Fatou Ellika Muloshi🇬🇲🇿🇲

The authorities must de-escale the tension, stop the crackdown on protesters, release them unconditionally and resolve the legitimate issues they are complaining about. The continued detention and today's denial of bail to 23 young protesters against @pura’s Data Hike is a major set back and a clear testimony that the change we fought for decades is yet to happen with the control of our state apparatus by people who have no democratic culture. We need to move away from the negation of citizens' rights to understanding the social contract between citizens and their government. This matter should have been resolved the very day of the protest and there was no need to arrest anyone in the first place. The protest was peaceful and the security forces needed to act with restraint and allow them to deliver their message and leave without any interference and undue restrictions. To impose unreasonable police bail conditions was a way to exert fear and put unnecessary pressure on the families. This is not what is expected in a democracy. I am utterly shocked and disappointed by the decision of the Kanifing court to keep the protesters in remand until the 4th of September pending trial. Detention and privation of the liberty should be the exception not the rule. I am appalled by the arrest of Omar Saibo Camara and Omar Sanyang, executives of Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), earlier today at Westfield during a protest calling for the release of protesters remanded in connection to the PURA Data Hike. The authorities must de-escale the tension, immediately, stop the crackdown on protesters and resolve the legitimate issues they are complaining about. @topfans #WeNeedReforms #FreeTheProtesters #FreeTheYouths FJS – at Gambia