The Brufut Marathon Association based in Brufut, on Friday signed a partnership agreement with the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission,TRRC. Under the agreement the next Brufut Marathon run on April 10 will center around the topic of commemorating, sensitising, remembering the victims of the April 2000 shooting of student demonstrators.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Musu Ba Koto Saho, Deputy Executive Secretary of the TRRC said the partnership is not only important to victims of April 10/11 2000 but their families as well. She added that this would enable them to realize that they are part of the TRRC process noting that the TRRC is one of the components of the transitional justice process.
She finally thanked them for the partnership and encouraged them to keep up the good work.
Marie Joof the Chairperson of the Association, revealed that this year’s theme for the run is “Justice and Reconciliation.” She said the association started as fun but it was bale to sponsor students from the little proceeds derived as well as donate to the local heath post.. She therefore thanked the TRRC for accepting the partnership.
Mr. Ba S. Jabbi, a board member, praised the partnership noting that the marathon would be used to amplify the sad story of massacred students in April 2000 and the “Never Again Campaign” of the TRRC.
Mr. Ebou Faye Njie, Victim Support Unit of the TRRC noted that the partnership is important for the fact that it coincided with the Women’s Day celebration. He however disclosed that the marathon is not only about physical fitness or improve their health conditions but also to help them remember the April 10 victims.
He finally thanked Alieu Senghore, a Victim Support Officer and survivor of April 10 for the initiative. Musu Ba Koto Sawo and Marie Joof signed the agreement presided over by Essa Jallow, Communication specialist who read the agreement.
The TRRC intends to scale up the level of awareness of this sad event across all levels of the society and even abroad.
To ensure that the commemoration is given a wider coverage and that Gambians are involved, TRRC approached Brufut Marathon for a partnership in the organization of the event. Brufut Marathon is known for organizing an annual marathon at their village with the objective of complementing their local development initiatives.
