As he swore six commissioners to probe the Faraba Banta killings, the Gambian leader President Adama Barrow has promised his Government will ensure protection of human rights of citizens at all times.
“We will stand for justice at all times and the restoration of democracy and good governance…,” Barrow said after the five commissioners and a secretary took their oath.
The mandate of the commission is to investigate the violence that happened at Faraba leading to the death of three civilians and injuring of several others.
The commission is to investigate the cause of the death of the civilians, the cause of the standoff and who ordered the shootings of unarmed civilians.
Since the incident occurred about two weeks ago, both the country’s interior minister Ebrima Mballow and police chief Landing Kinteh denied ordering use of firearms.
Kinteh would later resign his job.
“Our resolve is tested and challenged… The commission will help us to establish the truth and take an inform decision…,” Barrow said.
“It is vital that those who commit human rights violations are brought to book… I assure you (the commissioners) my maximum support.”
Meanwhile, the short ceremony was attended by various ministers and the country’s new vice president Ousainou Darboe.
The justice minister Abubacarr Tambadou said the credibility of the people who form the commission are unquestionable. He assured them that the Government will not interfere with their work.
“Our thoughts are with the people of Faraba who lost their relatives and those who are injured. Our thoughts are also with police officers who have suffered injuries,” Tambadou said.