Hi!

    This is from the Observer Online. I say bravo to the students. May justice prevail.

                                                                                                    Buharry

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COLLEGE STUDENTS PROTEST EBRIMA BARRY'S DEATH 

At least 500 students from The Gambia College, Brikama, yesterday morning, took to the streets of Brikama to protest the mysterious death of Ebrima Barry, a student of Forster's Senior Secondary School, Brikama, who was allegedly molested to death by officers of the Brikama Fire and Ambulance Services two weeks ago. 

The students chanting, "Justice, Justice, Justice!" marched into the Brikama police station carrying banners which read, "Who killed Ebrima Barry?" "Why beat Ebrima Barry to death?"From there, the students, chanting "We need justice quickly!" marched on to the office of the commissioner Western Division. 

Commissioner Kebba Ceesay met the students and assured them that justice will be done since the security of Gambian students is a priority of the government. Although his speech was interrupted by the emotionally charged students, Mr Ceesay pleaded, "Give us time, we will deal with the whole situation judiciously. Investigations are already on the way." 

Mr Kakai Sanyang, the principal education officer of the region, also assured the student demonstrators that a 'fair' judicial process will be allowed to take its course over the issue. 

The station officer at the Brikama police station, Famara Jallow, promised "As far as we are concerned, the suspects responsible for this bad act would not be let off. We will bring them to justice. We are here to protect every Gambian including students. I am not a politician, therefore, I mean whatever I have told you." 

From the commissioner's office, the protesting students quietly and calmly convened at the late Ebrima Barry's compound and gave his family charity. Family members of Ebrima Barry  including his brother, Alhaji Barry, his sister and his uncle gave an account of circumstances leading to Ebrima's death which reduced most of students to weeping molasses. 

The Barry family thanked the students for the show of sympathy.  They revealed that they were yet to receive any details from the police or other government authorities about Ebrima's unfortunate death. 

Although the demonstration was intended to be peaceful, it turned  violent at the Brikama fire station when the fire service personnel refused the students entry into their compound. Clashes ensued and the flames of violence were flared when street boys and other students from other schools in Brikama joined in the fray, threw stones and breaking the windscreen of one fire vehicle. 

Vice president of the Gambia Students' Union, Alhaji Darboe, told Daily Observer  that the students will continue to demonstrate "until fair justice process is seen to be done." 

A contingent of the Police Intervention Unit arrived at the  scene. The students faced them, chanting, "We are not afraid of your gun butts. Today we are ready to die and meet our dead colleague in the next world." 

These sentiments must have struck a chord in the hearts of the riot police who withdrew from the scene.