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| 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.
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.
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