Guest of the Sunday jury on IRADIO and ITV, Seydi Gassama, executive director of Amnesty International Senegal, has recognized notable progress while respecting rights and freedoms, in particular in matters of freedom to demonstrate. However, he pleaded for more compromise between authorities, political actors and civil society in order to guarantee the effective exercise of these rights.
According to him, the administrative authorities, in particular the prefects, are increasingly tending to supervise the demonstrations as soon as they are legally declared. As an example, he cites the difficulties encountered in Dakar, where the commissioning of the Rapid Transit (BRT) bus modifies the situation. “The BRT crosses the main axes where we used to demonstrate, like the boulevards Mamadou Dia and Bourguiba or the place of the nation, which is no longer suitable. The prefect believes that a weekly demonstration could block traffic between Dakar and Guédiawaye. On this point, we agree with him, “he said.
Seydi Gassama thus calls for political parties, unions and civil society organizations to be flexible and seek agreements for the organization of demonstrations.
On freedom of expression, the human rights activist is more concerned. He deplores the frequency of legal proceedings for defamation or dissemination of false news, often initiated by self-saisine of the prosecutor. “The Minister of Justice remains responsible for criminal policy in this country. Pending reforms to better protect democratic freedoms, these prosecution must be limited to cases of serious disturbances to public order, “he said.
For Seydi Gassama, Senegalese democracy would benefit from favoring the protection of fundamental freedoms, while encouraging a climate of dialogue and tolerance.
