Gambia’s opposition People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) has stressed the need to draw the right lessons from the recent riots in the UK. In a statement, PDOIS said drawing the right lessons would enable the political leadership in the world to know that 'this is the era of the people.”

In the statement, signed by Secretary General Halifa Sallah, the opposition party stressed the need for UK authorities to establish “commissions of enquiries and truth and reconciliation commissions which temper justice with mercy.”

“One should not speculate on the background of the rioters and their motives. One should find out the human beings behind the civil disobedience,” it said.

According to PDOIS, the political leaders in the UK should have utilised the incident “to defend the values of democracy and freedom”, by saying they (rioters) had the right to protest against the shooting of  Mark Duggan in a peaceful manner.

“This is an era to utilise all means at our disposal to nurture the type of sovereign citizens who would have their civil, political, economic, social, cultural and ecological rights defended, while defending that of others.

“It is only then that our societies, in particular, and the world, in general, will become a universal home where liberty and prosperity will reign for eternity,” PDOIS said.

Pana 22 Août 2011