By Sheriff Saidykhan
Over two decades, the April 10/11 2000 student massacre still paints a dark memory of the gross human rights violations committed during Jammeh era.
Sainey Senghore, President of the April 10/11 memorial foundation recounted his ordeal as a victim of the student massacre.
‘I am a survivor of April 10/11 2000 students demonstration. I was one of the students who was shot on April 11. I was gunshot on my leg which took five months before I was discharged from the hospital. I went through multiple surgeries. My operation was not successful, and I was recommended for overseas treatment. I was taken to Egypt for my overseas investment.
He made these remarks on Thursday at the capacity building training for Youth and Media Engagement on Transitional Justice and Social Cohesion in The Gambia.
The training, organised by Women’s Association for Women and Victimsʼ Empowerment brought together Journalists to effectively report on the transitional justice process of the TRRC.
He said after twenty years, victims are still demanding justice.
“Things have not been going good. Some of the victims were tortured, and fourteen students lost their lives. Some were gun shot. We also have victims that needed medical assistance. So we expect government to facilitate their treatment either in Gambia or overseas.” he said.
He added that victims have put forward recommendations key among which, is to recognize April 10/11 as national holiday and to name Jimpex road as a reminder of the students massacre.
“We put forward our recommendations key among which is to recognize April 10/11 as a national or school holiday
We also recommended for Jimpex road to be name after April 10/11 avenue. Because number of students were killed around the Jimpex road.”.
