The current rising trend of unabated brutality by members of the
Gambia's security forces against innocent and well meaning citizens and
other residents in the Gambia is indeed very worrying and a cause
for concern for the long-term stability and prosperity of our beloved
country.Such unjustifiable occurences are becoming a common feature of
conduct by some members of our security forces be it be from the Gambia
National Army, the Paramilitary Forces, the Gambia National Guard, the
Gambia Police Force and the Gambia Fire Service, not to mention the
Notorious Intelligence Agency (NIA); the most brutal of them all,whose
members even seem to thrive on their atrocities by gaining promotions and
greater recognition from none other than Yaya Jammeh.I don't need to
catalogue on a case-by-case basis such atrocities committed against
unsuspecting members of the public by those who were supposed to
protect,safeguard and enhance their security and integrity as human
beings.However recent headlines in the Gambian press such as the
brutalisation of Mansaray by some members of the Bundung Police; the
unlawful detention and brutal torture of Kassa:(Bakau UDP militant)by the
NIA;the harassment and torture by members of the Gambia National Army at the
Yundum Barracks of the 'Independent' reporter are among a number of such
crimes reported recently.Any truly well-meaning Gambian and others who wish
the Gambia well cannot help but be saddened by these retrogressive and
worrying cowardly actions.What is even more worrying is that the
perpetrators of such crimes and atrocities are evetually rewarded by their
superiors instead of being accordingly disciplined,prosected and eventually
dismissed.This culture of impunity and immunity which is being nurtured and
promoted by the APRC regime,if unchecked and eliminated from our justice and
peace-loving society would eventually result in to a severe backlash from
the majority populace with a 'God-forbid' possibility of civil strife.The
recent decision of the Government to indeminify themselves from any
accountabilty for the April 10 and 11 massacre of peaceful student
demonstrators is not only a gross injustice and insult to Gambians but has
also conveyed the message to our security forces that they can get away even
with murder as long as the targets or victims are not known sypathisers or
thugs of the regime.
My message to our security forces is that they should remember that we are
one with them and that they "thus consitute" as the late Captain Thomas said
of the Burkinabe(Upper Volta) Armed Forces,"simply a detachment that is more
specialised than the rest of the population with regard to the defense of
....internal and external security.Similarly even though the health of the
voltaic people is the business of the people as a whole and of each Voltaic
individually,there exists and will continue to exist a more specialised
medical corps that will devote more time to the question of public
health".In essence,Sankarah is alluding to the fact that security like
health is a collective reponsibility of all and that without the
co-operation and support from the public,the security forces by themselves
cannot bring about genuine national security.Therefore,national security
will never be enhanced through brutal and inhumane tactics from the security
forces.Members of our security forces should always in their interaction
with members of the public be guided by the fact that they are employed to
serve for the public good in accordance with the principles of justice and
respect for fundamental human rights.After all,they are paid from taxpayers
funds and not from the wealth of any individual,entity or interest group and
are therefore obliged to serve the collective
public interest.As Sankarah said,"gone are" (should be,mine)" the days when
our national army acted like a corps of foreign mercenaries in conquered
territory".Our security forces should " have no place for  any person who
looks down on,and brutalises the people"(Sankarah,Oct. 2,1983).
My final message is to those guilty of perpetrating and condoning crimes
against their civilian folk, that we are taking notes of their atrocities
and will bring them to account at the most opportune time which is nigh.They
will be accorded a fair trial very soon and sentenced for their inexcusable
crimes against humanity.

We must shatter the yoke of oppression!

BMK











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