Uncle, the Magistrates dismissal of the application to put a hold on the case at his court does not in anyway affect the application at the High Court. That of the High Court is a constitutional matter which if granted closes the case altogether. But I am not of legal mind and I am writing to state my take on your advice for the other opposition parties to apply for a permit to test the ground. First of all political parties have a right to assemble without a permit. The permit only comes in when they want to utilise instruments for sound amplification or hold procession that will obstruct traffic and/or cause public nuisance as par the Public Order Act is concerned. That is why it has become a tradition for police protection to be given once a permit is given to utilise public address system or the other aspects as required by the POA. Therefore there is no need asking other parties to apply for permit. I read from Foroyaa calling on the Political Parties to work on rejuvenating the Inter Party Committee as a means of challenging the denial of permit to the UDP. I also learnt that Halifa has personally written all the Parties in that effect. I think that is a mature move to take and it will help determine whether it is government policy to ban rallies or that the IGP being negligent in his duties or simply has an axe to grind with the UDP. Unless that avenue is utilised to the fullest as the one available means to stop this affront to the Civic rights of the people to freedom of assembly, it would be childish for another party to apply for a permit just to test whether it will succeed or not when it currently has no obstruction placed on its political activity. They should do so whenever they aim to hold a rally. It is better to leave matters as they are presently rather than discussing them further to the detriment of the UDP. Nyang --- On Tue, 12/15/09, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
|
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤