GDC's former PRO Njie Mute Over Alleged Secret Meeting President Barrow, Says "I am Not Responding to To Any Suggestion, I Have Resigned and Have Resigned"

By Ousman A. Marong
Mambanjick Njie, the former Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) party has kept mute over his alleged secret meeting with President Adama Barrow on two occasions before his resignation from the GDC.
When contacted to shed light on the reason(s) for his resignation, Mr. Njie said that he has resigned and that’s it. He confirmed his resignation from the GDC effective Monday, 29th April, 2019.
When asked about his secret meeting with President Barrow on two occasions at State House before his resignation from the GDC, Njie replied by saying: “I am not responding to any suggestions; I have resigned and I have resigned.”

PHOTO Mr. Njie (PHOTO Credit Online)

Sanna Sabally Admits Killing November 11th Alleged Coup Plotters

PHOTO Sanna B.Sabally (Photo Credit online)

By Ousman A. Marong

The former Vice Chairman of the AFPRC military Junta Vice Chairman Sanna Sabally told the TRRC on Thursday that he personally shot Lt. Basiru Barrow and Lt. 'Dot' Faal whom he referred to be the ring leaders. According to him, he paraded the alleged coup plotters at Fajara Barracks and ordered his Orderlies to shot at them. 

“I shot Lt. Basiru Barrow and Lt.  Abdoulie 'Dot' Faal and later went to Radio Gambia to make an announcement that some senior officers were involved in an alleged coup plot and some lost their lives during the shootout”, he remarked.

He made this disclosure at Dunes Hotel in Kololi testifying before the Truth Commission. He revealed that after the execution they (Council Members) went to the State House to meet ex-Chairman Jammeh to discuss the execution of the coup plotters. He said on the same day at around 6:00pm, some of the remaining ring leaders were executed at a range around Siffoe.  He indicated that those executed at the range were; Sergeant Fafa Nyang, Cadet Officer E.M Ceesay, Cadet Amadou Sillah, L.t Basiru Camara, L.t  Bakary Manneh alias ‘Nyancho’, Buba Jammeh alias ‘Ahchopin’. 

He reiterated that he ordered his orderlies to bury the bodies of the executed soldiers at the Yundum Barracks. 
"Why didn’t you give them befitting burial?" Asked Counsel Faal. 
The witness replied because they were enemies of their government whose principal plan was to do the same thing to them. He connected his parting with ex-president Jammeh to be the setting up of the National Executive Committee (NCC). He alleged that Mamadou Bojang and the late Baba Jobe were going round campaigning advising civilians to tell the council member that they should go back to the barrack. 

“I warned Mamadou Bojang to stay away from council matters and that he should leave the civilians to decide on their own," Sabally resounded.

He recalled late Baba Jobe, Foday Barry and other men asking him (Sanna B. Sabally) if he was to continue serving as council member after the 6th-month agreement. He said he told them the late Baba Jobe that after he served his 6^th months agreement he (Sanna B. Sabally) wouldn’t be part of the junta. He emphasized that Edward Sinagateh told him that ex-Chairman Jammeh ordered him (Sabally) to return his arms to the armoury at the State House because civilians were afraid seeing his guards roaming with guns inside state house. “I comply and returned all the arms back”, he asserted. He added that Edward Sinagateh later informed him that ex-president Jammeh was calling on him (Sanna B. Sabally) and that he should go and answer. “As I entered the office of Chairman Jammeh I was arrested by Batch Samba Jallow, the late Almamo Manneh, etc and one soldier whom he refers to be called ‘Maliamungo’.

He further alleged that Edward Sinagateh pointed his pistol on Sidibou Hydara’s forehead threaten to pull the trigger. “After my arrest with Sidibou Hydara an announcement was made over the Radio alleging that I (Sanna B. Sabally) attempted to kill ex-president Jammeh”, said the witness.

I was forced to eat my own feces - Former Vp Sabally Reveals

PHOTO Sanna B. Sabally (PHOTO Credit TRRC Media team)

By Ousman A. Marong
The former AFPRC Military Junta Vice Chairman Sanna B. Sabally has revealed to the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that he was forced by Alhagie Martin alias ‘Lagos’, Batch Samba Jallow, Lamin Ndure, Lance Corporal Lamin Senghore alias 'The Assassin
', and Pa Modou Sarr, to eat his own faeces while he was serving his prison term at Mile II.
According to him, he was forced to defecate and then eat his own feces. He said he was beaten mercilessly to defecate and eat it, and that, he tried but he could not.
Sabally said he was handcuffed, his legs were shackled and tied, while his head covered with a black plastic bag, which he said was containing a gasoline liquid in it and beaten mercilessly until he fainted.
He recalled Manlafi Corr shocking his head deep into a bucket of water while they were beating him with a locally made iron hammer.
Sanna Sabally made these revelations on Wednesday at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi while testifying before the ongoing proceedings of the TRRC.
He further revealed that he was buried alive three times by Alhagie Martin, Lance Corporal Lamin Senghore, Batch Samba Jallow, Manlafi Corr, Pa Modou Sarr, etc. He explained that his whole body was buried except his head.
Describing the type of torture meted out to him, Sabally said Alhagie Martin and Lance Corporal Lamin Senghore tide his legs and hands together and put him (Sanna B. Sabally) in a 50kg groundnut bag and hung him up in the ceiling while his head was facing downwards. He explained the said people (Martin and his group) started to torture him like a pim-pong ball. He said this was done in the presence of Pa Modou Sarr but he did not participate in his torture.
Sabally said he and Sadibou Hydara were subjected to many other forms of torture and were even castrated which led to the death of Hydara.

We overthrew Ex-President Jawara's Government Because of Corruption-Says Former Junta Vice Chairman

PHOTO Sanna B. Sabally (Photo Credit TRRC)

By Ousman A. Marong

The former Vice Chairman of the AFPRC Military Junta in The Gambia, Sanna B. Sabally told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that the main purpose of their (council members) military overthrow of the democratically elected government of ex-president Sir Dawda Jawara was because of the presence of the NATAG forces who took over the entire control and command of the Gambia National Army in 1994, coupled with political suppression in the country.

According to him, command in the army was directly coming from the NATAG forces, leaving the Gambian officers behind.
“ The Nigerian army commanded us anyhow without giving us any regard,” he said.
Sabally was testifying at the ongoing TRRC proceedings at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi. He revealed that they (the soldiers) took it upon themselves to stage a coup and that, they thought it was necessary to do away with the NATAG forces.
He disclosed that it took them almost 7 months discussing and planning how to go about with the coup. Sabally revealed that the formation of July 22, 1994, was planned by five of them, ie; himself (Sanna B. Sabally), Yahya Jammeh, Yankuba Touray, Sidibou Hydara, and Edward Singhateh. He said they informed 2nd Lt. Alfa Kanteh, Lt. Basiru Barrow, and Major Ndure Cham. He added that both Basirou Barrow and Ndure Cham rejected the idea of the coup and did not participate.
He highlighted that their last meeting before the July 1994 coup was held at the ex-president Jammeh’s residence in Fajara, and that, it was on the 20th July 1994.
The former Junta Vice Chairman Sabally further revealed that he was responsible for blocking of the telephone communications, and was also responsible for the supply of arms and ammunition.
“ Our first plan was to arrest ex-president Jawara at the airport, but it failed because Yahya Jammeh was disarmed at the airport,” he explained. He outlined that July 22, 1994, was their last day and it was a day of doing or die game because their names had already been mentioned in a planned coup.
According to him, they seized Radville Farm’s bus together with civilian vehicles and drove to Banjul where they found all the gates of the State House opened and from there they entered and occupied the presidential palace.
He revealed that they (coup plotters) swore to the Quran and Bible that they will rule for only 6 months and then hand over power to the civilians.

Fabakary Tombong Jatta Says TRRC Is a Joke

PHOTO Tombong Jatta (PHOTO Credit Online)

By Ousman A. Marong    

The party leader of the opposition Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) Fabakary Tombong Jatta has described the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) as a joke. 

Jatta told NEWS BITE that the execution of the remains of November 11^th, 1994 alleged coup plotters was nothing.  

Jatta challenged Gambian’s to remember 1981 coupled by Kukoi Samba Sanyang where almost thousands of Gambian’s were buried in a mass grave.

  “APRC is not part of the TRRC and our reasons are as follows Alhagi Barrow was part and percale of the December 30^th attack and he into America where he was caught and jailed”, he remarked.

He added that when Alhagi Barrow was returning back home from exile, he was welcomed like a king.

“Should Gambian’s take someone like Alhagi Barrow with serious?” He questioned.

He queried that how can someone like Alhagi Barrow be entrusted to serve as a board member at the TRRC?

“How can you appoint someone like Alhagi Barrow whose hands are already dirty to the TRRC?”

He made this disclosure in his Tallinding resident yesterday after embarking on a nationwide tour with the party surrogates.

Jatta questioned whether the upright men of this great nation are no more existing to serve the TRRC instead of people like Alhagi Barrow whose hands are already stocked with blood.

He said another reason why they (APRC) rejected the TRRC was that the 1997 constitution stated that there is no guarantee on any courts base on commissions to warrant an investigation into any institution or person since July 1994 up to December 1^st, 2016.

He challenged the Justice Minister to advice the government on a certain clause of the law.

He said there should be no investigation of commissions probing into the former head of state’s financial dealings, but was quick to add that they (APRC) never deny anybody or institutions to investigate the financial dealing of the former head of state.

He poised that before the Barrow administration start their investigation into the financial dealing of an ex-president, they must first change the 1997 constitution first.

He disclosed that if the president violate the constitution, the MP’s have all the rights to impeach and oust him out.

“Is it that all our MP’s wanted?”

18-Year Old Mandinaring Boy Stabbed

PHOTO Adama Touray. (PHOTO Credit Landing Colley an Eyewitness)

By Ousman A. Marong

Adama Touray, an 18--year boy a resident of Mandinaring Village in Kombo North District of the West Coast Region (WCR) was on Friday, 19th April 2019 stabbed on the neck in his village.
The incident, according to Landing Colley, an eyewitness happened at the Mandinaring Police Post in the presence of the police while both the victim and the suspect were brought to the station to settle their dispute. 
According to the eyewitness Mr. Colley, the victim was first attacked by the suspect (a man whose name is yet unknown) whilst they were strolling around the village in Mandinaring.
He said the suspect, who used to sell them local “Chakri” food in the village had claimed that the victim used to make a mockery of him.
“At first, the suspect pulled out his cutlass and started chasing Adama. I begged him to forgive him (Adama) but he didn’t listen. When Adama fell down, he started beating him with his cutlass and all of a sudden, an elderly man in the village called Ali Jagana came to help separate them and they were both taken to the police station where their statements were taken. While the police were taking their statements, the suspect stood up and stabbed the victim on his neck in the presence of the police,” the eyewitness alleged.
The police at Mandinaring Station refused to comment on the matter and referred our reporter to their spokesperson.
At the time of going to press, all efforts made to reach out to the police PRO proved futile, as he did not pick up his call.
The victim Adama Touray is currently admitted at the Faji Kunda Health Centre.

Lamin Kaba Bajo Testifies at TRRC

By Ousman A. Marong

Lamin Kabba Bajo, former Interior Minister under the then AFPRC/APRC Military Junta has Tuesday testified at the ongoing Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) held at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi.
In his testimony, Bajo talked about his military career, the July 1994 coup, the November 11, 1994 coup, the death of Ousman Koro Ceesay, former Finance minister of the AFPRC government in 1995, the rights violations during his tenure as Interior minister, etc.
Bajo, who is currently the president of the Gambia Football Federation, said he received information about the death of the former Finance Minister Ousman Koro Ceesay from the former CDS Lang Tombong Tamba while he (Kabba Bajo) had travelled with the ex-president (Jammeh) to attend the AU Summit in Ethiopia.
According to him, in June 1995 he traveled with ex-president Jammeh to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the AU Summit and upon arrival, he again received information from the ex-president Chairman Jammeh that Ousman Koro Ceesay was involved in an accident and that he got burnt into ashes with his vehicle.
“I could see ex-president Jammeh in a somber and terrifying face after breaking the news to me,” he remarked.
Testifying further, Bajo talked about his knowledge of the November 11, 1994 coup. He said he received information about the said coup from his driver. He recalled hearing the former Vice Chairman of the Military Junta, Sanna Sabally talking over the air (radio), saying some soldiers decided to dislodge the then Provisional Ruling Council’s Junta government and that some soldiers had lost their lives during the attack.
The July 1994 Coup
Bajo disclosed that in July 1994 he traveled to the UK with former President Jawara where they have spent their holidays. He alleged that he further received information from Lang Tombong Tamba who was the deputy State Guards Commander at State House that there was a coup in the making, but they (the senior officers) at State House and the then National Security Services (NSS) are working hard to remedy the situation. He explained that on July 21, 1994, upon arrival from the UK with former president Jawara, the coup leader Yahya Jammeh and his men were disarmed by NSS guards at the airport.
“The following day, on the 22nd July 1994 Yahya Jammeh and his disgruntled soldiers decided to stage a coup. Again I was informed by Lang Tombong Tamba that the coupiests were around Gambia High School heading to the State House. I asked Lang Tombong Tamba to make sure that there is no bloodshed on the ground.,” he further explained.
He disclosed that he and the former IGP Pa Sallah Jagne both reported to Sir Dawda Jawara at the waiting US warship at the Navy.
“I personally went with Pa Sallah Jeng to join Sir Dawda k. Jawara in the US military warship and we traveled to seek protection in Dakar, Senegal,” he said.

PHOTO Edward and Jammeh (PHOTO Credit Online)

Remains of November 11th 1994 Coup Plotters Found

By Ousman A. Marong

Investigator and Researchers have on Monday the 15th April 2019 found remains of the senior military officers killed on November 11, 1994, at Yundum Barracks. The bodies have been found on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th at around 7:00 pm. Seven bodies have so far been uncovered. It could be recalled that TRRC witness Alhagi Kanyi during his testimony informed Commissioners that bodies of the alleged coup plotters were dumped in a ditch just behind the cookhouse at Yundum Barrack.
It is over two weeks now since the TRRC Investigators started exhuming bodies of the alleged coup plotters. Thomas R.J Gomez lead investigator at TRRC who also doubles as a country's forensic and Archaeologist expert told NEWS BITE that an Antimoteum system and DNA are to be used to identify bodies of alleged coup plotters. He added that amongst the remains found were legs, bones, tooths, skulls, humorous and underwear pans, etc.

He disclosed that some artifacts such as ring, and a robe which were used to tie the alleged coup plotters during the execution were also found. He pointed out that there are 3rd other remaining ditches which they suspected to be carrying other remain bodies are to also expected to be excavated soon.    

PHOTO Skulls of the alleged coup plotters. ( PHOTO Credit News Bite)

L.t Edward Singhateh Suggested Basirrou Barrow & Co Should Be Blown Up In A Military Truck-TRRC Witness Revealed

PHOTO Eddard and Jammeh (PHOTO Credit Online)

By Ousman A. Marong

Baboucarr Njie, alias ‘Njie Ponkal’ a former Warrant Officer Class 2, (WO2); former Orderly to the then Vice Chairman of the AFPRC Military Junta, Sanna Sabally, Monday told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that the former junta member, Lt. Edward Singhateh suggested to Captain Sanna Sabally that they (the council members) should launch a grenade on the military truck carrying Lt. Basiru Barrow, Lt. Abdoulie Dot Faal and other security detainees of the November 11, 1994 alleged coup plotters.
According to him, Edward Sinagateh further made a second suggestion of moving the truck near the armory store to explode bodies of the security detainees, but Sanna Sabally refused and said they will be taken to the State Central Prison Mile 2.
Mr. Njie made these revelations at Dunes Hotel in Kololi while testifying at the ongoing TRRC proceedings.
He revealed that on November 11, 1994, Sanna Sabally ordered them (the Orderlies) to load their guns without telling them what happened or where they were going to. He said he loaded his Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun (AAG) and they drove to Sadibou Hydara’s residence around Fajara where they picked him up and drove back to the Yundum Barracks.
He disclosed names of the soldiers who went with Sanna Sabally and Edward Singhateh to the Mile 2 Central prison to be Peter Singhateh, Lamarana Barry, Alfusainey Suso, Zakariya Darboe, Private John CB Mendy, Baba Njie, Lamin Marong alias ‘Kinkong’ Mustapha Manneh alias ‘Chewru’ Ensa Mendy and one Jassey whom he said could not recall his first name.
He stated that upon arrival at Mile 2 prison, they found all the doors of the prison opened.
“While at the Mile 2 Central prison Sanna Sabally ordered them (the Orderlies) to move the security detainees from the Maximum Security Wing number 5 to security wing number 1. I personally dragged Ebrima Chongan. I found some detainees sitting on the bare floor while others lying on the floor,” he explained.
Asked by Counsel Horaja Balla Gaye did you beat any of the detainees? Njie answered in the negative and said I did not beat anyone of them, in fact, my consent wouldn’t allow me to do so because some of the security detainees were my senior men and they were far older than me.
Counsel Gaye again asked your consent didn’t allow you to beat them but allows you to drag them on the floor? “There was nothing I could do because both Sanna Sabally and Edward Singhateh were behind me by then.” He admitted dragging some detainees on the floor for almost 72 hours. He alleged that Yankuba Touray had put his pistol in Ebrima Chongan’s mouth threatened to pull the trigger on him at the Mile 2 prison. He said Lt. Basiru Barrow together and Lt. Dot Faal were both arrested at the gate of Yundum Barracks.
Njie Ponkal also revealed that the detainees were beaten mercilessly. He recalled Basiru Barrow telling them (soldiers) that “you are killing me.” He confirmed that Basiru Barrow was suffocated and later got fainted due to the beatings.

Gambian Leader visits His Fans Club's Office In Serekunda

PHOTO President Barrow and group of people (Photo Credit Online)

By Ousman A. Marong

The President of the Republic, HE Adama Barrow,

Saturday visited the office complex of his fans club dubbed ‘President Barrow’s Fans Club’ in Serrekunda.
Addressing hundreds of fans at the venue, President Barrow urged his supporters to work hard, show love for their country and ignore detractors and provocations.
He said, “if people adore you, you never go after them but instead they come after you.”
“Today’s Gambia is different from yesterday’s Gambia,” he noted.
He stressed that it would be hypocritical for one to be praise singing his companions during the difficult moments, only to turn overnight and label the same people whom you were praise singing, referring to them as the bad sons of the country.
“I am the president of the Gambia whether you like it or not and since I am the president then the citizens of this whole nation are under me and I am their leader,” Barrow said.
He added that one can claim ownership over a political party but no one can claim ownership of Gambians or Gambia.
President Barrow also disclosed that his real estate agent office called Majum Estate has contributed eight hundred thousand dalasis (D800, 000) in the 2016 Coalition campaign.
He concluded that he is like a bus driver and that he (President Barrow) offloading passengers is just the tip of the iceberg.

Ex-President Jammeh Ordered Me To Close Ousman Koro Ceesay's Case File-TRRC Witness

By Ousman A. Marong Muhammed Lamin K. Bojang, a native of Sukuta and chief of Kombo North has said the former president Yahya Jammeh ordered him to close the investigation case into the murder of the late Ousman Koro Ceesay, former Finance minister in the early days of the military take over in 1994 in The Gambia. Bojang, 77, a former CID officer of the Gambia Police Force (GPF) was testifying before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) on Thursday at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi. “ We (the police) launched an investigation into the late Ousman Koro Ceesay’s death, but later got instruction from the former chairman of the military junta in 1994, Yahya Jammeh that we should close the case file,” he revealed. According to the witness, they received information at the police that the late Finance minister Ousman Koro Ceesay was involved in a car accident around Jambur -Jabang Highway and got burnt with his vehicle. He said they (the police) went to the scene to find out the root cause of the problem. “ Upon arrival at the scene together with the Gambia Fire and Rescue Services (GFRS); Alieu Njie , a photographer at the Gambia Police Force (GPF) took the real view of the vehicle and found the body of Koro Ceesay burnt into ashes, whilst the vehicle’s number plate was found lying down under the vehicle,” he asserted. He pointed out that the body of the late Ousman Koro Ceeesay was taken out from the vehicle by the Gambia Fire and Rescue Services and was taken to the RVTH, now Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul. “ We (the police) were surprised in the way and manner in which we found Koro’s vehicle. There were no knocks on the vehicle and the body of the vehicle was intact,” he explained. He said that if the vehicle was actually involved in an accident, then there must be some knocks on the vehicle. He described the engine of the vehicle as a sealed engine, and observed that if the vehicle had caught fire due to the accident, then it would have started burning from the engine. He alleged that they met all the junta members apart from the then chairman Yahya Jammeh, at the funeral of Koro Ceesay’s in Dippa Kunda and that, Peter Singhateh was seen with a wrapped bandage on his left hand. Bojang added that some angry people were saying at the funeral ceremony that it was the government that killed Ousman Koro Ceesay. He disclosed that during the burial, someone informed him (Muhammed L.K Bojang) that Edward Singhateh has a hand in Koro Ceesay’s death. When asked by the counsel, who is this person that you are referring to? The witness replied no! I wouldn’t tell you, because there is no law for me to tell you. Counsel Jahateh replied please proceed then. Bojang recalled saying during the investigation that no stone will be left unturned in the investigation of Koro’s death. He said his own words later turned to hunt him, as the then NIA officer Baba Saho was tasked to start a surveillance on him. He said Ebou Njie of the Gambia Police Force (GPF) was to first person to test Koro Ceesay’s vehicle and from there they (the police) continued to carry out their investigations. He emphasized that they (the police) were almost done with their investigation and were only waiting for the ‘autopsy’ report from country’s main referral hospital (RVTH) to conclude their report. He confirmed it was during this interval that ex-president Jammeh ordered them (GPF) to close the file of the late Ousman Koro Ceesay. Bojang further recalled that one Lamin Fatty commonly known as “Malakal Mawti” meaning the angel of death, who was then working at the State House, visited the police headquarters in Banjul where he (Muhammed Lamin K. Bojang) jokingly told him (Lamin Fatty) that; “since they refer to you as ‘Malakal Mawti’, let me rescue myself out.” He said as he was stepping down stairs in the building, he received information that Lamin Fatty came to tender the sacking latter of the then police IGP. The witness described Lamin Fatty to be someone very cruel and that anytime he (Lamin Fatty) is seen in government offices, he is there to either effect arrest on someone or to tender termination letters.

PHOTO Chief Bojang (PHOTO Credit TRRC)

TRRC's Site Visit To The Prison Was Unethical And Uncalled For- Gambia Prison Service

By Ousman A. Marong
The Gambia Prison Services (GPS) has Tuesday described the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission’s (TRRC) site visit to the Jeshwang juvenile and Janjabureh prisons as unethical and uncalled for.
The Spokeperson of the Gambia Prisons Services (PRO) Lamin Ceesay revealed that the TRRC officials’ meeting of the juvenile prisoners in custody at the Janjanbureh prison was not inline with the best practices of the Children’s Code of Conduct Act.
He made these remarks Tuesday during a press conference at the Prison Administration’s conference hall in Banjul, organised by the GPS to clear doubts on the TRRC’s recent visit to the prisons across the country.
He said some issues raised by inmates were pardoned to be occur to them. He revealed that some of concerns raised by inmates such as missing court dates; applies to the suspects or persons at the remand wing and, for one reason or the other it should not be exposed simply like that.
He revealed that inmates cannot just jump up to request for pardon simply, because issues of pardon, according to the Section 82 of the 1997 Constitution are powers vested on the Head of State and so he is the only person who can give them pardon.
According to PRO Ceesay, even for the Head of State to pardon inmates, there must be consultations with the Prison Committee.
“Inmates who repeatedly commit crime would not be recommended for presidential pardon, simply because they have betrayed the trust and confidence bestowed on the prison authorities,” he said.
He added that some of the issues raised by inmates regarding mattresses, mosquito nets, etc are health concerns and are important.

 Ceesay, PRO Prisons

Ex-Jungular Denise Involvement In Torture Of Victims at the NIA

By Ousman A. Marong

Alleged ex-Jugular Lamin Senghore(Photo Credit TRRC) 

Lamin Senghore, an ex-member of the former president’s hit-squad known as the jungulars of the defunct National Intelligence Agency (NIA) now changed to SIS, has denied participating in any torture of civilians and soldiers arrested by the previous government.

“Sir I can tell you that I have never participated in any beating or torture of civilians and soldiers during their interrogation at the NIA,” he remarked.
He revealed that he has never seen or participated in any torture or beating during his services as the security officer at the Gambia Armed Forces and at the NIA or the NDEA (drug squad).
Senghore, nicknamed “The Assassin”, made these remarks on the ongoing Truth, Reconciliaton and Reparations Commission (TRRC) at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi.
Further testifying on the allegations of torture of soldiers at Mile 2 prison, Senghore admitted being part of a group of soldiers headed by then Sergeant Alagie Martins (Brig. Gen). He said Martins led the team of torturers but he has never tortured any person at Mile 2 prison.
“They were tortured by kicking, slapping and beating,” the witness confirmed.
He said it was at this time he pleaded to Martins to allow him to take charge of RSM Baboucar Sanyang (now a Lieutenant-Colonel in the GAF), RSM Fatty and one Musa Colley.
“I did not torture them,” the witness said.
A video of RSM Sanyang’s testimony before the TRRC was played where he was giving an account of his torture at Mile II prison by Martins and his men including the witness.
“His (Sanyang’s) testimony is incorrect,” the witness said adding that as far as he could remember, he has only witnessed the torture of the first-badge of detainees at Mile II by Martins and his men.
“The Assassin means killer. You claimed that you have never participated in any torture or killing, yet they call you “The Assassin,” it means you don’t deserve the name “assassin,” the Lead Counsel Essa Faal told the witness.
“Yes. I have never participated in the killing or torture of any soldier,” the witness replied.
He said some years after the November 11, 1994 incident, he was part of a team of soldiers trained on counter-terrorism. He said the training lasted for about 4 months.
“Was that the jungulars training,” asked the Lead Counsel.
“Yes, it was,” the witness responded, adding that they were not taught to be killers but neutralize a defensive mechanism.
With a series of questions and answers between the Lead Counsel and the witness, he admitted that they were trained to be killers.
“I have never participated in the jungulars operations,” the witness stated.
He said in the year 2007, he joined the National Intelligence Agency as a security guard and later was promoted to be an operative under the Operations Unit at the NIA under one Edrisa Jobe popularly known as Alagie Morr.
“I have never participated in the torture of any person at the NIA,” the witness repeated, adding that he left the NIA and joined the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency- Gambia (NDLEA).
He said at the Drug Squad, he has never participated in the torture of any person. Senghore told the Commission that he has never done any trainings in relation to interrogation.
“How would you rate your success then?” Counsel Faal inquired.
“The rate of my success was very high,” the witness replied.
It was at this point that the Lead Counsel emphasized to the witness that lying before the Commission has consequences and if it is found out that he was lying, then he will face the consequences for lying.
“Would you maintain your testimony?” the Lead Counsel asked.
“Yes. I maintain my testimony as correct,” the witness replied.

Gambia:Exhumation of November, 1994 Alleged Coup Plotters Underway

Ousman A. Marong

Authorities of the Gambia government have on Saturday, 6th March 2019, started exhuming the dead bodies of the November 11, 1994 alleged coup plotters, who were said to have been buried in a mass grave at the Yundum Barracks in the West Coast Region.

The remains of more than a dozen unidentified soldiers who were said to have been buried at the Yundum Barracks, are expected to be exhumed upon completeion of the task involved.

Superintendent Thomas R.J Gomez, an investigator at the TRRC, who doubles as The Gambia’s only trained forensic investigator, told our reporter in an exclusive interview that there is going to be different methods which wiĺl enable his team to obtain proper identification of the remains, in case they are found.

“We will be looking into two phases; and the DNA method would require family members to come and do a test,” he asserted.

Gambia: 2017 Malaria Survey Publish

By Ousman A. Marong
The National Malaria Control
Programme (NMCP)in collaboration
with the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare, has on Tuesday,
published its 2017 malaria
indication survey at the Djembe
Hotel in Kololi.
A joint–survey which was
conducted by The Gambia Bureau
of Statistics and UTICA
Organization in collaboration with
National Malaria Control
Programme, aims to provide
population-based estimates on
malaria indicators including
malaria prevention, knowledge and
prevalence, to make strategic
planning and evaluation.
The survey indicated that The
Gambia has made significant
progress in controlling malaria in
the sub-region with 0.4%.
Despite the new progressive report
on malaria control, its ailment still
prevails in The Gambia especially
during the rainy season.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary
at the Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare, Karamba Keita, said the
survey was meant to measure
progress towards achieving the
goals and targets set in the malaria
strategic plan for malaria
prevention and control from 2014 –
2020.
DPS Keita revelead that they are
proud to be associated wih all the
partners who have contributed
immensely towards the successful
completion of this year‘s survey in
the implementation process to
achieve a malaria free country.
In his part, Momodou Kalleh,
Programme Monitoring and
Evaluation Specialist at Ministry of
Health, said the ministry‘s aim is
to ensure that 80% of the Gambian
population is malaria free.
He urged pregnant mothers to go
to the hospitals regularly to get
their drugs and regular preventive
measures for malaria.
“The National Malaria Control
Programme is currently spraying
two provincial regions of the
Gambia, ie; Upper River Region and
Central River Region, and if funds
are available we will spray the
entire country,” he asserted.
For Muhammed Ayad, Director of
UTICA Organization, despite the
progress made by the Gambia
government in controlling malaria,
there is still more to be done. He
challenged the Ministry of Health
to seek funds and continue
implementing such surveys in the
country in order to eradicate the
malaria virus.
A statistician at Gambia Bureau of
Statistics (GBoS), Alieu Saho, said
GBoS’ mandate is to provide
numbers to be used by programme
managers so as facilitate and to
see what they have been doing
over the past years in terms of
such targets related to malaria.

Norwagian Lady Sentenced For Racist Rants Against Gambian

PHOTO Lamin Samateh (PHOTO Credit MAMOS Tv)

by Ousman A. Marong
A Norwegean lower court in the Municipality of Telemark in the community of Skien, sentenced a Norwegean lady (Name withheld) for racist rants against one Lamin Samateh, a Gambian based in Porsgrunn, Norway. The lady was sentenced to pay a fine of 10,000 Norwegean Koroner or serve a jail term for 14 days for violating Norway’s racism law.
The complainant, Lamin Samateh, has lived in Norway for 10 years and was working as a teacher at the time of the incident sometime in December 2015. She was charged in 2017 and later judgement was delivered. The lady filed an appeal to the High Court in Norway but the court threw away the case and warned that she will now spend 20 days in jail instead of 14 days as earlier ruled by the lower court, if she fails to pay the fine.
Narrating the incident to Mamos Tv from his base in Norway, Lamin Samateh on 19th December, 2015 while he was out in town with his cousin brother, the lady met them at a “Kebab shop” and looked at him and called him a “saitanic nigga”.
“My cousin in UK visited and we went to town to buy kebab (Doner). A white lady (the Norwegean lady, name witheld) and her boyfriend (a white man) came to the shop. She looked at me and called us ‘nigga’. I told her not to call us ‘nigga’ and she repeated it and said to us “saitanic nigga.” By then there was another Norwegean couple beside us and they asked her to stop such act because the law does not permit anyone to be called such but she refused and said to the couple “you white bitches.” The (couple ) lady attacked her and then the police came to the scene. They took our statements and the following morning I filed a complain against her at the police,” Mr. Samateh explained.
According to him, after some weeks, the police called asked if he can meet with the lady at the Conflict Resolution Office to settle the case but he refused and after 9 months the police wrote to him and said they don’t have substantial evidence to try the lady in court.
“At first, I told them that I will forward it to the International Court of Justice but I later decided to request a power of attorney to give authority to the Centre Against Discrimination (anti-discrimination office) to fight my case, and the police had no choice and took the case to court. I did it to prevent such racist act in the future and to show to Gambians abroad that they have rights and can fight for their rights legally, without engaging in physical fight or doing something else that will jeopadize their stay in Europe or any where in the world,” he revealed.
Mr. Samateh said the said case against racism attracted the western media especially in Norway and that, the court’s ruling sends a strong signal that racism should not be tolerated.
Note: Also see this link for more details: https://www.nrk.no/telemark/kvinne-domt-for-a-ha-kalt-lamin-_jaevla-neger_-1.13498452