PHOTO: Yanks Darboe Speaking to journalists

International Lawyer Says There Is NO Democracy in The Gambia

By Ousman A. Marong

Yankuba Darboe; Gambia's UK born International lawyer has said that there is no democracy in The Gambia.

"They want to tell us that President Barrow is a democratic leader. A democratic leader who does not want to be heard by his people’s grievances. And you know what he does? He sent us in the bush so that we can be heard by; birds; crabs; mangroves; fishes in the pond. This is a mockery to Ecowas;" he remarked.

He made the revelation during the massive anti-government protest held at Sting Corner in Bakau up to Denton Bridge in “Saro”.

The protest was organized by a group of people who referred to themselves as #Operation “3-years jonta".

The Mass anti-government protest began on yesterday with thousands of people who took to the streets rising for President Adama Barrow to honor his 3-years agreement with coalition members.

"This is the government whose people are asking for a permit to protest and he is sending them into the bush. This shows there is no democracy in The Gambia;" said the renowned lawyer.

Asked why did they agree to protest in the bush, he replied in the affirmative, "If we fail to honor to protest in the vicinity designated to us the world wouldn't know and they (the government) would say we have given them (the protesters) the permit in which they refused to honor and we (the government) are democratic."

The international lawyer argued that the Gambia is not a democratic country and that should be clear to the International Community by now.

"The government of the Gambia is fooling the International community particularly the European Union (EU). What I have to tell the EU is for them to stop funding the Gambia;" he asserted.

He alleged that the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) is the replica of former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and their mode of Operandi remain the same.

"You know what they call a threat to National security; quizzed: the International lawyer. You know what they describe as the best interest of the National security;" he further quizzed.

He described the best interest of the National security to be "repression; operation; suppression; stifling of decent."

He said this is what he refers to as the best interest of National security.

"We told them exactly where we want to be heard and that's in the city. There is a lot of people who would have turned up in the city, but you know why they don't want the world to see and this was part of their brotherly agenda to stifle us;" he related.

He outlined that they #Operation "3-years jotna" movement are not backed by any political party.

"We are backed by our own patriotism and our citizenship. We don’t want any leader to make a fool of our people. No leader should make a fool of our people; not anymore;" he intimated.

He described the protest in what he refers to as Gambians success story.

"This is what the Gambian government is taken Myanmar to the International criminal justice for violation of human rights; but this is where they sent their own protesters to be heard by birds; crabs; mangroves and fishes in the pond. Yet still, they want to go before the world and begged for money and tell those countries we are a democratic country we respect the rule of law; we respect democracy and we respect the dignity of our people; “he echoed.

In his part Honorable Madi MK Ceesay National Assembly member for Serekunda West said he joined the thousands of protesters in order to show his dissatisfaction about the way and manner in which the MoU and the political manifesto was about to be violated by President Barrow.

"I am here as Member of Parliament. I am not representing my party. I am here representing my vote; because I am an electorate. I have voted in for Adama Barrow on the bases of the 3-years;" he asserted.

He said since the 3-years is coming to an end, he joined the thousands of protesters to remind President Barrow that he should respect the 3-year agreement.

Other speakers include Dodou Kassa Jatta who said he also joined the thousands protesters in order to put pressure on President Barrow for him to honor his 3-years agreement.

"He (Adama Barrow) should step down and if he failed to do so come January 19 we will show him that power belongs to the people;" he poised.

Ebrima Krubally; a representative from the North Bank Region (NBR) was amongst the speakers and he echoed similar sentiments.

However there was an hour stand-off between the protesters and the government spokesman Ebrima G. Sankareh.

Mr. Sankareh was the one to collect the letter on behalf of the government and to tender it to President Adama Barrow.

Sankareh was earlier quoted saying that the “3-years jotna” movement are 6 member groups and therefore they (the government) didn’t recognize them.

He uttered the words on yesterday during a radio program called "coffee time with Peter Gomez" on West Coast radio.

Upon his arrival at Denton Bridge to collect the letter Sankareh asked the protesters to meet him to hand over their letter.

The movement refused and stood their ground demanding that he (Sankareh) should come down to collect the letter himself.