JAMMEH HAS SPOKEN
WHAT'S NEXT FOR GAMBIANS?
Going by president Yahya Jammeh's statement on Deyda's death,
The Gambia is no longer a safe heaven. This had always been
the reality. He had now conceded to that fact of in security
in the country. As i mentioned in my previous postings,
it would be difficult for right thinking minded Gambians
to buy his story that Deyda was murdered by trigger
happy civilians. Now if that is the case as he suggested,
what is stopping him and his government from probing the
origins of the bullets, which killed Deyda. All guns
are licensed with the police. The IGP'S office should
be able to establish whether the bullets used in Deyda's murder
were "service or civil bullets." Security experts knows what
i am trying to put across here.
Jammeh's statement that some Gambians are harbouring armed bandits
is a cause for concern. It had far reaching implications on
our cherished peace. Is Jammeh implying that there are
rebels in The Gambia? If so, what is his irresponsible
government doing to arrest the situation? How long will his
government continue to indict these so called armed civilians
as being responsible for these atrocities taking place in our
beloved country? I doubt if Jammeh will funish us with any
answers.
JAMMEH HATE TO ADMIT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ATROCITIES LINKED TO HIS
GOVERNMENT
Since Jammeh came to power, he had not owned up to any of
the atrocities linked to his administration. When one talk
about the bloody November 11 abortive coup, he will tell
you, loyal forces overpowered dissident rebel army soldiers.
Most of the coup suspects were summarily executed. The
right to legal recourse for the coup suspects was flatly
violated by his government. How about the bloody April
10 and 11 incident? Our kids and colleague Omar Barrow were
murdered. Their rights to organise a peaceful demonstration
was violated. Shameless Jammeh and his government denied
killing the students saying unscrupulous people killed the
student demonstrators. The Lartey commission dismissed the
government's assertions and indicted a good number of
soldiers for being responsible for the students deaths. The
commission recommended for the prosecution of the student's
killers. But Jammeh decided to extend amnesty, to
them, since he ordered the shooting. Knowing that he was
impicated, he used his rubber stamp national assembly to pass
an indemnity Act to bare aggrieved families from seeking legal
redress. Jammeh did not stopped at that. He also denied that
his government wanted to kill human rights lawyer Ousman Sillah.
He told lawyers who attended the 2004 legal year that "his
soldiers are professional and cannot shoot and miss a target"
This statement of Jammeh is indeed revealing. Is he
telling us that his soldiers always accomplished their missions?
Democratic leaders claims responsibility, when their governments
are found wanting. You remember the Senegalese "Lee Jolla"
boat disaster? President Abdoulie Wada publicly accepted
responsibility for the boat accident. He sacked the civil
servants responsible and put up a contingency plans to avoid such
a tragedy. This is what we expect from our leaders.
But Jammeh want to behave as if he is perfect. Well,
these crimes linked to your government cannot go unpunished.
You will account for your deeds one day. We have
seen dictators like Saddam, Charles Taylor and others being
dragged to court. Mr.President, nothing is permanent on this
universe. Please take note of this.
A WEAK SECURITY NET WORK IN THE
GAMBIA
DEYDA HYDARA TELLS NIA AGENTS
In 2003, our point office was being harassed by the NIA
to produce a Senegalese proclaimed Movement For Justice in
Africa MOJA president. Koneh was interviewed by this writer
and he said among other things, his close relations with
Kukoi Samba Sanyang, the alleged master minder of the armed
1981, rebellion, which left thousands of Gambians dead.
Koneh told the point that Kukoi was resident in Burkina faso
at the time and he had been in contact with him. Koneh
claimed that his presence in the Gambia was due to persecutions
he suffered from the Wade administration of Senegal. He
claimed that his life was threatened as he knew the killers
of former president of the Senegalese Electoral Commission
Baboucarr Saye.
Shortly after we ran the story, we received couple phone calls
from The NIA to help them locate Koneh. The agency said
Koneh's assertions borders on National security. I and
Deyda told the callers that we don't know where Koneh was
residing and it was not our job to disclose addresses of our
interviewees.
After two weeks of unsuccessful search, one NIA agent
Sidibeh showed up in our offices and said " I am looking
for Pa Nderry M'Bai." I responded and said " I am Pa
Nderry. Please have a seat. What can i do for you ?"
Sidebeh then pulled out his official ID and said"I am an
NIA agent from the president's office. I am assigned to
come and meet you, so that you can help us locate Koneh. He
said certain things that borders on National security and we
will solicit your cooperation in this investigations. Failure to
disclose where he lives, i have no option but to take you to
our offices in Banjul." I retorted"Well, Mr.Sidebeh, i am
sorry i cannot help you locate Koneh. I don't know where he
lives and even though i happen to know i will not tell
you. What you are talking about is against the ethics of our
profession. I expect you to do your job."
He then retorted"Look we have been searching for this man for
the past two weeks. We have searched everywhere, but cannot see
him. We photocopied the publication of your paper in which
Koneh talked about Kukoi. Almost every staff of the agency
is a having a copy of this publication. You should help
us trace this man. Forget about the issue of ethics and be
patriotic''
I countered by telling him" I will live and die with the
ethics of our journalism profession. Nothing can make me
compromised my profession. I am equally patriotic. But the
issue at hand centred on ethics and not patriotism. I think
i have to refer you to my boss Deyda Hydara"
Myself and Sidebeh walked to Deyda's office, where he again
announced his mission. Deyda was so piss off with the NIA man
and this what he had to say" You people have proven that you
cannot protect Gambians. Koneh has been here for about three
weeks and you said you cannot find him? This is ridiculous.
You come across with this man every day. Jammeh should sack
the entire NIA. You are not doing your job. This is a
disgrace!!! Leave Pa Nderry and the Point alone. We will not
help you trace Koneh. In fact, i will write about this lapse
of security in my next editorial"
While in Deyda's office, a phone call came in that the
wanted Koneh was at the reception looking for his news client
Pa Nderry. Deyda told one of my colleagues to ask the
visitor to wait for me in my office. Koneh was briefed by
the local staff that he was being trailed by an NIA officer
who was present in Deyda's office. Just out of the blue, he
forcefully walked into Deyda's office and confronted NIA officer
Sidebeh. " I learnt that you have been looking for me, for
the past two weeks. Here i am. I am not a criminal. I
am a decent Senegalese trying to seek sanctuary in your
country. I am really disappointed. You people don't know
your job. I have been in the markets, night clubs and
everywhere and you said you cannot find me. Here i am. Stop
harassing Pa Nderry and Deyda. They are doing their job as
expected." Koneh said.
The NIA officer was in a state of joy, as he could not believe
that Koneh would be brave enough to surrender himself. He then
remarked" Thank you Koneh. Can you join me in our Banjul
offices?" Koneh retorted" Why not. Lets go. I have nothing to
hide. I am a clean man."
Interestingly, the NIA officer was not with a vehicle to
transport Koneh. He asked Deyda if he could gave him a lift
to take Koneh. This statement sounds interesting to the late
journalist" You said what? lift, lift? You don't have vehicle to
take Koneh to the NIA office? This is unbelievable!!! I am
sorry, i cannot give you lift. Try and charter a taxi.
Ok. We are busy working on our tomorrow's edition bye."said
Hydara.
The NIA man left. After spending about two days in custody
Koneh was released unconditionally. But he came with threatening
news to our office that i and Deyda were in the bad books
of the NIA. You two guys ought to be very careful. The NIA
are not happy with your work. They advised me to avoid talking
to the Point."
Deyda then thanked Koneh for informing us with such a vital
news. We kept Koneh's info to ourselves and continue with our
work. This writeup is just a wake up call for Gambians
that they need to be vigilant.
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