Kebba Ansu
Victims of April 10th and 11th student protest have renewed their calls to Gambian government to prosecute perpetrators of students’ massacre that occurred under the purview of former President Yahya Jammeh in the year 2000.
They also called on the government to set aside the day(s) as a nationwide schools holiday in remembrance of the fallen victims who were gunned down by rogue security officers of the former President. Reginald Carrol, Karamo Barrow, Lamin. Bojang, Ousman Sabally, Sainey Nyabally, Ousman Sembene, Bakary Njie, Claeso Pierra, Momodou Lamin Njie, Wuyeh Foday Mansary, Bamba Jobarteh, Momodou Lamin Chune, Abdoulie Sanyang and Burama Badjie were all gunned down by security thugs of the former President Yahya Jammeh on April 10th and 11th, 2000, in diverse places in the country.
The fourteen (14) unarmed students went out to protest on the callous murder of a colleague who was forced to consume cement by Fire Service officers of Brikama Fire and Rescue Services leading to his untimely death as well as the rape of a 14 years student of Brikama Ba Upper Basic School by alleged security officers.
Twenty-one years on, Still Waiting For Justice, “It is now 21 years since the killing of the students and victims are still waiting for the government to prosecute the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against innocent Gambian children, but instead, most of those perpetrators been brought to face justice they are still walking freely in the streets,” said Abdou Karim Jammeh, Spokesman of April 10/11 student victims.
He added: “We were expecting the new government to quickly wipe the tears of the victims of the Jammeh regime and carry out comprehensive reforms such as security reform, civil service reform, judicial as well as electoral reforms. Unfortunately, instead of addressing the wishes and aspirations of the people, the government seems to be more pre-occupied with self-perpetuation and clinging on to power than addressing the needs of the people.”
According to him, most of the victims of the former dispensation are currently feeling very angry for seeing those who participated in the killing and raping of innocent Gambians being allowed to walk freely in the streets without charged. Most of the perpetrators of the heinous crimes, he argued, are now occupying senior positions in the present administration of President Adama Barrow.
Jammeh has vowed that victims of April 10/11 will never rest in their search for justice until all perpetrators of the former regime are brought to justice, as death of innocent Gambian students cannot be left unchallenged in a bit to bring closure to the wounds, sufferings and all the atrocities meted out to them.
Abdou Karim, who was shot on his knees is now using walking stick in order to fend for his life. He said: “There were high hopes that we were entering a new Gambia in which not only human rights would be respected, but also that the perpetrators of those crimes against innocent Gambians would be brought to justice.”
Jammeh disclosed that many victims of the 2000 student protest are still struggling with their lives to have medical treatments, education and a good livelihood for 21 years without been heard by the government. He alleged that the current dispensation is not helping in the quest to ensuring that justice is been served.
According to him, the first thing April 10/11 victims were expecting from the current government is to declare the day as a nationwide schools holiday, adding that this was done through a petition send to the Minister of Justice in 2017.
“We (victims) of April 10/11 2000, even petitioned the Ministry of Justice in 2017 by calling on the government to set aside the day as a nationwide schools holiday for commemoration. We also made many other demands, but we never receive any response from neither the Justice Ministry nor the government up till today,” Jammeh revealed on behalf of the victims of April 10/11, 2000, student protesters.
He called on the government to do more and bring closure to one of the most heinous crimes ever committed against innocent students in the African continent, leaving perpetrators walking freely in the streets can only aggravate the pains and sufferings of the victims that may have negative consequences on their health wellbeing.
