republic H.E Adama Barrow to engage all stakeholders, particularly former coalition leaders and call for a genuine national dialogue without delay. I called on Ecowas, African Union and UN to facilitate the conduct of a national dialogue without delay,” Mai Fatty appealed.
Fatty expressed his desire to lead such an initiative in other to ensure the success of such a unifying national event. He added that President Adama Barrow should take the leadership role in healing the nation, de-escalate existing political tensions in the country as well as reverting to the coalition spirit and eschewing the supremacy of personal political ambition over urgent national emergencies.
Fatty said all coalition leaders and players must accept to take full responsibility of the political mess the country is confronting with, arguing that no coalition party leader can go scourge free from taking the blame for the failure.
“All political parties and politicians have a hand in what is happening today. I do not believe that anyone comes clearly and say yes my hands are clean, we have all contributed to the existing negligence,” GMC Leader takes the blame.