Gambia: Victims Centre Slams APRC’s Protest For Jammeh’s Return

By Bakary Ceesay

The Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations wishes to express its dissatisfaction regarding the issue of a permit allowing Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) to stage a protest on the 16th of January 2020 demanding the return of former President Jammeh.

In a press release signed by it Chairman Sheriff Kijera said considering the fact that The Gambia is going through a truth seeking and reconciliation process, the APRC protest demanding the return of former president Jammeh is a mockery of all victims of the 22- year Jammeh rule. Furthermore, it is highly inconsiderate and insensitive to the suffering that victims went through during the Jammeh regime.

By giving the APRC a permit to demand the return of Jammeh, they have been allowed to undermine and trivialize all the Transitional Justice processes.

While we recognize their right to protest, we believe that it is not done in good faith and it is geared towards mocking a nation. This party is demanding the return of a man who tried to stifle the voices of Gambians at all cost; who has brutalized, maimed, killed, sexually abused, tortured and victimized Gambians and non-Gambians in many ways.

Thus, we have also requested for a permit to stage a peaceful protest on the 23rd of January 2020 from the ARCH 22 to the Police Headquarters in Banjul, to express our dissatisfaction with the issuance of the permit to APRC.

The slogan for the Transitional Justice Process is Never Again, and this party is protesting to take us back, which triggers not only the victims but the entire Gambian citizenry.

The Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations will continue to work with relevant partners to facilitate justice for victims, through national, regional and international mechanisms to ensure that peace continues to prevail in the country.