G-l, take a look at some of the reactions from the public are they not blaming the students when they should stand by them? ARRESTS The riot police have been helpless in quelling the riot. Few security officers were seen with batons and poor riot gear and at the Kanifing estate/University of The Gambia area; the riot police and students were reported to be howling stones at each other. At the Radio 1 FM junction, few arrests were made but unfortunately the arrested students who received some beating before entering the awaiting military truck were mainly young schoolgirls. The proprietor of Radio 1 FM, George Christensen who was earlier talking to the students to go home and stop the violence, intervened with some elderly persons around. They persuaded the riot police to release the girls, arguing that they were not involved in the riot. They eventually rescued most of them. However, a 13-year-old boy, another female student from Latrikunda Junior Secondary and a motor mechanic who was accused by the riot police of harbouring the rioters in his workshop were taken away to an unknown destination. THE PUBLIC REACTIONS Most of the people interviewed about the violent demonstration, condemned the students' action and called for immediate public enquiry into the riots. A human rights Lawyer, Mary A Samba-Christensen opined that "I think the students can put in their anger and problems in different ways which would be more effective, make representations to the attorney-general and to the president of the republic, instead of frustrating themselves by stopping vehicles and interrupting services and so on. They can make a peaceful representation to the relevant authorities and I'm sure with the present attorney general, he would take it upon himself to ensure that their problems would be addressed. I regret to see the situation deteriorating to this level". Mrs Samba-Christensen advised parents to talk to their children, tell them the proper ways and means of expressing themselves about their problems, make proper representation to the right authorities. An onlooker said that the Secretary of State attempted to address the students and they disrupted everything. "I support the students demonstrations but not when it is violent. They should just demonstrate peacefully and not loot or attack anybody. The paramilitary officers should find a way to calm them and not to beat the students or shoot at them," she said. "We need justice. They have to do something about the death of the student. Yahya Jammeh should act at once. The fire service officers should be punished", a woman who was searching for her child said. "The paramilitary even came to our school, ICE and disturb us where we were taking our examinations. Some of them shot at us and that also provoked us to take to the streets", a rioting student said. The situation is under full control as reports are being filled in from various parts of the Greater Banjul Area concerning the students' rampage culled from the gambianet. A.A Drammeh. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------