The Gambia, Africa's smallest country,celebrates 44 years of independence from British colonial rule Wednesday. After surviving an earlierattempted coup in 1981, founding father Sir Dawda Jawara was overthrown in 1994by Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh. In an editorial, the government-run Daily Observernewspaper says independence brought an end to colonial domination.
Butopposition leader Ousainu Darbo told VOA that whileGambians should celebrate their freedom from colonial rule, their country underYahya Jammeh remains a virtual police state.
"Gambianshave reason to celebrate independence on Wednesday, 18 February because if fornothing, it remains the day that we severed our connection with the British andtook charge of the running of the affairs of The Gambia by ourselves. It isalso a day on which every Gambian should rededicate himself to ensuring thatthis is taking to higher heights," he said.
ButDarbo said when it comes to political dispensation, there is very little Gambiansshould celebrate on this their 44 independence anniversary.
"Thedemocracy that is now being practiced is not what the founding fathers of thisnation had anticipated and it's not what the founding fathers had envisionedfor the country. The country is really under dictatorship; it's a virtualpolice state. No one feels secured about his freedom; no one knows when lawswill be changed to suit particular situation; the courts gave out orders andthe orders are disregarded. I hope that Gambians today (Wednesday) will rethinkthe situation in the country and make a decision in order to change thatsituation," Darbo said.
Herejected any notion that there is some semblance of political freedom in TheGambia, including freedom of speech.
"Thefact that I as a political party leader am able to express my viewsparticularly on the VOA doesn't mean that there is freedom of expression. WhatI'm doing on your media I cannot do it on Radio Gambia or on GambianTelevision. So there is no freedom of the press in this country. Currently youhave the editor of The Point newspaper being tried for publishing stories abouta Gambian diplomat who was arrested and detained in the Central Prison," hesaid.
Darboalso said Gambians are having a tough time economically, particularly thecountry's farmers.
"Thesituation in the country is very deplorable. The farming season, we had a goodrain last year, but then the main crop, that is groundnut we have not gotmarket for it. The farmers who constitute 75 percent of the Gambian workforcehave remained unpaid for their labor. Of course, we've been very dependent onremittances from abroad. And as you know the (economic) situation in the UnitedStates and in Europe is such that those Gambians who are living and remit fundsto The Gambia are no longer in a position to do as they were doing," Darbosaid.
Hecriticized the Jammeh government for what he called remaining insensitive tothe plight of the Gambian people.
"Thegovernment, personified by President Jammeh, who is now called ProfessorJammeh, is engaged in wasteful spending in areas that do not deserve suchattention. It is difficult for the majority of Gambians to put food on thetable for their families. This is the situation in which we are," he said.
Darborejected the criticism that the Gambian political opposition has given Gambiansno alternative all because of its polarizing tendency.
"Ido not think that is a valid criticism. The fact that we have many oppositionpolitical parties in the country doesn't mean that the opposition is divided.After all the more you have opposition political parties the wider the rangefor The Gambians to make choice be that for president or for the nationalassembly," Darbo said.