NYC wants Gov’t to probe April 10-11 student killings

By Omar Bah The Executive Director of the National Youth Council (NYC), Lamin Darboe, has called on the government to urgently investigate the killings of fourteen students during the April 10-11 student riots. The April 2000 student riots came about after an armed officer raped a thirteen-year-old at a sporting event. A move that prompted the GAMSU to gather in their thousands on April 10 in their school uniforms at the gates of the Gambia Technical Training Institute to protest. The police reacted by using live ammunition, killing fourteen students, a Red Cross volunteer/radio journalist, and a three-year old injuring many others. Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Standard Monday, Darboe described the April 10-11 as one of the most horrible days since 1981 to have engulfed the Gambia. He said if the government wants truth and reconciliation they should ensure that the perpetrators of April 10-11 are brought to justice. “Apart from the events of 1981, April 10 and 11 were the other days in the history for our country so we want truth and justice for our brothers and sisters who were killed. We are looking forward to the government to fulfill their promise of total truth and reconciliation,” he said. He said the National Youth Council will work with all stakeholders, youth organizations to commemorate April 10/11 this year for the first time as a Council.]]>