By: Fanta Krubally
The National Assembly Member for Latrikunda Sabiji, Yaya Menteng Sanyang, has scathingly criticised the arrest of individuals linked to a protest, demanding the release of information on the buyers of former President Yahya Jammeh’s properties.
Legislator Sanyang described the move as a serious setback to Gambia’s nascent democracy.
According to him, the protest was rooted in legitimate concerns and should not have attracted police action.
“The arrest of the persons alleged to have been involved in the protest, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the names and buyers of Jammeh’s properties in our new democratic dispensation is seriously a setback to our young democratic gains and credentials,” NAM Sanyang said in an interview with The Voice on Thursday.
He expressed frustration that institutions like the police continue to act with impunity despite the painful lessons of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). “The Gambia police should not allow themselves to be used against their fellow citizens because we don’t want to repeat any TRRC. It is my assumption that all security sectors in this country have learnt a good lesson by the revelations from the TRRC,” he added.
He blamed the lack of progress on the government’s failure to implement the long-promised security sector reform. He also criticised the rejection of a bill to amend the Public Order Act, sponsored by Central Badibbu MP Sulayman Saho, saying the law remains incompatible with democratic values. He accused President Adama Barrow and the NPP of enabling former regime loyalists and betraying the aspirations of Gambians who voted Jammeh out in 2016.
“Jammeh is in exile whilst they rally around you and you will certainly go to exile and they will rally around the next president after you. So please be careful,” he warned.
Calling the charges against the protesters baseless, the MP urged their immediate release.
“People lost their lives to restore this democracy and we will not sit idly to see it go in vain,” he concluded.
