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Momodou
Denmark
11841 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 23:18:45
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NADD HOLDS RALLY AT BUNDUNG
By Abdoulie Dibba
The National Alliance for Democracy and Development, (NADD), held a mass political rally at Bundung a few hours after the nomination of their Presidential Candidate, for the September 22nd Presidential Elections. Addressing the audience, the Members of the Executive Committee of NADD, told the audience that NADD is here to stay; that the APRC’s twelve-year rule has brought no improvement to the lives of The Gambian people; that has brought, instead, an avalanche of hardship, fear and a blatant violation of the Constitution and the rule of Law. The Executive Committee Members present at the meeting told the audience that they (the people) are their own liberators through their votes. They told the people that it is their votes, which determine their opportunities in life, that if they vote for a person who respects the rule of laws; one who has clear ideas have the principles and programme to develop the productive base of the economy, then they (the people) would live in Peace, liberty and Dignity. The executive members said if voters voted otherwise, then the status quo will continue.
On his part, the NADD Presidential Candidate Halifa Sallah, told the audience that the country has charged as from today, after his nomination. He said he is ready to give his life to ensure that the NADD supporters and sympathizers no longer live in fear nor threaten with impunity. He told the audience that The Gambian people are a sovereign people, which mean that all organs of government must derive their authority from the people. This, he said, is precisely the reason why voters elect a President and entrust him with the responsibility of levying taxes and managing the wealth of the country. Halifa told the audience that the President is also the head of the police, the Army and the NIA.
He told the audience that the police, the Army and the NIA are required to perform their functions in accordance with the constitution and other laws of The Gambia. This, he said, is not the case in The Gambia. Instead he said the police and the NIA operate according to the dictates of the President. Halifa told the audience that the constitution, which is the supreme law of the land which Jammeh swore to defend without fear or favour, has stated categorically that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention; that no one shall be deprived of his or her liberty except on such grounds, and in accordance with such procedures, as is established by law. Halifa told the audience that the constitution states very clearly that any person who is arrested or detained, shall be informed as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any case, within three hours, in a language that he or she understands the reasons of his or her arrest or detention. He told the audience that section 19 subsection 3 (b) asserted that “Any person who is arrested or detained upon reasonable suspicion of his or her having committed or being about to commit a criminal offence under the laws of The Gambia and who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court and in any event within seventy- two hours.” Halifa told the audience that the police and the NIA because of the fear of the whip of the President whose pronouncement is regarded as the law by the police and the NIA should not respect these constitutional provisions. Halifa told the audience that that is why people are detained for one or two months, three months without being brought before a court of law in total violation of the constitution of the Republic of The Gambia. This, he said is one of the reasons why the APRC Government needs to be voted out and replaced by a Government that would respect the constitution and other laws of The Gambia see next issue on the Economic.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 74/2006, 6-7 September, 2006
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