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Editorial: Gambia’s development is beyond individual projects
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 00:23
Gambia’s development is far bigger than what any single individual can provide and therefore it is only attainable
through collective participation. Everyone single Gambian or non-Gambian living in the country has a role to play somehow. This collective participation, which is essential in guaranteeing everyone’s input, demands a more open and tolerant society than what presently obtains in the country.No amount of effort can get us through this face of trying moments without the involvement of the clearly neglected section of Gambian
society. No matter how many physical buildings are erected, paved roads constructed or people educated, the objectives of the founding fathers of the nation, the unnoticed wishes and aspirations of many Gambians, especially the over 60% of those said to be living below the poverty line, remain unattainable until the demoralizing polarity that currently wrecks this society of ours is neutralized.Therefore, what is happening in Gambia today deserves the attention of all – be you a politician or not, young or old, affected directly or indirectly, be you a ruling party supporter or not, it behoves you to take interest in Gambia and think up your own idea of a resolution of the country’s present predicament. Yes, predicament.
The complaints are so deafening, with evidences abound, yet the Government appears to have grown increasingly indifferent to the growing calls for justice. That is in fact the worrying part of it all. The recently concluded UN sanctioned UPR, followed by the US Department of States report on the country’s human rights situation, are loud testimonies to this situation. Needless to mention the spree of unexplained dismissal and arrest of people…
It is not our intention to pass judgment on the government on any matter, but it is also not our intention to subscribe to what they would want Gambians to believe - their total innocence on disappearances of Gambian citizens. Even if the government is not directly responsible for such acts, its obligation to ensuring the safety of every Gambian or non-Gambian living within the borders of the country constitutes the basis for its culpability in the present state of affairs. It’s therefore obliged to make far more effort than what we have seen expended to get answers to the many questions that linger in the minds of Gambians and the rest of the world.
Political persecution is by no means a new phenomenon, but the unbearable level of persecution of political opponents we have reached in Gambia has exceedingly surpassed what generally prevails in our region. Cases of disappeared political opponents and journalists have been known to be associated with countries where lawlessness was the order of the day, where the urge for power got a whole generation of leaders alienated from wisdom, but never in countries that describe themselves as democratic. Therefore, we can’t just accept that people can just disappear in Gambia without trace. Someone must take responsibility.
Let’s assume that neither President Yahya Jammeh nor his government is responsible for the unresolved enforced disappearances; but there have been people linked to each of these cases. Couldn’t these people have been questioned just like countless Gambians have undergone questioning on mere allegations of anti-government activities? It is no news that Momodou Sanyang of GRTS, Dr Saja Taal and Pa Malick Faye of the Observer have been named in the disappearance of Chief, just like former Gambian Army Chief of Defense Staff, Rt. Colonel Babucarr Jatta, has been linked to the disappearance of Kanyiba Kanyi. What would it cost the government to question these people? If anything, these people were reportedly put through their ordeal in the name of guarding the APRC government’s interest. Therefore, if the government cares about freedom and democracy, or at least its record, couldn’t it have acted to rescue its name? This is indeed what common sense demands.
Another point is that, letting these people regain their freedoms is vital in that it will not only free their beleaguered families from the obvious trauma that is wrecking them apart, but it will also surely restore the hope and confidence of a greater section of Gambians in the government.
Today, the greatest threat faced by the country’s development aspirations is our weakness to openly object to whatever limits our welfare and this is as a result of the culture of fear that has been instilled in the population. Gambians have been effectively coerced into accepting that dissent runs counter to loyalty to the nation. The idea, as absurd as it is, is that things have to be as they are if what we call peace can prevail, yet we have utterly failed to realize that even if what we have can be qualified as peace, it remains fragile until the obvious tension beneath it is calmed.
As a society, we owe it to the families of the oppressed to help them. That is what makes the idea just unveiled by Gambia Press Union – USA Branch a remarkably commendable one.
We wholeheartedly join calls for support for this significant undertaken which will not just seek to rescue Gambia’s sinking media, but also help continue the much needed support for Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh, a true prisoner of conscience.
Wherever you might be - home or away - your contribution can make a big difference; even if not for Chief Manneh, but for the feature of Gambia. This is everyone’s call.
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