(JollofNews) – President Adama Barrow of the Gambia has strongly condemned plans by supporters of the opposition APRC party to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the military coup that brought former longterm ruler Yahya Jammeh to power.
Mr Jammeh came to power in a military coup on 22 July 1994 and ruled the Gambia for 22 years. He was booted out of power in January 2017 after losing to Adama Barrow in the December 2016 election.
He has since moved to Equatorial Guinea as part of a deal brokered by the regional group Ecowas.
Mr Jammeh’s supporters have credited him for bringing development to the doorsteps of Gambians and are planning to use the event to celebrate his accomplishments.
But President Adama Barrow said as his government is a democratically elected one, it would be inconceivable for the event to be celebrated in the country given the historical perspective of the Jammeh regime.
“As Gambians, we all know the significance of this date, a date of illegal seizure of power from a constitutional and democratically elected government; also known as “July 22 Revolution Day.” It is a day which, democrats cannot celebrate as public holiday to commemorate the 1994 military coup d’état led by former President Yahya Jammeh,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Mr Barrow said he was shocked to read in a national newspaper an interview by an APRC member of parliament regarding the commemoration of the event.
And appearing to condemn the publication of the article, the president said: “While my government promotes media freedom, we would urge the media to take responsibility in publishing and disseminating information by any individual, group or party that is clearly seditious.
“The media has an important role in promoting freedom of expression, peace and stability. There is a crystal clear difference between freedom of speech and the abuse of free speech when it turns to sedition.”
Gambia Warns Against Jammeh’s Coup Celebration
Jollof Media Networ, 14.07.2017
(JollofNews) – The government of the Gambia has warned against the celebration of 22 July military coup which brought former President Yahya Jammeh and his regime to power.
Mr Jammeh’s supporters are planning to mark the 23rd anniversary of the revolution which they have credited for transforming the Gambia into one of the fastest developing nations in Africa with a university, modern airport, schools and improved infrastructures.
But the Gambia government has denied issuing Mr Jammeh’s supporters a permit to mark the anniversary arguing that it should not in any way be glorified, hailed or celebrated by any well-meaning Gambian.
“The Gambia government maintains that the 1994 coup was an illegal act, staged principally, to usurp power and subvert the popular will of the Gambian people who fought through their sweat and blood to establish and nurture a democratic culture for 30 years that became an envy of the whole world,” said Demba Ali Jawo, minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure.
“Memories are still fresh of the brutality that the July 22nd coup brought on Gambians. Families were torn apart; innocent citizens willfully killed; businesses unlawfully closed and so many of The Gambia’s most experienced and finest brains forced to flee the country because of the organized and systematic abuse of their fundamental rights.
“Notwithstanding its unwavering position to respect and broaden democratic principles and personal freedoms of citizens, the government of The Gambia maintains that the July 22nd coup still leaves painful reminders of torture, unexplained disappearances, killings and plunder of state resources.
“This day therefore should not in any way be glorified, hailed or celebrated by any well-meaning Gambian. Furthermore, the government of The Gambia warns that any public gathering which requires a public address system needs a police permit. It is on record that the Inspector General of Police has not issued any such permit to authorize any individual, political party or any other group to hold festive celebrations of the July 22nd 1994 coup.
“The general public is therefore warned to be law abiding and follow due process especially in matters related to public safety and national security and to avoid anything that may endanger national security.