By Kebba Jeffang
Mr. Omar A. Jallow, alias OJ, the interim leader of the People’s
Progressive Party (PPP) convened a press conference at his Fajara
residence on Saturday, 10th December, 2015 to condemn the 30th
December 2014 attack on State House by insurgents and to call ongovernment to set up an independent investigative commission on the
matter.
Mr. Jallow said following the government’s reports on the event, his
party is re-affirming and reiterating its unflinching support and
stand for peaceful democratic change in the Gambia. He said the PPP is
against any form of violence in achieving political power.
“We are calling on the government of President to set up an
independent commission to investigate the events of December, 30th
2014. We are calling for due process for people who are arrested, and
for the government to follow the laws of the land. The PPP abhors
violent political change because it was a victim of an illegal
military takeover in 1994,” said the PPP interim leader.
He further stated that his party is convinced that the Gambia needs a
better government and leadership to bring about the desired democratic
system that the majority is currently yearning for. He said in as
much as the Gambia presently has one of the worst human rights records
in Africa with the systematic and continuous violation of the
citizen’s rights, violation of rule of law, bad governance and a very
hostile environment against the independent press, his party still
believes that change can be made through peaceful democratic process.
“The incidence of December, 30th 2014 is a wakeup call for all
Gambians particularly the present government. The government needs to
go back to the drawing board and introduce reforms particularly on
human rights, rule of law, the establishment and operation of the
Independent Electoral Council. Any elections from the beginning of the
process from registration to voting, canvassing and counting of votes
should be seen by all to be free and fair and very transparent. Only
this can guarantee a sustainable and viable democratic dispensation in
any country,” said the PPP leader.
Mr. Jallow said in every family, society, community, institution or
organisation, you must find some bad members and so too is the Gambia
Armed Forces and other security outfits. He said it is expected to
have few bad elements in the armed forces but that the majority of
them are good, hardworking, committed and decent Gambians.
“We are calling on the international community to ensure that the
government of the Gambia follows the laws of the land, and to respect
the human rights of the Gambian people. We are also calling on
President Jammeh to ease the security stranglehold on the Gambian
people which is stifling the free movement of people and goods, thus,
further increasing economic hardship on the people,” he said.
Mr. Jallow said with the coalition of the opposition parties, they can
win the 2016 general elections on a level playing field and a fair
electoral process.
He told reporters that he believes that plans are underway to ensure
that opposition parties are united as there is still about eighteen
months to go for the presidential election.
He finally extended, on behalf of his party, heartfelt condolences to
all the families who have sons that lost their lives in the December
30th 2014 incident.]]>
