By Landing Colley
A group of Gambian Civil Society Organizations have urged the State to drop all charges against prominent human rights activists Madi Jobarteh without further delay. The group is also demanding from the State to offer apology to the activist.
The group’s demand came days after the activist was charged with ‘false publication’ as he spoke on unsolved killings in the country.
At a press conference held in TANGO, John Charles Njie Chairman of TANGO said:“civil society hereby call on the State to drop all charges against Madi and offer him unconditional apology.
“It is unacceptable that the Gambia Police Force under current democracy dispensation would have the audacity to arrest and intimidate any citizen for legitimately criticizing organ of the State at a protest. We are confident that Madi comments as stated in an interview falls within his constitutional and fundamental human right of freedom of speech and expression.”
He added that “Madi is been charge under the same Jammeh’s laws design to muscle and repress freedom of expression. In 22 years, we have seen it all, been through it all and have now decided that never again will be drag in to the evil clutches of a repressive dictatorship. We will not be silenced and we cannot be silenced.”
Also, the Chairman of Victim Centre, Sheriff Muhammed Kijera said “what had happened to Madi is the same old Yahya Jamme’s tactic been play out purposely to silence citizen in order to grow and germinate dictatorship in this country. And once again we say never again should we allow the accordance of dictatorship.”
“If the government of Adama Barrow thinks that they can silence people like Madi Jorbateh and many others and move their political agenda then they are making a very big mistake, “he said.
Sheriff Bojang Jnr, president of GPU advised media practitioners to be careful as Madi audio emanate from a media interview.
“My brothers and sisters in the media if Madi can be invited to police even been told he was not under arrest I think we should be concerned. We have seen this is not a new trend in this country,” he stated.
He further said what is happening to Madi is not a Mistake but has been building up to a stage when you visit government offices all what they will tell you are negative things about Madi Jorbateh.