foreign affairs minister: I forgive Jammeh but justice must be served for student victims
Gambia’s foreign affairs minister says despite the country’s former president Yahya Jammeh’s transgressions to him during his tenure of leadership, he has forgiven him deep down in his heart but said he would never compromise on the need for justice to be served for students who were gunned down during the April 10 and 11, 2000 students demonstration, allegedly on Mr. Jammeh’s orders.
Ousainou Darboe, also the secretary general and leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) made the remarks in a recent interview on the national broadcaster (GRTS) state of our democracy programe.
Mr. Darboe said he is only making a personal forgiveness to Jammeh but his other victims remain his victims and he (Darboe) is not in any position to forgive Jammeh on their behalf.
“It is him who offended those victims and that is left between him and them. Some of his victims are saying that the government is not standing to help bring Jammeh to justice but I think those people are in haste and listening to other people to pollute their minds,” he said.
Mr. Jammeh brutally ruled The Gambia for 22 years with allegations of torture, knapping, killing and disappearances without trace and many other human rights violations. Gambian victims, families of victims and the world will forever remember Jammeh’s strict laws and abuses against the media and press freedom, opposition figures, demonstrators, workers, officials and all those against his rule.
From: The Point
