By: Mariama Njie
Civil Society Organizations have strongly advised Gambians to embrace reconciliation and unity and be ready to ensure past wrongs are not to be repeated in the country.
CSOs advice comes as TRRC is expected to submit its two years report to the presidency for further implementation.
Speaking at a news conference held on Wednesday, John Charles Njie, CSOs chairman said: “we have keenly followed those hearings and we are of the view that the testimonies delivered provided huge resources for the country to better understand ourselves and therefore how to remake this society into a democratic dispensation in which justice, equality and freedom will prevail as the foundation for national development.”
According to him, research has shown that societies that underwent authoritarian rule or conflict and failed to address the vestiges of the past in full are bound to repeat the same mistake with far worse consequences.
“As the country come to the close of the TRRC, which it is understand shall be submitting their final report to the president on the 12th July, they determined to play a leading and central role in the post-TRRC, as required by the law. The CSOs are of the view that the implementation of the recommendations is an urgent national issue that is necessary to not only ensure justice and accountability but also quite importantly to help country reconcile, unify and move together towards the common good,” he said.
He however lamented that civil society is aware that the implementation of these recommendations will require tough decisions. But they strongly hold that if Gambians wish to help themselves to overcome the simmering waters of turmoil that are currently seeking to divide the country and bring chaotic state.
“We have been engaging over the period in seeking to determine what role we can play in the post-TRRC. At the moment we have developed a comprehensive roadmap to guide our engagement,” he added.