By Sulayman Waan
Senior official of Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) has defended the opposition party policy plan to eliminate the police intervention unit (PIU) any year they assume the country leadership helm.
Speaking to journalists at a weekly current affairs programmes at Sen Fm , GDC public relations officer Amadou Kah, said GDC government would turn the PIU to a Police Safeguarding Unit (PSU) that will protect the lives and properties of Gambians effectively and efficiently without abusing anyone’s right.
According to him, the idea of transforming the PIU came after GDC observed that police unit have committed several cases of right abuse both under the former President Yahya Jammeh and the current government of President Adama Barrow.
However, PRO Kah defended the policy after scores of Gambians expressed concern over GDC plan to eliminate the unit which is published in the party manifesto.
He said GDC wants to turn this unit into a peace-making force on the contrary how many view it now.
“At this point, if a group of people or a particular community encountered conflict and then they heard the PIU is coming to that place, the entire gathering will put in mind that the PIU has nothing to do with them but to attack them (gathering) with teargas and batons,” he said.
He said whenever the PIU officers are deployed in a particular area even their tactical formation will demonstrate that they are prepared to apply force on people.
He added that the officers will have in mind that the person who ordered the deployment will have his/her desires from them (officers) whether people it or not.
“GDC knew that security is very important and the country cannot progress without it. Therefore, the security apparatus should not be isolated. For security unit to work effectively it must work and associate with the public and it should be friendly to all too,” he said.
He added: “There is a need for the security to be trained on civil- security relationship.”
However, he clarified that GDC does not mean to get rid of the Police Intervention Unit completely but added that it wants to transform this unit into a more vibrant component of the Gambia Police Forces without affecting the employment of any officer.
The young politician assured that a GDC Government would train the plan PSU as expected to ensure they have a comprehensive understanding of human rights issues, adding their weapons should be knowledge and skills to ensure they can negotiate with the civic.
“We want to change the PIU to PSU so that anywhere they go peace will be maintained without any destruction,” he reiterated.
