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Gambia: Demolition Exercise Leaves Several People Homeless
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FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
25 April 2008
Posted to the web 25 April 2008
Saikou Ceesay
More than one hundred residents of Busumbala were, on Wednesday, 23 April, left homeless, following a demolition exercise, which was carried out by agents working for the State.
A distraught family head, Ansumana Kinteh, who spoke to this reporter, said he and his family slept under a mango tree. He indicated that he lost the bulk of his belongings during the demolition exercise. Mr. Kinteh narrated that on that fateful night his family cried the whole night due to the ordeal they were subjected to. "I have no where to go and reside" said 43 years old Ansumana Kinteh.
Speaking to this reporter, another victim, Fatoumatta Bah, a widow, said she was approached by men who came with caterpillars and accompanied by security officers and they asked her to evacuate her residence. She alleged that they never received any notice from the authorities. She said that if they had received notice, they would have resettled elsewhere before the forceful eviction. "We doubt if there is any law in this country", she questioned.
A renowned Gambian artist, Jali Nyama Jobarteh, was among the victims affected by this demolition exercise. She disclosed that the money she gained from her artistic profession was what she used to build her house. She said that she has spent more than D300,000 to build the house. Jali Nyama told this reporter that the PIU personnel and police officers just descended on the area and forced them to abruptly leave their homes. She explained that these security men went to the extent of throwing out some of their belongings from their houses. She said that the situation is frustrating and disheartening and describing the practice as inhuman.
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One Yusupha Marong, also a victim, was crying bitterly and saying that all the money he spent on constructing the house has gone in vain. He said that he is desperate, frustrated and hopeless.
Any dishearten n heartfell gov,t who inturn claim 2 be protecting there citizen doesn,t deserve 2 be in power n my this advice goes 2 my fellow gambian, inorder 4 them open there eye n wake up 2 d brutalidad 2 this present regime.as d saying goes ie charity begin at home, ie 2 say any citizen first has d right 2 fight 4 his o her democratic right, b4 d outsider would come in 2 your help.eg d case of tibetian in china.
THIS KIND HOME LEE IS NOT GOOD TO THE COUNTRY, IT CAN BRING COMPLETE TO THE COUNTRY.THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THIS LET THEM STOP IT, THIS THING IS NOT GOOD.HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO FAMILY WHO HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.I AM BEGGING THE PEOPLE OF THE GAMBIA TO STOP HELPING THIS KIND OF PEOPLE TO DO THIS KIND OF THINGS.
What a demolition exercise is that going in this poor country again? Civic education is still much more needed in this gambia. I don't know much about your military degree or what ever legislation passed by the parliament before this regim. I know that even in the developed countries people are reminded about certain constrains of the the government every here and then especially land acquisition; a mighty investment for the developing society where the government and private property cannot be easily differentiated. Government people please improve our standard of living in the aspect of land ownership. We are tired... [Read Full Text]
This is an absolute shame. I beleive that a government that is being elected by the people should as a matter of must, be serving the peoples' interest but unfortunately this is not the case. What was the demolition exercise all about anyway and who ordered for it? As the article did not state. But whatever the case i think it would have been best to inform those affected well in advance as to give the enough time for them to resettle else where rather. What an obsolete manner of adressing issues, well it don't doubt me at all. I... [Read Full Text]
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