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.
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.
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| PHOTO Edward and Jammeh (PHOTO Credit Online) |
