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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 19 May 2017 : 22:45:16
The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violation Launched
BY: Kebba AF Touray & Awa Bah
Foroyaa: May 19, 2017
http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/15696
 The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations, was launched on Wednesday, 17/05/2017, at the COMMIT Building along Kotu Highway.
The ceremony was attended by survivors, government officials, the Ghanaian community, foreign diplomats, the press and MPs.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Maila Touray, the chairperson of the center, stated that the creation of the center which is henceforth called the Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations, is borne out of the desire for the survivors of Jammeh’s regime to come together and get a center that will be tasked to ensure that justice is done to those who suffered from the 22 years of the Jammeh’s tyrannical rule. He revealed that among the things they want to do is to serve as collaborators and facilitators between the government and the victims to ensure transitional justice and truth reconciliation. He thanked all those who turned up to the launch and urged all hands to be put on deck to ensure the functionality of the center.
Baba Hydara, the son of the late Dayda Hydara, who spoke on behalf of the family said that the survivors with the help of Saul Mbenga and Maila Touray, started this organization which has become an NGO, since it began three months ago. It was really helpful to all the survivors, as they were able to share their pains and sorrows that the Jammeh administration meted on them, so that the government can ensure that truth and reconciliation goes well, but will also want justice to take its cause, as well as liberation and to compensate the victims, he added. He called on the government and international organizations to help them finance the activities of the center.
The Assistant Secretary General of TGCVHRV, Isha Jammeh, opined that if they were to hold this meeting six months back, many personalities would not have liked to associate themselves with the occasion due to the fear instilled in them by the brutal regime of the ex- president .She described the day as symbolic and historic in their map to justice, to share their fixed feelings, remember the departed souls and give solidarity to those who suffered during the Jammeh rule.
The Agriculture Minister, Hon Omar Jallow remarked that the current government will ensure that justice and national reconciliation will be realised, noting that they are sensitive. Mr. Jallow stated that we have a lot to learn from others in ensuring that justice is rendered, but clarified that selective justice will not be tolerated. While urging the victims to be patient for justice to be rendered to them, he also urged the justice minister to solidify justice to all the citizenry, regardless of politics, language, ethnic and tribal background.
Hon Halifa Sallah, the NAM for Serre Kunda Central, said he had to attend the launching despite his busy schedule, because it is beginning of the beginning of another process in the evolution of the life of this country. He said that society develops by building instruments, institutions, values and culture. He added, “We build these institutions based on concrete experiences that we either want to consolidate or eradicate for good. There is nobody in the country who is not convinced that impunity is the worst enemy of humankind. If we are to eradicate impunity, we must begin to see it in concrete terms and this is why societies which want to develop must look at concrete experiences, not with the view to live with the past, but to be able to move forward and victims of torture, death, would require real attention and the more attention they have, the more they feel that justice is done. He said that building centres will provide one with the opportunity to have those people to realise that people care and are concerned and when it goes to the larger society, then that problem will never be seen again .So in brief, we are here building a new culture.it arises from the information and the conversion of that information in a real knowledge to what has happened then into a way of life, so that it will never happen again. I belief all those here present can agree with me with one slogan that is NEVER AGAIN after this experience NEVER AGAIN”.
In his launching statement, the minister of justice, Mr Abubakar Tambadou, expressed that he took the job to put an end to inhuman treatments such as disappearance without trace, adding that the past injustices are too many. He advised all to be true ambassadors of the country, put hand in glove to move the country to where we want it to be and let justice guide our actions. He revealed that we have to make hard decisions, because we are a small country with a big role to play. Mr Tambadou challenged all to do their utmost to make sure that the world learns from the Gambia. He remarked, “Let’s continue to teach the world how a peace loving and progressive people conduct themselves, behave in a mature and sensible manner. Let’s approach our quest for justice with the seriousness it deserves”.
The launching was chaired by Aminata Correa and the vote of thanks was delivered by the vice chairperson, Sheriff Kejera.
The objectives of the organization are:
To advocate for constitutional reforms that will ensure Violations perpetrated on Gambians during the second republic shall NEVER happen again
To serve as a resource center for victims and families of victims of human rights violations
To facilitate provision of counseling and medical services to victims of gender-based crimes torture, rape, murder, wrongful imprisonment and disappearance committed by the Jammeh Government
To be the liaison between victims of human rights violations and various arms of government during the transitional Justice phase of national reconciliation
To provide a safe environment that will help victims of human rights violations and their families get truth, justice and where applicable reparation
6. To collaborate with government, national, and international agencies in providing other needed services for victims of human rights violations. |
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Momodou |
Posted - 23 May 2017 : 14:25:54
GOOD MORNING MR PRESIDENT
The Point Editorial: Monday, May 22, 2017
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/good-morning-mr-president-3
Mr President, the victims of Yahya Jammeh and his thugs and gangs of bandits are enormous and can never be known fully. Therefore, it is with tremendous efforts that some US/Gambian activists have established a centre for victims of human rights violation which was launched here last week.
The establishment of such centre was a great initiative and we commend the support of your Cabinet especially the justice minister, who was seemingly in the forefront supporting the initiative.
We think a more open and proactive approach to this great cause would instil a great sense of trust and hope in your government. By that we meant other ministries should also be helping out as well. For instance, the Ministry of Health can contribute in allocating some professionals to the centre who would provide the victims with counselling support because some victims are still very traumatised and clearly in need of great help. Obviously, support from family members and friends is needed for getting through the first couple of days and months or even years, but it is a well known fact that victims of such trauma are left with nervous shock which could be ameliorated through counselling.
Therefore, Mr President, professional help should be afforded to these victims or their families. Studies have shown that with series of counselling support, victims of such violations have had tremendous effects on dealing with the lost or coming to terms with loss they suffered. Counselling support helps victims and/or their families to cope and guide them on coping mechanisms to enable them to work through their thoughts and emotions.
Mr President, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that your government is to establish is a welcome initiative in helping the healing process of the country. However, this commission should not and cannot be an alternative to bring the alleged criminals before the courts to face justice for their atrocities.
But it is also understood that the TRC and the pursuance of justice can go hand in hand, and since September – the proposed commencement period of the TRC – is just round the corner, we are eager to see what model of TRC your government would take.
The victims of Jammeh’s atrocities have gone through years of physical and psychological torture; they now want to see justice for their loved ones and so a more open rapport with them would be beneficial in appeasing them while the formal processes are being followed.
In this vein, it would be important to have an up-to-date list of victims, though this is a daunting challenge, it would make it relatively easier to help the government in dispensing justice to all who justice is due. All the victims should be treated as one in order to avoid selective justice for that would be a disservice to their loved ones who sacrificed their lives.
Notwithstanding, we commend the ministries of the interior, and justice for a job well done in issuing arrest warrants for some assassins team members of Jammeh, who have been on a killing spree and also contributed in the enforced disappearances, torture, intimidation of any one perceived as dissent.
However, the masses are interested in knowing if this would be the same for other victims as well. What becomes of the alleged killers of former minister Ousman Koro Ceesay and others; some of the alleged perpetrators in these cases are known but they are still going about their business, we wonder why.
Mr President, the arms of the law are long enough to be stretched to issue arrest warrants for all known culprits without sparing anyone.
Good day Mr President.
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