This is an extract from the Independence today.


Two personnel of The Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) have been declared deserters
four months after they unceremoniously left the country. According to the
army PRO Lt. Lamin Gano, Lieutenant Kejau Touray, and Staff Sergeant Lamin
Gassama, alias Imam, are being seen by the Gambian Armed Forces as deserters
after they had failed to abide by GAF rules and regulations for which they
may be tried should they return. Both disappeared last October and were
declared wanted by the government, which has since ordered for their arrest
by the Armed Forces on sight, sources had claimed, although this could not
be independently confirmed. Lt. Kejau Touray is a former commander of the
Military police, from 1997 to 1999, and sources said he fled the country,
for fear of his life and safety although army spokesman Lt. Gano said they
were not known to have been threatened in any way. Kejau was alleged on one
occasion in 1998 to have been plotting against the state. He had served in
peacekeeping operations, and subsequently joined the University of The
Gambia, in 2001.

According to Gano Kejau was given a study leave to enroll at the University
of The Gambia and in the course of the leave he was not supposed to be
reporting to work. Gano said that notwithstanding the GAF’s approval of his
leave, Kejau wrote applying to travel to the United Kingdom on a holiday
stay.

While the command was looking at his application, he unceremoniously left
for the UK” Gano said, adding that they had applied the army’s rules of
absence in his case. He said Kejau was seen to be absent for more than eight
days, which entitles the Gambian Armed Forces to refer to his conduct as
desertion. Gano said after six months Kejau would be “struck off strength”,
which in effect would render him dismissed from the force. Staff Sergeant
Gassama was an NCO at State House, and was subsequently moved to Fajara
Barracks, “because he carries a bayonet, which the President viewed as a
threat” according to sources.

According to Lt. Gano, in June 2001 Gassama had applied to spend his annual
leave in the UK for which approval was given. “While in the UK on September
18 2001 he sent a fax message to the GAF applying for the armed forces to
grant him a three-year study leave. It was approved but under the condition
that he discharge from the army and this was transmitted back to him” Gano
explained, pointing out that since then nothing has been heard of Gassama,
who he said would be subjected to the same rule of absence as Kejau. He also
said that the commander of the armed forces is poised to use his discretion
to “struck them off strength” but he was waiting for any possibility of them
returning with genuine reasons for their absence. Lt. Gano also took time to
dismiss allegations of tribal and open discrimination in the force as the
personal opinion of some discreet individuals. “As far as I witnessed there
is no tribalism or discrimination of any kind in the force” he maintained.





Dear GLers,

Second Lieutenant Gano should have the guts to explain what really goes in
in the Armed Forces, or shut up. The fact that there are no more Mandinka,
Fulas and Wollofs being taken as officer cadets and that none of them in the
State Guards as officers. They live everyday fearing for their lives, and
cant get out because they have not been given annual leave since 1994. To me
they are my unsung heros.
I was one of the few of the outspoken Mandinka senior officers left in the
Armed Forces, and he had been alleged on one occasion to have plot a coup
against the APRC, Government, in 1998, it was Colonel Sam Sarr who saved my
life, and am also a living witness to the 11 Nov masacre. i have since then
seen as a threat to the government of the Gambia, because of his outspoken
manner towards discrimation against Mandinkas in the Armed Forces.  i has
always been branded a UDP sympathiser, by the GAF.
SSgt Gassama, was the last Mandinka NCO, in the State House, and was
susequently moved to Fajara Barracks, because he carries a bayonet, which
the President view as a threat.
This is a case of institutional discrimination reported in this paper,
during the selection process, on two occasions.
This is the first time an Officer has absconded, since Captain Coker's in
1995. It shows the silence, but the horrible condition the Mandinkas have to
endure, as they are always seen as opposition sympathisers, and therefore
disloyal, by the majority Jolas in the Armed Forces. It has also emerged
that the Officers ( commisioned) had not been give any annual leave since
1994, only those in the Navy and the prestigious State Guards are entitle to
annaul leave. How many times have Babour Jatta men tion to the officers that
that there is tribalism in the Armed Forces, and no other threat.
Another revelation is the discrimination these men and officers are to
endure, as they see their tribesmen refused admission, promotion, sent on
dangerous mission and subsequently jailed, tortured, and summarily executed.
How many times have they been arrested, without the knowledge of the media,
and tortured, and held at the NIA. What has Lt Lalo Jaiteh and Omar Darboe
done, except that they are Mandinkas aand Officers, what about Almamo
Manneh, Saikou Seckan, Alpha Kinteh, Baboucar Keita, and Demba Njie, what do
they have in common? Mandinka officers who not APRC puppets, but
professional officer, who believe in the ideals of a nation striving on
common good, even though there are diverse tribes. Jammeh is planning on
staying forever and anyone who may stand in his way if elections fail, will
have to go now.
These officers who sacrifice every day of their lives living in the terror
of their compatriots in arm, are not welcome any where, not even among their
own Mandinkas, who often see them as soldiers, and therefore one of Jammeh's
thugs. When will they be seen as patriots who stay even though their lives
are threatened everyday, because they do not want another Rwanda, with no
one in the Army but Jolas, free to do what ever they want. It is time they
be viewed as unsong heros, who served for very selfless reasons, despite
odds from both the Government and the opposition.
More to follow....




Kejau






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