by PK Jarju
The Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh is not an ordinary human being. While we humans have two eyes, the geezer has four, which enables him to see both the natural and supernatural world. He is a special creation of Almighty Allah, and has been blessed with the means of belonging to the human and devil race. He even have the means to know things that will come to pass in 40 years time. How wonderful is that?
Hello! I am as sober as a saint and although it is well after 11 pm in freezing cold England, am still wide awake. So please don't think that am sleepy or drunk. I am also not taking the mick at His Excellency, the President either. Am just writing what the Gambian leader openly admitted to the Gambian public.
By Jammeh's own admission, he is a blessed and gifted man. Just think of this. Apart from being able to cure asthma, TB, barrenness among others, he is the only one in the universe whom God has blessed with the medical knowledge to cure HIV/Aids by using leaves and some verses of the Holy Qur'an.
Forget about Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Alexander Flemings among others. We Gambians have a greater and perhaps the most intelligent scientist of our time. He don't need a scientific lab and his medicines, which have divine blessings can cure even illnesses that have for many years eluded the scientific community. And by looking at how blessed he is, his recent statement that he intervene in a fight between devils should not be surprising to me.
I am lucky to come from the same division and tribe with Jammeh, which enabled me to know the man who is running the affairs of our country. And believe me this guy is among the chosen ones lol.
When I was a reporter with The Independent NewspaperI once wrote an article in November 2002 captionAed: Who is President Jammeh? The article was based on an interview President Jammeh had in Jola with Alhagie Momodou Sanyang of GRTS.
Sitting on the bank of his crocodile pond in Kanilai, Mr. Jammeh while speaking about his childhood days said:
"In my childhood days here in Kanilai, I got a rare illness. My parents were very worried. They tried all sort of cure but my situation didn't improve. The hair on my head fell off and my head went bald. Many people thought I was going to die.
My mother [Asombi Bojang] took me to one renown dibia at the time who told us that I am going to be a great leader. According to the dibia, the illness was due to the fact that the devils were preparing me for leadership. That my hair fell off because I was about to wear the leadership hat.
As a young boy then, I don't go hungry. My stomach was always full and my parents would sometimes tell me off or flog me for refusing to eat the food they cook.
There were big Bantango trees behind our houses where I will often disappear for many hours and no one will know where I have been. And anytime I return home, my hands would smell of the delicious food I have eaten and people will ask me all sort of questions about where I ate the food and who cooked it."
Believe me, this are not my words but Jammeh's. My story is still in the archives of The Independent and the tape of the interview is in the GRTS library I suppose.
Because of his long term association with the devils, it is therefore not surprising to see Jammeh transformed himself within two years after taking over the reign of power from a poor malnourished soldier to the riches Gambian.
Hahaha chumwai Jilanka! So your friends, the devils were your World Bank. The unknown financial backers who rained money on you to build the white elephant projects and pay salaries of civil servants during those difficult years of the revolution.
So after all he is right when he tell the Gambia people during his election campaigns that if they don't vote for him the devils would vote for him to win the presidency. The devils indeed vote for him in all the elections he contested because I don't think there is any sane Gambian out there who will vote for Jammeh looking at the mess he has plunged our country into.
Jammeh does not trust the Gambian people. The only people he trust are his friends the devils. While he continuously moan about how he is often let down by his secretaries of state and permanent secretaries, the devils will never betrayed him and have always got him out of any difficulty he faced.
They are the ones who provide 24 hour security for him and makes sure that no weapon fire at him will prosper. That was why his military coup was nothing but peaceful. Not even a single soul was killed. Recounting how the July 22 coup was conducted in an interview with Ebou Waggeh of GRTS, President Jammeh said:
"While marching with my men to Banjul, we came across stiff resistance from some soldiers loyal to the Jawara regime at the Denton Bridge. These soldiers kept firing at us but I advised my men not to fire back. I told them that nothing was going to happen to anyone who is within 100 metres behind me. As we continued marching towards Banjul, the opposing soldiers realising that their guns cannot do anything to us surrendered." Incredible isn't it?
President Jammeh is so blessed that even Prophet Sulaiman would be impress with what the guy can do. This is because apart from he Sulaiman, Jammeh is the only creation on planent earth who has the ability to see both the natural and supernatural world as well as converse and dine with devils. And perhaps looking at how gifted our president is, the Gambia will soon be rich like Sulaiman's town.
Oh yes! That is why we have now discovered crude oil and vast quantities of mineral resources. And do not be surprise if you find gold and diamonds in the streets on Banjul.
For comments write to papak196@yahoo.co.uk.U can also read my blog www.pkjarju.blogspot.com
Sunday, 23 March 2008
Friday, 21 March 2008
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.
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...."
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.
"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."
"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."
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.
"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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Friday, 7 March 2008
Mr. President did thou gave the shot to kill order?
by PK Jarju
Mr. President, following the publication of my last article, someone claiming to be a member of your Armed forces sent me an email claiming that you gave the shot to kill orders to your security officers on April 10 and 11 2000.
According to the officer, you regarded the demonstration as a challenge to your leadership and that the students were been used by certain tribalist opposition elements who were aggrieved with the fact that they had a Jola as president.
Mr. President, after much reflection, I was left with no choice but to agree with what the guy said. On April 10 2000, just after the Bundung Police Station was set ablaze by the students, some armed soldiers patrolling the Bundungka Kunda area came to our house looking for students.
Fortunately for us, they were Jolas with heavy Casamance accent. For these soldiers, the demonstration was not about the alleged murder of Ebrima Barry by officers of the Brikama Fire an Ambulance Services or the rape of the teenage student from Brikamaba. To them it was a demonstration against a Jola regime. And with the anger and determination in them, I was over a 110 per cent sure that they are willing to pull the trigger on any student they came across. They were not trying to protect the civilian population. They were only killing innocent people trying to seek justice to protect you, Mr. president. Yes, they were in a state of war against a student body who they regarded as rebels.
Thank God I was a Jola who could speak kasumai, karesibu, katisindai etc. Even though I was wearing my former school trouser, the soldiers never touched me. But a Sarahuli friend returning from the market, who was not even in uniform was not lucky. He was bundled into a military truck fully loaded with students and the soldiers on board could be seen flexing their muscles on them.
Don't get me wrong, am not trying to play the tribal card here. Am just trying to put one and one together.
Mr. President, any mature political leadership would be ashamed of the manner in which the security officers reacted to the demonstration. It was an act of brutality that has no place in any civilize society. Murder was foreign to the Gambia, a country where people almost know each other. You and your government must be ashame with the way and manner in which you handle the April 10 and 11 incident. Shame on you! Again shame on you!
Mr. President, the demands on the basis of which the students went out to demonstrate eight years ago, merely constituted a request for justice. April 10 and 11 2000 were indeed days during which Gambian students took to the streets to protest against rape and murder, with a clear call for justice to be done. Rape and murder are not only repugnant in the eyes of all faiths, but laws in all civilized jurisdictions prescribe stringent punitive measures against them.
Similarly, all our national cultures in the Gambia denounce them in the strongest possible terms. As a result, one should easily understand the reasoning which led to the decision to peacefully demonstrate against these heinous crimes against the two students.
About two years ago, Omar Joof, exile leader of Gamsu said in an interview with me that: "At the time of the demonstrations, we thought that all civilized and law abiding persons would support us. The criticisms that were subsequently levelled against us by some members of the ruling cabal in Banjul and Kanilai, were therefore great sources of surprise to us. But all their criticisms against us have since proven futile, and they had to effect a shift in strategy by directing their energies at making a deal which has since resulted in an infamous reconciliation.
"Once more we totally reject the so-called reconciliation on the basis that it failed to discuss and resolve the relevant issues at stake. Issues such as the conditions of the victims of the incidents and the loss and pain of their parents would be key to any meaningful reconciliation. After many years, it is now obvious that the political leadership in The Gambia is too arrogant to accept its blatant errors as a prelude to resolving the issues that divide us. There have been other horrendous blunders since which have created a pattern of acts of brutality on the side of the ruling A(F)PRC and its cohorts whenever conflict scenarios appear in The Gambia."
Mr. President, it is still beyond any human imagination that a government that portrays itself as having the interest of its citizenry at heart is still denying justice to the victims of April 10 and 11 2000. Your government still regard victims of the incident as enemies who got what they deserved. That is why Gambians are no longer allowed to talk about the incident. Talking about April 10 and 11 is now a taboo and anyone who talks about the incident is regarded as an enemy of the Gambia. How rediculus is that? I would be right to say that enemies of the Gambia in this instance is you and your government. Your hands are dripping with the blood of young Gambians. Young Gambians full of dreams and aspirations.
Mr. President, I again, I call on your government to repeal the Indemnity Act of 2000. The Act continues to be a fetter to national reconciliation. It has failed to make the Gambia safe. Instead it has created a Gambia with home grown terrorists, who now fire bomb newspaper premises, kill, torture and kidnapped opponents and critics of your regime with impunity. Gambians are now at their mercy. But you got to remember that the perpetrators of these crimes will never go unpunished. Those named in the Commission of Inquiry report as being responsible for the murder of these innocent Gambians can still be tried under international law even though they have been shamlessly given an amnesty by you and your government.
Mr. President, if you were not touched by testimony of the victim's parents and Pathologist Sorhegui Rafael's report in my last piece, take a look at Dr Sam's report. It reduces me and many others who fear Allah, who trembles and cry when we recite Qur'anic verses regarding the Day of Judgement to tears. Though you were a soldier trained to shot and kill without showing any mercy, I still believe that someone like you who prays more than a hundred times a day will have the heart and courage to allow justice to take its full course.
Read on.
Testimony of Dr Omar Sam, pathologist at the RVH:
Dr Sam said he conducted 8 autopsies on April 11 and another one on April 22 relating to Ousman Sabally at Kerewan Samba Sireh, CRD. This he said, was as a result of the request from the Coroner. He added that not all bodies have been identified; that there is still one body which is not yet identified.He told the Coroner that he conducted autopsy on Momodou Lamin Njie; Calisco Priera; Karamo Barrow; Reginald Carrol; Omar Barrow; Momodou Lamin Chune; Lamin A. Bojang and Ousman Sabally. He performed the following tests on the deceased persons: X-rays, blood test, urine test, external examination, systematic internal examination and special test. He told the Coroner that he undertook all four stages.Upon the request of the Coroner, he went on to explain his findings as follows:
1. MOMODOU LAMIN NJIE:
X-Ray showed fracture of the right ribs. External examination showed that he was 145 centimetres tall.
First wound: Collar bone.
Second wound: Ribs
Internal Examination: Amputation of the left pulmonary artillery.
He attributed the cause of death to massive haemorrhage from the perforating wounds of the left lung, injury to the aorta from a gun shot and penetration through two rib cages.
He said further that from experience these wounds can only be caused by gun shots; that it is only a modern weapon that can cause this and that the extent of tissue damage including dislodged fractures can only be caused by a high velocity weapon.
Asked whether there is any basic difference between rubber bullets and live bullets, he said that rubber bullets cause minimal abrasion; that live bullets damage soft tissues. He said further that in this case, it was only a high power and high velocity live bullet which caused the multiple wounds.
QUESTION: So, the cause of death is a live bullet?
ANSWER: Yes.
CROSS EXAMINATION
Kitimo Njie, uncle of Momodou Lamin Njie, asked why parents were not allowed to see the bodies before autopsy. In response, Dr Sam said that this was a forensic postmortem requested by the Inspector General of Police [Rex King], with the authorisation of the Coroner and not a medical postmortem for which they would have been directly responsible.
2. CALISCO PRIERA:
According to Dr Sam, his body shows fractures at the cage rib at the back. External examination shows that he was a male teenager; that two external wounds were evident. One at the region of the cage rib at the back and the other at the front rib.
Cause of death was rupture of the heart and massive haemorrhage due to gun shot wounds in the thorax.Calisco's mother, Mrs Ann Marie Therese Ndey-Sonko asked whether it was a live bullet that killed her son. The Coroner indicated that was what the conclusion of the doctor.
3. KARAMO BARROW:
According to Dr Sam, Karamo, the X-Ray showed fractured rib; that two fresh wounds were identified on the chest.Cause of death: Penetrating chest wound with perforation of right lung and massive haemorrhage due to gun shots.
Asked by the Coroner why are the bullets not lodged in the body, Dr Sam said it was because of the high velocity of the bullets, but that there is a case of a lodged bullet.Bassirou Barrow, father of the deceased said he wanted to know whether a live bullet or a rubber bullet killed his son. In response, the pathologist said that the features he had seen are characteristics of live bullets.
4. REGINALD CARROL:
Dr Sam told the Coroner that the X-Ray was unfortunately poor; that he identified two wounds on the chest - one on the right mid chest and the other at the left lower chest.Cause of death: Massive haemorrhage from perforating wounds of right lung, heart, liver and stomach as a result of gun shot wounds.
The Coroner enquired about wounding agents. Dr Sam said that the wounding agent is a high velocity single bullet; that the entry was from back to the front.He also indicated that some aspect of bleeding was controlled through earlier surgery.
The Coroner asked whether it would have been possible to save his life. Dr Sam said that the facilities are not available at the RVH. He finally indicated that the characteristics are the result of live bullets.
5. OMAR BARROW:
Dr Sam said that the X-Ray was difficult to print, but that it did not affect the examination; that four wounds were found on him - two on the right upper arm and two on the chest.
Cause of death: Massive haemorrhage from injury of heart, lung and major blood vessels in the right arm and chest.The Coroner asked what the cause of the fatal injury is. Dr Sam said that the entry is the cause of a live bullet.
6. MOMODOU LAMIN CHUNE:
Dr Sam disclosed that Momodou Lamin Chune had a wound on the chest which he identified. He indicated that there was a tear in the right artery. The doctor showed the bullet from the body of the deceased which was tendered as exhibit. He further indicated that the penetration of the bullet measured 20-25 mm.
7. LAMIN A. BOJANG:
Dr Sam said he could identify a grazing of 55mm in the skull of Lamin Bojang; that there was a fracture in his skull which measures 320 x 120mm.
Mr Abdoulie Bojang, father of the deceased asked the doctor whether there was any attempt for a surgical operation on his son. Dr Sam said that he was not aware since the death of Lamin was a sudden one.
8. OUSMAN SABALLY:
Dr Sam said two wounds were identified in the chest - on the right 70mm and the other side 65mm in the chest cavity. He further said that there was a tear in the right diaphragm.
9. THE UNIDENTIFIED BODY:
Dr Sam indicated that he personally did the identification of the body before the postmortem took place He further indicated that the body was 1.4 metres in length and that there was a wound on the thigh which measured 40X25mm; that it was 100mm above the knee.
He said at the time, the postmortem had to be done due to the following reasons: refrigeration problems; that people who lost their children were waiting impatiently; that the IGP requested for the body to be postmortem because of the need for death certificate.
Dr Sam finally submitted that the victim died because of the injuries due to the massive haemorrhage. He said the victim might have been in a sitting or lying posture. He said the wound could only be caused by a high velocity live bullet.
In my next piece, I will reproduce a report by the Gambia Student Union (Gamsu) into the murder of Ebrima Barry as well as the pathologist report on the body.Until, I say Assalamalaikum.
For comments write to Papak196@yahoo.co.uk. U can also read my blog www.pkjarju.blogspot.com
Mr. President, following the publication of my last article, someone claiming to be a member of your Armed forces sent me an email claiming that you gave the shot to kill orders to your security officers on April 10 and 11 2000.
According to the officer, you regarded the demonstration as a challenge to your leadership and that the students were been used by certain tribalist opposition elements who were aggrieved with the fact that they had a Jola as president.
Mr. President, after much reflection, I was left with no choice but to agree with what the guy said. On April 10 2000, just after the Bundung Police Station was set ablaze by the students, some armed soldiers patrolling the Bundungka Kunda area came to our house looking for students.
Fortunately for us, they were Jolas with heavy Casamance accent. For these soldiers, the demonstration was not about the alleged murder of Ebrima Barry by officers of the Brikama Fire an Ambulance Services or the rape of the teenage student from Brikamaba. To them it was a demonstration against a Jola regime. And with the anger and determination in them, I was over a 110 per cent sure that they are willing to pull the trigger on any student they came across. They were not trying to protect the civilian population. They were only killing innocent people trying to seek justice to protect you, Mr. president. Yes, they were in a state of war against a student body who they regarded as rebels.
Thank God I was a Jola who could speak kasumai, karesibu, katisindai etc. Even though I was wearing my former school trouser, the soldiers never touched me. But a Sarahuli friend returning from the market, who was not even in uniform was not lucky. He was bundled into a military truck fully loaded with students and the soldiers on board could be seen flexing their muscles on them.
Don't get me wrong, am not trying to play the tribal card here. Am just trying to put one and one together.
Mr. President, any mature political leadership would be ashamed of the manner in which the security officers reacted to the demonstration. It was an act of brutality that has no place in any civilize society. Murder was foreign to the Gambia, a country where people almost know each other. You and your government must be ashame with the way and manner in which you handle the April 10 and 11 incident. Shame on you! Again shame on you!
Mr. President, the demands on the basis of which the students went out to demonstrate eight years ago, merely constituted a request for justice. April 10 and 11 2000 were indeed days during which Gambian students took to the streets to protest against rape and murder, with a clear call for justice to be done. Rape and murder are not only repugnant in the eyes of all faiths, but laws in all civilized jurisdictions prescribe stringent punitive measures against them.
Similarly, all our national cultures in the Gambia denounce them in the strongest possible terms. As a result, one should easily understand the reasoning which led to the decision to peacefully demonstrate against these heinous crimes against the two students.
About two years ago, Omar Joof, exile leader of Gamsu said in an interview with me that: "At the time of the demonstrations, we thought that all civilized and law abiding persons would support us. The criticisms that were subsequently levelled against us by some members of the ruling cabal in Banjul and Kanilai, were therefore great sources of surprise to us. But all their criticisms against us have since proven futile, and they had to effect a shift in strategy by directing their energies at making a deal which has since resulted in an infamous reconciliation.
"Once more we totally reject the so-called reconciliation on the basis that it failed to discuss and resolve the relevant issues at stake. Issues such as the conditions of the victims of the incidents and the loss and pain of their parents would be key to any meaningful reconciliation. After many years, it is now obvious that the political leadership in The Gambia is too arrogant to accept its blatant errors as a prelude to resolving the issues that divide us. There have been other horrendous blunders since which have created a pattern of acts of brutality on the side of the ruling A(F)PRC and its cohorts whenever conflict scenarios appear in The Gambia."
Mr. President, it is still beyond any human imagination that a government that portrays itself as having the interest of its citizenry at heart is still denying justice to the victims of April 10 and 11 2000. Your government still regard victims of the incident as enemies who got what they deserved. That is why Gambians are no longer allowed to talk about the incident. Talking about April 10 and 11 is now a taboo and anyone who talks about the incident is regarded as an enemy of the Gambia. How rediculus is that? I would be right to say that enemies of the Gambia in this instance is you and your government. Your hands are dripping with the blood of young Gambians. Young Gambians full of dreams and aspirations.
Mr. President, I again, I call on your government to repeal the Indemnity Act of 2000. The Act continues to be a fetter to national reconciliation. It has failed to make the Gambia safe. Instead it has created a Gambia with home grown terrorists, who now fire bomb newspaper premises, kill, torture and kidnapped opponents and critics of your regime with impunity. Gambians are now at their mercy. But you got to remember that the perpetrators of these crimes will never go unpunished. Those named in the Commission of Inquiry report as being responsible for the murder of these innocent Gambians can still be tried under international law even though they have been shamlessly given an amnesty by you and your government.
Mr. President, if you were not touched by testimony of the victim's parents and Pathologist Sorhegui Rafael's report in my last piece, take a look at Dr Sam's report. It reduces me and many others who fear Allah, who trembles and cry when we recite Qur'anic verses regarding the Day of Judgement to tears. Though you were a soldier trained to shot and kill without showing any mercy, I still believe that someone like you who prays more than a hundred times a day will have the heart and courage to allow justice to take its full course.
Read on.
Testimony of Dr Omar Sam, pathologist at the RVH:
Dr Sam said he conducted 8 autopsies on April 11 and another one on April 22 relating to Ousman Sabally at Kerewan Samba Sireh, CRD. This he said, was as a result of the request from the Coroner. He added that not all bodies have been identified; that there is still one body which is not yet identified.He told the Coroner that he conducted autopsy on Momodou Lamin Njie; Calisco Priera; Karamo Barrow; Reginald Carrol; Omar Barrow; Momodou Lamin Chune; Lamin A. Bojang and Ousman Sabally. He performed the following tests on the deceased persons: X-rays, blood test, urine test, external examination, systematic internal examination and special test. He told the Coroner that he undertook all four stages.Upon the request of the Coroner, he went on to explain his findings as follows:
1. MOMODOU LAMIN NJIE:
X-Ray showed fracture of the right ribs. External examination showed that he was 145 centimetres tall.
First wound: Collar bone.
Second wound: Ribs
Internal Examination: Amputation of the left pulmonary artillery.
He attributed the cause of death to massive haemorrhage from the perforating wounds of the left lung, injury to the aorta from a gun shot and penetration through two rib cages.
He said further that from experience these wounds can only be caused by gun shots; that it is only a modern weapon that can cause this and that the extent of tissue damage including dislodged fractures can only be caused by a high velocity weapon.
Asked whether there is any basic difference between rubber bullets and live bullets, he said that rubber bullets cause minimal abrasion; that live bullets damage soft tissues. He said further that in this case, it was only a high power and high velocity live bullet which caused the multiple wounds.
QUESTION: So, the cause of death is a live bullet?
ANSWER: Yes.
CROSS EXAMINATION
Kitimo Njie, uncle of Momodou Lamin Njie, asked why parents were not allowed to see the bodies before autopsy. In response, Dr Sam said that this was a forensic postmortem requested by the Inspector General of Police [Rex King], with the authorisation of the Coroner and not a medical postmortem for which they would have been directly responsible.
2. CALISCO PRIERA:
According to Dr Sam, his body shows fractures at the cage rib at the back. External examination shows that he was a male teenager; that two external wounds were evident. One at the region of the cage rib at the back and the other at the front rib.
Cause of death was rupture of the heart and massive haemorrhage due to gun shot wounds in the thorax.Calisco's mother, Mrs Ann Marie Therese Ndey-Sonko asked whether it was a live bullet that killed her son. The Coroner indicated that was what the conclusion of the doctor.
3. KARAMO BARROW:
According to Dr Sam, Karamo, the X-Ray showed fractured rib; that two fresh wounds were identified on the chest.Cause of death: Penetrating chest wound with perforation of right lung and massive haemorrhage due to gun shots.
Asked by the Coroner why are the bullets not lodged in the body, Dr Sam said it was because of the high velocity of the bullets, but that there is a case of a lodged bullet.Bassirou Barrow, father of the deceased said he wanted to know whether a live bullet or a rubber bullet killed his son. In response, the pathologist said that the features he had seen are characteristics of live bullets.
4. REGINALD CARROL:
Dr Sam told the Coroner that the X-Ray was unfortunately poor; that he identified two wounds on the chest - one on the right mid chest and the other at the left lower chest.Cause of death: Massive haemorrhage from perforating wounds of right lung, heart, liver and stomach as a result of gun shot wounds.
The Coroner enquired about wounding agents. Dr Sam said that the wounding agent is a high velocity single bullet; that the entry was from back to the front.He also indicated that some aspect of bleeding was controlled through earlier surgery.
The Coroner asked whether it would have been possible to save his life. Dr Sam said that the facilities are not available at the RVH. He finally indicated that the characteristics are the result of live bullets.
5. OMAR BARROW:
Dr Sam said that the X-Ray was difficult to print, but that it did not affect the examination; that four wounds were found on him - two on the right upper arm and two on the chest.
Cause of death: Massive haemorrhage from injury of heart, lung and major blood vessels in the right arm and chest.The Coroner asked what the cause of the fatal injury is. Dr Sam said that the entry is the cause of a live bullet.
6. MOMODOU LAMIN CHUNE:
Dr Sam disclosed that Momodou Lamin Chune had a wound on the chest which he identified. He indicated that there was a tear in the right artery. The doctor showed the bullet from the body of the deceased which was tendered as exhibit. He further indicated that the penetration of the bullet measured 20-25 mm.
7. LAMIN A. BOJANG:
Dr Sam said he could identify a grazing of 55mm in the skull of Lamin Bojang; that there was a fracture in his skull which measures 320 x 120mm.
Mr Abdoulie Bojang, father of the deceased asked the doctor whether there was any attempt for a surgical operation on his son. Dr Sam said that he was not aware since the death of Lamin was a sudden one.
8. OUSMAN SABALLY:
Dr Sam said two wounds were identified in the chest - on the right 70mm and the other side 65mm in the chest cavity. He further said that there was a tear in the right diaphragm.
9. THE UNIDENTIFIED BODY:
Dr Sam indicated that he personally did the identification of the body before the postmortem took place He further indicated that the body was 1.4 metres in length and that there was a wound on the thigh which measured 40X25mm; that it was 100mm above the knee.
He said at the time, the postmortem had to be done due to the following reasons: refrigeration problems; that people who lost their children were waiting impatiently; that the IGP requested for the body to be postmortem because of the need for death certificate.
Dr Sam finally submitted that the victim died because of the injuries due to the massive haemorrhage. He said the victim might have been in a sitting or lying posture. He said the wound could only be caused by a high velocity live bullet.
In my next piece, I will reproduce a report by the Gambia Student Union (Gamsu) into the murder of Ebrima Barry as well as the pathologist report on the body.Until, I say Assalamalaikum.
For comments write to Papak196@yahoo.co.uk. U can also read my blog www.pkjarju.blogspot.com
Still Crying for Mama
This week, I decided to take a break from politics, to pay tribute to the most instrumental woman in my life -- my mom. Mama was my best friend and she was a million times better than diamond, gold and silver and may Allah the most merciful shower His mercy on her soul. Amen.
I decided to write this piece after a chat with a friend in The Gambia, whose dad is terminally ill. I want to point out that like most journalists, I hate writing about myself and am not seeking sympathy from anyone. Instead, I want my readers to understand how sad it is to have a loved one dying from a disease that you cannot cure.
January 27th, marks the third year since mama departed this world after a brief illness. It all started in November 2004 and like all village boys, I went to my peaceful village (name withheld) to spend the Muslim feast of Korite with Mama and other family members. I love life in the village which enables me to chill away from the hectic and ever busy journalism life.
Everyone home loves to see me and the kids would normally run to welcome me at the gate like I use to do when I was a kid. But on that day, everything was quiet and the kids who love playing football in the compound where all sitting on the veranda. All were in a sad mood and did not even run to welcome me.
"Something must be terribly wrong," I told myself. As I got to the veranda I was told by one of the kids that Mama was not feeling well. I busted into her room without even knocking at the door, where I found Mama lying on her settee. Our eyes met and she tried to assure me that the illness was not serious. "Its only tummy pain and the doctor assured me that everything will be fine if I continue taking the medication," she said with a reassuring smile on her face.
Despite taking the medications, I realized that Mama's conditions were not getting better. She eats less and complained of pain below the chest. With the help of my sisters, we took Mama to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul, where she was examined and prescribed with some tablets. The doctors told us that her conditions were not life threatening and that it was better for us to take her home.
Two weeks later, Mama's condition continued to deteriorate. Some relatives who visited her from the village suggested that we take her to my ancestral home in Casamance for local treatment. Looking at Mama's situation, I strongly dismissed the suggestion and took Mama to the Westfield Clinic, where she was admitted immediately. The doctors there did a fantastic job and by the following morning Mama's condition began to improve. And by the third day, she could eat and walk in and out of the ward without help. Two days later, she was discharged. With our hearts full of hope, we took Mama home.
However, a few days later, things took a dramatic u-turn. Mama's pain kicked up again. She could not walk to the bathroom or even sit up. We again took her to the Westfield Clinic, where she was admitted. Dr Peters, who is in charged of the hospital, took the responsibility to conduct a thorough medical examination on Mama. Some minutes later, the examination was done and Mama was wheeled back to the ward.
Dr Peters later invited me and my sisters, who were with me into his office where he told us the unpleasant truth. " Ehem! he cleared his throat. I have done the examination and am very sorry to say that your mum has a tumor on her liver. The disease is at an advance state and has damaged a large part of her liver. The treatment is not available in the country. It is only available overseas and even with that, there is still a big problem. Flying her abroad is expensive and secondly there is a shortage of human organ donors......She has a few weeks to live am sorry, and I would suggest that if there is any money, it will be better to keep it. At the moment all I can do now is to remove a fluid like substance which is dripping from the liver....."
I felt like a death sentence was pronounced on me. With tears, I stormed out of Dr Peters' office and cried like a baby. My sisters later joined me outside and consoled me. As I was the youngest in the family, my sisters tried as much as they could not to cry. "Be a man," one of them said. "If you who is the man is crying, how do you expect we the women to do," the other one added.
With shame, I quickly composed myself and agreed with their decision that we must on no occasion broke the news to Mama. According to them, breaking the news will only make matters worst to her. Some minutes later, I went back to the ward and found Mama lying on her bed. I tried to assure her that she would make a swift recovery, but I was betrayed by my weakness. Mama could tell when am telling lies since I was a kid. And as I tried to explain to her that she would be discharge within three days, Mama looked at me and smiled.
"It is OK my son, she said.”You don't have to hide the truth from me. I am a Muslim and I believe the Qur'anic teaching that every soul that tastes life must taste death. I know that I will die soon but I don't know whether it is today or tomorrow. But even if I die today, I am happy that Allah has blessed me a loving family. So please continue to love and care for each other as both of you were fed from my breasts" she added.
I tried to assure her that she was not going to die, but the more I tried, the harder it was for me to control my tears. We were later joined by my sisters who also tried as much as they could to convince her that everything was going to be alright.
We kept Mama at the hospital for over a week where she was given pain killers and other medicines to ease the pain. During that time, I visited her in the mornings before going to work at the Daily Observer. In the evenings, I would take an hour break from work to visit her and in most cases I do found my sisters and other relatives there, who give support and comfort to her. I must say that Ndey Tapha Sosseh, who was my Editor-in-Chief at the time, was very helpful. She would in most occasions do half of my work while I was away at the hospital. Her successor, Momodou Sanyang (Sanyang Ba), was also helpful. They never complained when I made silly mistakes at work. They were very understanding and I say thank you all.
As days turns into weeks, Mama's health started to go from bad to worst. She started finding it difficult to speak, eat or drink. Dr Peters, who was so caring to her, decided to discharge her on the ground that there was nothing much he could do to reverse the situation.
With a heavy heart, we took Mama home and began counting the hours. This was the most painful period in my life. I found it difficult to concentrate at work or sleep at night. I shiver anytime a family member calls my cell phone.
Then the final hour came. It was on a Monday. I woke up early as usual and said my prayers before going to see how Mama was doing. Mama was then staying with one of my sisters, who lived opposit from me. I found Mama lying on her bed. She was on a vegetative state and could not even eat solid food. My aunty, who was nursing her told me that Mama had a good sleep. I stood beside her bed for God knows how many minutes and wondered how can life be so cruel. With a heavy heart, I said bye to Mama and left for work.
At a round 10:30 while editing the opinion page of the Daily Observer on a computer called DaCosta, my cell phone rang. It was my sister. "Pa, am sorry to say this but you got to come home. Mama has just departed this world," she said. The whole computer room went dark. All the compositors who were busy typing scrips for the next day's Observer edition stopped all what they were doing. I could feel their sharp eyes on me. It was terrible. Tears started pouring down from my eyes but I quickly wiped them.
"PK lahlah?" Sainabou Fofanah, our chief layout editor asked.All I could say to her was suma yai. The compositors all expressed their condolence to me. I have to state here that the ladies in the computer room (Mariama Danjo, Betty Quacco, Marie Gomez, Aji Sagar Mbye, Nyima Marong, Mariatou Faal, Jainaba Baldeh and Yasin Faal) are among the best people I have ever worked with. We were like a family and the working atmosphere was very friendly.
As the news began to sink, I informed Andrew DaCosta, Observer's deputy managing director, who led a delegation of the company's staff to sympathise with my family.
At home, I found the compound crowded with sympathisers. The required Muslim bath for the death was already conducted on Mama. With tears running down my cheeks, I knelt beside her head and prayed for Allah, the most merciful, to shower His Mercy on her and blessed her in His heaven.
A few hours later we drove Mama to the village where she was laid to rest. Hundreds of mourners attended her funeral many of whom spoke well of her. The local Imam could not hold his tears when he was praising Mama for the good work she did to the community more so to the our mosque.
Yes, that was Mama's character. She have always put others first. She was more than a friend to me. She was there for me when Daddy wants to flex his muscles on me for being naughty. She struggle to raise me and my sisters single handedly when daddy died and did all sort of jobs to feed and pay our tuition fees. She never abdicated her responsibilities as a parent and has encouraged us to be God fearing, respectful, tolerant, caring to others, and to be responsible.
Rest in peace Mama.
Friday, 29 February 2008
Mr. President, Remember April 10&11 Victims
by PK Jarju
Mr. President, last night while surfing the internet, I came across proceedings of the inquest into the death of 12 persons during the April 10 and 11 student demonstration. And as a parent, I couldn't help but wept profusely while reading it.
It was just sad and while it may have happened eight years ago, I can still imagine the pain and sufferings the parents and relatives of these children must be going through in their everyday lives.
Mr. President, on December 31 2007, you showed the Gambian people how much it meant to father a son by organizing a grand naming ceremony in your village, Kanilai. You even went to the extend of declaring that day a public holiday in order to enable all civil servants to grace the occasion, while ignoring the huge financial and economic losses it would cause to the public and private sectors.
And now while playing with your son and daughter in your mighty place ready to defend them to your last breath against any danger, you should remember that there are over a dozen parents in the country, who have lost their children on April 10 and 11 2000.
Their children have been brutally butchered in broad day light by military and police officers acting on God knows whose orders.
Mr. President, these parents never had the opportunity to say goodbye to their kids. All parents were expecting to have lunch with their children after school. But instead, they found their lifeless bodies in a mortuary at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital with their little faces covered, their school socks and shoes on.
These parents are less privileged. They are ordinary Gambians who work hard to look after their families while expecting your government to guarantee their security. But instead, you and your government failed them.
While your loved ones were all safely at home, you and your men on the ground didn't care. They acted like the Apartheid South African police, spraying bullets at the very people they swore to protect.
As I type this letter, Mr. President, I could hear their endless cries for justice. I could hear their voices and could feel their pain and anger. This anger will continue to boil in their chests until the Day of Judgment when every soul shall assemble before Almighty Allah and be accounted for his deeds.
Mr. President, please don't misunderstood my intentions here. I know that you and your cronies will try to accuse me of digging old wounds by writing this piece. Sorry if that is what you are thinking but the April 10 and 11 incident is not forgotten and will never be forgotten. It is still fresh in the minds and souls of every sane Gambian who believes in justice, peace and prosperity.
Mr. President, the decision by your government to shelve the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry that your humble self appointed to look into the disturbances of April 10 and 11, has made Gambians believed that you gave the shoot to kill order to the security officers on the ground. And this suspicion will continue to remain in our minds as long as you and your government continue to sit on the truth.
It is still not too late for for the culprits to be brought to book. The 2001 Indemnity Act passed by your APRC dominated National Assembly can still be repeal. If the National Media Commission Act and Decree 89 can be repealled, why can't the Indemnity Act.
You have to start acting and behaving as leader of a nation. National interest should override our political and personal interests.
Like Halifa Sallah stated in his letter in April 2001, a government which is fit to lead a sovereign people is one which is committed to principles, standards and values aimed at safeguarding and enlarging the dignity and worth of our people. A personality whose only vision is to acquire and retain power and whose only mission is how to acquire and retain power by any means can only sow the seed of political decadence in a nation. The ramification of this is the display of utter disregard for the dignity and worth of the sovereign Gambian people.
Mr. President, your statement during the country's 43rd independence anniversary at the Independence Stadium in Bakau that you are in the process of "creating a new Gambia; a country where each and everyone of us will be held accountable and responsible for our actions, and a country where services, justice and all the hallmarks and principles of justice, equality and honest governance will permeate every section of society" can only be taken seriously if you stand aside and let justice prevail. Not only for the families of April 10 and 11, but for all those who were brutalised by your security officers.
In so doing, our beloved country will no doubt move forward. That is what good leaders do. They put the interest of the citizenry first.
Remember what you said in your independence speech: "greatness cannot be borrowed or imported. People do great things that make them great, and nations do things that lead them to greatness. Greatness is, therefore, an offshoot of factors that devoted citizens influence, alter or transform. Hence, no nation can become great if its citizens are indolent, indifferent, divided and destructive."
Mr. President, as it is a month to the commemoration of the eight anniversary of the bloody student demonstration, I will be reproducing proceedings of the Coroner's Inquest beginning with the testimonies of the victim's parents and a Cuban pathologist in bid to draw your sympathy towards the victims and their families. You may have already read it in the Coroner's and Commission of Inquiry reports, which I believe are now covered in dust somewhere in you office, but I still hope that as Muslim, you will have the heart and courage to allow justice to prevail.
PROCEEDING OF 24 APRIL 2000
Courtesy of Foroyaa Newspaper
In his opening statement, the Coroner said that his role was to inquire into the causes of the deaths of the 12 victims. Eleven witnesses who identified the bodies of the victims at the mortuary testified on 24 April.
TESTIMONY OF KEBBA SANYANG
Kebba Sanyang, father of Abdoulie Sanyang, told the Coroner that he lives in Old Jeshwang; that Abdoulie Sanyang (deceased) was his son; that he was three years old and was living with him at his home; that Abdoulie met his death outside his compound at Old Jeshwang between 9 a.m. and 12 noon.
He said his compound has two gates; that he was standing at one of them with the late Abdoulie; that upon observation of the students/paramilitary movement he told him to get into the compound; that although he got in he got out through the other gate where other members of the compound, men, women and children were standing; that as the movement of the paramilitary and the students drew near, the crowd rushed and the deceased, Abdoulie, fell, got up and fell, got up and fell again.
He said he died instantly; that he was picked up and taken to the RVH by a neighbour, Abdoulie Kujabi; that he received the body on 12 April and buried him the same day.
TESTIMONY OF BABA NJIE
Baba Njie, uncle of Lamin Njie, lives in Brikama; that he is a farmer; that he was the uncle and the guardian of the late Lamin Njie; that Lamin was attending GTTI and residing at Ebo Town; that he died on 10 April during events of 10 April; that on Thursday, 13 April he identified the body at the mortuary at RVH; that the body was laid to rest at Bulock on Friday, 14 April 2000.
TESTIMONY OF SANG PIERRE MENDY
Sang Pierre Mendy, in his testimony, said that he is a security officer and lives at New Jeshwang; that he knew Calisco Priera; that they are not related but that the mother lives in his compound; that he together with the sister of Calisco's mother identified Calisco's body at the mortuary at RVH; that he does not know the age and nationality of the deceased; that Calisco's mother is called Marie Therese Sonko.
TESTIMONY OF MARIE THERESE SONKO
Marie Therese Sonko, Calisco's mother, later confirmed that the deceased was her son who was born in 1982; that because he suffered from polio for the first three years he started school late; that he was a student at St. Charles Luwanga but could not go to school this year because he had not paid his fees. She said that the body had been laid to rest.
TESTIMONY OF MAFUGY BADJIE
Mafugy Badjie, uncle of Burama Badgie, told the Coroner that he was the uncle of the deceased; that the father, Bubacarr Badjie was very sick; that Burama was 10 years and was attending Tallinding Primary School; that he died on Monday, 10 April; that they learnt of the death on Wednesday, 12 April; that he identified the body in Banjul and when they got the body they buried him on the same day.
TESTIMONY OF MUSA COKER, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE GAMBIA RED CROSS SOCIETY ON OMAR BARROW
Mr. Coker said that he lives at Kanifing Housing Estate and was a nurse by profession. He said further that he knew the late Omar Barrow as a volunteer of the Red Cross Movement; that he does not know his age but he knew that he was married with a family.
He told the Coroner that he saw Omar at the Red Cross helping the wounded and that while in his office he heard gun shots in the street and people running from the Mobile Police Station end to the Red Cross; that he suddenly heard a loud cry in Wollof "they have shot Omar"; that on coming out he found Omar lying on his back outside the office block surrounded by volunteers inside the camp; that he was later moved to the corridor of the office then to the RVH in Banjul. He said he had identified the body on 12 April and was buried on the sameday.
TESTIMONY OF BASSIROU BARROW
Bassirou Barrow, father of Karamo Barrow, said he is a fitter and lives in Ebo Town; that the late Karamo was going to ICE High School and was born in 1976. He said Karamo was his first son; that he last saw Karamo in the morning of 10 April 2000; that he learnt of the death later in the day; that at about 2 p.m on 11 April they identified the body; that on 12 April, the body was handed over to them and was buried on the same day.
TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH B. CARROL
Mr. Joseph B. Carrol, father of Reginald Carrol, told the Coroner that he was living at Latrikunda Yiriyanga; that Reginald was doing computer studies at FBI at Old Jeshwang; that he was his son; that he left for Banjul on 10 April in the morning to cash a cheque; that he was later called by his wife who told him that Reginald had not returned home and his whereabouts was not known; that he said he had asked her to come and meet him in Banjul so that they can check at the RVH, where they later got the information of his death; that they were informed that he died during the students riot; that on Tuesday he was informed by the surgeon that his child died of gunshot wounds; that after receiving the body he discovered wounds and that he was finally buried on 17 April 2000.
TESTIMONY OF SAINEY GINGALLY
The seventh person to give evidence was the grandfather of Wuyeh Mansally, Sainey Gingally, who claimed that he received the body on Wednesday, 12 April 2000 and took to Casamance where he was buried.Sainey Gingally claimed that Wuyeh was born in Senegal and had only come here to study Arabic at the Tallinding Islamic Institute; that Wuyeh was born in 1980.
TESTIMONY OF MBYE CHUNE
The eight witness was one Mbye Chune, the father of the late Momodou Lamin Chune; he said that M.L. Chune was his first born and was 15 years old; that he was attending Latrikunda Junior Secondary School; that he got information of the death of his son from his fellow students that he had been shot at their school gate; that after two days search for the body they discovered him at the mortuary of the RVH and received the body on 12 April 2000 and buried the same day at 5 p.m.
TESTIMONY OF ABDOULIE BOJANG
Mr. Abdoulie Bojang of Tallinding gave testimony that he is the father of Lamin Abdoulie Bojang of Nusrat Senior Secondary School who is now deceased; that he is his first son and child; that he was found to be killed on Monday 10 April, 2000.
He said that he went on a trek to Basse on the preceding Saturday; that he learnt about the students incident and returned on that Monday; that he arrived in the evening and having learnt about his son not being seen home since after he went to school in the morning, he rushed to one Lamin Jarjue, his son's classmate to enquire; that he was told that they were together in school for their exams but were later dispersed when some other students stormed their school and they then headed towards Serrekunda through the Brikama Highway and during which commotion they lost each other in the crowd.
Mr. Bojang continued that upon hearing this he decided to proceed with his wife to the RVH in Banjul but first passed through the police station to check whether he was detained, but he was not there; that at the RVH he was shown a list of patients but the name of his son was not there; that it was there that he was informed about the death of his son; that he requested to see the body but was denied access; that he managed to see the body of his son who was shot at the back of his head on 11 April 2000; that there were also bruises on the face which might have been sustained when he fell down; that they were there up to 4.30 p.m. but were not allowed to collect the body; that it was on Wednesday, 12 April at around 12.30 p.m; that they were given the body which was later taken and buried in Jamburr the same day. He indicated that he saw the body after an autopsy was already performed on it.
PROCEEDING OF 25 APRIL 2000
TESTIMONY OF MR ALPHA BAH
The next witness to testify on Tuesday, 25 April 2000 was Mr. Alpha Bah, guardian of the late Ousman Sabally of Kerewan Samba Sireh in the CRD.
Mr. Bah stated that Ousman Sabally was his ward and nephew; that he died at Bansang Hospital as a result of the students incident in Brikamaba where he was attending school; that he was shot and rushed to Bansang Hospital by him and other relatives; that this incident occurred on Tuesday, 11 April 2000; that he was 15 years old; that they received the body on the following day Wednesday for burial; that he was since buried; that he was in grade 8; that he saw the body as he was bleeding profusely on both the chest and the back; that he was in school uniform.
TESTIMONY OF MUSTAPHA KUJABIE
He told the Coroner that he lives in Old Jeshwang and his occupation is masonry; that Kebba Sanyang is his neighbour and that Abdoulie Sanyang is Kebba Sanyang's son; that he is an infant; that on 10 April 2000, he heard some gun shots and came out of his compound and saw people running; that he saw the police dispersing the students and went back into his compound; that forty five minutes later, a woman came to him to seek assistance; that when he went he saw the deceased; that he took him to the Royal Victoria Hospital; that the hospital staff confirmed that the child was dead.
TESTIMONY OF INSPECTOR JOBE
Inspector Biran Jobe told the Coroner that he is part of the Serious Crime Squad; that on 10 April 2000 he was at GTTI where there was a students' demonstration; that he returned to the police headquarters at about 11.00 and was assigned to the RVH to look after victims involved in the students' demonstration; that on the morning of 11 April, 2000, he went to the mortuary where he found some corpses and he had cause to prepare some forms to enable autopsy to be done on the bodies before burial; that at that time not all bodies had been identified; that after the authorisation the said forms were handed over to the pathologist; that they had 11 bodies that day; that all the bodies were later identified except one which is yet to be identified; that the number given to that deceased was PM 44/2000; that he is a male; that it was difficult to identify where he was found; that no information is available as to who escorted him to the hospital; that the Criminal Records Office of the Police Headquarters took photographs of all the bodies in the mortuary.At this point, he applied to tender six photographs together with their negatives of the unidentified body.
They were admitted and marked A,B,C,D,E,F, He went on to say that they issued notices at the public notices at police stations but up to now no one has come forward; that he had to go back to the Coroner to obtain authority to dispose of the unidentified body; that it has now been laid to rest at the Old Jeshwang cemetery.
At this stage, at the request of the Coroner, he tendered the photographs of the other eleven bodies. He said that apart the autopsies were carried out by Dr Omar Sam and Dr Sorhegui Rafael.
CROSS EXAMINATION
After examination by counsel, Abdoulie Bojang, father of Lamin Bojang, cross examined Inspector Jobe. He asked Inspector Jobe why he failed to ask him to witness the autopsy of his son.
In response, Mr. Jobe said that this was the first time he was assigned such a task; that it was the relatives who requested to witness the autopsy.
TESTIMONY OF DR SORHEGUI RAFAEL
He told the Coroner that he is from Cuba; that he is a pathologist at the RVH and has been there for 10 months; that he has been a pathologist since 1976; that he received a request from the police for an autopsy on 11 April 2000; that the request forms bore the names of the deceased persons.
He was asked to read out the names and he read out the following names: Abdoulie Sanyang; Burama Badgie and Wuyeh Mansally. Upon request he tendered the forms in evidence.He said further that he performed autopsies on the bodies of these deceased persons on 11 April 2000 and that he was assisted by Dr Sam, the pathologist in charge.
He then proceeded to inform the Coroner about his findings:1.
ABDOULIE SANYANG: In the external examination there was no damage or wound and no evidence of chronic disease.
Internal examination: He indicated injuries and swellings in the left lungs. As to the cause of death, Dr Rafael indicated that the left pulmonary vein crushed; that it could have been pressed physically.
2. BURAMA BADJIE:
Examination revealed that the deceased sustained gun shot wounds from the back causing loss of blood and damage to the lungs.
The doctor proceeded to say that the cause of death was massive haemorrhage;that two wounds were visible: entry point at the right upper chest and at the back.The counsel asked the doctor to tell the court whether the entry point of 20mm and exit of 30mm is due to a live bullet or a blank bullet. In response, he said it was due to a live bullet; that it cannot be sutured; that in the cause of examination he did not come across any bullet in the body because of the speed. Asked whether he had any experience to have an idea as to the type of bullet used, he answered in the negative.
3. WUYEH MANSALLY:
Dr Rafael told the inquest that Wuyeh Mansally was aged 19 years; that he had sustained a wound on the right side of his neck of length 25mm; that the wound penetrated the left jaw causing the jaw to fracture around the exit; that as a result of the force of the bullet moving at high speed the tongue was cut at the main joint around the gullet.
Dr Rafael went on to indicate that as a result of this there was serious bleeding which led to Mansally's immediate death. When asked if the wound was caused by a live bullet, he answered in the positive. Asked further whether the bullet was fired at close range, he said that it can be estimated to have been fired from a range of about 13 metres. He was also asked why the exit of the wound was larger than the penetration, he said that it was due to the high velocity at which the bullet was travelling; that this forced small particles of bones around the fractured area of the jaw to go out with the bullet.
He was also asked if the other parts of the body were affected and he answered in the negative. He was asked if a rubber bullet can cause a penetrating wound, he answered in the positive but noted that it cannot have the same impact as a live bullet.
Read my column next week for another Pathologist, Dr Sam's report on Momodou Lamin Njie; Calisco Priera; Karamo Barrow; Reginald Carrol; Omar Barrow; Momodou Lamin Chune; Lamin A. Bojang and Ousman Sabally.Until then, Assalamalaikum For comments write to Papak196@yahoo.co.uk.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Yet another gimmick
by PK Jarju
Last Tuesday, after taking my ten month-old son to bed, I tiptoed quietly downstairs to read the speech delivered by President Jammeh at our great nation's 43rd Independence Anniversary. But by the time I got to the tenth or eleventh paragraph, I started to yawn. Not that I was tired. I was not hungry either as I had eaten a full four inches pizza and drank two glasses of cranberry juice. I was bored.
While President Jammeh may have succeeded in impressing the large crowd at the Independence Stadium in Bakau with his speech, I found nothing new or exciting to warrant those people standing or sitting in that scorching hot sun to nearly dislocate their hands clapping for him. The speech was just mere rhetoric and political gimmick.
Years after years, we have seen him deliver similar ear-pleasing speeches only to see him act differently. President Jammeh seems to have forgotten that the deepening political differences among Gambians are of his own making. He has divided and continued to rule Gambians base on their political affiliations. And in order for Gambians to put aside their political differences and work together for the betterment of our country, Jammeh himself has to take the lead.
He has to take the lead by being sincere to his words and by governing The Gambia as a country and not his kingdom. Jammeh has to convince the Gambian people that he is a man they can trust. He has to stop being a chameleon that keeps changing its colours every now and then. There should be no room for hypocrisy. We have seen enough of that. All we want is action.
Since 1996, President Jammeh and his APRC militants have put politics before national interest. And while Jammeh can stand in front of those school children- the cream of our society and try to portray himself and his government as having the interest of the country at heart, many brilliant and hard working Gambians are being fired from their posts.
They are fired not because of corruption practices or wrong doing, but simply because someone elsewhere reported them for being opposition sympathisers. Many of those kids he was addressing will in a few months or years be denied jobs, government scholarships, arrested and tortured because their parents are opposition sympathisers or because they choose to be critics of his regime.
We have seen many Gambians killed, arrested and tortured by State Guard soldiers, the Gestapo (NIA) and other state security officers not because they are a threat to national security but because of their political affiliations or beliefs. And as i write this article, such crimes are continuing to be committed against innocent Gambians by men in uniform with the blessings of Jammeh.
Today in The Gambia, we use politics in everything. People suspected of having links with the opposition parties finds it very difficult - if not impossible to even register their businesses with the relevant government departments.
To suite the interest of President and his corrupt APRC government, Gambians are being restricted from setting up prosperous business entities like newspapers and other media outlets. Other media houses that have provided jobs for hundreds of Gambians like The Independent, Sud FM Banjul and Citizen FM are shut down for non other than political reasons. Communities that support the opposition are still being neglected by the government. Interestingly even though they pay their taxes to the government, yet they are being punished for voting for the opposition. These and many other things are happening in the country day in day out and they cannot just be ignored.
People cannot put their political differences aside while they are being bullied. Jammeh does not have any respect for his political opponents and critics. He have repeatedly called them and their sympathisers derogatory names on national television and even swears in the name of Almighty Allah to bury them six-feet deep just because they disagree with his policies and programmes.
And judging by the eyes which Jammeh looks at his opponents and critics, it would be very impossible for him to work with them. Jammeh has a lot of pride and does not listen to anyone. He is paranoid and reacts brutishly like a cobra to any advice he deems wrong. There is no job security when working with Jammeh and you can be lock up in Mile Two Prisons as long as he wants without even being charged for a crime. Working with Jammeh is like putting your hand in fire.
If there is to be real progress in our country's democratisation, the APRC regime has to try and win the confidence of Gambians. It cannot do so by continuing to manipulate the constitution left, right and centre to suite its interest. People cannot trust a regime that disregards all the democratic principles of the country. And unless Jammeh buries his pride and govern the country according to the dictates of the 1997 constitution, the political situation in the country will continue to get worst and worst.
With regard to women and youths, it is true that they have contributed so much to the development of the country, but they are still being failed by the APRC regime. The Gambian women continues to suffer from early marriage, female genital mutilation, poverty, you name it. Having a few women in cabinet, parliament and judiciary does not mean the government has the interest of women at heart.
Home is still the place of the Gambian women where she continues to suffer in silence. She wakes up at the first cock crow and goes to bed at midnight. She continues to be born in the cycle of poverty, grow up in poverty, live in poverty, and die in abject poverty.
The importance of the Gambian woman is only realised during elections and political rallies. She is transported around the country in trucks to campaign for politicians who are even too civilised to be covered in dust. Women are being transformed to political slaves. Take for instance, instead of looking after the kids, they are taken to Kanilai to work in Jammeh's farms and entertain his guests. They dance all days and night while Jammeh sits and giggle on his soffa and if he is too excited, he pumps money on them.
President Jammeh should stop playing political football with our women. His government should rather devise modalities of how to remove them from the firm clutches of poverty, abuse and sufferings.
The youth sector is another area which the government has neglected. The Jammeh regime has totally failed Gambian youths. It has failed woefully to provide a fruitful environment where the cream of our society will explore their talents to the fullest.
Over six thousand school children graduate annually from our schools while the public sector employs less than a thousand of then. In fact, I would be fair to say that more retrenchment than recruitment is taking place in the public sector. Giving out scholarships to members of the National Patriotic Student Association (Napsa) or children of Yai compins and senior APRC figures does mean that the government is helping to advance the cause of youth empowerment.
Our youths are being disempowered. They are not allowed to protest or criticise any government policy which is not in their interest. After 12 years of education, a large majority of youths ends up in the ghettos, or in the tourism industry as bumsters.
The government has created a ghetto culture in our youths and it is very unfair to see Jammeh accusing them of laziness. Gambian youths are not lazy. Provide them jobs and other opportunities and you will be surprise to see how hard working they are.
The National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) only recieves an annual subvention of D4.1 million. Only D800, 000 serve as a Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund. The rest is meant for salaries, allowances, utilities and other costs of sustaining the programme. The National Youth Council receives a subvention of D738, 000.
Only D50,000 is designated for Youth Assistance Training. All these subventions are part of the budget of the Department of Youth, Sports and Culture, which stands at D14.5 million. D2 million of this is supposed to be a contribution to finance a National Enterprise Development Initiative.
If government really had the interest of youths at heart, it would have surely invested more money in to the productive base of the economy. More jobs would have been created for the youths. If over 10 million Dalasis could be spent in glorifying the tenth anniversary of the July 22 military coup, why can't such a huge amount be spent in creating jobs for the youths? The answer is simple. The men in power don't care about them.
The new Gambia President Jammeh is envisaging cannot be developed without the regime respecting the political freedoms and rights of the citizenry. The current policies of President Jammeh and his regime are killing our country. There are many intelligent Gambians in Europe, US and other parts of the globe, who wants to contribute to the development of the country. But they can only do if the right environment is created by the regime.
The Gambia can only move forward if Jammeh starts looking at what Gambians can do for The Gambia and not what they can do for him and his APRC party. We can also move forward if most of the unresolved murder issues and other crimes committed against innocent Gambians are address. No justice, no progress.
Friday, 15 February 2008
The naked truth
Straight faced while people cry
How do you feel when you promise something
That you know you'll never do
Giving false hope to the people
Giving false hope to the underpriviledged
Do you really sleep at night?
When you know you're living a lie
To you it is just a job
To the people it hurts to the bone ----Lucky Dube
Here we go again, the fact that an institution owned by President Yahya Jammeh is calling Gambian journalists and online newspapers abroad liars, idiots, trouble makers, cyber terrorists, enemies of The Gambia and other names is not surprising to any Gambian.
This reminds me of one of the seven commandments in George Orwell's book, Animal Farm, which reads: whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
In other words, the Daily Observer is implying that people who bow down and sing praises of Yayha Jammeh even when he declares a public holiday in honour of his son are the friends who have the interest of the country at heart. And those who criticise the Jammeh regime for its lack of respect to our rights are the enemies of The Gambia, the very country of their birth. How interesting is that?
The Daily Observer like its owner, hates to see any one who is demanding for the full restoration of democracy and the respect of the rule of law in The Gambia. As the only daily paper in the country, the Observer is doing a great disservice to The Gambia and Gambians by trying to build a false image of the country and its leadership.
How sad it is to see a newspaper with the motto, Forward with The Gambia, glorifying a man who for the past 12 years has transformed our great country into his kingdom, which he rules any how he wants with no regards to the laws of the land.
The management of the Observer wants Gambians to treat Jammeh as God and believe in whatever he says. They are taking advantage on the fact Gambians are believing and trusting lot and they want us to believe in Jammeh when he tells us bed time stories of pigs flying, curing Aids, curing barrenness or having the ability to know things that are about to happen in 40 years time. How wonderful is that?
The leadership's gross disregard to the constitution and other laws of the country has indeed turned our blessed country into kingdom of the fittest. Criticisms are not tolerated and the men in power comes down heavily on anyone who try to speak out against them.
The Daily Observer has to differentiate between Jammeh and The Gambia. Yahya Jammeh is an individual and The Gambia is a country. While Jammeh will be history, whether today, tomorrow or day after, The Gambia which is home to 1.5 million people will remain forever until the end of time.
The Daily Observer got to understand that no matter what mechanism it employs, it cannot change the truth, the reality on the country. The more it tries, the more laughable its efforts will be to the Gambian public. Its effort to suppress the truth, can be compared to that of a person trying to hide from the sun with his hands.
While we maybe far away from home physically, the Daily Observer, got to know that our minds and spirit are still in The Gambia. We are proud to be Gambians and as a concern people, we follow the events back home minute by minute. The Observer has to remember that the world is now a global village. With the help of technology, we are aware of any development in Banjul within minutes. In most occasions, we are privy of events in Banjul even before the news reaches Serekunda.
While we may be hated by President Jammeh and his regime, which has since 1994 employed all sorts of brutality ranging from intimidation, arrest and detention without trial, torture and murder, we are loved and respected by the Gambian people.
Our newspapers have a much wider Gambian readership, which shows solidarity and support in our service of writing nothing but the truth without fear or favour. Day after day, we receive letters of solidarity from people around the globe thanking us for being sane Gambians, who are not seeking for any political office but trying to keep a tyrant accountable.
The Daily Observer got to realise that the Gambian people are fed up with Jammeh. They are tired of waking up everyday and seeing their president getting more and more obessed at their expense while they suffer with starvation. They are sick of being unable to meet the rising costs of living while the president and his associates diverts their taxes to fund their flamboyant life styles. They are tired of being held to ransome by a president who is being paid from their taxes. They are sick of seeing a President who does not have their interest at heart. They hate a president who waste millions of dalasis to feed exotic animals in his Kanilai zoo while the population cannot afford to a decent three square meal. They hate to see a president who treats them like kids and swears Billahi Wallahi Tallahi at them.
Gambians are not fools. And thanks to the gallantry of the independent media, they have now fully understood that President Jammeh is not representing their interest at State House. He is there for his own selfish interest.
What the Gambian people need at the moment is a stronger opposition leadership. When that is fixed, hopefullly soon, then President Jammeh and his cronies will realise how frustrated Gambians are to his rule.
I and a thousands of other Gambians wants a leadership that will rule the people according to dictates of the 1997 constitution. We want a government that will not enslave Gambians. We want a government that will not seize the rights of the citizenry. We want a governemnt that will respects the opinions of the electorate. Jammeh and his cronies may not be hearing from these people, certainly not in the Daily Observer, but they are out there in our streets, work places, ghettos, everywhere- and their anger is brewing just beneath the surface.
As a democratic minded journalists, all I will keep doing is to continue telling the Gambian people what they need to hear as well as provide them with the space- the space they are shamelessly denied by the Daily Observer to freely express themselves. This will no doubt enable them to exercise their democractic rights by voting Jammeh out of power.
President Jammeh and his cronies and indeed the Daily Observer, got to realise that the so-called return of the country to civilian rule in 1996 does not in anyway make us a democratic country. The mere periodic voting in general elections does not make us a democratic country. The mere existence of the three arms of government does not make us a democratic country. What we have is The Gambia is Jammehcracy, a system of government that can best be define as government of Yahya Jammeh, by Yahya Jammeh and for Yahya Jammeh.
In Jammehcracy, while there exist the three arms of government, yet the president gets total control of their activities. He hires and fires ministers, legislators and judges. A minister who disagrees with him during cabinet meetings gets a good kicking on the backside. A member of parliament who fails to vote for any bill drafted by the executive is whack from the National Assembly and a judge who delivers a verdict against the state gets his contract terminated or remains at the bottom of the judiciary ladder with no prospects of promotion.
In Jammehcracy, the president becomes so intoxicated with power and will do everything in his powers to remain president for life. Like all dictators and tyrants, he becomes so paranoid thus trusts no one. He surrounds himself with his tribal men from the same village or division, who are pampered with goody goodies as long as they remain loyal to him. These tribal men in uniform spend sleepless nights arresting, torturing and in most occassions killing anyone who refuses to bend his knees for the president.
This of course reminded me of an article, The Portrait of a Tyrant authored by one of my mentors, Baba Galleh Jallow. In the article, Mr Jallow said: "Democracy, it is often said, is the tyranny of the majority. It is a political arrangement in which the majority elect representatives who then make and impose laws on the minority, whether the minority likes such laws or not. But it is universally acknowledged that a well-ordered democracy with the necessary checks and balances to prevent abuse of power is the best-known form of government. The situation becomes tricky when there is but a semblance of democracy, when there are no checks and balances, and where the elected representatives lack the personal wisdom and integrity to do the right thing and abstain from abusing their powers.
"The elected minority, knowing that those who elected them are really not in any position to control or punish them, begin abusing their power. Under the leadership of the would-be tyrant, they throw all care to the winds and employ every sort of conceivable device to deceive the people. They steal and get rich, lie and lavish goodies to blind the minds of the people, and become veritable sycophants to their leader, the would-be tyrant. When they are adequately corrupted and stripped of all honor and integrity, the would-be tyrant would start eliminating them one by one. So that in a short while, he would be the only surviving member of his former companions, thus beginning the rapid transition into a fully fledged tyrant. He would have been transformed, by his greed and insatiable lust for power, into a monster in human skin. For he would have lost all sense of proportion and would see himself as the very paragon of virtue and righteousness, thanks to the creeping and cringing sycophants groveling at his feet at every moment of his waking life."
The Daily Observer needs to know that while it is willing to blindly glorify President Jammeh and his bandwagon, sane Gambians will not. Gambians know that the APRC leadership is a complete sham. It is a bunch of currupt and selfish individuals who are using their positions to enrich themselves.
Take for example, we all know how much the president and his ministers are earning. Their earnings are not even upto £12,000 a year, yet they boast of fleet of cars, uncountable houses, zoo, foreign accounts and other properties far beyond their wages. How can they acquire all these riches if is not true bribery and corruption? Well you tell me that?
To conclude, let me make this clear once and for all. The Gambian media is here to stay. While the management of the Daily Observer is willing to bend its knees and bow its head to President Jammeh and his band wagon as they embark on their quest to milk the country to dry, we will not. We will always remain steadfast and committed to our principles. We will never abdicate our responsibilities no matter what bullying tactics you use. We can never be silent. NEVER.
Peace
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