As the country commemorates the 19 anniversary of the April 10/11 brutal students’ crackdown by the government of former President Jammeh, the survivors have lamented about their plights.

The survivors have expressed their disappointment with the Barrow government for not adequately addressing their concerns and needs.

Abdou Karim Jammeh, a spokesman for the survivors group, said it was very disappointing that the Barrow government had not done anything for them after three years. “We expected more from Barrow because we knew that during Jammeh’s dictatorship we will never get justice.”

He urged the Barrow led Coalition government to reflect on their 2016 election campaign promises and deliver on them. He said the Coalition campaigned in their name and had pledged to right their wrongs and provide the adequate support for them to rebuild their shattered lives.

Jammeh said for the Coalition government not to deliver on their elections campaign promises was a real betrayal.

“We have been waiting for 19 years and until today; no justice is yet to be served for us.”

He alleged that the Turkish Embassy in Banjul once promised to provide medical help, accommodation and visa for five of the worst affected survivors in Turkey but the government refused to pay for their air tickets.

Jammeh said since the incident in 2000, life had been very hard for them, adding that they could not complete their education, suffered life changing injuries and poor health with limited and no job opportunities.

He called on the government to take care of survivors’ needs particularly their health.

Jammeh described the student’s crackdown as one of the darkest days of the country’s history and called on the government to make the day a national holiday or school holiday. “It is a sad day for students of the country.”

Mustapha Kah, youth commissioner at the TRRC said the TRRC was very concern about survivors plight, and assured them that the TRRC will not pass their recommendations without looking at what best serve the interest of survivors.

He described the incident as a horrific day that affected young people. He noted the TRRC’s ‘Never Again Campaign’ was to ensure dictatorship or the 2000 students’ crackdown never happen again in The Gambia.