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Editorial: April 2000 students’ massacre
Monday, 12 April 2010 01:53
The declassified history of tyranny April 10 & 11 (2000) is to Gambians as June 14 (1989) is to the Chinese and September 22 (2004) to the Sri Lankans. These are by no means the only countries with dreadful anecdotes of students’ massacres or other vicious anti-democratic actions. Of course there is the infamous Soweto Uprising in Apartheid South Africa (June 16, 1976).
And take a closer look at the history of all these countries and you will see the conspicuous parallel.But while the blood of the selfless students who died in Soweto can be said to have paid off for a worthy course, the eventual obliteration of Apartheid in South Africa, family members of victims of the Sri Lankan massacre are lucky that they can derive solace in the fact that the day they lost their loved ones is remembered. This is true for aggrieved people in very many countries with similar experiences. There couldn’t be any better way to show respect to people who died for a course that in fact makes them far better than the people who illegally passed their death sentences.
Unfortunately, however, in Gambia, like it is the case of June 14 in China (the Tiananmen Square massacre), reference to April 10 & 11 is a taboo. In fact it is anti-Gambian, unpatriotic, and unprogressive, just like anything that evokes justice.
It must be stressed that there has never been any doubt the deplorability of the dastardly act by Gambian security personnel against innocent and harmless students who were only seeking justice for one of their colleagues, but the attitude of the government to the outcome of those two atrocious days (April 10 & 11) sent a clear message. No room for dissent.
By its reactions to both the students’ riot and the aftermath of the massacre, the government also proved beyond doubt its inclination to resorting to the most extreme of measures to arrest any form of opposition against it. That leaves us to wonder who Gambians should trust: the government which has already demonstrated its true colors or those that it constantly accuses of not aiming well for the country.
In any case, the magnitude of loss in life in either Beijing or Soweto might be incomparable to the 12 Gambian lives of students who were brutally murdered, but for a country with hardly any such history of brutally, Gambians were traumatized to the core. And what makes April 10 & 11 even so distinct to Gambians is the unprovoked motive of the security personnel who were supposedly serving a government that until now claims to be serving the interest of its people, even though it continues to refuse to acknowledge the importance of these dates.
As part of last year’s commemoration, a student victim who, as a result of the unfaithful episode, has been condemned to using crutches for the rest of his life was seeking assistance for his condition; nine (9) whole years after the incident. Now where is the essence of the humanitarian gesture we keep hearing about all day all night in Gambia?
History can never be suppressed; it is just a matter of time…even if not in this world, in the hereafter. What is important is that let justice always guides our actions. Isn’t that what the Gambian National Anthem proclaims?
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Comments
Jollofnews,This forum is not supposed to be a channel for the promotion of hate,tribalism or any other kind of personal grievances.
Are we prepared and ready to abide by the rules of the Jollofnews and keep our comments revelant to the given TOPIC? I would like to remind you all out there to make a STOP on any form of discrimination in our comments.In our Gambia there is NO PLACE for discrimination as we are ONE MIXED FAMILY.So lets continue to discuss on important issues for the interest of our nation and however we may disagree with each other,we must always REMEMBER that we are A FAMILY.
Those who may disagree with the way President Jammeh`s government operates,I would advise you to cool down and critise with responsibility and maturity.If not, is better for the person to be a reader and give chance for an interesting and conducive forum for all.
So try other desperate measures, but understandably, a drowning man will catch an any straw.
His most most dedicated and loyal killers and henchmen come from his tribesmen in Cassamance.
We might as well discuss this issue now instead of sweeping it under the carpet.I can easily foresee a scenario where (after a coup in which he is not captured)Jammeh takes up residence in Cassamance and continues to send raiding parties in to Gambian territory.He has both the means (money and willing killers) and the desire (his insatiable lust for power) to do it.
I know a lot of his tribesmen in Gambia who are not very comfortable with the way Jammeh is operating because they know what the consequences could be for them if God forbid a vindictive ruler from a different tribe should suddenly come to power today.
Anytime anyone mention the words jola, Casamance, ppl go wild. If these are issues they must be discussed so that they will be solved. Enlistment of senegalsese fromCasamance is not a new thing in Gambian politics, you stop being hypocritical by accusing debators here for what u should accuse yaya Jammeh for.
It ain't gonna work in Gambia, try other desperate means.
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