BY PA NDERRY M'BAI
July 22ND  1994, is now becoming part and  parcel of Gambia's national
calender.  It's  a day, in which the despotic regime of dictator Yahya
Jammeh,  toppled the democratically elected government of Sir Dawda Kairaba
Jawara.  military take overs are illegal in all it forms.  But in The
Gambia, it's being celebrated yearly.


GAMBIA'S IRON HAND DICTATOR JAMMEH
WHAT HAPPEN TO HIS SO CALLED REVOLUTION?
Now the  questions that comes to mind is: Is there any cause for
celebrations?   What is the point of celebrating an illegal event?   What
message is Jammeh sending to the young officers of The Gambia National
Army?   This question was raised by prominent politician Omar Amadou Jallow
alias OJ in one of my interviews with him  and i will raise it again.    Who
is to benefit from such an undemocratic occasion?   Does our current sick
economy permit for such an illegality?   More questions than answers from
Jammeh's  drowning regime.

As the Ruling APRC observed this undemocratic day, i want to join other pro
democracy activists in condemning such an illegality.    My tribute to those
who died under the repressive regime of Yahya Jammeh.    We should remember
the deaths,  as the regime marked this dishonourable act..    We should also
use the occasion to assess the underdevelopment and economic mayhem
perpetrated by Yahya and his murderous regime.

We will also continue to ask questions regarding the murder of our sons,
daughters,  brothers and journalist Omar Barrow by Jammeh's trigger happy
soldiers on April 10, 2000.   The regime also owe an explanation to The
Gambian populace as to who murdered veteran journalist Deyda Hydara.
Instead of coming up with reasonable leads as to who killed the journalist,
Jammeh and his widely feared NIA'S embarked on  what i will describe as a
"vilification" campaign against the unshakable reputation of Deyda Hydara.
  Who with his right mind will  buy the cover up story advanced by this
desperate and confused regime?

Is this yet another blackmail against the deaths by Jammeh?   It's unGambian
and unIslamic for one to castigate the deaths.   The reasons advanced for
Deyda's  possible murder, in my mind is only a smear campaign against a
defenceless and innocent journalist who spent all his life in defending
freedom and liberty.

The Ruling APRC is still being hunted by Deyda's death and must do its home
work better to convince Gambians and the international community.   There is
no iota of truth in their "empty and baseless" confidential report on
Deyda's death.    There is still more questions than answers in Hydara's
murder.  We will not rest, until we see the perpetrators of this cowardly
and dastardly act brought to book.    It's very unlikely under Yahya's
regime for  the killer(s) of  Deyda  to face justice,  in view of their
apparent unwillingness to allow international investigators to take part in
the investigations.      Why closing  your doors to   foreign investigators,
if you feel that your hands are clean?

It's reported that the sacked army chief of staff Lieutenant Colonel Vincent
Jatta is in the United States.  Perhaps Colonel Jatta will spill the beans
and expose this murderous regime.   Vincent was said to have protested the
killing of Deyda, which led to his immediate sacking.   Vincent go ahead and
tell the world what happen on the eve of Deyda's murder.   Gambians are
eagerly waiting to hear from you.   You stand to be accused of conspiracy,
if you failed to speak out against a regime you served and had been linked
to all kinds of atrocities.     Jatta, do  justice to yourself and speak
out.

My fellow Gambians, join me in asking Yahya Jammeh to explain the
circumstances that led to the mysterious death of former finance minister
Ousman Koro Ceesay.   We are also demanding a comprehensive explanation into
the "mass killings"   and burial of alleged November 11 coupists.    Why the
extra judicial killings?  Under the Gambian law any body accused of crime is
presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent law court.   Why
summarily executing these young soldiers of our army without observing the
dictates of our National constitution?.    Some soldiers are still missing.

Families have raised questions about the whereabouts of their loves ones
over and over.   The regime had not yet come up with any convincing
explanation about the whereabouts of the missing soldiers.    We are
welcomed  testimonies given  by one of the escapees  Benneh Minteh,  who
gave a comprehensive explanation about the events leading to  the November
11 alleged abortive coup.     Facts are now gradually emerging regarding the
said incident,  which left many GNA soldiers dead and missing.   Bereaved
families are still demanding justice in this  high profile crime perpetrated
by a regime calling itself to be democratic.

We want Jammeh to come with more convincing explanation about the
circumstances that led to the killing of  lieutenant Dot Faal, Sey, Barrow
and a host of others.    The press release read on Gambia Radio and
Television Service on the day in question by exiled former APRC number two
man Sanna Sabally was nothing but a deception and  mere lies.

It's typical of  military dictators to betray their co conspirators,  since
their action in toppling regimes are not  justifiable at all.   We have seen
similar betrayals taking place in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria.
   The active participation of the military into politics had hindered
development on  the African continent.   A classical case is The Gambia,
where the former junta had embezzled millions of dalasis since it came to
power.    Millions of dollars were secretly transferred to a Swiss account
in the early days of the coup, which later landed into the hands of former
APRC spokesman Ebou Jallow.    A war of words ensued between Ebou Jalow and
the shameless APRC regime following this scandalous revelations,  as both
parties tried to deceive Gambians with their dubious monetary transfer
schemes.   Crude oil funds from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, amounting
to millions of dalasis also went into the pockets of Jammeh and his cohorts.

The Central Bank financial scandal is still fresh in the minds of Gambians.
Millions of dalasis are still yet to be accounted for.  To add insult to
injury, the government recently came up with a  statement saying that there
was no money missing at the Central Bank.  Then why imprisoning Lang Conteh
and Baba Jobe?  If the government statement which was published in one of
the local papers is to go by, then Lang and Baba should be freed.

The much talked about Paul Commission had been trashed into the dustbin of
history.   The Commission's  work and recommendations  had been discredited
by the pioneer of the enquiry,  who is no other person  other  than Yahya
Jammeh.   Jammeh's promise to deal with corrupt officials was a mere joke.
  He reinstated Yankuba Touray, former information minister indicted for
corruption by the Paul Commission few months after the findings were
released to the public.  Touray was ordered  to pay over D2million of
dalasis to the state.   The sum in question was reportedly embezzled by
Touray during his tenure as a minister with the Ruling APRC government.

Now what's the point of setting up a commission when the president is not
willing to enforce the commission's recommendations?   His actions suggested
that he is trying to legalise corruption in The Gambia.   What's is good for
the goose is good for the gander.  If Yanks Touray is a scared cow, why not
other inducted public officials?

The bottom line here is that,  it's the kettle calling the pot black.  Yahya
Jammeh is not more clean than Yankuba, Tombong, Edward and other public
officials brought before the Paul Commission.   He should have been the
first person to be investigated.   A day will come he will tell us where he
put "The Gambian money".  Let Jammeh and his co accomplices continue to live
in a dream world, but justice will certainly and surely be extended to their
doors sooner or later.

The recent move by the supreme court to declare the positions of the four
opposition MPS is also a cause for concern for our eroding fragile
democracy.   Our poverty stricken country is no doubt in mind heading to one
party rule.   The future of The Gambia is indeed gloomy.    Speaker Sheriff
Mustapha Dibba and the APRC rubber stamp National Assembly are doing
disservice to our country.   What will the Ruling government gain from such
a an undemocratic move?  I'm not surprised by their actions.  From day one i
knew that Sheirff Dibba was hired by Yahya to do dirty job for him.
Sheriff, you are a disgraced to the older and the younger generation.   You
have compromised your integrity for shake of money and position.   Your
crusade against the deposed Jawara administration, was nothing but a mere
attempt to enrich yourself.  We must thank God for not allowing you to
assume the office of the presidency.   It would have been a different story,
if you had succeeded in taking charge of the affairs of the impoverished
state.   God knows why he will not allow your types to rule The Gambia.

The supreme court which should seen to be independent had allowed to be used
by a regime interested in destabilising the fabric of society in The Gambia.
   The court's decision on this controversial case was clouded by Jammeh's
statement prior to the ruling.   Jammeh was on record for having branded the
new opposition grouping as "The National Association of Desperate Donkey
drivers".    One would not hesitate to conclude that their ruling against
the opposition was dictated by Jammeh's irresponsible pronouncements on the
eve of the case ruling.    Now the rest is history.

As the APRC marked the July 22nd coup, i implore on the current leadership
to step down from power and allow an interim government to run the country.
    The regime had demonstrated that it's not capable of steering the
affairs of the country.   Its recent move to sack the IEC chairman Gabriel
Roberts and two other staffers of the electoral body goes to show that they
are prepared to rig the 2006 polls.    Jammeh should not forget tthat he
days of election rigging is becoming a thing of the past.   The verdict of
the people is more powerful than his thugs bent on undermining our cherished
peace.

Having said this, it's imperative to compare the PPP deposed  administration
and the Ruling APRC government  in terms of governance and economic
performance.    The reason advanced for the so called "revolution" was to
tackle corruption, nepotism, and injustice in The Gambia.   But today, the
APRC is more corrupt than Jawara's regime.   In a span of 11 years,  they
have embezzled billions of dalasis.  The records are there to prove my
assertion.     Jammeh's corruption is well documented both locally and
internationally.  Jawara's government was far better than Jammeh's  regime
in terms of governance and economic prosperity.   Under Jawara, The Gambia
was highly valued by the international community.  This was due to the old
man's respect for democracy and  the rule of law.   It was under Jawara's
watch that we have the African Centre, Human and People's right in The
Gambia.

Under Jammeh,  is the reversed.   What we have witnessed is international
isolation.    The Gambia is no longer considered as a democratic state.   We
have been ranked as a nation not  meeting international democratic
standards.   Can Jammeh tell Gambians why The Gambia was not qualified for
the G8 debt relief program?    Can Jammeh tell us why The Gambia is still
not qualified for the US millennium challenge account?   I doubt if he will
respond to my questions.    As long as  Yahya Jammeh is ruling the Gambia,
Gambians will continue to suffer.   He had reduced the presidency to be a
laughing stock in the eyes of the civilised nations.

The  APRC is celebrating another failed  so called revolution characterised
by broken promises,  economic and rule of law crisis.    Down with such an
irresponsible dictatorial regime.







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