--Urges Citizens to rise up in defence of liberty and opportunity

Mr. Peters was arrested, tried and wrongfully convicted for expressing his right to freedom of expression and association, both of which are entrenched provisions under the Constitution. It is very clear that Mr. Peters was victimised for being the Campaign Manager of the United Democratic Party, and a fearless champion of democracy and the rule of law in The Gambia. His recent conviction is utter ignominy on the person of Yaya Jammeh, and the world shall hold Yaya Jammeh individually responsible for the continuing safety and health-being of Mr. Peters. It is superfluous evidence of Yaya Jammeh’s rabid repugnance for any semblance of democratic practice and a defiant rejection of international demands for democratic conformity.

I would like to echo the words of Hon. Ousainou Darboe that the trial and conviction of Mr. Femi Peters amount to the trial and conviction of The Constitution of The Gambia. I assure Hon. Osainou Darboe and members of the UDP of the strong solidarity of GMC, and my personal support during these very turbulent times. I am appreciative of UDP leadership’s heroic defence of Mr. Peters both inside and out of the court room. GMC makes no distinction in the defence of the fundamental rights of all Gambians, and we view the wrongful conviction of Mr. Peters as an imperative, non partisan national issue, and not merely a UDP affair.

The conviction of Mr. Peters has once again demonstrated to the world that Gambian judiciary as we know it today represents the extended arm of executive authoritarianism. This latest escalation of judicial lawlessness in favour of the perpetuation of totalitarianism and presidential anarchy must be met with surpassing resistance in defence of sovereignty dignity and liberty. Mr. Peter’s conviction is a compelling test for our patriotism, evidence that talk is enough, and legitimate militant action is now required. This is the time to take the gauntlet of legitimacy because the survival of our collective citizenship is under violent attack by one man and his non Gambian co-conspirators.

I urge for relentless decisive national action of democratic forces of all Gambians both at home and abroad, in a manner never before conceived of in our political history. I call on Gambians of all political persuasions and across ethnic divides to rise up in defence of liberty and opportunity! I call on all patriotic democratic Gambians both at home and abroad to rise beyond their fears. I wish to share with our UDP colleagues and all Gambians the sum of our conviction as enunciated by Napoleon Hill: “Until you have learned to be tolerant with those who do not always agree with you; until you have cultivated the habit of saying some kind words of those whom you do not admire; until you have formed the habit of looking for the good instead of the bad there is in others, you will be neither happy nor successful”. To UDP, we are in this together! GMC unconditionally supports the rule of law with democratic plurality.

MAI N.K FATTY, Esq. Chairman & Party Leader

Lawyer Mai Fatty at EU , Brussels on Monday