Former Army Chief Baboucarr Jatta Admits Not Telling TRRC The Whole Truth

Photo: Jatta & Faal

By Ousman A. Marong

Colonel (retired) Baboucarr Jatta; former Army Chief of Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has admitted not telling the whole truth to Essa M. Faal, Lead Counsel at the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) during his testimony before the commission.

"I was not open to Essa M. Faal. Let me tell you this, at Brikamaba. I will not tell Essa everything that happens in Brikamaba. In Brikamaba, the Station Officer (S/O) was found cleaning a riffle that I gave to the police. I gave one hundred and fifty (150) round live ammunitions to the police with 1.5 millimeters rounds of live ammunition together with 5 hundred blank ammunitions. That is why I came to the TRRC to tell Gambians am sorry," he revealed.

According to him; he gave this ammunition to the Brikamaba police officers in 1994 in order to put up a unit that can handle the VIP protection and armed robbery.

Jatta made these revelations yesterday in an exclusive interview with Alhagie Colley which was aired on West Coast Radio on a program called "Coffee Time with Peter Gomez".

"If Essa had been talking to me on matters related to policing, there he would have enjoyed the conversation. I lost six (6) of my men in the Farafenni attack; but Essa M. Faal would not mention them at the TRRC, because they are soldiers;" said the former army chief.

He described the army under former President Jammeh to be what he referred to as "scratch and win". Col. Baboucarr Jatta said, former President Yahya Jammeh was the boss in destroying the army. He said promotion in the army by then was not based on merit; but who pleases the president the most.

"How can you give someone who cannot read and write, a rank of General? How can you give someone a rank of Major because he was able to do 50 push-ups or doing something that pleases you? All these were happening in the army;" he disclosed.

Arrest of Landing Sanneh

The former army chief denied having knowledge or participating in Landing Sanneh's arrest.

"Sanneh was a second lieutenant; a second lieutenant is not even a junior officer. Why should I waste my time and the time of the President to go and arrest somebody when others can do it?" Jatta questioned. He revealed that they heard that former President Yahya Jammeh was supposed to travel to Gabon but later postponed his trip and went straight to Kanilai.

He further stated that Jammeh got the tape about a planned coup. He revealed that he was alerted by former President Jammeh, adding that it was the State Guard soldiers who were sent after Landing Sanneh and the late Almamo Manneh. He mentioned names such as Musa Jammeh,  Ousman Sonko, together with other State Guard soldiers who went after the duo.

"Upon arrival at Sanneh's house he (Sanneh) threw a grenade and he was shot on the arm. He was arrested and taken to Yundum Barracks. He was bleeding profusely. One of my medics WO2 Sarr called to informed me that Sanneh was bleeding seriously and I said stop the bleeding;" he asserted.

He further stated that it was him who ordered for Sanneh to be tried before a Court Marshall.

"If we lost Almamo Manneh; Bassiru Barrow; together with other soldiers the world would not trust us," he said.

The former army chief said he was questioned about the death of Ousman Koro Ceesay and he referred those questioning him to former president Jammeh.

"I was questioned about Koro's death and I said they should ask Jammeh; because he was in charge. Koro's death has nothing to do with me," he frowned.

                                                             
Bassirou Barrow's death

"I am not that Sanneh, a warrant officer who participated in a coup and got promoted to an officer. How about the likes of Bassirou Barrow who participated in the same coup, did they benefited the privilege like Sanneh," he queried.

He alleged that the late Almamo Manneh was part of the coup plotters and was shot to death.

"When they brought his body to me I said burry him like that I don't want to touch that body," he narrated.

Former IGP Led Witch Hunters to the Police Headquarters - Former CDO Tells TRRC

PHOTO: Abdou Colley

By Ousman A. Marong

Abdou Colley former, Chief Disciplinary Officer (CDO) of the Gambia Police Force (GPS) has told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) that former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ensa Badjie led the team of witch-hunters to the police headquarters in Banjul.

According to him in the early morning of March 2009 he falls in his men and prepared them well, and they both dispersed and went into their various offices.

“Upon reaching our office we (the staff) saw a group of marabouts who were dressed in red, red uniform with their animal horns, mirrors, and cowries appearing before us. They were accompanied by former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ensa Badjie alias Jesus. They started searching the four corners of the buildings at the police headquarters in Banjul with their horns, mirror, and cowries. I was searched and nothing was found on me,” he explained.

He made the revelation at Dunes Hotel, testifying before the Commission.

“Former IGP Ensa Badjie alias Jesus ordered me to blow the horn during the searching at the police headquarters and I did,” he remarked.

He recalled former State House officer in the person of Solo Bojang to be part of the security officers who were accompanying the witch-hunters.

He revealed that the witch-hunters were rounding the four corners of the buildings of the police headquarters as if they were searching for something.

The witch-hunting was the state kidnap of over one thousand (1,000) villagers across the country in pass purge of witchcraft.

The witch-hunters were reported to have arrived in The Gambia from Guinea in the early years of March 2009, following the death of former president Yahya Jammeh's aunt.

He (Yahya Jammeh) was said to believe that witchcraft was used to kill her aunt.

“The witch-hunters pointed their horns, mirror, and cowries at Yahya Darboe, Mustapha Ceesay, Kumba Dampha, and selected them as witch and wizards,” he asserted.

He said the witch-hunters slaughter a goat together with a cock and dug a hole under a palm tree and buried them in the ditch.

“After burying them the marabout’s who were dressed in red, red asked the identified witches and wizards to report to them,” he said.

He alleged that former IGP Ensa Badjie alias Jesus ordered that the identified witch and wizards be taking to Kotu.

“Yahya Dorboe refused to go and nothing came out of it. Mustapha Ceesay was later transferred to Fatoto police station. His transferred might have some connection in his identification as a wizard," he opined.

Omar Barrow Was Shot To Death By The Security Officers – Pa Modou Faal Tells TRRC

PHOTO: Pa Modou (Photo Credit TRRC)

By Ousman A. Marong

The Gambia Daily News reporter Pa Modou Faal has told the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that the late journalist Omar Barrow was shot to death by the security officers of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF).
According to him, he saw the late Omar Barrow lying at the mortuary at the then Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH), now Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul.
“I saw the dead body of late Omar Barrow on a blue shirt lying down at the mortuary of the RVTH,” said Mr. Faal.
He made this revelation at the Dunes Hotel in Kololi where he was testifying before the commission.

“I was informed by a colleague that the late Omar Barrow was shot to death by members of The Gambia Armed Forces during the April 10-11 students’ demonstration,” he further explained.
He revealed that the Sud FM reporter Ousman Ceesay was manhandled by the security officers while covering the April 10-11 students’ demonstration too.
“The security officers confiscated Ousman Ceesay’s tape recorder while he was covering the demonstration,” he stated.
He informed the commission that ‘plainclothes officers’ once appeared at the studio of Radio Sud FM demanding for the closure of the Radio. “There was a reason given to us to why the radio should be closed down,” he disclosed.
He alleged that former Information Minister Neneh Macduoll Gaye had a hand in the closure of Sud FM radio. He opined that The Gambia and Senegal border crisis also contributed to the closure of the radio.
Narrating his ordeal with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) officers in 2009 when he and some other executive members of the Gambia Press Union were arrested, Mr. Faal said a former NIA officer called Alhagie Morr Jobe phoned him and informed him that he is wanted at the NIA for questioning and he reported himself to the NIA.

“While at the NIA, I was interrogated about a press release of the GPU against the former president Yahya Jammeh, which was published by The Point and Foroyaa newspapers. I was also forced to log into my email account upon arrival at the NIA,” he outlined. He further informed the Commission that all of them (the arrested journalists) especially Mr. Pape Saine, Managing Director of The Point Newspaper was totally paranoid while in detention, as they had always thought the hit-squad (Jungulars) will come to torture them.
Mr. Faal also described the country’s central prison Mile II, where they were remanded during their trial, as a horrible place and not fit for human beings to stay.
“We have spent 27 days in prison, and we were pardoned when the former Nigerian president at the time visited the country.

"Never Again Can We Have Dictatorship In The Gambia"
(TRRC) Boss Mr. Baba Galleh Jallow

By Ousman A. Marong


"Never again can we have dictatorship in The Gambia" said Mr. Baba Galleh Jallow Chairman for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC).

Mr. Jallow made this remarks on Tuesday in a press conference held in Tango's head office.
He said the mandate of the (TRRC) is "Never again can we have dictatorship in The Gambia".

He noted that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC) is a committee set up for restoring justice in the country after the raining over of the  authoritative rule by former president Yaya Jammeh.

He retorted that the "Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to identified victims of the gross human right violation under the ex-president Jammeh to be ensure justice they deserved as victims".

He said "people who were identified as victims of gross human right violations are to be invited to give their statements and testimonies about their experiences"

Many will see the (TRRC) as crucial component of the transition to full and free democracy in the country; he continued to add by saying despite some flaws; it is generally (although not universally).
He said section 14 B of the (TRRC) act is to set up the promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation among Gambians.

"The (TRRC) will be divided into various sections so as to help the job done ease; we will invite partners like Tango; Civil Society groups, lawyers, documentation; Community leaders and Religious leaders as well."
23 (E) of the TRRC act empowers us to act and get to the outreach people.

Mr. Jallow noted that "there are delay's coming from the government in distributing funds to the TRRC Committee; but quick to add that they are working hard on it and hopefully it will be done soon."

 

    Dr. Baba Galleh in the middle.
  (photo credit) Ousman A. Marong.