Opposition parties have strongly condemned attack meted out on the United Democratic Party monitoring team by residents of Kanilai, birthplace of former president Yahya Jammeh.
In a condemning statement, Citizens’ Alliance (CA) said “it is dismayed by videos circulating on social media purportedly showing members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) being verbally and physically attacked by fellow citizens leaving their party motor vehicles damaged.
“CA condemns the act and calls on the government to swiftly probe into case and establish the facts for further actionable courses in order to sustain peace before, during and after elections. CA hereby calls on the general public to continue to uphold the laws of the land and jealously guard the peaceful co-existence that the country is known for by respecting and protecting the civic, political, and other rights of every person.
“We enjoin the government to open a robust and swift investigation and ensure that justice prevails. By this medium, we wish to encourage all Gambians to avoid taking the law into their own hands,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, United Democratic Party said it “condemn this attack on our monitoring team in the strongest of terms and I reiterate that they have the right to visit every registration centre across the country without harassment or provocation.”
The party also asked Independent Electoral Commission to close Kanilai voter registration centre and said: “once again ask the IEC with immediate effect to close this Registration centre at Kanilai until such a time it can operate within the rules of the IEC and the laws of The Gambia.
Police have launched an investigation into the attack as the force sent some of its personnel to Kanilai.
“The Inspector General’s Office has received reports of an incident of attack on a United Democratic Party voter registration monitoring team at Kanilai in the morning hours of Saturday, 3rd July, 2021.The public is hereby informed that, the scene of the incident has been visited and necessary documentation done. An investigation has been opened into the matter and appropriate actions will follow.
“We call on the public particularly residents of Kanilai and surroundings to exercise maximum restraint and desist from further escalation of the situation. The cooperation and understanding of the public is highly solicited,” police said.