The Gambia: Lieutenant Benneh Minteh
Email This Page
Print This Page
Visit The Publisher's Site
FrontPageAfrica (Monrovia)
INTERVIEW
November 10, 2005
Posted to the web November 10, 2005
Pa Nderry M'Bai and Bubcarr Ceesay
It is exactly eleven years today Friday November 11, when scores of top
senior and junior Gambian army officers were executed by the current
government of President Yahya Jammeh, in the name of foiled coup. Bereaved
families are yet to be told where their loved ones were buried, as the
government is not keen at discussing the circumstances surrounding such
"mass execution of soldiers."
Military intelligence had unveiled time and time that some of the murdered
soldiers were buried in mass graves at Yundum, Fajara Barracks and Nymbia
forest respectively. Exiled former AFPRC number two man Sanna B Sabally,
Yankuba Touray and Edward Singhateh were said to have spearheaded the mass
execution of these soldiers, who disappeared from their loved ones eleven
years ago.
Today, one of the escapees, lieutenant Benneh Minteh is paying a special
tribute to what he called "these gallant and dedicated soldiers" murdered
by the ruthless Jammeh government. Lieutenant Minteh, also a former
official of the defunct Gambia Gendarmeri Tactical Support Group tells Pa
Nderry M'Bai and Baboucarr Ceesay that there was no coup on the day in
question, as he charged that the execution of his colleagues was well
planned by the former military rulers headed by Chairman Jammeh. Benneh,
insists that the regime was bent on getting rid of "these principled and
dedicated soldiers for no just cause." He sounded optimistic that Yahya
Jammeh and his cohorts will soon answer to the crimes they perpetrated
against his murdered colleagues. Call him a dead man walking, you make no
mistake, as Benneh recounted how he escaped the November 11, cross fire
shooting. Mr.Minteh, who now resides here in the United States, gives a
horrific account about what transpired on November 11, 1994. Below is the
full text of Benneh Minteh's interview.
As you observed the gruesome murder of your colleagues, what can you tell
us about that fateful day of November 11, 1994. What actually transpired
on the day in question?
This Friday is going to be eleven years in the annals of Gambian history,
when on the sad day of November 11, 1994, over ten officers and non
commission officers were summarily executed by the AFPRC government. On
this day, we were accused of trying to over throw the military junta,
which I vehemently denied. There was no truth in their claims that there
was even an attempted coup. As far as I'm concerned, their inhumane action
on this day was as a result of paranoia and there efforts of consolidating
their positions. Shortly after the 1994 coup, that brought Jammeh to
power, there continued to be growing discontent and dissatisfaction within
the ranks of the army, which may have poised those inhumane acts.
But on the hand, President Jammeh told the Nation in a televised address
that when he called the Fajara Barracks to enquire what was going on that
fateful day, the soldiers branded him as the useless and foolish chairman
and vowed to deal with him if he dears to steep his foot at the Fajara
barracks. Jammeh went on to say that the signal man told him that he was
captured by the alleged mutuners. How true is Jammeh's statement.?
Mr.Nderry Jammeh was just making up stories. I think his claims or
proclamations to the Gambian public was baseless and geared towards wining
the hearts and minds of Gambians-that there was an attempt to over throw
him. I was in Fajara barracks up to 230 am, Mr.Nderry, on my normal stand
by routine, when my barracks was attacked and bullets were raining like
crazy. Jammeh lied to the nation, when he said he called Fajara barracks.
In fact they came to the Fajara barracks after arresting lieutenant Dot
Faal, Lt Bassiru Barrow, Lt.Lamin Jarju, Sub LT.Bakary Manneh, Sub LT.
Abdoulie Bah, Sub.LT Buba Jammeh and Sub. LT Momodou Lamin Darboe and many
other non commission officers. There is no truth on Jammeh's claims that
he called Fajara barracks and soldiers responded to him in that way.
Jammeh also went on to claim that disgruntled soldiers were misled by
information going round that state guards soldiers were better paid than
their colleagues in the army, which seem to have triggered November 11
alleged abortive coup. Do you buy Jammeh's claims?
Pa Nderry, as usual, I was with the army as a senior officer during the
early days of the coup and I therefore know the men who were in the army.
I interact with them. So there was never a time that when soldiers
complained about state guards being paid more than them. During my time in
the army, I earned the respect of the men I command, because I cared for
their well being and up till now, if I steep back to the Gambian army that
same respect will be there for me. Mr.President Yahya Jammeh, just lied to
Gambians on that fateful day.
Most of your colleagues were killed during the incident, how do you
managed to escape?
Unfortunately, my colleagues who got killed were arrested while on duty or
on patrol at the Yundum Barracks. But I was based in the Fajara Barracks.
It was with the help of God the almighty that I escaped.
.
There are widespread reports that Edward Sinhateh, Sanna Sabally and
Yankuba Touray spearheaded the summarily execution of soldiers at the
Yundum Barracks and at the Brikama Nymbia forest. Do you have the evidence
to testify against these men in the event of any future trial?
Yes there is a lot of evidence out there and I'm prepared to testify
against these maroons in any court of law. They have killed these officers
and men and that is the truth and nothing else but the truth. In fact,
there are many other people who will come on board with me to testify
against them.
Are you ready to lead the investigators to the grave yards where Barrow,
Dot Faal, LT.Sey and others were buried?
Well Mr.Nderry, like I have always said, I'm ready to do anything for The
Gambia, that will bring about a democratic culture, justice and the rule
of law in The Gambia. There were mass graves in Yundum barracks, Nymbai
forest and Fajara barrack.
Can you give us the list of soldiers killed on that day?
If I should tell you that, i can give the list of all soldiers killed,
then I'm lying. But I can tell you the names of officers summarily
executed. Number one, LT. Bassiru Barrow, he is gone and gone forever,
LT.Abdoulie Dot Faal, LT.Gibril Saye, Second LT.Momodou Lamin Darboe,
Second LT.Bakary Manneh, Second LT.Buba Jammeh, officer cadet Sillah,
Lance Corporal Basiru Camara, one Warrant officer from Ballangarr .
Are you optimistic that justice will be done on the killings of your
colleagues?
I'm so optimistic. As the English man says what goes around comes around.
The Jammeh government killed my colleagues for selfish reasons. Even in
the wholly book God mentioned that each and every one of us will be
responsible for our own actions. And justice will certainly take place in
the brutal murder of my colleagues. There are manifestations right now
that this is a regime that is failing. The is a regime bent on the
politics of lies and deception. It is a regime that had lost its fate in
the eyes of the International community and Gambians as well. It is
because of their deeds that a new political pradine is born, a paradine
that will cross them int bid and pieces.
Do you feel that you are a dead man walking, considering the fact that
most of your close associates and friends in the army were summarily
executed.
Yes, I think I'm a dead man walking. I could have been killed. I could not
have been talking to you now. But the reality on the ground is that I was
not meant to die under the hands of such ruthless people. Life is so
interesting, Mr.Nderry, interesting in the sense that people goes through
trials and tribulations. November 11, 1994 was an experience in my life,
which I will never forget. Believe it or not, M'Bai, I was hunted and I'm
still being haunted by that experiences. I will never forget November 11.
My message to Gambians is for all to know that this was a sad day in the
history of our country. This was a day, when great sons of the country
were butchered by the Jammeh government. It is a day, we should all
remember. It is day that Gambian should use to analyse the current
political situation and make a decision in the coming elections.
What kind of soldier was Sanna Sabally?
Sanna Sabally was a very indiscipline soldier, very arrogant especially
during the early days of the coup. He believed in nothing but the use of
force and the barrel of the gun. Many Gambians can be a witness to that.
Sanna was shooting at people and cars when his convoy was blocked. They
were all birds of the same feathers. Sanna used his position as Vice
chairman to traumatise many innocent Gambians and there are families still
in The Gambia that can testify to my claims. That is why today, he had no
credibility before any Gambian or friends of The Gambia.
What about Yahya? Was he a brave soldier as he claimed?
I would like to borrow Mr.Halifa Sallah's comments that we should all
demystify Yahya Jammeh. I know Yahya personally. Yahya is not a brave
soldier as he claimed to be. He is just lucky to be in the seat of power
today.
On final note, what message do you have for families of November 11,
victims who are yet to see justice on the death of their loved ones?
I would like to assure the families of the all the 11 victims that justice
will certainly take its cause. It is a moral obligation upon not only me
today, but all Gambians to see to it that this regime is answerable to the
atrocities committed since coming to the saddle of power. At such grieving
times, we should all continue to pray for these gallant sons of our
country, who were murdered on no just cause. But today, they could all see
for themselves that there is a new Gambia that is emerging and such a
Gambia will make sure that justice takes its proper cause. Such a Gambia
will wipe their tears. It would heel their wounds and will show the whole
world that their relatives were murdered on no just cause.
Relevant Links
West Africa
Gambia
Thanks Benneh for sparing your busy schedules to talk to us.
You are welcome Pa Nderry and Buba. Keep up the good work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top | Site Français | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search |
Subscribe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2005 FrontPageAfrica. All rights reserved. Distributed by
AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). Click here to contact the
copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to
republish or make other authorized use of this material.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
|
