By Abdoulie John
The Gambia’s Attorney General and Justice Minister stated that “a preliminary review of the report highlights a catalogue of errors that led to the Faraba Banta fatal incident.” Aboubacarr Tambadou blamed lack of consultations, mistrust and a lack of coordination among all stakeholders as the main problem.
Minister Aboubacarr Tambadou made the statement on Monday at State House where President Adama Barrow received the report of the Faraba Banta Commission of Inquiry. Tambadou commended President Barrow for establishing an independent and impartial Commission to look into the Faraba incident which claimed three lives and destroyed properties. He also thanked the Inquiry Panel for coming up with such a report within a very short time.
Police Intervention Unit forces on June 18 clashed with protesters resulting to the shooting to deaths of three protesters. The tragic incident raised serious concerns in post-Jammeh Gambia, with the international community calling on the Barrow government to launch an independent inquiry into the matter.
“Allow me to once again congratulate the Commission for taking up the challenging task and finally submit an impartial report for peace and justice to prevail,” President Barrow said after receiving the much-awaited report from the Chair of the five-member panel Lawyer Emmanuel Joof.
President Barrow lauded the inquiry exercise. He said the Inquiry Panel’s engagement of other communities with similar problems was meaningful since it would ensure that appropriate action is taken to avoid recurrence of similar incidents in the country
“The fact that the Commission took all the necessary procedures to get the facts and came to a conclusion, provide the basis for us to establish the truth about what led to such an unfortunate incident that resulted in the loss of lives, injuries and damage to properties,” he remarked.
The Faraba Banta Inquiry Panel Chairman, Lawyer Emmanuel D.Joof, handed the report to the President, hoping their findings and recommendations would be valuable. The Commission, Lawyer Joof said, had conducted site-visits at the mining sites, the gardens, and the rice-fields. It also held public hearings which allowed at least 85 people, including businessman Julakay and some members of the Police high command. The former and currwcu Inspector General of Police both testified before the Commission.
Lawyer Joof said commissioners also visited Gunjur and Sanyang where communities are on the frontline, fighting to end ‘environmental disasters’ in their respective areas.
“We really had fruitful discussions with these communities,” Lawyer Joof stated.
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