Use of tear gas is excessive force ! 

The Gambia’s Police High Command has adopted the use of tear gas or lachrymatory agents to disperse a crowd that could be protesting or rioting. I am perturbed and absolutely livid by use of these chemicals by The Gambia’s Police Intervention Unit (PIU) in Brikama Market area on Monday, June 10, 2024. 

This was a brazen and callous attack on the population majority of whom were hardworking women who darn to feed their families under very difficult circumstances. 

It’s abhorrent, despicable  and barbaric to use tear gas to disperse defenseless citizens whose only crime was to campout in a comfortable and serene commercial environment to fetch a living for their families. 

The lord knows these women in Brikama market don’t make anywhere near the 12 million Dalasi per vehicle contract cabal group. Why tear gas these poor women.... trouble me to the core ! 

Use of tear gas in interstate warfare, as with all other chemical weapons, was prohibited by the Geneva Protocol of 1925. In 1925, at the initiative of the U.S. government, a diplomatic conference was called in Geneva, and a multinational protocol was negotiated and signed by most states prohibiting the use of poison and biological weapons in war. 

The Gambia’s Police High Command must take note that these chemical weapons must not be used in war. If you cannot use them in war, why use them in BRIKAMA MARKET, HOSPITAL & AREA COUNCIL ZONE, Mr INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE ? 

The police must upend the use of tear gas to disperse peaceful demonstrators in quest for their legitimate grievances. 

Where are The Gambia’s Semester Politicians who are on Sabbaticals until 2026 presidential campaign season? The opposition is worse ... I swear. You see the likes of Journalist Pa Modou Bojang in the frontlines these days while the opposition is watching events afar! For the presidency of The Republic of The Gambia, you wave the white towel if you don’t carry West Coast Region as per 1997 Constitution :):) Hahahaha 

Accounts reaching me, Chairman Yangkuba Darboe of BAC, who is synonymous with defiance, heroism, magnanimity ..... suffered from the tear gas assault by the PIU along with dozens of local market vendors. My condemnation of this dastardly act, is total ! 

I’ll join the coalition of the willing to initiate a class action lawsuit at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Brikama tear gas victims.

Musa Bassadi Jawara