Leaders of ‘Three Years Jotna’ Charged with 3 Counts

The police have charged eight leaders of the ‘Three Years Jotna’ movement on Wednesday in their first day appearance before the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.

In the charge sheet, Abdou Njie, who is the chairman of the movement along with seven others, including Ebrima Kitim Jarju, Sheriffo Sonko, Hagi Suwaneh, Fanta Mballow, Karim Touray, Yankuba Darboe and Muctarr Ceesay were charged with three counts of unlawful assembly, rioting after proclamation, rioters demolishing structures.

At this minute, there is push and pull between lawyers and the police prosecutors over the jurisdiction at which the matter should be heard considering that riot could carry live sentence- meaning it should be transferred to the high court. The Chronicle will give an update once the ruling in court is given. Their pleas were not taken due to the same reason of jurisdiction.

On the 26^th of January, a violence marred the protest at Sting Corner which saw several people sustained serious injuries from the police tear gas and stone throws from the protesters. It was later confirmed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that 137 people were arrested and detained following the protest including four journalists who were subsequently released on Tuesday.

The Chronicle also understands that some protesters were unconditionally released by the police though more are still under detention.

‘Three Years Jotna’ is a pressure group that stands for the enforcement of the president’s campaign promise of serving only three years if elected into office back in 2016. January 19^th 2020 marked exactly 3 years since he took over from the 22-year-old ruler Yahya Jammeh following a disputed December 1^st election.

However, President Adama Barrow has since made it clear that he will instead decide based on Constitution which mandates him to serve 5 years and not the agreement he signed up to with his eight coalition stakeholders.