By: Kemo Kanyi
The Gambia Police Force (GPF) Thursday rounded up nearly 20 individuals as protest over the sale of the assets of the former Gambian strongman turned chaotic.
More than 16 of the protesters have been charged with the alleged offence of unlawful assembly.
Sizeable crowds of protesters congregated at the Memorial Arch at the entrance of the Gambian capital Thursday morning but the riot police swooped on them, arresting almost 20 individuals before whisking them away to the Banjul police station.
The police on Wednesday denied the protesters a permit to stage a peaceful protest without giving any explanation for their refusal to issue a permit. The protesters are members of a group, calling itself Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA).
The arrested protesters included Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx), Alhagie Mamadi Kurang, Omar Saibo Camara, Abdoulie Bah, Alieu Bah, Sheriffo Sonko (councillor at the Brikama Area Council), Ousainou Gambia, Bubacarr (Bob) Keita, Gallas Ceesay (councillor at the Banjul City Council), Ghetto Pen, Mafugi Fatty, Ebrima Conateh, Omar Sanyang, Munian Ceesay and Seedy Cham (Coalition of Progressive Gambians).
The police said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that “more than 16 individuals linked to an unauthorized protest organized by a group identified as GALA (Gambians Against Looted Assets) were arrested”. The police stated that the group’s request for a permit to hold a public event was denied by the Office of the IGP.
“Despite the denial, the group went ahead with the protest and were subsequently apprehended and detained at the Banjul Police Station. All refused to disclose their identities during questioning,” the police said.
