Gambiaj.com – (KANIFING, The Gambia) – At least six members of the pressure group Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) were arrested by officers of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) at the Westfield Youth Monument on Friday afternoon while preparing to commemorate the movement’s first anniversary.
Those arrested include Omar Camara, Hakeem Touray, Abdoulie T. Bah, Kaddy Kuyateh, Kexx Sanneh, and Omar “Revolutionist” Sanyang.
The arrests reportedly took place less than an hour after a dispute emerged over whether the group had obtained police clearance for the gathering.
According to information shared by GALA members, the movement had earlier submitted a request to the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) and obtained the authorization to use the Westfield Youth Monument for the anniversary event and had allegedly received approval. However, police officers later arrived at the venue claiming the group did not possess a permit.
Witnesses said PIU officers subsequently intervened during discussions at the venue and detained the activists before taking them to the Kairaba Police Station.
The arrests quickly triggered reactions from rights groups, with the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice strongly condemning the police action.
In a statement issued shortly after the arrests, the organization said it had learned that several executive members of GALA, including leader Hakeem Touray, Omar Saibo Camara, Kexx Sanneh, Omar Sanyang, and Baboucarr Nani Sey, had been detained.
EFSCRJ argued that the Westfield Youth Monument is a public venue managed by KMC and that its use does not require police permission beyond payment or approval from the council.
“The actions of the police are therefore unlawful and constitute a blatant violation of the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and association,” the rights group stated.
The organization further warned that such actions undermine democratic governance and the rule of law in the country.
EFSCRJ called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all detained GALA members and urged the police to respect constitutional rights and freedoms.
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