The savage killing and injury of innocent students on April 10th & 11th was of paramount significance in the struggle against the APRC regime and needs to be understood in its historical scope.
On 10th and 11th April 2000, Gambian students took to the street to protest against the alleged murderer of Ebrima Barry, a student at Brikama Vocational Training Centre (FORSTER) and the rape of a school girl from Brikama-Ba.
Both Barry’s killing and the rape of the school girl, who was ten at the time, were allegedly committed by Fire Service and State Guard officers.
The Gambian security forces fired live ammunitions on student protesters resulting in the death of 14 students and a journalist and as well injured dozens of people.
Those killed on that fateful day, April 10-11, 2000 included Reginald Carrol, Lamin A. Barrow, Ousman Sabally, Sainey Nyabally, Ousman Sembene, Bakary Njie, Claesco Pierre, Momodou Lamin Njie, Ebrima Barry, Wuyea Foday Mansareh, Momodou Lamin Chune, Abdoulie Sanyang, Omar Barrow, and Burama Badjie and Journalist Omar Barrow.
Wednesday, Civic society members, victims (survivors) of the sad event held a march pass in remembrance of the fallen victims and continue to demand for justice as they all wore T-Shirt inscribed on it “April 10-11 Never Again, 19 Years When Shall Justice Come?”
These two days marked unquestionably a turning point in the struggle for democracy in Gambia.
The fatal killing of peaceful Student demonstrators and the maiming of several others brought public opinion against the APRC regime to a boil. This stand out prominently in the minds of people as the sanguinary examples of APRC’s barbarism.
These killings which form the darkest cloud in a long nightmare of brutal repression, were revered as a source of inspiration and rededication. Today we pay tribute to those brave students that lost their lives, those that are injured and still need medical support for a better live.
As we mark this day we reflect on our rights and how to protect our nation against violations. We also remind ourselves of the suffering and loss of lives that accompanied the struggle for human rights in The Gambia and also highlighting the brutality of the APRC era.
As we mark this day, we should also remember that we all have a responsibility to entrench the culture of human rights. Everyone has the right to be treated equally, irrespective of tribe, region, age, gender or party affiliation , as prescribed by our Constitution.
As Gambians we all have a collective responsibility to build a society that respects the rule of law, respects one another and respects life and property.
As we mark this painfully day let us remember that the victims are still struggling to get medical treatment for a better life and it is our collective duty and responsibility to see to it that they receive the needed treatment and resources for a better live. May their gentle souls Rest In Peace!