By Binta Jaiteh
Expressing concern at The Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO) organized press conference held at the TANGO premises on Friday, 13th October 2023, Mrs. Njie Eribo, chairperson of TANGO has tasked the Attorney General and Ministers of Justice, Interior, Inspector General of Police, National Assembly Select Committee on Human Rights among other relevant authorities to step up the table and perform their duty as expected of them to uphold the rights of citizens and ensure the safety of the people they are mandated to protect.
At a press conference attended by members of Civil Society Organizations, Victim Centers, media, and others, Mrs. Eribodisclosed that the recent development in the country has raised alarm, particularly in what appears to be the shrinking civic space, and it is a “considerable threat against fundamental freedoms such as that of expression, and the space of political views and the respect for the rule of law appears to decline.”
The Tango chairperson added that the “democracy and freedom Gambia people fought hard for, to the extent of some losing their lives in the process, should be jealously guided. These fundamental freedoms are non-negotiable and civil society will protect them.”
Considering how far the country has gone as a nation, she said democratic backsliding is not acceptable by anyone let alone civil society.
Therefore, “As a nation rule of law must guide our actions, Section 19 of the 1997 Constitution has made it clear that every individual’s right to personal liberty is guaranteed.”
She lamented on the judicial reform process noting that there are still many loopholes in the country’s criminal justice system, issue of arrest and detention among others “should be seriously looked into.”
Hon. Demba Jawo, former Minister of Information who is newly elected chairman of the Victim Center said people of the Gambia don’t expect President Barrow to become another Yaya Jammeh.
He said the country had a lot of victims in this country during ex-president Jammeh’s era “and we can’t afford to have more,” saying more than half of the populations are victims of Jammeh’s regime.
“When we came out in the hot sun in 2016, to vote for President Barrow we didn’t expect him to become another Jammeh,” he expressed.
Hon Jawo therefore urged everyone to ensure that the Democratic space fought for should not be a waste.