Posted by By Bekai Njie
The Association of Non-Government Organisation (Tango) on Today at a policy dialogue series, said it wants an effective, transparent and accountable transitional justice in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC).
The policy dialogue, according to Tango’s program manager Madi Jobarteh, aims to discuss ways and means of how CSOs can work with the TRRC to ensure its legitimacy, credibility and efficiency. CSOs he stated, wish to hold TRRC and the Government accountable to ensure that no issue or victim or perpetrator is left out or ignored or unfairly treated in the pursuit of justice. “We wish to see that the recommendations of the TRRC are fully implemented. We are determined to make the TRRC and the entire transitional justice process a success that enables the country transition to real democracy.”
Photo Credit: Madi Jobarteh
Jobarteh added that their roles as Civil Society Organisation (CSO) is to give the necessary support in terms of ideas to ensure that legal institutional reforms take place, as well as to ensure that TRRC does not neglect or ignore any victim, adding that the TRRC process is very fundamental to their future.
He further called the participants of the civil society organisations to participate in bringing their ideas so as to provide the necessary things required to ensure that all citizens participate in the TRRC, which he said, would help them have a TRRC that is honest, efficient and transparent.
As a civil society organisation, he said, they have a fundamental role to in the operations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC), noting that the TRRC is an institution that seeks to see justice take place as well as putting necessary reforms.
Ousman Yabo, the executive director of Tango, said that the reason for organising the forum was to engage the civil society organisations on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC), adding that this was a very important forum in the country.
He further pointed out that the outcome of the TRRC would affect every individual in the Gambia; directly or indirectly.
TRRC’s executive secretary, Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow, said that the first thing that came to their minds after the TRRC was being setup, was to reach out to Tango and civil society organisations, noting it is important to have a national conversation with the CSO’s to engage on how best to prevent dictatorship.
“We do this because we cannot do it alone, and that is why we contacted Tango; because the civil society organisations have a big role to play.”
The forum brought together civil society organisations, TRRC representatives and the media personnel.