In recent months the relationship between the law enforcement and GALA has reached a critical juncture characterized by intensified, often violent and poor state response to peaceful assembly of the youth.
While Police are mandated to maintain public order and security, the disturbance pattern of the abuse of power has emerged to take a stronger shape. Today, we have witnessed another disturbance action from police as members of GALA were arrested for simply wanting to celebrate their first anniversary at a venue they already secured from the Kanifing Municipal Council. We learned that in the same venue many events had taken place there in all forms and police had allowed it and why the target on GALA for wanting to stage similar events that others had done in the past?
The crackdown on GALA often involves the use of excessive force and arbitrary arrest and this doesn’t merely violate human rights but undermines the trust and assurance that citizens should have on their government.
By criminalizing the gathering of such nature, the state forces young to reconsider their activism leading to a situation that could have been handled maturely.
I urge the government to reconsider their approach on the youths because the truth of the matter is there can’t be a selective approach to similar matters. The Police is an institution and with the continuity of such trends will result in loss of public trust.
Procedural justice promotes fairness and transparency for cordial relationships between the police and the public.
I reiterate for the Police to unconditionally release the youths because they deserve to go back home.
Hon. Mamma Kandeh
(GDC Party Leader and Secretary General).
