Date:       Tue, 8 Feb 2000

From:       ebou colly <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:    MY KEY ARGUMENT

MY KEY ARGUMENT
Hello Readers,

It is interesting to see how much importance is attributed to my identity and
not the substance of what I am saying. Hey, I am perfectly comfortable to be
called Samsudeen Sarr (as some one posted in the "voice-out" on 7th Feb.
2000). With all the major roles played by that officer in the Jammeh government he
was one person not identified with any atrocity, abuse of human right or
unprofessional behavior. But that is not the key argument neither was my incidental
mention of Yaya's passion to play tribal games when it is to his advantage
the fundamental issue .Of course I can continue to argue that it is a practical
reality in the way he handles his accused enemies in the GNA. And don't forget
my protracted discussion over the meaninglessness of soldiers within the
civil society, which could also be my guarantee that their problem should never be
a source of civil or ethnic conflict. As a matter of fact I think some of you
ranging from Mr. Buharry Kassama to the other critical observers have in
candid terms made it clear that Gambians have evolved beyond where tribalism would
undermine our common mixed heritage. Mr. Kassama even added some thing to the
effect that civilians would rather not meddle with the soldiers' problems in
fear of being shot in the process of their interference. That should be enough
on Ebou Colly's so-called tribal agenda in the army as being a potential
cause of ethnic explosion in the Gambia. But you may still take your time and make
a case study of it in the army and you will be amazed by what I think some of
you are trying to sweep under the carpet.

Having said that, I further could not help wondering how trivial issues such
as missing the location of Captain Cherno Jallow from Fajara Barracks to
Sierraleone could be blown as the doubting factor to my statement that Yaya as a
coup conspirator once jailed him. I thought the best way to discredit that point
was to contact him in Sierraleone and tell everybody that the officer
seriously denied it. And he was not the only name I gave there. What really happened
to the rest? At least you could have told me that they were in Germany
therefore I was lying that Yaya once locked them up in death row for dubious coup
conspiracy.

Some of you civilians there may not know it but every time you attempt to
justify Jammeh's brutality towards the soldiers you seriously hurt so many of
them who are silently watching with deep emotional pain. Believe me gentlemen we
the soldiers have suffered so badly in that so-called military government that
if the tides of history were to change its flowing pattern and Yaya was out
today, most of you would be shocked with what is hidden below the muddy waters.


Did you ever hear about the story of Lance Corporal Kebbeh who is today
living with his family in Banjul as a half person? This young soldier was accused
of coup conspiracy and shot at point range on his right leg. Then he was
refused proper medical attention until the leg healed improperly leaving him with
one leg three to four inches shorter than the other one. He spent three years in
mile Two central prisons without trial before he was released and dismissed
from the force.
There was the story of corporal Jallow as well who is currently serving a
nine-year prison sentence at Mile Two. A 9MM bullet was shot on his thigh that
almost crippled him too before he was secretly court martial and sentenced.

These are the hard facts I want to hear Jammeh's loyalist to explain the
meaning behind them. Or just tell me why soldiers killed in coup plots or whatever
should be rightly buried behind toilets in mass graves? Why can't they be
handed over to their families for proper burial? Being a former soldier and
knowing that it could still happen to my colleagues while some hard-hearted
civilians out there are ever prepared to justify it is a spine chilling terror to me.
Lance Corporal Bojang and Private Sama Jawo were recovered from Liberia
because we all felt that they did not deserve to stay there forever being the noble
sons of the nation they were. I have the same burning feeling of recovering
the remains of those nice people behind the toilets whom I knew so well .

So defend the system but it would ever continue to be a demonic establishment
to me as a former serious professional soldier. Don't ever think that all of
us are going to swallow the pain just like that until death disposes us with
it. Historians must document them for future truth telling and better
reconciliation.  A lot of you really do not know the background behind the 1994
regretable coup in the Gambia but I promise you that when the dust finally subsides
the whole world would be well enlightened. Our struggle is between soldiers and
rebels in which the battle lines are already drawn.

    ebou colley

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