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.
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