Fatou Jaw Manneh and Pa Nderry Come Out

Fatou Jaw Manneh and Pa Nderry Come Out



By Foday  Danso, Banjul

I was among the first four or five people in the media in the Gambia almost
20 years ago who were first severely tortured by JK and his agents at the
time. I vividly still remember the day when I was tortured, how it started
and went down, at the Bakau military barracks. Then Sabally personally
threw a blow at me, which left my nose bleeding, and JK himself personally
kicked me, as I was laying down on the floor bleeding. That was almost 20
years ago. Now, I am a highly trained combat soldier myself, and looking
back now at how JK and his agents tortured me, I can tell you, without a
doubt, that they sure as hell knew how to torture the hell out of someone.
And this was almost 20 years ago. Knowing what I know now, as a highly
trained, decorated and war-time combat/Infantry veteran myself, I will say
they sure as hell did a pretty good job then torturing me. They really
tortured the living crap out of me then. That torture left me with a broken
nose, and a few broken ribs. It was a horrible ordeal for me then.

Anyway, that is history now. How many Gambians out there that would now
say, almost 20 years later, that they were tortured by agents of Jallow
Kanilai (JK), during which torture JK himself took part in it? How many
Gambians would now say that? Very few Gambians, maybe, if any, would say
that. At least, I can say that. I can say almost 20 years ago, I was
severely tortured by agents of JK, during which torture JK himself took
part in, and personally kicked me, while I laid down bleeding. And Fatou,
you, youself, like many, was not immune to the brutality of JK. You
experienced it first hand as well. I believe, if I would speak for many of
us, we do not harbor grudge or bitterness for the ordeal, pain and
suffering we went through. I believe I don’t think we do. And I believe we
do not seek attention, sympathy or malice.

Pa Nderry, please allow me to say over the past few months I have quietly
and attentively followed your radio program, and religiously continue to
monitor and read your online newspaper, the Freedom Newspaper, and listen
to your radio. Yes, I confess I have, and still I am, an ardent follower of
anything and everything written and spoken by you, and I sincerely and
fervently admire and appreciate the work you are doing on behalf of Gambia,
and all things Gambian. My admiration for you aside, please allow me to
take this opportunity to extend my appreciation, gratitude and admiration
also to the many unsung heroes as well to the cause of Gambia’s advancement
beyond the framework of the current regime there, which instituted itself
almost 20 years ago, and has since been masquerading under different
disguises and touting so-called developments.

Having made the above preamble, and before I proceed any further, please
allow me first to make this disclaimer: I am not qualified in any shape or
form, neither do I have the education, training and experience to render
judgment on the current, and or recent state of affairs in the Gambia.
There are far too many Gambians, and non-Gambians alike, who are better
educated, qualified and more experienced than I am to render judgment on
the current and recent past state of affairs in the Gambia.

Now having made and established the above disclaimer, please allow me to
say my worthless two-cent piece of comment, observation, remark, or
whatever it might be referred to. And it is this: I once wrote, in response
to a comment, or series of comments this: “It’s amazing how some
benevolently castigate oppression they once benefited from, and which song
they incessantly and extensively sang over periods of time. And even more
amazing is how we embrace such hypocrisy at its very peak. May God Help
us”. I try to understand the positions, and or counter-positions of critics
who were once ardent supporters and or benefactors of Jallow Kanilai’s
regime. Their defense, or counter position is that, for whatever reasons,
when they were or are in the Gambia, they were or are limited or
constrained as to where, when, how or what they can or cannot say, and or
do.

Without coming hard on them, and without excusing their justification as
well, I would just like to respectfully submit that they can, to paraphrase
the words of a real activist, either “be part of the problem, or part of
the solution”. They cannot expect to be part of the problem, while at the
same time, profess to be part of the solution. What even amazes me most,
listening to some of them over the past few months on your radio and
reading your online paper, is how conveniently some of them fail to take
responsibility for their complicity to the havoc being wrecked on Gambia by
Jallow Kanilai, whether or not they were forced into it by choice, love of
country or force, or by circumstance. And even more amazing is that when
critics lash at some of them for their prior complicity, instead of taking
responsibility, express remorse and or guilt, they quickly tabulate all
kinds of justifications, and or pretenses. Smart move, I will give them
that.

True, I respect their justifications and pretenses, but I do not admire
them, and I sympathize with them, though I have reservations, and that I
might not readily avail myself to such justifications and or pretenses,
without further scrutiny. The question then becomes: if others, who are or
were not as qualified, experienced and or educated, as they were, refused
to partake in the transgressions and travesty of JK, how come then others
partake, albeit grudgingly, in such havoc being wrecked by JK? Some who
come to mind right at this junction, and who did not partake in JK’s
travesty are people like Fatou Jaw Manneh, and many others, and to a way
lesser degree, this author. And now, we have experts in Gambian affairs
preaching all kinds of gospel on unity and the way forward for Gambia. Many
Gambian Mandelas are just popping up all over the place. But yet they do
not want to take the slightest criticism leveled against them for their
complicity, whether by choice, circumstance or JK’s whip. Their first step
is to take responsibility for their part, express remorse and or guilt, and
then, only then, the way forward can begin to be paved. They cannot express
allegiance and solidarity to the diaspora movement, while at the same time
pay homage to JK and his regime, and also keep teetering and swaying back
and forth between the cause of the diaspora and JK’s regime, depending on
whatever prospect the winds blow them.

Fatou, I recall reading something you wrote in response to someone who
expressed sentiment on a comment I made, and you eloquently and brilliantly
rebuffed with this statement, on my behalf, that you made: “ We are not
cherry picking who we go after, we cherry pick who is immune to travesty.
All these Jammeh enablers are a bunch of selfish Gambians who care nothing
about the plight of the country, only when they run afoul with the very
laws they spend half their lives promoting, they come half way. Playing and
ramming heads together”.

Fatou, this sentiment you expressed here speaks volume, and goes a long way
to assert and make clear the position of many people, myself included.
True, in the interest of unity and moving forward, it will be a daunting
and futile task to “cherry pick Jammeh enablers”, like you rightfully so
indicated. Like you, Fatou, over the past years, I have deliberately kept a
low profile, albeit patches of isolated and sporadic comments here and
there.

However, I would submit that the writing is on the wall for a change of
regime in the Gambia; as to timing, circumstance and method, we do not now
know. Nonetheless, my only reservation is about those, as you so eloquently
put it, “Jammeh enablers”, who are now masquerading as “freedom fighters”
after they “run afoul with the very laws they spend half their lives
promoting”.

True, we all need to join hands now in unity and move Gambia forward, but
“Jammeh enablers” need to recognize first their role, accept their
complicity, express remorse and or guilt, and make clear and unequivocal
their allegiance, solidarity and loyalty, instead of teetering all over the
place, from one radio show to another, and through all kinds of medium,
from facebook, twitter, youtube, you name it, chances are that there are
Gambians all over that medium, wining and dining Jammeh’s praises, while
others cataloging, exposing and decrying his transgressions. If I may speak
for many of us, we do not seek, demand and or ask for apology from “Jammeh
enablers”.

On the contrary, we however ask, demand and want unwavering allegiance,
loyalty and solidarity. I have no intention to partake in this process, but
I submit that there are very few, I mean, very, very few, people who can
help lead us down towards this path of unity and way forward. And I will
submit that among these very few people, you, Fatou, and Pa Nderry, should
be a leaders in this group. I noticed, of late, there are so many “experts”
in all things Gambian I am beginning to wonder how we separate the
“genuine” ones from the ones with “crowded designs”. I would respectfully
submit and ask that you go out there, and be a vocal and focal voice in
this diaspora movement. And I do not need to remind you, Fatou, of my
continued respect and admiration for you. I have heard and read about some
who seemingly want to now hijack a cause that, as late as six or less
months ago, they feared to be part of, or even be associated with, in any
shape, form or design.

As late as few months ago, these very same people who are now seemingly
front runners in the diaspora movement would have castigated Fatou Jaw
Manneh, Pa Nderry, and company so bad that would make serial murderers like
JK and Ted Bundy look like saints. Genuine leaders like you and Pa Nderry
are the ones Gambia truly needs, not the ones I have seen and heard of and
about of late. Yes, they may have their qualifications in their own rights
to be in the forefront, but they need to acknowledge and make room for
people like you, and the very few others who genuinely have the plight of
Gambia at heart. I have no intent and or incentive to partake in this
process, or endeavor. I am just comfortable to sit in the sidelines,
observe and quietly and silently follow the developments. I am now a
retired, highly decorated, honorable and regarded war-time Infantry/combat
veteran of this Great Nation, and I intend to continue to keep a
low-profile and retired life.

However, please, Fatou, do our beloved Gambia a favor and step out in the
limelight and help lend a leading hand to what now seems obvious. We just
hope and pray the process of regime change in the Gambia turns out
peaceful, smooth and without fear or favor. So, please Fatou Jaw Manneh and
Pa Nderry, do us a great service and step in the limelight and help steer
this endeavor of a seemingly regime change in the Gambia. It will be a
great disservice to you and to our beloved Gambia if you do not. Gambia
needs leaders like you, and Pa Nderry. I noticed too much egos flying out
there, while genuine and sincere leaders like you, sit down quietly on the
sidelines. We need you Fatou and Pa Nderry. Gambia needs you.


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