Protest in a democratic society is meant to prevent harm from befalling a person or community or draw attention to harm done to a person or community for remedy.
Protest in a democratic society is not to cause more harm than the one a person or community wishes to address.
This is why peaceful protest is what is legal in a democratic society. Violent protests leads to destruction of life and property.
If the property is state property like police stations the tax money of the people would be utilised again for reconstruction to the detriment of health and education services or increase in salary or job creation. Public property should be protected by citizens since it comes from their pockets.
Gambians are travellers. They have benefitted tremendously from travelling and tourism. Hence they should not be hostile to nationals of any country resident in the Gambia. They should tolerate others so that their own citizens would be tolerated wherever they go.
The problem in Sanyang is linked to alleged robbery resulting in alleged murder in the foulest of manner. The Community deserves protection from such crime. The demand for government action to ensure the prosecution of the accused and prevention of recurrence is legitimate. The whole country is in support of such legitimate demand which could be done without violating the rights of others and the peace of the village.
Protests serve their purpose if one does not extend the grievances beyond the main issue at hand. The main issue is robbery and murder. Speedy action is required to address these concerns. The issue of investment is about government policy. Citizens have the option to petition governments and if they do not heed the call, one could vote against them. There is no need to destroy property that the government would end up paying in addition to getting jail sentences. The country would lose twice. Sovereign citizens must fight their causes from position of strength not from position of weakness. No citizen should allow himself or herself to be in the hands of the police for threatening life or destroying property. A human being should neither be a killer of other human beings or destroyer of their lives and properties.
