GDC Slams ‘Threats’ Against Protesters

By Alagie Manneh

The opposition Gambia Democratic Congress has slammed ‘threats by Gambian ministers’ against protesters as “unacceptable”.

Interior Minister Ebrima Jallow was over the weekend was quoted as saying “hot water will be sprayed on protesters who are bent on disrupting the peace and tranquility of the country,” a remark widely seen as an attempt to intimidate would-be protesters.

“Whether Barrow and his ministers like it or not people will protest when the time comes and let’s see where it will end,” the GDC national youth president, MC Cham Jnr, warned in a write-up sent to The Standard.

He went on: “Gambians cannot be threatened by any government anymore. The days of dictatorship are gone and Gambians will continue to exercise their legal rights and freedom and will continue to hold government accountable on every national issue.

As Interior minister, Mballow should have called on Gambians to respect and obey the law instead of issuing threats against the citizens.

Both Ministers Mballow and Bah should withdraw their statements and apologise for threatening Gambians and persuade people to obey the law and exercise their rights within the limits of the law.”

MC Cham reminded Minister Mballow that Gambians have seen the likes of former Interior Minister Ousman Sonko, “who once claimed to be former president Yahya Jammeh’s ‘Baye Fall’ but where is he today?”
MC said the so-called New Gambia was expected to be a country where rights are protected and freedom and democracy allowed to flourish because that is what Gambians voted for.

“Enough is enough, and Barrow must respect the people’s power and voice.

He made a promise and must come back to tell Gambians his position and why he made a U-turn.

Politics is not about deceiving people and Gambians will no longer take that type of politics for anyone,” he said. Meanwhile the GDC are currently on a nation wide tour.