Gambia’s police issues peaceful procession permit to activists demanding resignation of president

Banjul, Gambia (PANA)  - The office of the Inspector General of Police here Tuesday granted a permit to activists  of ‘Operation Three Years Jotna’ to embark on a demonstration on Monday, December 16, demanding the resignation of the president, an official statement reaching PANA said.

“Consistent with the Gambian constitution and in recognition of their democratic right to peaceful protest and or procession, the office of the Inspector General of Police has issued a permit to ‘Operation Three Years Jotna’, the pressure group demanding that President Adama Barrow step down after three years.

The statement by The Gambia government Spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh said: “With this permit, The Jotna Movement is guaranteed a peaceful procession on Monday 16th December, 2019.”

The procession begins from Sting Corner in the suburbs of Jeswang, 7km outside Banjul, and stops some 200meters before Denton Bridge, the main artery into Banjul from the Kombo.

At Denton Bridge, Jotna’s representatives are expected to hand deliver a formal protest document to a government representative.

“The document, addressed to The Gambian Head of State, Mr Adama Barrow, details the Movement’s agenda and resentments. The timeline of the procession is from 10:00am to 2:00pm when the crowd is scheduled to disperse,” the statement said.

“Meanwhile, members of the public, the business community and members of the diplomatic and Consular Corps are assured of a very peaceful and orderly procession and should go about their normal businesses. “The safety and security of all is paramount and this permit is in recognition of Jotna’s constitutional and democratic right to protest,” the statement added.

-0-     PANA     MSS/RA   10Dec2019