Tamsir Jasseh Clarifies Daily Observer </publishers.html?passed_name=Daily%20Observer&passed_location=Banjul> (Banjul) December 14, 2000 Banjul The deputy inspector general of police, Tamsir Jasseh, who was relieved of his duties Tuesday evening, has objected to views expressed about him and the Gambia Police Force by one Karamba Touray in Washington, USA, published in Daily Observer 's Tuesday, December 12 Viewpoint column. Mr. Jasseh said the article would undermine his activities in the force. Talking to our reporter, Chief Manneh, in his office Tuesday afternoon prior to receiving the letter terminating his services, Mr. Jasseh said, "I think the view of this writer is unfair because he certainly does not know what is actually going on within the Gambia Police Force. He does not know what our problems are or what the causes are. The article gave the impression that I am the only valuable asset in the entire police force which is absolutely false. I alone cannot do it all. I don't have all the answers. I have every desire to reform the police, but I am not the only one desirous of reforming the force. There are many other officers who can reform the police force into a professional organisation. In the first place, there was a police task force set up in 1997 to look into how best to reform the police. A report was presented by this task force and the ideas I had of reforming the police were in line with the recommendations made by the task force. So, ongoing programmes within the police are the results of the collective efforts of many people. The laudable aim I have is what other officers in the force have too, that is, to work together to transform the Gambia Police Force into a professional organisation that can adequately address policing needs of the general public." Commenting on Karamba Touray's assertion that "The Inspector General is himself unsuitable for his job because he has neither the experience nor the foresight to lead a professional police force," Mr. Jasseh said, "I totally disagree with that opinion. IGP Sankung Badjie has spent his entire life in the Gambia Police Force. He is the only IGP who started as a recruit to the post of IGP. Over the years, he has accumulated tremendous amount of experience from which I draw (lessons) to implement my programmes. Our relationship is like hand and glove. As much as Karamba Touray is entitled to his opinion, I think opinions should be based on facts. This article is unfair to the government, the Interior secretary, the IGP, my humble self, and the entire top brass of the police force. I deeply regret it was published without due consultations." Mr. Jasseh also observed that there is general "misconception" that there is high level political interference in the police. "This is untrue. The police is really free to act accordingly to the constitution and laws of the country without reference to political affiliation." Meanwhile, the government has not made any statement on the termination of Tamsir Jasseh's services as deputy inspector general of police. No replacement has yet been named. Meanwhile, when the Daily Observer contacted Inspector General Sankung Badjie, he said he did not know the content of DIG Jasseh's termination letter. Speaking to Daily Observer, Mr. Jasseh said he received his termination notice by the close of office, Tuesday. He said no reasons were stated in the letter on why his services with the force were terminated. Yesterday, Mr. Jasseh surrendered his official vehicle and other property belonging to the police at the police headquarters, Banjul. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------