----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2000 11:48
PM
Subject: President Jammeh's Address to
the Nation
16TH APRIL, 2000
STATEMENT TO THE NATION
BY
PRESIDENT JAMMEH ON THE STUDENTS' DEMONSTRATION
OF 10TH & 11TH APRIL,
2000
BISI - MILLAHI ARAHMANI
FELLOW CITIZENS
MY TASK
TODAY IS INDEED A VERY DIFFICULT ONE, AS IT IS WITH THE DEEPEST
FEELING
EVER OF IMMENSE DISTRESS AND UTMOST GRIEF THAT I ADDRESS THE NATION
ON THE
UNFORTUNATE AND TRAGIC STUDENTS' DEMONSTRATIONS THAT OCCURED LAST
MONDAY
AND TUESDAY. ON THESE TWO DARK DAYS IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, THIS
NATION
SUFFERED IRREPARABLE LOSS OF LIVES AND INCALCULABLE DAMAGE
TO
PROPERTIES. MOST REGRETABLE IS THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF THE 12 YOUNG
PEOPLE
AND THE LARGE NUMBER OF WOUNDED. I THEREFORE WISH TO TAKE THIS SAD
OCCASION
TO JOIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND
PEOPLE OF
THE GAMBIA AND THAT OF MY FAMILY, TO EXTEND DEEPEST CONDOLENCES
AND
HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO BEREAVED PARENTS, FAMILIES, RELATIVES,
FRIENDS,
CLASSMATES AND LOVED ONES OF OUR DEPARTED CHILDREN. LET US ALL
PRAY THAT THE
ALMIGHT ALLAH RECEIVES THEIR SOULS AND GRANT THEM ETERNAL
REST. LET US ALSO
PRAY FOR THE SICK AND WOUNDED, TO RECEIVE ALLAH'S SPEEDY
HEALING AND
RECOVERY. WE MUST OFFER PRAYERS ALSO FOR THE BEREAVED AND THE
NATION, TO BE
COMFORTED, TO HAVE THE FAITH AND COURAGE TO SUSTAIN THEIR
LOSS. AS WE
REMEMBERE AND COMMIT THOSE WE LOVED DEARLY IN ALLAH'S CARE, I
AM HEREBY
DECLARING ONE WEEK OF MOURNING, DURING WHICH ALL FLAGS IN THE
COUNTRY WILL
BE FLOWN AT HALF MAST IN LOVING MEMORY AND RESPECT FOR THE
DEAD
FELLOW GAMBIANS
I WANT US ALL TO PUT THIS SAD AND
UNPRECEDENTED INCIDENT INTO ITS PROPER
PERSPECTIVE, TO REFLECT ON AND
INVESTIGATE INTO THE CAUSES AND TO DRAW
USEFUL LESSONS FROM THE EXPERIENCE.
WHILE I WAS IN CUBA ATTENDING THE G 77 -
SOUTH SUMMIT, I HAVE BEEN
CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH MY GOVERNMENT ON THE
EVOLUTION OF THE SITUATION ON
THE GROUND. EVERYONE WILL AGREE THAT THE
PRIMARY DUTY OF ANY GOVERNMENT IS
TO ENSURE THAT PEACE AND STABILITY
PREVAILS IN A COUNTRY, SAFEGUARD THE
RIGHTS OF EVERYONE TO LIFE AND
PROPERTY, AND GUANRANTEE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE
WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR. MY
GOVERNMENT WILL THEREFORE CONDUCT A FULL
INVESTIGATION INTO THE EVENTS OF
THE 10TH AND 11TH APRIL 2000. IN THE
INVESTIGATIONS, NO STONE WILL BE LEFT
UNTURNED IN OUR SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH.
CONCURRENTLY, A CORONER'S INQUEST WILL
BE HELD ON THE CAUSE OF DEATH OF THE
TWELVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR
LIVES IN THIS UNFORTUNATE
INCIDENT.
IN THE DAYS THAT LIE AHEAD, I WILL BE COUNTING ON ALL
GAMBIANS, RELIGIOUS
LEADERS, LEADERS OF CONSCIENCE TO HELP BRING BACK THE
PEACE AND STABILITY
THAT HAS ENABLED US TO HELP NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES TO
AVERT THE DANGERS OF
INTERNAL CONFLICT AND STRIFE. WE WANT TO BUILD A
SOCIETY WHOSE YOUTH WILL BE
PROUD OF THE EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND
FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
AVAILABLE TO THEM. THIS WILL ENABLE US TO
BUILD ON THESE FOUNDATIONS WHICH
WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE GAMBIA A HAVEN
OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE
SUB-REGION AND AFRICA AT LARGE. THESE ARE
CERTAINLY SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL
PRE-CONDITIONS FOR ATTAINING OUR VISION
2020 OBJECTIVES.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND PRAY THAT THE
ALMIGHTY ALLAH CONTINUE
TO SHOWER HIS PEACE AND BLESSING ON THE BEREAVED,
THE WOUNDED, AND THE
COUNTRY AS A WHOLE.
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WARAH
MATULLAHI WABARA
KATUHU
______________________________________________________
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