After Probe Into April Student Disturbances, Security Personnel, GAMSU Blamed




The Independent
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(Banjul)
September 25, 2000
Banjul
Platoons of the Police Intervention United by ASP Momodou Ceesay, other security
functionaries and the leadership of The Gambia Students' Union (GAMSU) have been
blamed for the gory trail of student deaths and injuries that resulted from the
April unrest.
While submitting a report by the Commission of Inquiry set up by the President
to probe into the disturbances, the Chief Justice Felix Lartey declared that
security officers who tried to stem the tide of student protest were found to be
'largely responsible' for the deaths and injuries which followed. Mr... Lartey
the Commission's chairman also submitted that student leaders especially those
who took the decision for students to demonstrate would not go unblamed. 'Their
act not only breached the Public Order act (Cap 22) but also indirectly led to
fatalities and extensive damage to both private and public property', he said.
According to the Chief Justice the nine-member Commission found it necessary to
make adverse findings against Momodou Ceesay, the commander and his Police
Intervention Unit platoons whom he said were found apparently responsible for
the deaths and injuries that occurred in the area between GTTI and Westfield
Junction. 'Although we would not describe our findings against the Commissioner
of Operations as adverse, we would say his handling of the operations was
generally unsatisfactory and ineffective' Mr... Lartey remarked.
Inspector Darboe and Corporal Gorgi Mboob whom Mr... Lartey said led a
detachment of security officers into St. Augustine's Senior Secondary School
'should be held responsible' for the assault on a member of the teaching staff
as well as injuries sustained by some students and the damage done to school
property.
Chief Justice Lartey also revealed that the Commission connected five soldiers
of the Farafenni 2nd Infantry Battalion with the death of two students at
Brikamaba on April 11. Mr... Lartey maintained that the battalion led by one
Corporal Camara, Lt. Samba Baldeh and Lt. Wassa Camara cannot evade blame for
the 'inhumane treatment' meted out to some people at Brikamaba. He also
mentioned three police officers at Brikamaba, namely Inspector Madinding Fatty,
Detective 1st Class Constable Fakabba Darboe and Constable Lamin Darboe for the
role he said they played in the wave of unlawful search, arrest and detention of
people there. 'Their action fueled revulsion, anger and lack of confidence in
the security forces', he observed.
The Commission's chairman also highlighted the 'moments of difficulties and
frustration especially during decision-making processes when divergent views
from such a large body were to be considered and reconciled.' He also bemoaned
the effort of 'traducers and detractors' whom he said out of spite tried to
'discredit and derail' the Commission from its work. Making reference to section
204 of the constitution, which deals with adverse findings, Mr... Lartey said
the inquiry body was constrained to make adverse findings against some members
of the security forces.
The Commission's report was based on an evaluation of evidence from 59 witnesses
who appeared before it. It also contains a 'minority view' of a member of the
Commission for government consideration.
Meanwhile, according to reports, the Secretary General at the Office of the
President had ordered that names of those against whom adverse findings were
made should not be revealed to the media. Her order was said to have emanated
from the President.
Following the submission of the report Pap Cheyasin Secka, the Attorney General
and Secretary of State for Justice referring to Section 204 (1) of the
constitution stated that where an adverse finding against a person has been made
by the Commission, he should be informed of the findings and the reasons. He
also observed that any such individual might appeal against such findings to the
Court of Appeal.
Sounding conciliatory in receiving the report, President Jammeh promised to
implement the its findings and dispense justice in a manner that would 'heal the
wounds' of victims and relatives. He averred that although there will always be
critics, the Commission should not be daunted or deterred in its work while it
sought to unravel the truth.
The Gambian leader who was away in Cuba during the disturbances, hoped that the
country's 'highly' moral and religious identity would prevent a recurrence of
the April tragedy, which left close to 15 students dead and many others wounded,
some fatally.

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