It is the time of the year again when we have to go through the pain and agony of 10-11 April student massacre in The Gambia by President Dictator Yahya Jammeh and his security forces. It’s 16 years this month when Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia gave direct orders for whosoever was protesting is shot at in the year 2000. It can be recalled that the reasons for the student protest was as a result of the torture and subsequent killing of a student Ebrima Barry by Brikama Fire Brigades and the raping of a schoolgirl from Brikama-ba at the independent stadium. Due to the refusal of Dictator Jammeh’s government for anyone to exercise their democratic rights in the Gambia, Jammeh’s orders resulted in the killings of 16 innocent school children including a journalist and a Red Cross volunteer Omar barrow and the maiming and torture of hundreds more.

Since then there has been a coroner’s inquest to determine the cause of death of the protesters and the findings were conclusive as it was established that they died from gunshot wounds sustained. However, up to date, no one has been charged or brought to justice for the killings. Dictator Jammeh and his rubber stamp national assembly immediately indemnified the killers and as a result, no one is liable for the killings.

Meanwhile, since the incident, Gambian opposition and the general public are afraid and intimidated to voice their anger and demand for justice for our fallen colleagues. This however, will not deter us from reminding the perpetrators of this henious crime that, one day they will surely be brought to justice. The ongoing trial in neighbouring Senegal of the former Chadian leader Hissene Habre is a reminder that, no matter how long it takes, they will be prosecuted for their crimes.

Long live the memories of our fallen comcrades and those that are maimed and tortured.