A former AFPRC junta member and minister who held various portfolios during Ex-President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year presidency has been charged with witness tampering.
Yankuba Touray who was arrested on Saturday and currently detained at Kairaba Police Station is expected to appear in court sometime this week.
His arrest follows a complaint by the Ministry of Justice over concerns expressed by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that the subject was either attempting to tamper or interfering with its witness, ex-army Sergeant, Alagie Kanyi, or attempting to pervert the cause of justice by concealing evidence that could potentially incriminate him and junta colleagues in alleged atrocities and extra-judicial executions meted out to citizens while in power.
Sergeant Kanyi who appeared before the TRRC last Thursday, provided probably the most damning testimony against the former regime as he revealed the harrowing details of state-sanctioned murders among them, the chilling finality of former Finance Minister, Ousman Koro Ceesay in which, Mr. Touray is implicated.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Gambia Government, Ebrima Sankareh has warned that any attempt to interfere with TRRC witnesses, their testimonies or tampering and or concealing evidence
formerly or informally, is utterly criminal and punishable by law.
He urged citizens to take the TRRC very seriously.
“The Government will not under any circumstances condone any attempt by anybody to interfere with its operations either directly or indirectly and any person(s) found wanting will face the full force of the law,” Mr Sankareh said.
The arrest and subsequent charges are timely. Apparently he ( Yankuba Touray) was bragging about “them” still in control and that there would be no consequences if witnesses refuse to cooperate with TRRC.
Okay that didn’t surprise me because President Barrow has been very keen in rehabilitating Jammeh folks and seen to be more comfortable with people who were prominent Jammeh Backers like Seedy NJIE, Momodou Sabally.
And since perception ultimately determines reality, many erstwhile Jammeh wrongdoers are feeling emboldened by the president’s ineptitude.
The people, be through pressure groups or political parties, Must Remain steadfast and jealously guide the newfound liberty and freedom.
The Gambia was rescued by the people and this freedom must be defended by the people.
I know how excited we can get when the “big fish” are in the net, but we should be careful we don’t waste time and resources on frivolous adventures.
Yankuba Touray is arrested and could face prosecution for obstructing a witness of the TRRC, but unless this piece of news has left vital information out, how could a conviction be secured on the testimony of one witness.
If this conversation between Yankuba and Kanyi wasn’t recorded, how could any court of law establish beyond any reasonable doubts that Mr Touray actually said those words?
How could any serious court convict Mr Touray, if the testimony (“evidence”) of Mr Kanyi is not verifiable and testable as the truth? Even if Mr Touray had admitted, as alleged, that he had spoken to Kanyi by phone, how does the court establish the contents of the conversation, if Touray denies the allegations?
I don’t want to call this arrest a Knee jack reaction, but I find it very hard to understand why such an action would be taken, unless sufficient evidence is available to convict.
Brother Babu Soli is well again and fit to contribute. After about one month in the AfricMed Clinic in the Gambia and three months in the hospital in Amsterdam, I am fit again to share my views with you but I’m under medical supervision and not working yet.
While in hospital I followed all your postings, some erroneous, some educative and some just window dressing.
I can’t believe that the Dr Isatou Sarr could eulogize the absurd “efforts” OF THE MOST CORRUPT AND TRIBALIST “first lady” Fatou Bah Barrow who stole over 23 million dalasis, still unaccounted for, who begged millions from departments and parastatals, only to distribute that money exclusively in our URR, her place of birth (my place of birth) as Christmas gifts to newly-born babies.
I know you are all disappointed at the CORRUPT, INCOMPETENT, TRIBALIST, INFLUENCE-PEDDLING administration but you are doing very little to flush them out at the end of this year.
The Bristish Argos Watchman in presidential clothing knows the behaviour and level of thinking of Gambians especially the learned elite. He knows you have big mouths, shout and boast but innately you are TRIBALIST, SECTARIAN and CORRUPT. Money is your problem, which he now readily offers inorder to stay in power.
It’s unbelievable that you still speak well of a “president” who’s turned his village/hamlet in the most developed place, charter flights for numerous trips at exorbitant prices, dish out money as gifts, waste away billions of grant and loan money in just 2 years.
It’s unbelievable that you still speak well of a “president” whose forces killed innocent youth in Faraba Banta and Kanilai while the perpetrators are now walkng the streets of Banjul.
It’s unbelievable that you speak well of a “president” whose children in Seattle in the USA enjoy the most luxurious life while following their education.
All these revelations and hundreds more are in sharp contrast with the hardship our poor people are facing back home; very exorbitant education bills, uncontrolled and exorbitant transport fares, very high prices on rice, cooking oil, cement, beverages, onions, potatoes and all cooking condiments.
The country in sieged by the Senegalese forces and their thug population. Criminality has risen to the most unprecedented level.
When will you educated elite come to your senses? When? Why did our parents, your parents send you to school?
May The Almighty Allah SWT save us from this DISASTROUS administration propelled by the MOST inefficient bunch of CORRUPT elements.
Glad to know that you are recovering well. May Allah (swt) grant you good health and full recovery.
You know, Barrow and wife have learnt well from Babili Mansa and wife.
You could substitute the word, “President” and “Fatou Bah” with “Babili Mansa” and “Zainab Suma”, and your criticism would still be valid and relevant. That’s how close the two are to one another.
Wish you quick recovery and good health so better stay calm and be healed properly.
Shhhhh! Sound sleep.
Thank God for the welcomed return of our dear brother Babu Soli. May The Almighty Allah ( SWT ) reward you with speedy recovery and continued and sustained good health.
You have been sorely missed.
Remain Blessed.
Today, because of my affection for you, I am not going to respond to your unfounded statement above, except to remind us all that, there must be balance in our position concerning what is happening in our country. Good or Bad.
God Bless The Gambia.
How due process, softwares and evidence data retrieving all go home, is not really to be a speciality for all anyway … So ringing; ‘watch it, its a tricky case and Yankuba may be altogether a whistle clean angel
in the ‘allegations’, is not on my table either. However, we hope the Algali commission wasn’t a fairer and more free commission than the TRRC.
A man has confessed to his part killings and perhaps we need videos to support his story!!
NO, nobody should buy in Kanyi’s confession if he can’t provide video evidence. Sounds a good idea, not so?
Do we not have that tendency of being dangerous crooks and cold blooded beings in our different walks of life. In a country of oppressed intellectuals and democratic minds, Yaya Jammeh junta and every suspected accomplice were supposed to be on wanted lists as soon as the aircraft that took Yaya Jammeh away was took off. They are all killers with any due process that may be forging ahead in a smoke in the favour of these animals. Didn’t we hear Yaya unleash all kind of threats including death to defenseless Gambians for 22 years.
Boooom! Koro Ceesay didn’t die in a car explosion between Farato and Jambur. He was killed by Edward, Yankuba, Peter and co. inside Yankuba’s residence (his stolen property). I saw in a Kairo article where Kayni’s intelligence and self esteem are trashily downplayed but at this point and stage in time, I think he is the only soldier with a ‘canary egg’ to his credit for having confessed; yes I took part in the murder of citizens. Hope all other zipped mouthed soldiers will now start talking. No walls ever had ears and eyes but people do have them.
Bourne, here’s a few things to draw your attention to:
1. There’s a difference between a personal confession to a crime and a person making allegations that someone else has committed a crime. In the case of a person confessing to a crime or several crimes, as Alagi Kanyi has done, very little evidence may be needed to convict.
However, the situation changes when one person is alleging that someone else has committed a crime. Here, iron clad evidence is needed to secure a conviction, and I’m afraid, a mere allegation is not sufficient to secure a conviction in a proper court of law. Only kangaroo courts convict on such flimsy “evidence.”
2. The arrest and possible prosecution of Yankuba Touray, as reported above, is NOT in relation to any killings or human rights abuses that the TRRC is dealing with. Mr Touray is arrested and charged for OBSTRUCTING the work of the commission by allegedly interfering with a witness. This is not about the killing of Koro Ceesay or the threats of Yaya Jammeh against defenceless citizens. If that was the case, my reaction would have been completely different.
I want all perpetrators to face justice but I am only expressing my views on the subject before us here, which is the arrest and possible prosecution of Yankuba Touray, as a result of the testimony of a witness at the TRRC.
3. We must remember that not all Gambians view the TRRC in the same light. There are many Gambians who question the relevance of the TRRC and/or view it as a witch hunting tool against officials and supporters of the former regime. The government therefore, needs to avoid taking any action(s) that could be used by opponents of the TRRC to delegitimize its work, and just imagine the consequence of taking Mr Touray to court, and failing to secure a conviction.
How would that play into the hands of those who question the relevance of the TRRC? Let’s pray for good health and long life. Perhaps, we will have another opportunity to talk about the effects of this case on the work of the TRRC.
.. that took Yaya Jammeh away took off
Bax,
Thanks for your prayers. May Allah SWT grant you long life, excellent health and the wisdom you’ve always had.
We are gradually getting older so I wish you the younger generation the good health and the potentials to return home and steer the affairs of that wonderful country for a sustainable and lasting welfare of our beautiful people.
TAKE THE POLITICAL COURAGE.
Bax , I am sometimes left with a grin when I read your escapist way of running away from simple common sense and a tendency to cast doubt on efforts that one might have thought would be an approach near to what pdois …by extension you would have undertaken in such situations.
First, the testimony of Kanyi was voluntary and every one watching saw that he could not be prepared for the questioning strategy of lead counsel Taal. Therefore, even though his claim must be considered as a claim, it gives the law enforcement agencies power to investigate the claim. Whether the allegations are enough for conviction is another matter. Failure to take allegations seriously and acting on the claim has the potential to undermine the Credibility and seriousness of TRRC to bring remedy to victims.
Secondly, I am among those who feel that the atrocities committed in Gambia were common knowledge and the evidences largely documented and rehearseable. The people involved are not more 100 Gambians. Hence my standpoint is that retributive justice takes its course.
If I correctly follow your postings, I may conclude your position is diametrical to mine. But then it begs the question what standpoint do you represent in dealing with Jammeh’s atrocities? Are you just an observer merely waiting to deliver a review ? Are you a citizen seriously interested in reckoning the deeds of Jammeh or you are just ambivalent about the whole exercise because you feel that Jammeh’s deeds are no existential threats to Gambia’s future stability and rather a resurgent UDP is Gambia’s enduring problem?
Bax , I am sometimes left with a grin when I read your escapist way of running away from simple common sense and a tendency to cast doubt on efforts that one might have thought would be an approach near to what pdois …by extension you would have undertaken in such situations.
First, the testimony of Kanyi was voluntary and every one watching saw that he could not be prepared for the questioning strategy of lead counsel Taal. Therefore, even though his claim must be considered as a claim, it gives the law enforcement agencies power to investigate the claim. Whether the allegations are enough for conviction is another matter. Failure to take allegations seriously and acting on the claim has the potential to undermine the Credibility and seriousness of TRRC to bring remedy to victims.
Secondly, I am among those who feel that the atrocities committed in Gambia were common knowledge and the evidences largely documented and rehearseable. The people involved are not more 100 Gambians. Hence my standpoint is that retributive justice takes its course.
If I correctly follow your postings, I may conclude your position is diametrical to mine. But then it begs the question what standpoint do you represent in dealing with Jammeh’s atrocities? Are you just an observer merely waiting to deliver a review ? Are you a citizen seriously interested in reckoning the deeds of Jammeh or you are just ambivalent about the whole exercise because you feel that Jammeh’s deeds are no existential threats to Gambia’s future stability and rather a resurgent UDP is Gambia’s enduring problem?
Kinteh (Kemo), quick response:
1. Investigation by law enforcement agents? That’s exactly what I’m saying. Authorities should gather evidence enough to secure a conviction. Through what? INVESTIGATIONS of course.
2. I don’t know about “retributive” justice, but I want justice to be done and seen to be done for the atrocities of the Jammeh regime. However, since we have chosen the RECONCILIATION route, I want justice to be delivered in accordance with the reconcilliatory route we have chosen:
Let those who confessed, showed remorse and assisted the TRRC in its work, like Alagie Kanyi, be granted AMNESTY.
Let those who lied before the commission, refused to appear before it, or showed no remorse for their crimes be prosecuted and punished.
And where possible, let all victims be adequately compensated for their sufferings or loses.
3. UDP is not a threat because it’s UDP. It poses a threat because it is afflicted by an internal power struggle that could spill over and become a problem for the country. That’s what needs to be watched.
4. I’m not PDOIS, so leave them out.
Bax, I expected the lawyer for murderer yankuba Touray to argue similar in your logical argument above; just similar to the same tactical approach of the NIA murderers lawyers in High Court…?
Undoubtedly technical records will show (evidence) yankuba & fatou jahumpa phoned Alagy janyi…..?
The ‘learned judge’ in Court will be expected to take that into perspective in judgement, as to the possible reasons (why) forwarded by both yankuba & fatou jahumpa in their defence to explain reasons of contact (phoning)…(totho, buka sawung sawung tillibulakunteh kensenkeh (Manding adage?)…..
After Koro’s death broke into news, devil yankuba’s elder brother Moriba Touray phoned yankuba the day following the very night Ousman Koro Ceesay was innocently murdered in cold blood & body burnt to ashes, yankuba confirmed the story to moriba, saying koro “died in an accident”…..
The Gambia being one tightly knitted family, the truth shortly emerged shortly soon; with news spreading like wildfire; in God’s MAGNIFICENT Ways (too), devil peter singhateh’s evil hands got torched in the very evil flames the devils thought were to use to conceal the evidence with the God Almighty watching…?
The evil kanilai devil & associates are still at work, against the innocent Gambia & humanity at large…
There CAN’T be any miss if ANYBODY (individually or otherwise), much more the current & any subsequent Government negate duties, to assume that there WILL BE peace, stability & tranquility for the the Gambian community by not doing justice required in at least some of the crimes that have been credibly ascertained & continue to be peddled…
The relatives & love ones of the victims will not stand idly by & watch the known criminals commit atrocities against genuine citizens, refuse to repent & apologise to victims & families & the whole nation & continue to brag about shamelessly, while they live in the same community…
Time & history will prove this; Insha Allah….
Bajaw, it’s been a long time. Welcome back.
I don’t want to appear as if I’m defending Yankuba Touray, for that is the last thing I will ever do. However, I want people to consider the topic under discussion to understand the view points of others, rather than conflate things which might lead to misunderstanding of views expressed.
Here, the discussion, as far as I am concerned, is not whether there is evidence (recorded, generally accepted or iron clad) to convict Mr Touray of killings, but rather, whether he can be convicted for interfering with a witness or perverting the course justice, all of which are charges emanating from the testimony of a single witness.
Yankuba Touray, according to some reports, has already acknowledged speaking to Kanyi on the phone, but has denied the allegation made by Kanyi. Therefore, this evidence needs to be able to withstand any challenge(s) that the defence team might come with, in order to secure a conviction.
The judge, as you said, could take the fact that Mr Touray spoke to Kanyi before he (Kanyi) appeared before the TRRC into consideration and convict, but if we were to pull the clock back to four years, substitute Mr Touray with a known anti-Jammeh activist, I don’t think anyone on this forum, except Babu Soli, would accept that decision as a fair conviction. Charges of mercenary judges and kangaroo court is the most likely reaction.
Thus, that would suggest double standards and I don’t do double standards. To me, “what’s good for the geese, is good for the gander.”
Fair trial means the evidence required to convict has proven, beyond all reasonable doubt, that the convicted was indeed guilty as charged. No “ifs”, no “buts”.
I agree, as I already pointed out in my response to Kinteh (Kemo), that those who refuse to confess, or told half truths and do not show any remorse, should be prosecuted and punished.
But those who genuinely showed remorse, confessed to all the crimes they committed, witnessed or had knowledge about, thus assisting the commission in its work, should be granted AMNESTY in the true spirit of RECONCILIATION.
Babu, may Almighty Allah give your health back; with long life & blessings for you & family & we (us) all; Ameen…
Bax,
Point 3. The power struggle is not UDP internal. The structure and leadership of the party is not questioned and I think going by the elected representatives of the party, no elected official has yet switched side to political opponents. The noises being made are officials employed in gov’t services and due to the behaviour of the president, these people feel threatened with loss of their livelihood if they are seen to be very loyal to the UDP. These are few people who are either opportunist or innocent gov’t employees placed under duress. The masses out there are not pocketed!
This approach by a sitting president is not new to UDP albeit UDP is surprised that someone who was hoisted to the top job on their back is turning against them. That is a surprise but surmountable. The early shock is clearly fading and the new reality has already set in.
THE REAL POWER STRUGGLE on Display is a concerted effort by Jammeh remnants to wrest control from Barrow and diminish UDP influence in the new gov’t. The goal is easy to see through. They don’t want the reckoning and they are doing everything possible to rally around Barrow. And since Barrow find himself politically cornered, he increasingly feel not bounded to the mandate that got him elected in the first place but rather the egomaniac self-interest goal to just remain in power- at whatever cost. Including rehabilitating Jammeh cronies and dismissing the cries of the Victims for rectitude.
As Bajaw mentioned, the stability of the Country depends on taking the plight of the victims of Jammeh atrocity seriously. No political party innuendos or political ambitions on the part of the current president should cloud that. Otherwise, we risk a serious and long term disunity even bordering on ethnic differences because as the TRRC grind on, the suspicion that Jammeh’s atrocities took on ethnic dimensions will be revealed to be true.
Point 4. Ok news to me. All along I thought you were politicking on the line of PDOIS
Come on Kinteh (Kemo), stop being the proverbial ostrich and acknowledge the obvious: a power struggle within the UDP that is intensifying between the main camp that supports Darboe and the splinter faction that is behind Barrow.
And I’m sorry, but the noise makers are not ONLY those employed officials. There are others (and they are many) who are not government employees, but are behind Barrow because he and his group are using Devine intervention and incumbency (which are very effective strategies in Gambia) to win people over.
I don’t know what Faabu Sanneh, a very strong UDP supporter, had said or done but I have heard UDP online forum direct very unpleasant comments towards him and Dembo (By-Force) Bojang. Dembo By-Force had said in one of the courtesy call meetings at State House, that he is tired of being in opposition and that is what has angered the Darboe camp activists. I assume Faabu had said or done a similar thing.
Ahmed Gitteh, another strong, vocal and very intelligent former main (Darboe) camp activist is now the target of the Darboe camp because he has switched loyalties. You cannot pretend that only a few, selfish people are in this struggle.
The APRC defectors are not engaged in a power struggle, but only making a new political home for themselves in the Barrow camp to continue to enjoy the privileges they used to enjoy.
I agree with PDOIS and would have no problem voting for them, but I don’t want my views to be associated with PDOIS or be seen as representing the party’s position. That’s what I’m making clear, but I definitely “politick on their line.”
The bottom line, again, is that Gitteh, Sanneh are members of the party with equal voting rights like any other member. Both never came forward to contest positions in the party or elective offices. The party delegates have chosen the leaders of the party and both gentlemen are not elected. So the task before the elected officials is to guide the party. Any member and/or supporters are entitled to their opinions and UDP is well advised to allow different ideologies or feelings. Clear is that when decisions are democratically reached to support a candidate, the party ranks and files close ranks and vote for the selected candidate.
I believe that is in everybody’s interest and clearly there will always be loosers like Papa NJIE ( current PPP leader) who are also free to pursue other political interests.
And finally, Barrow has ceased to be a member of UDP and for that matter he cannot automatically be made the leader of the party. Except the party turns into O.J. one man party, where you go and fish opportunist from other parties to lead your party.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the situation UDP find itself in. And so far they doing well in containing divergent elements and views.
But a question for you. Why is the splinter group preoccupied with UDP? Is it not advisable for these people ( Gitteh and co) form their own political party adopting Barrow, with incumbency advantages, as their leader?
I know it is not yet late but why wouldn’t that be an option instead of adamantly wanting to seen as UDP?
Maybe you could help me out?
Quotes @Kinteh (Kemo):
1. “….Barrow has ceased to be a member of UDP…. ”
Observation:
Lawyer Darboe and many UDP activists, until Barrow showed his interest in the presidency beyond the transition, have left the Gambian nation in no doubt that Barrow is UDP. No one put it more explicitly than Darboe himself, when he said that Barrow’s “departure” from the UDP was only temporal to help the coalition to remove Jammeh, and like the village wrestler, once the wrestling contest ends, he goes back to his home, where he belongs naturally. So Kinteh (Kemo), you can’t kid anybody on this forum with technicalities. What matters more than technicalities is what the people (UDP) hold in their hearts, which was: “Barrow is UDP.” An added testimony to this fact is the YouTube video of Lawyer Darboe, where he is recorded expressing the plan to turn the coalition cabinet into 100% UDP after Ramadan. (That was last Ramadan)
2. “Why is the splinter group preoccupied with UDP? Is it not advisable for these people ( Gitteh and co) form their own political party adopting Barrow, with incumbency advantages, as their leader?”
Observation: Only the group can answer that question for us, but here’s my view: I think the group feels entitled, as anybody, to continue claiming membership to the UDP beacsue they feel that they have also invested, as much as anyone, to making the UDP what it is today.
I think they are of the view that the prevailing global norm, which UDP often cites when they argue for a UDP party led coalition, is that incumbents always head their parties and become their candidates for elective office. And they also cite divine intervention and claim that Barrow is God’s choice and they are bound to support him. Of course wrong, but that’s their belief.
As the the UDP considers Barrow its own, until he showed interest beyond the transition, his supporters are of the view that, as president and incumbent, he should lead the party and be its chosen candidate in future elections, “in line with global norms”, as often claimed the UDP. Since the UDP, including Lawyer Darboe himself, have used that line of argument with regards to the Coalition building, who can blame Mr Barrow’s supporters?
Interesting perspective! I haven’t thought about both points that way.
My answer:
– my reference is the last Congress and the name of executive committee members submitted to IEC.
– if Gitteh & co feel entitled to the party that is fine with me. But then we should all abide by the rules and majority decisions reached at primaries and congresses. In that case, if barrow wish to compete for UDP flagbearership next election, this is up to him. But then he would be forced by Gitteh and co to politic strictly on UDP line and entertain Darboe as long and still entertain a flag bearer competition from Other members vying for the position.
So I doubt this is the scenario Barrow and Gitteh would want. After the experience of papa Njie, they would not want their destiny decided by UDP delegates. Because as according to my interactions with the base, Barrow is fast losing every credibility he had while Darboe’s credibility among the rank and file remain ironclad.
So my assumption is that they are just trying to damage the party from within and with incumbency advantages move on with a new party.
In order to make a complete and clean break from the past fifty four years running the affairs of the country based on the mansa mantra, we have to accept that something was terribly wrong. Only after interrogating what we accept not to be in conformity with running a civilized nation could we make the necessary changes that are a prerequisite for prosperity.
In this case, Yankuba like any other Gambian, is innocent of the crimes he is being charged with until proven otherwise.
One could sense many people, especially on social media, want to see blood. This is because of pent up anger and frustration combined with a society highly divided along ethnic and class lines. Of course the almighty poverty or income disparity between a (poorly created) semi-elite class and the wretched poor is the portmanteau catalyst.
But we need to move from vengeance to healing, a healing process that will create an atmosphere of lasting peace and development. If not, we can just go back to October 2016 and undo all the efforts from each and every Gambian that went into creating a sense of unity and purpose for a better future. This is beyond partisan politics. It’s a matter of do or perish as a people.
Personally, I speak for forgiveness and reconciliation, underpinned by a process of transformative justice. Caging Kanyi, for example might bring temporary gratification to a few. Which by the way will cost us money that we don’t have. He is visibly ill and broken. So how long should the state jail such a man and pay for his upkeep and medical bills? In my mind, we could use him to teach young people about the devastating consequences of becoming a beast and not owning ones own mind. This should be done in consultation with the victims families to avoid centering a perpetrator. That’s the way to build and nurture peace.
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As for the henchmen of the A(F)PRC, I suggest the same route, just with a tinge of difference. They should never ever benefit or make profit from their atrocities. And, a precondition of tell-all in everything they undertook. I believe if any of them could fulfill that demand, they should be granted amnesty.
Why? Because an eye for an eye will leave the whole country blind.
@Babu Soli: Alamaa saasa fisayaala.
Alamaa a tooro doyala.
Yalna nga am taneh ak werr si num gennah gaweh.
Right to medical treatment is a right to every convicted criminal.
The Algali commission did its job on the 30years of PPP corruption and nepotism.
Now, the TRRC is here to deal with the 22 years of Afprc – Aprc’s toppling of a democratically elected government, its killing and torture of Gambians, its squandering and privatization of the national wealth, it nepotism and its flaring of ethnocentric hatred and discord among ethnic groups in the Gambia.
The Gambia’s post colonial governments are not a bunch to be put under a just one chapter. Doing that would seem to me as a cunning maneuver for distraction and confusion in the present TRRC.
It is not a matter of – eye for eye but a matter of justice taking its course. Luckily in the Gambia there wasn’t a death penalty less we adopt those shoved in the constitution by the chief murderer and perhaps with the help of the likes of Nigeria Wowowfather.
We think we are a blessed people of peace but we are not. Indeed, we are more of dangerous hypocrites who have a tendency of wickedly and heartlessly destroying each other and we will rush for that sort Masalahaa hypocrisy and all in the name of the hypocritical Mbeekiling though.
Hypocrites are always corrupt.
Bourne’s proof.
Of course justice should take its course. But remember the TRRC is not a prosecutorial body. It could recommend the prosecution of certain individuals for certain crimes to the NA as part of its report and broader recommendations. It will then be left to the NA members to decide what happens next.
My fear is that making punitive justice a core of the national discourse could make perpetrators shirk from revealing some very essential information that is vital for the broader picture of rights abuses and impunity. Imagine if Alagie Kanyi would have decided to invoke his right to right silent for fear of self implication and the concomitant possibility of heading straigh into a penitentiary for a journey of life imprisonment. Justice would still be served. Probably. But that course of action would have left so many questions unanswered for both the victims families and the broader Gambian society.
Second, a society bent on vengeance will only destroy its own moral fabrics, that are necessary to forge a better outlook on the future. If that would have been the goal of setting up the TRRC, the normal courts could have been bolstered with Human Resources and handling capacity to prosecute all those suspected of rights abuses and other crimes.
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Many will claim the differences between Yaya and Dawda Jawara in their style of leadership is the brutality of the former and the gentleness of the latter. That leaves a lot of questions unanswered. By answering those open questions, one will no doubt see parallels, very obvious ones indeed between the two. On the economic front, just as an example, both perpetuate the mismanagement of the country’s wealth making a few overnight millionaires while the rest are mired in abject deprivation.
The list could go on only for the lack of time.
Yours in the service of the Gambian and Afrikka, I remain.
The course of justice is not a course of vengeance. The course of justice is why the petty illicit drug pusher and petty robber and murderers are at mile 2. Why don’t we rehabilitated them all and reintegrate them back in the society as a good gesture of reparations and reconciliation. Let’s put aside – who is the competent legal authority to prosecute those perpetrators of the Jammeh junta of ignoramuses, and take granted that the TRRC is not a mere hangout to spend state resources.
Should it really matter to anyone what parallels exist between Yaya and Jawara now? Jawara, I never knew he could be this poor. As a child, i thought he has all the mansions and chalets in the world and thought perhaps he even had secret private jets waiting for him in London. Indeed, he is the poorest president to be ever ousted in Africa. I have respect for his extented family in general for their humility, grace and low profile lifestyles. His nephews in general, were not lousy and loudmouthed ignorant types who freak out in town to be heard screaming ethnocentric diatribe and even going around looking into peoples eyes like death angels. Scream scream scream shout shout all over neigborhoods. You wouldn’t understand why some form of social education or exposure is essential in life until you come across such people of Killer Jammeh’s regime. They were terrible and grotesque types who make you feel like going back in the jungle to live like a tarsan.
On the contrary, I saw Jawara’s very own nephews jostle to get onboard overloaded, hot and sweat-odour-filled-school-buses. Of course some were happy and energetic young lads like myself but i knew none among them to be that loud and fussy.
What matters nonetheless now is; bringing perpetrators of the brutal twenty two years to justice. In an advanced democracy, police will not be sitting down listening and looking on like an audience in such a calamity. They would have come out with the must astounding finding as soon as the TRRC take off with its functions. The police are the boss when it comes to word that suspected murderers and dangerous elements are about in the country. Even if they are not given an order to arrest an investigated suspect of the TRRC, they have the right to invite suspects for further professional questioning by the police’s serious crimes specialists. Police got a job to do were their are suspicions and allegations of crimes of the magnitude allegedly committed at the orders of the Jammeh Junta.
State sanctioned murder suspects? They should be under or have gone through police custody and interrogation. No police would sit by and watch in such a situation like ‘a gun butt pad’. A corrupt, ill equipped and a Koparr Ndawli police however may not have in it that required human resources to professionally interrogate such high profile suspects, and without the use torture or any form of force.
The law shouldn’t end up in the mosques or churches, or in the “cultural and traditional chambers of arts”, as that would disable its (law) functions. ‘Vengeance’? I think I’ve heard the vocabulary being used quite often, a couple or three years ago in these forums and I didn’t think it ciuld be such a sharpened and calculated weapon of a vocabulary that has the lethality to dislodge the course of justice. The course of justice, rule of law and democracy, has nothing to do with ‘vengeance’ for this matter.
Man, every time you think you’re feeling a cool breeze, it’s smoulder out there at the near corner trying to flare a tail.
Come on again, why won’t the state pardon every inmate of the prisons? They are mainly petty robbers, petty illegal traders and probably a few homicide cases. Why not rehabilitating them all and reintegrating them back in the society?
I rather pardon them instead of give amnesty to a criminal junta of murderers and their accomplices. Teach a lesson to the minor offenders and teach a very harsh lesson to tyrants, state murderers, public fund embezzlers, and bribes givers and takers!
I think the kind of persons who may deserve the least of an amnesty are those in the ghost political wing (Aprc) of the cruel militia that represent the status quo from 1994-2017. Those are the likes of speakers on whom public consent fell on deaf ears. Those are the types who hell bent, continued to impose a state of emergency on a constitutionally decided population. And, other clowns too, who up to date impress to be those wise men, whose skins one needs not scratch, to see what a nincompoop they are. If such people are not awakened from their fancy world of dictating it to others, like a Mansayaa addiction in their metabolism, then the indications are not yet promising for the country. Why would people like Seedy and Momodou be even around the present administration at Banjul?
How could such terrible personalities gatecrash another new administration looking in the eyes of those going to school to be our future hopes?
What statesmanship are we about to teach to the younger generations? -A statesmanship of reconciled tyrants, assassins and all sorts of felons?
Good! Let’s teach such to the young learners to help them retire with such legacies. There will be the long term consequences too that will be like medicine to our tastes!
Bax, I’ve been here & following all along mostly when possible; I do understand you thoroughly in the line you presented the argument; yankuba & the lawyer are expected to manoeuvre in the same line tactically but the judge is expected to consider all evidences (in judgment) including the circumstances which necessitate yankuba & fatou jahumpa to contact Alagy kanyi (at the time), when none of them weren’t in usual (normal) contacts with Alagy before, prior to the commence of TRRC…
Yes, reconciliation is necessary for the healing process of the whole Gambian community collectively together, NOT to mention the direct victims & FAMILIES directly affected; BUT reconciliation isn’t possible with the criminals free & brags shamelessly about claiming “nothing will be redressed” out of the heinous atrocious crimes committed, some of which have been abled to be ascertained; otherwise victims, families & love ones will be forced to hunt the known criminals & avenge by all means necessary, when & where the opportunity rightly presents….
The truth for Babu & the kanilai Devil diehard followers must realise that the Community for our collective betterment together, superseded our individual political affiliations at ALL times….
There’s no doubt that atrocities have been committed; there can’t be any meaningful reconciliation UNLESS justice (not revenge) is done on the criminals who REFUSE to remorse, repent, admit to crimes COMMITTED & fail to apologise to the victims, families & the whole Nation at large because the whole Gambia are victims collectively together direct & indirectly…
The mere absence of voice recorded conversation for yankuba & fatou jahumpa’s phoning doesn’t suffice to mean lack of proof (/evidence) for their convictions in competent courts….
Thank you….
Bajaw, Mwalimu, Bax,
Thanks for your brotherly prayers which undoubtedly add oxigen to the breath of the sick. I’m indeed gratified. May all say the prayers.
The TRRC, like its sister commission, the Janneh Commission, are all state concerted corrupt outlets. Fancy the terms and period of the Janneh commission that had been on-going for two years with no sign of wrapping up. Because the commissioners receive over D400,000 per month. A genuine reason to prolong its ficticious operations. It has unlawfully seized and sold almost all President Jammeh Farato and Kanilai assets without any court injunctions. A clear symptom of greed and corruption.
Your INCOMPETENT and CORRUPT president wasted over $4million to hire a jet to attend a UN debate where he secured millions for the TRRC. That money is now being wasted to deburse the over D300,000 monthly emoluments of the TRRC personnel.
While the farmers kept on hanging their hands in despair for three months without receiving their money, our money is being squandered on white elephant projects for political and personal aggradizement.
That’s why I hate reactionary administrators with no initiate for radical changes.
What are we going to gain from these commissions? When they are run by corrupt and unscrupulous individuals.
Where did he got his ‘assets’ from?
The inquiry commissioners being paid GD400k is a terrible sin though ..
Babu is it “Because the commissioners receive over D400,000 per month. A genuine reason to prolong its ficticious operations….” or is the (your) above quoted figure for the commissioners’ annual remuneration & not “monthly” as presumed in your quote…?
Bajaw,
Ask anywhere close to the Accountant General’s office or the Min. of Finance. Mr Janneh receives a little over D400,000 PER MONTH!!!!!!!!! Not per annum. His commissioners receive that amount.
While in the Gambia we (my friends and I) tallied these figures with Barrow’s emolument which was then a little over D200,000. That’s why Barrow’s emolument was proposed to somewhere near that amount.
Please find out.
Thanks Babu
Can’t miss sending wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery to my pal Babu Soli.
I know that you’re a fighter. So keep fighting and come back in one piece!
I also enjoy reading what amounts to sparring matches. Smile.
Andrew,
Though I was on my sick bed at AfricMed Clinic while in The Gambia I always read all the postings which kept me informed, entertained and educated.
All your pieces really need to be chronicled into a master piece book for good reading.
Thanks a lot for the brotherly wishes. I WISH WE SHARE EVERYTHING.
I challenge you all to start thinking about redeeming our beautiful home from the clutches of this bunch of INCOMPETENT and CORRUPT elements. Come on. Take courage.