Kejau, thanks for your narrative and this confirms what I have said all
along.  It is not rocket science to figure out what Jammeh is doing.  Look
at who is who around him and see that the most influential are Jolas.  Then
he has another layer of a rainbow of the other ethnicities.  I'm talking
about the Baba Jobes, FJC, Joe Joof, and now Sheriff Dibba, and soon to come
on a TV set near you, Jawara, and a host of other gate keepers to neutralize
their respective ethnic groups.  This my friends is a Rwanda in the making.
The Jolas in the Armed Forces need to know that when the time comes not even
Yaya could save them.  Most likely, he may escape to some other country like
Moullah Omar, but they are going to face the music in the meantime, like the
rag tag of the Taliban.  Look at what happened after Doe, Amin, Boukassa,
Mobutu, and a whole host of African Criminals we call "Leaders" were killed
or flushed away.  Gambia is not going to be any different.  I know some may
volley back and sprinkle examples of a Mandinka, Fula, or Serer in this or
that position.  However, the fact remains that Yaya is a tribalist and this
my friends is going to be the straw that will break our back as Gambians.  I
am a Jola like all else, but the truth shall be told and if other Jolas see
me as selling out, then that is one title I will gladly accept.  Our
strongest asset as a nation is our unity and oneness as Gambians.  We should
not let anyone separate us by tribe, religion, or any other divisive
conspiracies.  One thing that the people have in their favor is TIME, and no
matter how fast one runs away, you will find yourself still in the midst of
the people.  I believe that a word to the wise is sufficient and for our
brothers and sisters in the country who are Jolas to remember that they are
one with their countrymen.  For those that think otherwise, continue your
ways, but don't say you were not told.  No condition is permanent and yours
certainly, is not and will not be an exception.  Did Milosevic ever dream of
his new residence?  You see, TIME took care of him.  You may not realize it,
but the time for the criminals in our country is ticking and as I write
their minutes have shortened.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>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: Two Gambian Armed Forces personnel desert Army PRO Gano
>       explains
>Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 15:43:36 +0000
>
>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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