Dictator Jammeh is determined to persecute and prosecute Ousainou Darboe and Co, the state has amended the charge sheet against them by adding a fresh charge of conspiracy to the existing once to make it seven counts. The counts are as follows:
Unlawful assembly; Riot; Incitement of violence; Riotously interfering with vehicles; Holding a procession without a permit; and Conspiracy.
Meanwhile, can be recalled that the charges are brought against Darboe and Co after Mr Solo Sanding, the Youth leader of the main opposition party, United Democratic Party (UDP) and a group of youths staged a rare protest on the 14th April 2016 in the Gambia to demand electoral reforms which led to the arrest of the protestors and the subsequent death in police custody of Solo and two other protestors. As a result of that the UDP party executives led by Lawyer Ousainou Darboe also took to the streets to demand the release of Solo and Co “Dead or Alive” and they too got arrested on the 16th April 2016 and charged for the above charges.
However, Darboe and Co have pleaded not guilty to the bogus charges against them and the court proceedings have been adjourned to Thursday 5th May 2016. Meanwhile, Gambians are urged to come out in large numbers to stand in solidarity with Darboe and Co as they are being persecuted for standing against the worse dictatorship of our generation. People, especially those in the diaspora are urged to donate generously for Gambians to be able to continue the resistance against dictatorship. Anyone who wants to donate to the cause can do so through this link: https://www.gofundme.com/udpgambiatour or through other means or similar organisations. On the other hand, there is a petition that was created by Fakebba Ceesay at change.org and these petitions are very important in creating awareness about the plights of Gambians to the world and everyone is urged to sign this petition: https://www.change.org/p/british-government-britain-stop-the-dictatorship-in-the-gambia.
Gambia Voices 