The Black April Students’ Unrest in The Gambia

Öz

Two isolated incidents in The Gambia spurred a student demonstration on April 10, and 11, 2000. The Gambia Students’ Union felt the government handled the issues which involve their members nonchalantly. The student body’s futile attempt to engage the government to redress the grievances compelled its members to vent their anger in the streets against a society they felt treated their colleagues unjustly. Government’s highhanded reaction escalated the demonstration to a full-blown riot that resulted in unprecedented casualties. Through qualitative method, the undercurrents which propelled the highhanded measures in quashing the riot constitutes the subject of this paper. It also questions, within the legal framework of Vicarious Liability and with the application of Karl Marx Conflict Theory, the motives propping the recommended punitive measures against some key law enforcement officers, a decision for which the conclusion of the article recommended adjudication. Viewed against the background of the protracted inherent security situation of the country, the article examines the entrenched causes of the riot received attention. In conclusion, the underlying causes is ascribed to social conflict instigated by class struggle in the politically polarized society.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• The Gambia
• Students'Riot
• Security
• Conflict Theory
• Vicarious Liability

Kara Nisan Öğrencilerinin Gambiya'daki Gösterisi

Öz

Gambiya'da münferit iki olay, 10 ve 11 Nisan 2000'de bir öğrenci gösterisine yol açtı. Gambiya Öğrenci Birliği, hükümetin üyelerini ilgilendiren sorunları soğukkanlılıkla ele aldığını hissetti. Öğrenci birliğinin, şikayetleri gidermek için hükümeti devreye sokmaya yönelik beyhude girişimi, üyelerini, meslektaşlarına haksız davranıldığını düşündükleri bir topluma karşı öfkelerini sokaklarda dile getirmeye zorladı. Hükümetin sert tepkisi, gösteriyi eşi benzeri görülmemiş kayıplarla sonuçlanan tam bir isyana yükseltti. Nitel yöntemle, isyanı bastırmak için sert önlemleri iten gizli akımlar bu makalenin konusunu oluşturmaktadır. Ayrıca, Dolaylı Sorumluluğun yasal çerçevesi içinde ve Karl Marx Çatışma Teorisi'nin uygulanmasıyla, bazı kilit kolluk görevlilerine karşı önerilen cezai tedbirleri destekleyen saikleri sorgulamaktadır; Ülkenin uzun süredir devam eden doğal güvenlik durumunun arka planına bakıldığında, isyanın yerleşik nedenlerini inceleyen makale dikkat çekti. Sonuç olarak, altta yatan nedenler, siyasi olarak kutuplaşmış toplumdaki sınıf mücadelesinin kışkırttığı toplumsal çatışmaya atfedilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• The Gambia
• Students' Riot
• Security
• Conflict Theory
• Vicarious Liability

Kaynakça

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