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Gambian opposition party has called on President Yahya Jammeh to resign and
allow a transitional authority to organise free and fair elections to restore
what it called “the sanctity of derivative authority.”
The
Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) said in an August 5 statement: “The mood of the
nation and the ‘tumultuous silence’ of the majority are consistent with such a
call.” “The unprecedented traffic on electronic social media by hundreds of
thousands of Gambian youth reflects the general conviction of Gambian youth
offline, also consistent with this call,” it added.
In
the media dispatch titled “MC supports
the demands of Gambian youths” the party’s leader Mai Ahmed Fatty said
their stance is meant to throw weight on calls by Gambian youths for Jammeh to
go.
This
latest development followed the Gambia Government’s execution of nine death row
inmates by firing squad a fortnight ago. The killings were officially confirmed
by the Ministry of the Interior.
“The
unanimity of their demands is very instructive as well as provokingly inspiring,”
said lawyer Fatty. “GMC supports their ardent desire and hopes, and joins them
as well seek to empower them both online and offline. We share their hopes and
aspirations.”
The
GMC claims it believes in the supremacy of the constitutional purport. It also
believes the “International Day of Outrage” by Gambians around the world
satisfies the said purport.
It
added: “We support and endorse the demands made by Gambian youths as contained
in petitions presented by them to governments and international organisations
around the world from the 4th September 2012 onwards.”
It
urges the international community to take urgent, decisive action on their petitions
as presented.
The
GMC also renewed its call for the imposition of targeted sanctions against
specific individuals and institutions such as the security and the judiciary.
“We
believe that the security and the judiciary sectors act as formidable obstructions
to the enjoyment of democratic dividends,” said Mai Fatty. “Having abrogated
the Social Contract, I call on President Jammeh to use the limited opportunity
now and do the right thing by our people. Time is of the essence.”
Politicisation
This week, Gambia’s vice president and minister f
women’s affairs, Dr. Isatou Nije-Saidy strongly condemned what she called the
“politicisation” of the recent execution of nine death row prisoners, by
certain people within and outside the country.
“I
want to call on Gambians to have good intention for the country because those
calling for sanctions against the country even though they are far but they
have relatives here,” the VP said. “Let’s pray for the peace and security of
the country at all times. What has happened is the dictates of the supreme laws
of the land.”
Written by Modou S. Joof
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