Madi Jobarteh, Human Rights Activist
By Madi Jobarteh
It is now clear that an uninformed poor boy is being used and protected by Pres. Barrow and his Government to insult political leaders, senior citizens, community elders and journalists, activists and any citizen who disagree with the Government.
The evidence is here:
For years, the IGP has arrested anyone and everyone who lawfully criticizes the President or his Government. The latest evidence is Louis Boutanos who expressed his disgust at the poor service delivery by public institutions. He has been arrested and reporting for bail.
Before him, there was myself, Bora Sisawo, or journalist Pa Modou Bojang, Bakary Mankajang, Musa Sheriff and Momodou Justice Darboe, just to name a few. All these people only either reported pertinent national issues or criticized the Government and the President on account of their functions and performance.
In the case of Baboucarr Bahoum, it too more than 48 hours for the IGP to call Bahoum for questioning after a huge public outcry at the boy’s outrageous and demeaning remarks at a whole community. It means the Police have no intention to do anything if there was no public reaction.
But, contrary to all other cases, Bahoum is the first person to be invited to a police station only to be released within hours. In all other cases, those invited had to spend at least a night in Police custody. In 2018. Ismaila Ceesay spent a night at Banjul police headquarters. Louis Boutanos had to spend 3 nights at Kairaba Police Station.
In the aftermath of the Masembeh by-election, the President Barrow issued a congratulatory message to the leader of the UDP. But since then, both Barrow and NPP flatly ignored Bahoum even though they are very much aware of the derogatory language the boy indicted on Kiang.
The entree NPP frontline remain mute about Bahoum as if they did not hear anything. If what Bahoum says was said by someone else against supporters or voters for NPP, immediately Seedy Njie, Demba Sabally and Sulayman Camara would have mobilized the NPP to organize a press conference to react vehemently.
Another evidence of the Government’s complicity in the misconduct of Bahoum is this statement by Ismaila Ceesay in his interview at Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on Monday.
When asked about if Bahoum’s comments constitute incitement, Ismaila said he did not know and went on perambulating about other matters. If these despicable remarks by Bahoum were uttered by Madi Jobarteh or Alagie Saidy Barrow or someone else, Ismaila would have been dropping missiles of condescending adjectives while acting self righteous and holier than the pope.
The latest evidence of Government complicity is the intimidation of officer Binta Njie, a native of Kiang who rightfully issued her own personal statement about Bahoum’s disrespectful comments against her parents and the entire region of Kiang. Her comments were mature, responsible, measured and thoughtful.
Yet, her own colleague the IGP immediately threatened her unjustifiably when that same IGP failed to take any action, willingly on Bahoum who has threatened the peace and security of this land! Unbelievable.
Therefore, to piece all these pieces of evidence together, it is clear that Pres. Barrow and his Government and the NPP indeed pose a clear and present danger to our country. They foment division and hatred by creating attack dogs and then defend such attack dogs by using the IGP to arrest anyone who disagrees with them. This is a gross violation of the Constitution and democratic norms.
Much as he is annoying, Baboucarr Bahoum however is a pity. Here is a poor, uneducated man who is being used by dishonest and corrupt politicians to fight his own country. What future awaits Bahoum? Those who are family of Bahoum need to wake him up before it is too late. He should be advised that he is on a path of self destruction. One day, change will come and he will find that he is no more comfortable and relevant in his society because of his past actions. The man needs guidance.
For The Gambia Our Homeland