As soldiers replaced police officers at every junction stretching from the Churchill Town Junction near the petrol station to the airport in rapid succession many people using the route began to ask: “What is going on? What is Going on?” The Foroyaa Office became the place of inquiry for many people. They also told us what they saw as they made enquiries. The soldiers were heavily armed. They did not only take position on the main road, they also moved inside Ibo Town. Some claimed that they have heard over the air that the Gambia Armed forces will hold a training exercise. They speculated that the maneuvres may be part of the programme. Other started to mention the names of the military officers who live in the area and started to speculate that they were after them.
It took sometime for many people to calm their anxiety as they claim to see a tight security that they had never been seen. Some soldiers climbed walls while others took position on story buildings. As we put the information together it became clear that the President was making spot visits in the area and that arrests were not under way. The siren accompanying the motorcade confirmed to all that the president was passing even if one was not on the main road. The president went to deprived areas and unearthed the serious deficits in development which has taken place over the years.
On his return he stopped at the Churchill Town Junction as some soldiers assisted him to throw biscuits. The people struggled for the biscuits and he continued.
It is our candid view that if the President wants normalcy in the country so that he could concentrate on such fact finding visits to do what he can before the 2011 elections detention without trial should be stopped. Those who are arrested and detained should either be released or charged and taken before court as required by the Constitution.
Militarising the environment every time the President moves about is not what is expected in a peaceful country. We must clearly inform the President that the heavy military presence did destabilize many passers-by who felt that something extraordinary was happening.
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone
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Posted - 09 Mar 2010 : 23:35:44
