Gambia, Gambia, The Gambia, what has happened to you?  Oh well, I don't know 
any of these people, or seem to be related to them, so, let their folks deal 
with their plight!  That is the attitude that will continue to sink us 
further.  I read recently that the "The Boyz are Trying".  In deed, they are 
trying to railroad Gambians, daily.  How can anyone be taken seriously, in 
the face of what this government has done and continue to do to Gambians?  I 
bet you if one of these folks was related to that author, the boyz would not 
be trying for them.  Left handed endorsement of these criminals is now vogue 
amongst Gambians and it is sickening.  They have to result to such schemes 
for in good conscience, they cannot continue to defend the indefensible.  
Many have tried, but they know it is not sustaining.  Where are the many 
griots of this regime, all gone.  Remember Pa Modou Gassama?  You cannot 
come better than he.  The reason middle of the roaders are silent is 
precisely because they cannot in good conscience come here to peddle their 
indefensible garbage.  For each time they point one, many atrocities and 
criminal activity are popping up all over the place.  When killing Yaya with 
kindness and understanding worked for these people, then by any means kill 
us with that love too.

Regarding the below article, we all knew the result to these and many more 
and we also know that "No Problem Gambia" will just carry on.  What is 
laughable is reading Sajor Fofana preaching about coups.  How the hell is he 
in a position to preside over that Roo body?  Is it not the result of a 
mutiny that he has that luxury?  Are these people well?  Well, If the 
military is going to allow Yaya to use them and then turn against them, this 
is not going to be the last time.  Each one of these guys never thought the 
crocodile will turn on his kind and surprise!  Please read on.


Four Coup Plotters Jailed for Life, Others 25 and 10 Years
Friday 20th April 2007

By Modou Sanyang

Four accused plotters of the 21st March 2006 foiled coup were yesterday 
convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in each of the counts by the 
general court martial seated at the Yundum military barracks. They are Capt. 
Bunja Darboe, Capt. Yaya Darboe, Capt. Wassa Camara and 2nd Lt Pharing 
Sanyang. Capt. Yaya Darboe was however not found guilty in count two.

Of the remaining accused persons, two, Capt. Abdoukarim Jah and Lt Momodou 
Alieu Bah, were each sentenced to 25years imprisonment in each count, the 
sentences to run concurrently. Capt. Pierre John Mendy, Corporal Samba Bah, 
Lance Corporal Babou Janha and Private Alhagie Nying were each sentenced to 
10 years imprisonment in each count, and the sentences are to run 
concurrently.

In his ruling the president of the court martial, Lt Col. Commander Sarjo 
Fofana said he had taken consideration of the mitigation plea led by the 
defense counsel. He said the court had equally taken in to consideration the 
fact that there were many coup attempts since 1994. He then stated that The 
Gambia is a peaceful country, adding that the peace should be guarded so as 
not to allow the kind of upheavals in other countries to happen in the 
country.

Lt Col. Commander Fofana further stressed that the menace of coups must be 
checked, adding that soldiers and officers are trained professional who 
should learn to maintain the peace with they have been entrusted.

Considering the substance of the court martial, commander Fofana said that 
it is clear from the evidence that the 1st , 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused 
persons- Capt. Bunja Darboe, Capt. Yaya Darboe, Capt. Wassa Camara and 2nd 
Lt Pharing Sanyang "had counseled and procured other persons to cause 
mutiny." He said there is a combination of two or more officers to commit 
mutiny, that is overthrow the government, noting that the president, by 
virtue of the constitution and the Armed Forces Act, is the 
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

He said each officer was assigned to carry out a task. He stated that 
according to the evidence submitted Capt. Yaya Darboe was assigned to take 
charge of operations from Abuko to the airport; Capt. Wassa Camara to 
disconnect the Abuko Earth Station, and 2nd Lt Pharing Sanyang was to take 
charge of Gamtel house in Banjul. He added that the other accused persons, 
Pierre John Mendy, Lt Momodou Alieu Bah, Corporal Samba Bah, Lance Corporal 
Babou Janha and Private Alhagie Nying had all been counseled and procured to 
take part in the coup but failed to report to the appropriate authority as 
required by the law.

Summarising the evidence, Justice Agim, the Judge Advocate, said that on 
27th September 2006, CDS Col. Lang Tombong Tamba issued a convenient order 
to try suspects in accordance with the Armed Force Act. He said on 11 
October 2006, the accused persons were arraigned and the statement of 
offence read to them, to which they pleaded not guilty- hence the 
commencement of the trial. He said the prosecution called witnesses to 
testify even as some of the accused persons also testified on their own, 
while others chose not to give evidence. He added that the accused persons 
have the right not to give evidence, but that in such an event, it becomes 
the duty of the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused persons.

Justice Agim further adduced that both the prosecution and the defense 
counsels filed written addresses to the court. He said after going through 
all the evidence before the court and the exhibits tendered, the court found 
that the prosecution had proven its case beyond all reasonable doubt.

Meanwhile the related treason trial against four civilians- Tamsir Jasseh, 
Alieu Jobe, Omar Faal Keita and Demba Dem, is going on at the High Court in 
Banjul.

Five former NIA officers, Baba Saho, Ngor Secka, Abdoulie Kujabi, Lamin 
Dibba, Foday Barry and Lt Col. Vincent Jatta, former Chief of Defence Staff, 
who have been charged with concealment of treason, are awaiting trial.

It could be recalled that other suspects, among them former NIA 
Director-General Daba Marenna and four army officers, were reported to have 
escaped on 3rd April 2006, while they were being transported to Janjanbureh 
prisons. Ever since, the whereabouts of the said suspects has not been 
established.

Colonel Ndure Cham, former chief of Defense staff, who is reported to have 
engineered the foiled coup, is still on the run.

Meanwhile, all the 10 convicted coup plotters have the right to appeal 
within one month.

_________________________________________________________________
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