PRESS RELEASE
POTENTIAL BLOODBATH BEING OCHESTRATED BY GAMBIA GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE OPPOSITION UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) is informing the international community about a potential bloodbath being orchestrated by the Gambia Government against the party.
Currently the UDP has embarked on a countrywide tour starting from 16th – 26th April, as part of its outreach activities to consult and reach out to its grassroots members. From the onset, the tyrannical regime of the Gambia has been putting in place obstacles to deny the party from going ahead with the countrywide tour.
First, the police have been refusing to act on UDP’s application for a permit to use public address system during the tour as required by the Public Order Act. However having waited for the police permit for weeks without granting any, the Party finally decided to embark on the caravan tour to engage its supporters without using public address system. Bearing in mind there is no constitutional requirement restricting travel and assembly within the country.
Immediately the UDP caravan crossed into the North Bank Region of the Gambia, the police, in full riot gear, started following them and cordoning off meeting venues. Now as things stand, the police have blocked all access roads making it impossible for the UDP caravan to move ahead with the tour right outside the village call Fass Njaga Choi. The UDP caravan has also refused to give in to police harassment. Currently there is a tense standoff. The police have called for reinforcement from one of its brutal units called the police intervention unit (PIU). This is the same unit that was deployed in the April 10th and 11th 2000 student demonstration during which not less than 14 unarmed students were brutally killed by trigger happy officers.
The world is informed of the potential for a similar backlash where trigger happy officers are being deployed to attack UDP members. Among the touring caravan are senior executive members of the UDP including the Party leader, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe.
We hold the Gambia government particularly responsible for the safety and wellbeing of members of the UDP caravan. We demand that the caravan be allowed to continue with its grassroots tour unhindered. Anything less is unacceptable.
The UDP Diaspora is urging all Gambians to come out in great numbers to Fass Njaga Choi for reinforcement for a peaceful resistance that has been initiated by the UDP leadership.
We are also seeking funds to provide logistical support for the folks at the forefront. Please donate at the following gofundme link. http://www.gofundme.com/s59h8x9h.
For further information, please contact the following people:
Lamin Tunkara: Telephone: 919 757-9469
Karamba Touray: Telephone: 863 837-7874
Suntou Touray: Telephone: 447411248764
Ebrima Dibba: Telephone: 206 250-3822
Fabou Sanneh: Telephone: 347 323-8463
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