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| President Jammeh |
The Government of the Gambia will from mid-next month start executing terrorists and anyone who is given a death sentence by the country's judiciary.
This was revealed Saturday by the country's president, Yahya Jammeh, during his annual televised Eid-ul Fitr message to the nation.
Mr Jammeh said the executions are necessary to curb crimes and terrorism looming as a threat to the country's stability.
"All punishment prescribed by the law will be maintained in the country to ensure that criminals get what they deserve, that is, those who killed are killed and those who deserve to be put away from the society are put away from the society in accordance with the law," he said.
"There is no way that my government would allow 99 % of the population to be held to ransom by criminals."
Mr Jammeh said he would be boosting and equipping the country's security forces and the judiciary system to ensure that all serious crimes face the full force of law.
He added that the main objective of his government is to create a peaceful, happy and crime free nation, where the standard of living will be excellent for all citizens.
This is not the 1st time Mr Jammeh has vowed to come down heavily on criminals and criminal activities in the country.
In April he told his ministers that he would never be fooled by any western country into repealing repressive Gambian laws such as the death penalty which he said were enacted into law by the Gambian parliament in the interest of Gambians.
Mr Jammeh whose government have been indicted over the years for lack of respect to the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law said the Gambia has a functioning democracy and his government will always act in accordance with laws made by Gambian lawmakers in the National Assembly.
"The laws of the Gambia will be passed by Gambians for the interest of Gambians and no one else, saying how the country enforced its laws or how the judiciary is carried out is nobody's business," he said.
"Today they would tell me the death penalty is inhumane and a degrading treatment but this is based on a judicial process. But what about somebody who sat in his home and decided that he doesn't like another person's face and takes that life off on his own and when this criminal is dealt according to the laws of this country to ensure our safety and every individual including that criminal, they say it is a violation of human rights. But we cannot be fooled."
Meanwhile, a JollofNews online opinion poll has found that a large percentage of readers are in support of the death penalty and do not want it to be abolished.
According to a month-long survey conducted by this online newspaper in which 2,238 readers took part at the time of filling this report, 2022 people representing 90.3 % say they strongly don't want the death penalty to be abolished in the country.
139 people representing 6.2 % say they strongly want the law to be abolished, while 50 people representing 2.2 % say they agree that it should be abolished.
21 people representing 0.9 % say they disagree while 6 people representing 0.3 say they are undecided whether the law should be abolished.
Source: Jollof News, August 19, 2012
Jammeh To Enforce Death Penalty In September!
In a lengthy rant while making a GRTS television appearance marking the Muslim feast Eid Saturday, Gambia's dictator Yaya Jammeh said his Government will enforce the death penalty in September. He said will start publicly executing murder and treason suspects. The statement was meant to intimidate would be coupists. The President said domestic crimes are becoming rampant in the Gambia and therefore he deems it necessary to set a drastic example so that perpetrators will pay a high price for their actions.
The country is faced with economic meltdown and lack of political stability. Jammeh blames the country's underdevelopment to crimes and other social vices, which he said must be stopped any means necessary.
Jammeh's 18 years rule is a failure to Gambians. He has time and time lied to Gambians about bettering their lives only for the nation to find out that he is only to line his pocket with donor funds that are meant for the poor country.
Many are skeptical about Jammeh's claims of enforcing the death penalty. A political commentator said: "Here is a desperate man talking. He has nothing to offer to Gambians. He now resorts issuing threats. Let him start with himself. Jammeh has killed an unimaginable number of Gambians since coming to power. Jammeh is the one killing Gambians and non Gambians. The Gambia cannot be peaceful as long as Jammeh remains as a President."
"He is bent on distracting Gambians by making such cheap claims. There is no doubt Amnesty and other rights groups will be occupied denouncing Jammeh's foolery. He wants to get attention. That's it."
Source: Freedom Newspaper, August 19, 2012