Joe,
I was not going to participate in this debate but your points deserve commendation. I really enjoy reading Ebou Colly's naration ,which i believe are important in understanding Jammeh's fascism. After the 1994 coup people were constantly arrested and tortured with impunity. I have been threatened a number of times by soldiers for criticising the government. The thugery of the council members was very evident to all Gambians, people lived in a state of fear. But in as much as we want to prosecute Jammeh and his clique, we should also not forget the crimes committed by Jawara and his group. after the 81 coup people were tortured daily at the mile two prisons. If anybody had had the opportunity of reading the publication by Halifa Sallah and Sam Sarr entitled "HOW MANY MORE WILL HAVE TO DIE AT THE MILE TWO PRISON? AN EMERGENCY SITUATION", then you would understand the level of crimes committed against Gambians. The gernderme was one of the most arrogant force in the Gambian, even after they started going to Turkey for training. I am hoping for the day when Jammeh, Jawara, Saihou sabally, Sana sabally, Singhateh, or anybody who is acused of human rights violation will have their day in court. The Gambian people deserve to know the truth and justice must be served.
Pasamba Jow
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Sambou
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 11:09 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: WHAT HAPPEN TO US AT RIP
Secka, that's the spirit in which we should view this issue. Just because a family member or friend's rights were not personally violated, does not mean we look the other way. We may never feel the way all the victims in these violations felt during their ordeal, but we can certainly understand their agony. My position is that Lokai and the countless victims are human and Gambian, therefore, when their rights are violated under the constitution of the Gambia, I am also violated. I just mentioned Badou and Lokai, but I can easily list many names of victims of Chongan and his batch mates, and they (his batch mates) are certainly not the only ones. Prior to the completion of the stadium, the Scorpions used to camp at the Police Depot, where Chongan et al underwent their training. A great many of them were my friends or neighbors and I never wasted time to cautioned them (not Chongan in particular) that one day the tables are going to change, and the criminals will have to answer to the people. Detainees from the Kukoi rampage, curfew violators, petty criminals, and others were brought in the camp and we all saw what happened to them. Folks, we are all Gambians and have seen different things happen in that country at different times. I am addressing Chongan because he has the courage to come forward to expose the thugs, and I would not have said anything had he also addressed his victims. He understoodd and felt their pain, especially after his experience. Those days are gone when we turn the other way because we are not directly affected. What the thugs are doing now is just an extension of what they started 30 years or so ago. What the NIA thugs did and continue to do to Dumo Saho is the same thing the CID did to him 25 years ago, and some of us can certainly testify to that. The CIDs of yester years are the NIAs of today. I was in the Gambia in 1999 and 2000, and the soldiers behaved just as bad as I left them in 1985, only now they carry more lethal weapons and threaten to shoot anyone around. They greet you with their thugry at the Air Port.
Folks, we are going to discuss the wrongs committed against our people by any regime, be it military or civilian. I will not turn my back on any victim, for a victim, is a victim, and a victim, anyway you slice it. Lets try to walk in all victims' shoes and not just some victims. On that note, let's focus on healing the wounds of past violations, fight present violations, in order to prevent future violations.
Chi Jaama
Joe Sambou
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