After Probe Into April Student Disturbances, Security Personnel, GAMSU Blamed The Independent </publishers.html?passed_name=The%20Independent&passed_location=Banjul> (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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------