The Gambia National Youth Council (NYC) has called on Government to conduct thorough, inclusive and impartial investigations into the circumstances resulting in the demise of Ousman Darboe and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and also come up with tangible measures to avoid reoccurrence of such.
On Wednesday, dozens of young people have gathered at the Serekunda Police Station to protest against the death of a Sierra Leonean national Ousman Darboe who they claimed was severely beaten by the police anti-crime unit.
Darboe, a shop owner at Serekunda Black Market was reportedly arrested by police Anti-Crime Unit and released on Friday. He passed away on Tuesday at 9: 30 according to Muhammed. His friends from the Black Market gathered at the police station near the Serekunda market demanding justice for Darboe.
Yesterday in a press release signed NYC reads… The Gambia National Youth Council (NYC) has learnt with great concern reports of death of one Ousman Darboe, 33-year-old young man on Tuesday, 23rd July 2019. Reports suggested that Mr. Darboe was at a point arrested, detained, and subsequently released on bail by the Anti-Crime Unit of the Gambia Police Force.
The council and by extension the entire youth of The Gambia wish to extend our regret and heartfelt condolence to the family of Ousman Darboe and pray for his soul to rest in eternal peace. We would also like to assure the bereave family of our unconditional solidarity to pursue justice for Mr. Darboe using all available legal means.
Similarly, we pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured in the awake of the protest in Brikama and Serekunda. The lost of life, injury and damage to property of citizens are indeed regrettable.
The council therefore called on Government to conduct thorough, inclusive and impartial investigations into the circumstances resulting in these unfortunate incidents and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and also come up with tangible measures to avoid reoccurrence of such.
The council reminds government of need to urgently review the existing laws regarding protest and make them democratically friendly sufficient to guarantee the enjoyment of the fundamental rights of citizens to peaceful assemblies, speech and movement as envisage by the 1997 constitutions.
It is evident that the current statute regulating protest is a source of confusion, misunderstanding and chaos. By every indication, this law has failed to serve any good purpose and its application seems to remind Gambians of the darkest days of our history.
The council also call on youth to exercise restraint and repose faith in the criminal justice system of the country. We constitute a critical element of the Gambia society and it is in our collective interest to promote the rule of law at all times. We must resist provocation and avoid all form of violence in the exercise of our constitutional rights and to always remember that as citizens, we are equally duty bearers.
In the opinion of the council, the lessons learnt from these incidents should be use to serve as reminder to all stakeholders about the need to urgently address the root causes of crime including unemployment, and underemployment and exclusion. Public institutions like Brikama Area Council among others should also remember that they are elected representatives of the people and should be willing to engage and communicate with concern citizens to avert aggravated situations or confrontations.
