Gambian activists expressed anger at the “illegal arrest” of the young people who were protesting against allege environmental pollution by a Chinese company, Golden Lead
The environmental activists who were arrested in Gunjur over a planned protest against Golden Lead have been released on bail, activist present at the Brusubi police post at the time of their release has confirmed to Kerr Fatou.
“They have been granted bail,” said Alieu Bah, one of the founders of a youth-based movement call Occupywestfield.
The six youths were charged with “incitement of crime” on Sunday few hours after their arrest.
Lamin Daffeh, a citizen of United States, was the first to have been released, Hatab Nyang, a Gunjur-based journalist told Kerr Fatou.
It is not clear yet if the police will press ahead with prosecution since the activists were charged formally.
The police could not be reached for comment and many attempts to reach the leader of the activists, Sulayman Bojang, also went futile.
The youths have planned to protest against the activities of a Chinese company they said is polluting their environment.
Golden Lead denied the pollution charges. The company told Kerr Fatou on Sunday that it has a water treatment plant for its waste water before it is discharged into the sea.
Little over a dozen young people planned the protest but it could not hold because of the early arrest of their colleagues.
The youth activists were arrested on Sunday morning by paramilitary officers and taken to Gunjur police station, later to Siffoe and moved after to Brusubi.