From Abduction to Ritual Cleansing

Foroyaa, Banjul:
Foroyaa has been following developments in the country very closely to determine whether the abduction of innocent people by witch craft practioners is continuing or has come to a stop.

After our review of the operations of the witchcraft practioners in western Division and CRD we can now detect a departure from the old trend of abduction and the embracing of a new trend of ritual cleansing.

Since the withdrawal of charges against Halifa Sallah and the submission of his letter to President Jammeh questioning government policy on the screening of witches we have not received any report of fresh abductions and attempt to force people to take hallucinogenic concoctions.

The latest report of the movements of the witchcraft practioners is centred on their trip to Janjangbureh.

According to eye witnesses, the witchcraft practioners who were escorted by security forces and green boys and girls arrived in Janjangbureh on Wednesday 8th April 2009. They were transported by three vehicles, a white pick up, a green pick up and a pajero. Upon their arrival, they are reported to have told the chief that they were sent by the President to conduct rituals to rid the area of evil spirits. They asked each person to report what they see correctly to anyone who goes to make inquiries so that they would not be misquoted or misrepresented.

It is reported to Foroyaa that the witch hunters visited the Upper Basic School in Janjangbureh where they slaughtered a cock and a goat. The cock was buried and the goat taken to be skinned and the meat shared. The children at the school are said to be on holidays.

According to other eye witnesses the witch hunters met the chief and explained that they were sent by the authorities to perform their ritual in order to protect the bridge which is to be built at the Sankuley Kunda crossing. After their explanation they were accompanied to the site to perform their rituals. They had a cock, a goat and condiments for cooking.

One Simbong Sidibeh killed the goat on behalf of the chief. The cock was buried with the condiments and the goat was taken to the resident of the chief. Prayers were recited before the team left.

What happened in Jangjanbureh is similar to what happened in Kampasa and other villages in Western Division. We are told that the abductions and compulsion to drink hallucinogenic concoctions have stopped. However some villagers in Western Division are reported to have been compelled to purchase the cock and the goat the witch hunters use to conduct their rituals.

Since the government has not made a public statement on the matter people are at the mercy of the witch hunters and their entourage. The involvement of village heads and chiefs on what may be alien to their cultural and religious practices is still a manifestation of arbitrariness in governance.

Section 32 of the constitution reads:“Every person shall be entitled to enjoy, practice, profess, maintain and promote any culture, language, tradition or religion, subject to the terms of this constitution, and to the condition that the rights protected by this section do not impinge on the rights and freedoms of others or the national interest, especially unity.”

In our view, poverty is the actual witch that is making the poor to suffer and die from anemia, malnutrition and ill-health. Poverty is the devil which needs to be exorcised.

Hence, if any person in the Gambia believes that killing a cock and burying it could serve as protection one should perform the rituals without the involvement of security forces, village heads, chiefs and the population at large. A sovereign person should not be subjected to practice a ritual which does not form a part of his/her own belief. Such rituals cannot be propagated by a state which claims to be “a Sovereign Secular Republic.” We hope the Executive fully understands what this means.