EVENTS BEHIND THE CURTAIN: THE SECOND GAMBIAN REPUBLIC

July 21, 2006
Since the military coup that brought the current regime to power in 1994 took place, many were hopeful that it was a positive and constructive change that will shape the destiny of the smiling coast of West Africa (The Gambia) and her beautiful people. Citizens took to the streets and mass rallies organized, in support of the tiny "soldiers with a difference". Former President Jawara's days as not only one of the best African leaders, but world leader, ended in a betrayal by the whole country, including some of his close confidants. To my wide readership, it does not exclude even this writer because it all happen during my hay days as a young lieutenant who contributed to the coup in one way or the other. Although indirectly involved because could not help it, I do acknowledge the fact that it was one big crime ever committed against my dearest motherland. Like many other Gambians we are all learning from that experience, and shall ever live to regret that unfortunate situation.

With their inception to the saddles of power as the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council, they took advantage of their famous slogans "soldiers with a difference", "Accountability", "Transparency", and "Probity", to persuade the entire Gambian community in support of a so call revolution. The constitution was suspended, youths mobilized and the elderly made to believe that the PPP regime was one of the worst regimes in the history of mankind. Many innocent citizens got incarcerated and tortured to comma whilst many fled the country for fear of persecution.

A half-baked educated high school Chairman and Vice Chairman of the supreme Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council took the realms of the nation as President and Vice President respectively. This were the tough days for Gambians as the society was ripped off its great fabric of the rule of law. The sinking of the country into an isolated backwater began at this very juncture, when there was rampant firings and hiring amongst the civil service raising a high alarm of uncertainty and insecurity among the populace. The country's economic reserve was looted by the young and greedy military turned politicians; the first predicament that is still affecting our national economy.

From then onwards, the regime was bent on much talking and less action as clouds of confusion and uncertainty continue to hang over the beautiful smiling coast of Africa. It was only three months after their inception to the saddles of power that the "soldiers with a difference" claimed to have foiled an attempted coup, when the first victims of the brutal regime were laid to rest after facing summary executions through a firing squad, beaten to death or buried alive. These are still fresh in some memories as most of us were hunted and still continue to be haunted. As the first event behind the curtain of the second Gambian republic, we should therefore never forget the following gallant sons of the Gambia who were brutally murdered on the sad day of November 11th 1994;

Lieutenant Bassiru Barrow.
Lieutenant Abdoulie Faal.
Lieutenant Gibril Saye.
Lieutenant Momodou Lamin Darboe.
Lieutenant Bubacarr Jameh.
Second Lieutenant Bakary Manneh.
Officer-Cadet Sillah.
Warrant Officer Nyang.
Lance corporal Bassiru Camara and many other rank and files. They were cold bloodedly executed and until today, their respective family members could tell you very little about the whereabouts of their love ones. May their soul rest, in perfect and eternal peace.

From then onwards, Gambians began to realize that the country has taken a different path, an unpredictable path that no one can tell. Families of many former government officers were evicted from their luxury housing complexes and valuable property belonging to many was confiscated. Some where left homeless, and only ended up being accommodated by family and loved ones which happened in many cases; a manifestation of what constitutes Gambian hospitality and solidarity.

As chaos and confusion continue to ravage the community, many elders also got ridiculed by the junta and many other subjected to torture; a situation where some met their untimely death. The long and rough journey, continue to grow even more tense, when divisions emerged amongst the supreme Armed Forces Provisional ruling council. The Vice Chairman of the council acting as the Vice President Former Captain Sabally and the Interior Secretary of State for Interior Former Captain Sadibou Hydara, were arrested and jailed for 9 years, in an allege coup attempt against the junta. Many believed that their arrest was a ploy to contain the fiercest man of the junta Vice Chairman Sana sabally whose charismatic control and influence touched many lives across the tiny West African State. It was widely believed that Jammeh and his other two council members fell apart with the later on a difference of principles. Captains Sabally and hydara were believed to be opposed to Jammehs intention of hanging on to power, which contradicts the principle upon which they staged the coup; that is handing over power to a democratic government in the shortest possible time. This was proven after the former number two man was released from prisons two years ago.

Another blow that took place in the history of the second republic was the gruesome murder of former Finance Secretary of State MR OUSMAN KORO CEESAY. The US educated Finance graduate was found burnt in his car at a bridge 20 miles from the capital Banjul. This was one of the worse gruesome atrocities ever committed on Gambian soil. According to a former spokesman of the junta who absconded after falling apart with the regime, the former Secretary of State was beaten with batons and then shot on his head before transporting him, to be burnt in his own car. This act, also constitute a crime against humanity and Gambians are poised to prosecute the actors behind this sad scene. The actors are known and are still loitering in the streets of Banjul under a stupid law of impunity.

Whiles Gambians continued mourning and confusion ravaging the community, another serious blow in the history of the second republic took place; another worse event behind the curtain when on the sad day of April 10th and 11th 2001, student demonstrators were gunned down on broad day light whilst protesting against the raping of a fellow student at the hands of the security forces. This sad event is still fresh in our memories as it shall remain in our history books forever. Until today, Gambians fully know who ordered the shootings and who carried out the shootings. This is also a crime against humanity and it will be punishable in an international court god willing.

Shortly after the tragic event that surrounded the murdered Gambian students, the Vampires stroke again, when a close body guard of the President Lieutenants Almamo Manneh and Landing Berek Sanneh were accused of an alleged coup attempt. Lieutenant Manneh was shot to death whilst Lieutenant Sannehs house was stormed with gun fire until he was arrested. Until today, no one can tell the where about of Lieutenant Landing Berek Sanneh. Is he death or alive? That is a good question that still remains unanswered. However there is no doubt that the truth shall sooner or later be known.

The brutal murder of Corporal Dumbuya of the State guards is another event behind the curtains of the Second Gambian Republic. Poor corporal Dumbuya was chased from the State House and dragged from Banjul Albert Market before the Gambian shopping Community to meet his untimely death. People could not still understand what the corporal did and why he was murdered? His murder also constitutes a crime against humanity and the beans shall sooner or later be spilled before a court of law.

The most obvious event behind the curtains of the Second republic is the constant thug of war between the regime and the independent press. Press freedom in any democratic institution is a fundamental key to development; however that is not the case with the Khaki boys whose view of the press is; an enemy to socio-economic development and a threat to their interest. This has led to the fire bombing of the Fm radio station, the numerous arson attacks on the Independent news paper by a group calling themselves the green boys, and the arson attack on the resident of the BBC stinger Ebrima Sillah.

Another tragic event behind the curtain was the attempted murder of a prominent human rights lawyer Mr. Ousman Sillah. Lawyer Ousman Sillah was widely known to be a defender of freedom and strong advocate of the rule of Law. His association with the late Deyda Hydara and a prominent western club made him an enemy and a threat to authority. He was sustained several shots by masked men who ambushed him at his house. Mr. Sillah was then flown to Dakar for treatment. The assailants of Mr. Sillah are also still loitering in the Gambia with impunity. Interestingly, during an interview after this tragic event the Gambian President in his own words during an interview said "His men are Professionals and therefore never miss there target", which has raised a suspicion on the part of many.

Despite an international outcry and condemnation of the war against the press and the brutal human rights abuses, the regime cared less. No sooner than one could realize, the Veteran Journalist (owner and proprietor of the point newspaper) MR DEYDA HYDARA was gunned down at the steering wheel of his car. Deyda Hydara was known for his famous column "Good Morning Mr. President" which was designed to give advice to a young and inexperience leader of our times. Until today, government could not come up with any credible investigation as to who the perpetrators are. There is still an international outcry by transnational civil society for an independent enquiry into the orchestrated gruesome death. His murderers are also loitering in the streets of Banjul under the same stupid law of impunity. Interesting revelations about Deyda's Killers has begun unraveling. The truth shall sooner or later be known, as this also constitutes a crime against humanity.

The gruesome murder of Deyda Hydara has cause a shift in the political chemistry of the tiny West African State. Gambian citizens began to realize the need to come together for a peaceful and democratic change to be effected. As the opposition was tirelessly working towards a successful alliance, the harassment and intimidation of opposition figures began taking a new dimension. Knowing fully well about its growing unpopularity across the country, a new wave of arresting and detention of opposition figures spiraled across the tiny nation. With mounting persistence and international concern as far as the US State Department, the opposition figures were released and acquitted of all charges.

Apart from the harassment and detention of opposition figures, a latest event behind the curtains of the second republic is the most recent alleged coup attempt three months ago. Scores of Gambian military officers and seniors were arrested and most of them tortured to comma. Some of these men lost body organs whiles in detention and it is widely believed that the five who are reported to have escaped whiles transferring them to the Central Prisons in George-Town are summarily executed ( Former Director National Intelligent Agency MR Daba Marena, Central Bank Senior Manager Mr. Alieu Jobe, and three army Lieutenants). May there soul rest in perfect peace.

These were some of the events behind the curtains of the second republic. They are very sad events that are still hunting the Gambian communities in all works of life. People in the country are worried and concerned as no one knows what the future holds for us. Concerned Gambian citizens have increased their international outcry in exposing the unfortunate situation from Washington to Paris, Madrid to Lisbon, New York to Vienna, Tokyo to Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles to Beijing and from Tripoli to Pretoria. The road to our emancipation from cruelty, brutality and decadence is a long and a rough one, but there are lots of hopes, as Gambians are more determined and aware today, than one could imagine. Let us keep that hope alive and with the power of transnational civil society that we are a part of, events behind the curtain of our second republic will certainly face justice.

MAY GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA AND CONTINUE TO BLESS AMERICA.

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension: It is the presence of justice." (MARTIN LUTHER KING JR)