Thousands of Gambians protesters call on President Barrow to resign

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By SULAYMAN WAAN

On Monday thousands of Gambians from different walks of life led by the 3 Years Jotna (now is 3 years) movement have protested against President Adama demanding him to honour the coalition three-year agreement and resign.

The movement demanding for President Adama Barrow’s resignation accompanied by thousands of Gambians marched from Sting Conner junction in Jeshwang up to 200 metres before Denton Bridge as prescribed by the police permit.

Protesters delivered a petition to President Adama Barrow through the government spokesperson, Ebrima Sankareh.

Thousands of protesters were seen wearing t-shirts imprinted, 3 Years Jotna and three fingers raised symbolizing the slogan for their campaign.

Protesters raised their banners high imprinted: “Respect 3 Years Agreement”, Ecowas Come Get Your Adama Barrow, 3 Years Jotna”, 3 Years Voted, 5 Years is Theft Adama Barrow”, “Don’t Steal Our New Found Democracy Adama Barrow”, among other slogans, while others called for him to relinquish power.

In 2018, a group of Gambians formed the 3 Years Jotna movement and expressed preparedness to demonstrate against President Barrow if he fails to honour the 2016 coalition agreement, especially he relinquishing power at the end of his three years in office.

Following the threat to demonstrate by the movement several months ago President Barrow openly vowed to complete the five years constitutional mandate.

He told a huge gathering at Brikama, in the West Coast Region of the Gambia during a meeting that he will stay for five years whether Gambians “like it or not.”

However, his political proponents have also announced preparation to register and launch a political party in January 2020 so as to enable him to vie for 2021 presidential election.

Speaking to journalists prior the protest match at Sting Conner junction, two prominent ring leaders of the protest and executive members of the 3 Years Jotna, Matarr Ceesay and Sheriff Ceesay assured that they the protest will take the form of peaceful demonstration, free from violence and other illegal conducts.

They advised the protesters to be law abiding as good ambassadors of the movement and be part of the champions of the country’s democracy.

Yankuba Darboe, a lawyer by profession, and an executive member of the movement who flew from the United Kingdom to take part in the protest expressed disappointment with government for giving them a restrictive permit to protest at the bush.

“The government wants to present mockery for democracy to the world. You see all around here is bush and they want to tell the world that Barrow is a democratic leader,” he protested.

He added: “A democratic leader who does not want to hear his people’s grievance. Do you know what he does; he sends them (protesters) to the bush so that they would be heard by crabs, birds and fish in the pond.”

According to him, the Gambia government’s decision of approving their application for a permit to protest at the bush is a mockery to ECOWAS, adding that this is a government that the regional bloc is supporting and called it democratic.

He said the government claimed to have respect for the rule of law and fundamental human rights but only permitting its people to have bush protest instead taking to the streets in the city.

Criticizing the unchanged status quo, he said: “The State Intelligent Service (SIS) director was an officer of the former notorious National Intelligent Agency (NIA) and the same system remained,” he said.

Mr. Darboe added that this government considers people’s freedom and rights to express their opinion as threat to national security and calling the oppression and suppression of the masses as in the best interest of the nation.

Dudu Kasa Jatta, a political activist resident in Bakau said: “We look forward to seeing President Barrow’s resignation because he is a transitional president. He promised to step down after serving for three years but now refused to fulfill the promise and ready to contest in the next presidential election.”

Alhagie Fofana, member of Upper River Region delegation at the protest said: “We are asking the president to respect the coalition agreement. We are part of the electorate and despite the distance we have to come and take part in the history making.”

Isatou Njie, member of Banjul, the city delegation said their participation is in exercise of their constitutional rights as citizens, adding that they have seen something incorrect that they want to protest against.

“In normal circumstances, when the president promises to hand over power after three years and fails to do so; therefore, the electorate have the right to remind him about what he said years ago,” she posited.

She described the president as the servant of the people and not the people being his servants as the former dictatorial government was doing.

Mbemba K.M. Coteh, from the Central River Region stated that he wants President Barrow to respect the coalition agreement, saying that the protest is meant to remind the head of state that he was voted for three years.

“However, I have my citizenship rights to protest, regardless of the political party I belong but what is clear is that the constitution has given me the right to protest peacefully and without arms. That’s exactly what we are doing.”

Ebrima Krubally, resident of Badibou Kachang, North Bank Region also said he left his rural region to come to the urban to join the movement in a protest to deliver a letter to President Barrow so as to inform him that he was voted for three years only.