My dear Friend,
We cannot heal our wounds by covering with a different dressing.
Its not the name given to the state guards that matters, much
more than that is the orders they are given to carry out.If we
have the field force today and the command is kill what in the
world difference will it make? As long as human rights are not respected
"many more will have to die.... dont ask me why!"
Kalilu
>From: Kejau Touray <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: National Guard given police duties, I Beg To Differ!
>Date: Sat, 24 Jun 2000 02:59:15 GMT
>
>Jabou,
>I humbly disagree, National Guards can be found all over the world you know
>and if you remind yourself of the Gendarmerie, we had in the Gambia until
>amalgamised it with the Police, you will remember the number of times,that
>elite and discipline force control the 1986 school bus riots,
>professionallyWe need a force which devotes its time to crowd control
>especially when the election is coming, there is bound to be a lot of
>rioting and destruction unless a discipline force is ready to exercise both
>discipline and professionalism. There are still very very well trained, and
>serving members of the former Gendarmerie in the Guards, the Army and the
>Police. All nations have a duty to protect the live and properties of the
>citizens, remember. Infact this Act had been in the form of a bill for at
>least two years now, it shoould have been said that it is long overdue and
>not otherwise. We can't afford the chaos around the subregion. All will
>agree that the April 11 incident was the lack of professionalism expected
>of
>our forces, Lets remedy the issue as" nations passed away leaving no traces
>and one thing common in all their histories was that their people were not
>fit" Rudyard Kipling. We do not want to fail as a nation. When I learnt of
>the April 11 incidents, I tried reflecting on this very issue, we need
>experts in every field even security, let us not think our secutrity men do
>not deserve to live, or more proper are all nonetities we'e patriots and
>deserve that respect accorded to normal private citizen. Thanks for reading
>and please reflect before insulting me, no worries, if you choose to.
>
>
>>From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: National Guard given police duties
>>Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2000 19:54:13 EDT
>>
>>Absjorn,
>>
>>It is a clear intention to creat a police state when the army is given
>>these
>>duties that clearly belong to the police. It is not something that happens
>>in
>>the normal course of events, and there was no national security issue that
>>warranted such emergency action. Either it was done to justify the army
>>harrassing innocent Gambians, or it is a last ditch effort in the long
>>list
>>of attempts to cover up or justify the atrocities committed on April 10
>>and
>>11.
>>This harassment and orchestration of tactics to take away the rights of
>>Gambians continues as substantiated by the present situation with the UDP
>>members that are being slapped with some trumped up murder charge, when
>>all
>>the were doing was defending themselves against an unwarranted attack.
>>The question I have is how many people can be charged with the murder of
>>one
>>terrorist who was engaged in breaking the law by attacking these people as
>>they went about their business? On the other hand, those soldiers who
>>committed their crimes against the people in broad daylight, complete with
>>ample witnesses are still scot free, while the people who authorized the
>>commission of this crime buy time with commissions of enquiry and bogus
>>explanations.
>>
>>Jabou Joh
>>
>>In a message dated 6/22/00 1:02:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>>[log in to unmask] writes:
>>
>>
>> Friends ,
>> this is from the Observer two days ago.
>> Another piece in the pattern I try to find of the april-incident.
>> Now we get the information that the cabinet march 26. approved a
>>memorandum
>> submitted by the secretary of state for defence, which empowered the GNG
>> with "limited police duties", and that took effect on april 7. And was
>> practiced the 10.-11. april, I say.
>> To me the list of duties is not "limited". They put the police aside,
>>my
>> opinion.
>> If the military has taken over they certainly has to behave. It is not
>> acceptable that they can not give an exact description of how orders
>>were
>> given and dealt with. And it is not acceptable that they use physical
>>abuse
>> on detainees, when they are under control in prisons.
>> But now I understand why the military was so heavy involved in the april
>> incident. Until now I could not understand why military was so active
>>those
>> days.
>> Comment from Asbjørn Nordam
>>
>> >National Guard given police duties
>> >
>> >The department of state for Defence, yesterday afternoon, issued a
>>press
>> >release announcing the empowerment of the Gambia National Guard with
>>"limited
>> >police duties." The empowerment was said to have taken effect on April
>>7,
>>2000.
>> >
>> >Cabinet was said to have given approval to the memorandum on the matter
>>on
>> >March 26, 2000 when the secretary of state for Defence submitted it.
>> >
>>
>> >The press release further stated, "This approval necessitated an
>>amendment
>>to
>> >the relevant sections of The Gambia Armed Forces Act to cater for
>>these
>> >responsibilities, including the implementation modalities relevant to
>>this
>> >assignment.
>> >
>> >In this regard, the National Guard shall, together with the police, be
>>employed
>> >in the preservation and maintenance of law and order, protection of
>>properties,
>> >and the prevention and detection of crime.
>> >
>> >Other duties include:
>> >
>> >. riot control
>> >
>> >. combating drug trafficking and cattle rustling
>> >
>> >. money laundering and counterfeiting
>> >
>> >. armed robbery
>> >
>> >. detention, control and fight against serious crime among others.
>> >
>> >Civilian authorities and the general public are hereby requested to
>>convey
>>to
>> >the National Guard, relevant information they may consider useful for
>>the
>> >execution of these duties and responsibilities or that may have a
>>direct
>>or
>> >indirect bearing on the safety of the public and general security as a
>>whole."
>> >
>> >>
>>
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