By Haddy Touray
Victims of the April 10th and 11th student demonstrations Violence, the Jammeh-instigated witch-hunting as well as those of the religious violence in Kerr Morr Ali are united in expressing their disaffection with the Barrow government over its “neglect” of their plight.
Speaking to this medium, Mary Therese N. Sonko, a victim of the year 2000 April 10th/11th student protests said because of age, she can no longer work, adding that she survives on petty-trading.
“I don’t have support and my only son is a taxi driver. We are calling on the government to come to our aid as soon as possible. They should show their interest in our plights. Most of us are renting and the rent is quite high. This government instituted the TRRC and after that nothing remarkable has happened. Taking care of our medical bills and paying rent are difficult for us. We need help,” she pleaded
Kumba Secka, a victim of the religious tensions at Kerr Morr Ali in the North Bank Region, said: “I will say that we were just like a burning wood. We don’t have nothing. They pack us in our village and forgot us there. We didn’t have anything much more education.” She called for help for the villagers to better their lives.
Jabou Foon of Brikamaba maintained that she and other victims, who lost their spouses, have been left to survive on support from CSOs and other public-spirited individuals.
She called on government to come to their aid “as things are really tough for them”.
It will be noted that during the 22-year rule of Yahya Jammeh, there was a lot of human rights abuses with cases of enforced disappearances, killings and of course, the notorious witch-hunting that left many families bereaved and in pain and shame.