Charity begins at home

by PK Jarju


When President Jammeh spoke of Gaza being an open prison, it seems that he has forgotten the deplorable conditions Gambians are living in. The Jammeh regime has transformed our God blessed country into a jungle where only the fittest survive.


The rights of Gambians are seized and their hands are tied behind their backs by a regime that claimed to have their interest at heart. While Jammeh dresses and portray himself as the most godly Gambian, ready to die in defense of Islam, the way he governs the country and acts to Gambians is very very unIslamic.

Before ranting about Israel, it was first expected of Jammeh to take a look at himself and his regime first. If Israel can be guilty of killing people who blow up its citizens or fire rockets into its towns and cities in the name of national security, then what about Jammeh? Is he completely innocent of the murder, arrest, torture and disappearances of his political opponents and critics? Hell no.

Since coming to power in 1994, the Jammeh regime has committed gross human rights abuses against innocent Gambians it has sworn to protect. Utter disregard for the rule of law and of democracy have led to a situation of uncertainty.

A torrent of arrests, sudden disappearances have left Gambians today more confused by the uncertain direction of a revolution which is supposedly guided by President Jammeh in his "wisdom and magnanimity as the saviour of The Gambia".

Gambians are today under the mercy of home grown terrorists who kill, arrest and torture political opponents and critics of the regime with impunity. With the full backing of Jammeh himself, these terrorists regard political opponents and critics of the regime as enemies who deserved to be buried six-feet deep.

And as a result, the bodies of many young Gambians are today decomposing in marked and unmarked graves across the country. Their lives have been cut short because they got the balls to oppose a dictatorial regime.

While Israel is guilty of killing armed Palestinians Muslims in most cases, fighting for freedom, in the other hand, Jammeh is guilty of killing unarmed Gambians Muslims who only demand for the full restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the country.

Gambians are today living in fear wondering who is next on the wanted list. A mere bust of car tyre at night sends children scrambling under the beds while the mere mention of the name NIA frightens the hell out of you.

Gambians cannot speak out in the street without looking around to see who is listening. The lives of many journalists have been torn apart by the regime simply because they write what the men in Quadrangle never want to hear.

The recent kidnap attempt on Yahya Dampha in Senegal shows how insecure journalists are. They are not even safe from the clutches of these terrorists even when living in neighbouring countries.

What sort of a Muslim is he who ordered the brutal murder of innocent school children on April 10 and 11 2000 and still continue to deny justice to their families?

How can a Muslim leader under whose command many women have been made widows, children fatherless and parent childless admonished the Muslim world to follow the teachings of the Qur'an? Oh! It is the do as I say and not as I do theory?

Jammeh has to stop acting like water that takes the shape and colour of its container. Muslims are expected to be truthful and honest. A true Muslim don't swear by the Quran and act differently. A true Muslim does not give promises and fails to fulfill them.

Jammeh cannot clamour for justice for the Palestinian people while the oppressed Gambian people are denied justice. He is tearing the entire fabric of our society apart and his continuous denial of justice to the victims of April 10 and 11 2000 is deepening the wounds of their families.

The Muslim ummah will only unite if Muslim leaders like Jammeh respect the rights and freedoms of their citizenry. Peace and tranquility will also rain in the ummah if the likes of Jammeh see them as representatives of the people and not gods who are to be worshipped.

As part of write ups on April 10 and 11, 2000, I hereby reproduced a report by the Gambia Students' Union (Gamsu) into the death of Ebrima Barry whose death sparked demonstration in which over a dozen peaceful protesters were killed.

Gamsu's investigation into the death of Ebrima Barry

As the Information Minister of the Gambia College Students' Sub-union [Alhagie Camara] who along side other GAMSU (Gambia Students' Union) officials, particularly the vice president of the Union, Alajie S. Darboe, were closely following the result of the death of Ebrima Barry since it happened on 9 March 2000. It is based on this that we had gathered enough information as to what had happened since day one when violence erupted between the deceased and his teacher at Foster's Vocational Training Centre.

On March 13, 2000, a five person delegation from the Gambia College, on behalf of GAMSU, visited the school which the deceased was attending. We addressed the students on matters of discipline and obedience, as well as the role of the school administration in handling disciplinary matters and not handing down such cases to the wrong agents in order not to repeat another Ebrima Barry's case.

After which proceeding we were brought three witness statement forms from the Brikama Police Station by one CID Officer in order to take down the witness statements from among the deceased class mates. All the interviews conducted with the Ebrima's class mates revealed the same story. Three were selected. Thus, one of the witnesses stated that:

"It was on Tuesday, March 7, 2000 when I and the late Ebrima were sitting on the same bench at the back of the class when Mr. Paul, the Commerce teacher, entered the class and instructed us to get seated in front of the class, which we did.

But upon doing so, Ebrima was still instructed to change position to another seat where the sun rays have their reflection. Ebrima insisted on not going to that particular seat and complained of the sun rays reflecting there.

Meanwhile, a heated debate erupted between Ebrima and the teacher which later resulted to the teacher scolding Ebrima. When Ebrima also scolded back, he quickly gave the teacher a hard punch on the face; thus a fight broke out. Then they were separated and Ebrima came back attacking and insulting. He was then calmed down and he went home.

Subsequently, the following day Ebrima was in class when Mr. Adjhao, the Senior Master, went to report the matter to the Fire Station from where he appeared with a Fire officer before the class and went away with Ebrima...."

THE SENIOR TEACHER WHO REPORTED THE MATTER TO THE FIRE STATION

Mr. Adjhao is the senior teacher responsible for the school. He confirmed that he did report the matter to the Fire Station, but with the intention that the officer will only witness the handing down of a suspension letter to Ebrima and escort him out of the school premises and nothing more than that.

He further attested that Ebrima came back to the school that very day with the father, the Fire officer and another old man in a bid to plead on behalf of Ebrima.

"I accepted their apology and assured the father that Ebrima could now come to school after the Tobaski prayer. This was the last time when I last saw Ebrima until on Thursday when I heard of his death", remarked the sobbing and regretful senior master.

MISS CAMARA - EBRIMA'S CLASS TEACHER

"Well, Ebrima was an average student, but could have been more than that if he always applied himself. Above all, Ebrima was very watchful in class and did actively take part in class discussions but at times he would just listen rather than participate. Ebrima is also very regular in school."

THE DECEASED FATHER - ALIEU BARRY

"I will not say what I do not know about this incident, nor will I exaggerate the story on that ground that they killed my son. I was never aware of Ebrima having such a problem at the school with his teacher.

I only came to know about it on Wednesday, March 8 at the market when he [Ebrima] and a Fire officer came to me. I was asked by the Fire officer to go along with them to the Fire Station upon the orders of his boss.

Upon arrival, I was told that my son had no discipline; that he fought with his teachers and therefore was suspended from school. Then I said to the Fire officer to escort me back to the school to plead with the master concerned over the issue.

"At the school, I pleaded and apologised on Ebrima's behalf for him to be forgiven. I succeeded in doing so and I was assured that he would be accepted back in school, but only after the Tobaski prayer. I went back to the Fire Station to put to them that I had now settled the matter with the senior master. But surprisingly,I was told that Ebrima had to stay with them and be disciplined.

"In fact, we will shave his hair without massaging water on his head," one of them remarked. So, I thought may be they were only threatening him in order for him not to misbehave in school any more. Thus I left Ebrima with them and went to the market."

Later in the evening, on the same day, I reached home only to be informed that Ebrima was reported to have been in the Brikama Health Centre where it was claimed that he would not be attended to by a nurse without me being present.

I quickly went to the Health Centre and found Ebrima bending over the stomach complaining of severe general body pain. He was then prescribed medication and asked to report the following day.

Throughout the night, he could not sleep. He had a sleepless night and he told me that he was beaten mercilessly, shaved and water poured with water. The following morning, Thursday 9 March, I left for the market. But upon arrival at the market, I was told to go back home because Ebrima's condition had aggravated.

On my way back home, I met an escorting vehicle on the way taking Ebrima to the Health Centre and they stopped me. Upon getting into the vehicle, I found Ebrima lying dead, but they did not disclose it to the people there.

Quietly, we arrived at the Health Centre where the doctor performed a test on him after which Ebrima was declared dead. Thus the dead body was referred to the RVH for post-mortem."

"Reaction of the Gambia College

Upon hearing the news, we (students at the college) all felt bad about it. The tragedy was a sad and shocking state of affair that lured the bodies of the entire students.

We were all sympathetic over the death of a colleague and we felt that as a family, immediate and quick action needed to be taken against those responsible for this barbaric and inhumane act.

"They must be brought to justice, for justice knows neither citizen nor policeman and justice delayed is justice denied totally", remarked one student.

Apparently, we knew that investigations were on but we also knew for certain that no arrest in connection with the death had been effected, which really frustrated and got into our nerves. Also, we did perceive that the word justice is one of the misused words in our day which is battered beyond recognition, distorted and mutilated and above all justice at times as applied in our midst is ridiculed by members of the law enforcement agents.

Thus, all these factors put together prompted and warranted us, as a family, to cry out louder for justice to prevail and to take to the streets of Brikama way down to the Commissioner's Office peacefully in our large numbers on Wednesday, March 22.

This was also in line with the raping of a 13-year old school girl from Brikamaba Junior Secondary School, who represented her school in the Inter-Schools Sports Competition two weeks ago by an unknown paramilitary officer.

During the march pass, we went as a body to extend our condolence to the bereaved family and on our way back to the College, we had an ordeal with officers of Brikama Fire and Ambulance Service where they (the officers) started the stoning which later turned to raining down of stones from both ends and in the process one of the fire ambulances' windscreen was smashed to pieces.

Soon after this encounter we (the students) had a closed door meeting in the Principal's Office which was filled with a high powered delegation from the Department of State for Education. Among them was the Permanent Secretary and some security personnel from almost all its branches. They included Landing 13 Badjie - the commander of the Serious Crime Unit; intelligence officers from the President's Office; police detectives and CID personnel; the commissioner of Western Division; the Chief of Kombo Central and the Principal Education Officer for Region 2.

During the meeting, 13 Badjie said: "I do not blame you (the students) much since you should have been informed of the latest development as to how far we have gone into the issue, and I am not here to tell you sweet words but the hard fact and not because the situation at hand is tense." We were advised and assured of justice taking its right course.

Besides, I was given a copy of the post-mortem (autopsy) report on Ebrima Barry.

Post-Mortem Report On Ebrima Barry

"On the instructions of the Coroner of BRIKAMA, the undersigned on this day carried out a Post-Mortem examination within the mortuary of this institution on the body of EBRIMA BARRY which was identified in my presence by the following persons:
1. Saikou Barry - uncle of Brikama Perseverance;
2. Kebba Barry - Brother of Brikama Perseverance.
Present at the identification was 1ST CC 448 KALILU BOJANG - BRIKAMA POLICESTATION.
"My findings are as follows:-

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

The body is that of an average build African male of 25 years. It is well preserved and well nourished. No trace and evidence of beating in the external examination were found.

INTERNAL EXAMINATION

At the opening the thoracic cavity many abnormalities of the heart vessel greats and mediastinum were found. All the structures were found in the normal anatomic position. Into the trachea and bronchial lumen were found aereate secretion. In the inspection and examination of the lungs were found that both were increased in size and weight and edema were present. The right lung showed a bigger area of the infarct located in the middle lobe and in the base with severe harmorrhage necrosis.

ABDOMINAL CAVITY

LIVER - Increased in size and weight with fatty liver appearance.
SPLEEN - Normal
PANCREAS - Normal
INTESTINE - Normal
KIDNEYS - Normal
REST - Normal.

CRANIAL CAVITIES

The scalp is normal, all the skull bones are normal. No fracture are seen. The suture line of skull were very carefully examined. The brain was normal only showed mild edema and congestion. No abnormalities that has relationship with trauma was found.

CONCLUSIONS

CAUSE OF DEATH-Infarct of the right lung located in the middle lobe and base with severe harmorrhagic necrosis. Severe edema of both lungs.Acute respiratory insufficienceHepatic estaetosis.

DR RAFAEL RIZO
HISTOPATHOLOGIST
RVH.

You liars

by PK Jarju

The Gambia Government was lying in its Tuesday's Press Release issued by the disgraced secretary of state for Communications and Information Technology, Neneh Macdoul-Gaye, in connection with the gruesome murder of Ghanaian immigrants in the country in July 2005. And it is not surprising to see a government that has a reputation of distorting facts shamelessly stating that the only eight mutilated bodies were found littered in the beeches of Brufut and Ghana Town and not 44.


What I can state here is that, over 40 mutilated bodies were discovered in July 2005 in the coastal fishing villages of Brufut/Ghana Town and until now, no progress has been made in the investigations pertaining to the murders.


Following the discovery of the bodies, the Gambia Government, which is being accused of carrying out the killings of the Ghanaians whom it suspected of trying to distabilised the country banned the state radio and television from reporting the case. Even the Daily Observer, which is owned by President Jammeh was very reluctant to published the story. It was only The Point, Foroyaa, The Independent and some online Gambian newspapers including AllGambian that reported the case.


Looking at the sensitivity of the story, one would have expected the Jammeh regime to have acted swiftly in trying to find and punish the perpetrators of this barbaric crime. But instead, the government dragged its feet and it is still continuing to drag its feet in the case. Investigations started only eight months after the incident but it went ice cold just after it started because of the unwillingness of the Jammeh regime to cooperate with the team of Ghanaian investigators. And all those who have been accused of having a hand in the killings were never questioned by the police. The men were all big fish who have all been rewarded with high government positions.

In a bid to let the public know who is telling the truth and lies, I hereby reproduced the government press release and a report presented at the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Commission of Human and People's Right by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative regarding the gruesome murder of the Ghanaian immigrants.

Government press release

"It could be confirmed that in July 2005 eight bodies were found in the vicinity of Brufut/Ghana Town and not 44 bodies as reported.

Furthermore the nationalities of the dead bodies are not known.It could also be recalled that immediately after the discovery of the bodies, a press release from the Department of State for The Interior was issued inviting the public to assist in identifying the said bodies and any other pertinent information.

Furthermore a post-mortem was conducted on each of the eight bodies, the results of which were shared with the Ghanaian delegation that visited the Gambia on the matter. The claims that they were suspected coup plotters hence the killing are utterly false.

The Gambia is known for its peace and stability. Similarly, foreigners have always enjoyed freedom and peace in this country. Ghanaians have been residing in The Gambia for the past 50 years to the point of having their own dedicated town.

This unfortunate incident is equally a great concern to the Gambian authorities. Investigations are still on going and The Gambia and Ghana have agreed to have a joint international investigation committee to further investigate the matter."

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative statement

"This case arose while a group of approximately 50 African immigrants were traveling en route from Senegal to Europe when they were arrested by the Gambian immigration officials.

The immigrants were last seen alive amongst various Gambian authorities, namely the Gambian Navy and the Gambian Police. According to reports, the remains of these immigrants were found littered throughout the Gambian coastal villages of Brufut and Ghana Town.

The" most comprehensive story came from a top Gambian official who wished to speak out against his govemmenfs actions. His story was that on July 23rd 2005 a group of 50 men, 44 of whom were Ghanaian, were intercepted in the waters off The Gambia while on their way to Europe and taken to the Naval Headquarters in Banjul.

Subsequently, the men were divided into groups of 8 and taken to a killing site in the farms of Siffoe in Gambia's Western Division, under the command of Major Ousman Sonko, Colonel Ndure Cham and Major Ousman Badjie. Once at·the fields, the State House men killed the detainees using machetes, axes, knives, sticks and other sharp objects.

The bodies were then indiscriminately dumped at various locations, among them the village of Brufut near Siffoe.On March 1st 2006 an investigtion into this incident was launched by the Ghanaian and Gambian governments, to be led by Nana Addo Dankwa AkufoAddo, the Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On March 14th 2006, Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghana's Foreign Minister said that it was proving difficult to conduct investigations in The Gambia due to the nature of the incidents and the circumstances under which they occurred, but" that both the Ghanaian and Gambian governments were investigating several locations and would soon come out on the matter.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana has confirmed in a letter to Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative dated 15th January 2007, that he, with instructions from the President of Ghana, led a team of Ghanaian officials to Banjul from 7th to 9th August, 2005 on a mission to seek audience with the Gambian government on the matter.

He said it was agreed that the two countries form a joint investigative team to spearhead the investigations regarding the deaths and disappearances of the approximately 50 African Immigrants.He said a seven-member Ghanaian investigative team later visited The Gambia from 19th - 28th January, 2006, during which time discussions were held with the Gambian officials to define the terms of reference and framework for the investigative team. It was also agreed that the joint investigation would commence on March 1, 2006.

The Minister continued that in a frustrating turn of events, it was later revealed. that the Gambian officials were not prepared to allow the investigation to proceed in Banjul but rather informed the Ghanaian team to conduct the investigations from Dakar contrary to the agreed terms.The Ghanaian team with the assistance of the Senegalese authorities proceeded with the investigations from Dakar from 10th - 18th March, 2006.

On 19th March, 2006 the Ghanaian team managed to visit Banjul until 25th March but never received any audience from the Gambian authorities save for a message from the Gambian Foreign Ministry through the Ghana Honorary Consul stating a series of reasons justifying the inability of the Gambian authorities to fulfilling their commitment including among others the absence of President Jammeh from Banjul.

The Minister said in his letter that after numerous requests to the Gambian authorities to revive the investigative work were ignored, it was later decided by the Ghanaian authorities to conclude the investigations in December, 2006.

The government of Ghana has observed that as a result of the uncooperative attitude of its Gambian counterparts, the attempts. to conduct a thorough investigation relating to this incident- have thereby failed.To date, there has not been any report on the incident and thus the true facts surrounding the incident still remain unknown to the families of these victims and . to the public at large."

Reading the two above press statements, it is clear that the Jammeh regime is far from being honest and its continuous reluctance to help the Ghanaian investigators to get to the root of the case can only mean one thing. It is responsible for the extra judicial killing of these innocent immigrants who were nursing the ambition of carving a better life for themselves in Europe and their families.

With regard to the Daily Observer's editorial on the same subject matter captioned Shame on You, it is not surprising to see a newspaper which is owned by President Jammeh coming to his defense. If the men at the Observer can be so dumb to believe in anything the government says, the Gambian people are not. They have for the past years learned not to believe in anything the government says. Its nothing but lies.

Take for instance, in January 2000, the government accused Lt. Landing Sanneh of throwing a grenade and firing at soldiers who came to arrest him in connection with an alledge coup plot, when eyewitness accounts stated the opposite. In the same press release it stated that Lt. Almamo Manneh was killed in a shot out along the Banjul-Serrekunda highway when he was actually killed at State House. In April 2001, government accused the unarmed student demonstrators of starting the shooting that killed over a dozen people when in actual fact it was the security officers on the ground. Again in 1995 it alleged Koro Ceesay died in a freak car accident when the guy was murdered. This among many lies have make Gambians to realise how untruthful the men in power are.

No Gambian is using the murder of the Ghanaian immigrants to score political points. What the Observer needs to understand is that a disgusting crime has been committed in the shores of the Gambia and the perpetrators of those crimes are still out there. And it is the responsibility of every Gambian to talk about it especially when the government is shamelessly keeping a tight lip.

Rather than trying to shift the blame on opponents and crticis of the regime, the Daily Observer should have rather asked the Jammeh regime why it is still continuing to refuse to cooperate with the Ghanaian government? Why should the Jammeh regime demand that the investigations into the masacre of these innocent civilians be conducted in Senegal and not in the Gambia where the crime is committed?

The only people who should be really ashame here is the Gambia Government and the Daily Observer. The Gambia has failed its duties to provide the peace and safety to its West African brothers. Thats the bottom line period!

Talking about how many times Jammeh won the elections is irrelevant in this circumstances. And do you know what the Gambian and Ghanaian people want to hear at this moment? They want gaddem answers from the government and not accusations.

As a nonGambian, I will excuse Dida Halake's ignorances. He can continue to glorify the murder happy regime of President Jammeh so as to secure his job. But we Gambians will not sit by and watch evil to triumph in our beloved country. While Dida Halake and his children Hassan and Jainaba hold British passports and can leave the Gambia anytime the situations becomes unfavourable, the Gambian people don't have a second home. The only know have one home and that is Jollof.

Gambians need to be aware of Mr. Halake's hypocrisy? We have seen his types before who iglorify brutal dictators and ignore the sufferings of the masses for their own selfish gains. These locusts are only interested in the green and juices leaves they fly away as soon as the leaves began to turn yellow.

For comments pls write to papak196@yahoo.co.uk. U can also visit my blog www.pkjarju.blogspot.com.