Freedom Newspaper (Raleigh, North Carolina)
18 November 2007
The National Secretary of Gambia's main Opposition Party, UDP'S Femi Peters says the 13 year rule of President Yahya Jammeh, had brought "untold suffering, unrest, persecution, economic decadence, alarming rate of poverty and gross human rights violations.
The outspoken politician who is on a visit to the United States, was speaking in an interview with the Freedom Newspaper today. While describing President Jammeh as a "supporter of torture" Peters says the Gambian leader had betrayed the Gambian constitution, which he Jammeh had sworn to defend at all times. "What we have is a President disrespecting our constitution with impunity. He is neither defending nor upholding the constitution. He is undermining the very constitution he had sworn to defend. Jammeh is not defending any damn thing. " says the popular politician.
Speaking on the line to New York, where he was received by jubilant party supporters, Mr.Peters deployed the Governance and human rights crisis in The Gambia. Mr.Peters accuses Gambian President Yahya Jammeh as a gross human rights violator, who according to Peters " does not respect the basic freedoms and rights of Gambians." Femi Peters charged that Yahya Jammeh supports torture in all its form and that his lack respect for the nation's constitution was a signing example. Peters says Jammeh recognizes torture as a legitimate political move and as such he targets political opponents on his quest to silence the masses by using force. Peters says a lot of rights abuses had been committed by the Jammeh administration.
The UDP strongman cited the continued detention of their Party officials without trial. He says Kanyiba Kanyi has been detained for about one year without trial. The Gambian state, he went on, had constantly denied holding these people, even though they were compelled by the courts to produce the bodies of Rambo and Kanyiba. " They treat the courts with contempt and had no regard for the rule of law." Peters told the Freedom Newspaper.
While describing the county's political situation as gloomy and unpredictable, Femi Peters says the recent Amendment of the Local Government Act was an " insult to our fragile democracy. It's an insult to insult to our people and the constitution. The Amendment of this Act was only meant to further empower the dictatorship." he observed.
Mr.Peters say the recent Amendment of the Local Government act also disenfranchises Gambians. He accuses President Jammeh of using his rubberstamp National Assembly to pass bad laws. He says the new law denied Gambians the right to freely exercise their Civic rights as dictated by the constitution. Mr.Peters says such undemocratic moves are common in repressive regimes, such as the one in The Gambia. He says the Jammeh Government "is not adhering the to dictates of the constitution." and had been linked to torture and all kinds of crimes since coming to power 13 years ago.
Responding to question as to whether President Jammeh was succeeding or failing as a leader, Mr.Peters said Mr.Jammeh had not only failed miserably, but had also turned out to be a liability to the West African country. Jammeh, he said, had brought hardship, economic and political uncertainties, in a country, which was one time hailed as a bastion of democracy for Africa. The UDP National Secretary never minces his strong opposition for Jammeh and his "ill conceived and backward political policies." Peters said contrary to the Government's claims of bringing development to doorsteps of Gambians, he said there was no meaningful development in The Gambia. "The current situation speaks for itself. There is hardship everywhere in The Gambia. You don't call this a development." he posited.
Mr.Peters also made reference to the appalling pay rate for Gambian workers. He said people across the board "are struggling on a daily basis to survive." He says salaries no longer maintain families, as prices for basic commodities are skyrocketing.
When asked whether President Jammeh was trying to buy him to join the APRC, Peters replied in the negative. "There was not any given time that Jammeh tried to buy me. He never intended to buy me. I don't think that that was his intention. How can Jammeh buy me in the first place? Buy me for what?" Peters asked.
Peters said his meeting with Jammeh availed him the opportunity to speak his mind. " If you want to know what I told Jammeh call the Vice President, SOS For Health, the Attorney General or SOS for Fisheries. These people can tell you something about what I told the President." Peters remarked.
Mr.Peters says he was not the type politician who would stoop too low to defect to the APRC. " My party leader Ousainou Darboe was aware of my State House visit. It was never hidden." he said. He says he is too good to be associated with a bunch of thieves and criminals. He says corruption is endemic in Jammeh's Government.
Finally, Femi Peters called on Gambians abroad to be law abiding and be good ambassadors of The Gambia. He also calls on UDP supporters in the US to continue to support the UDP/NRP Alliance. Peters said there is life at the end of the tunnel. He says Gambians should remain united and salvage their country from the current political predicament they are going through. Peters said each time he looks at his people his heart bleeds , "because we have people from nowhere trying to teach you and I about democracy. " Peters said there is no democracy in The Gambia and that the world should be aware of such a reality. He accuses President Jammeh of trying use politics of violence and torture in a bid to cow political opponents.
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