Beran, thanks for forwarding this. Talk about slimy characters. Do we expect
this government to effectively oversee the dispensation of justice in our
country when it is continuously moving the goalpost each time it is
cornered? No wonder that Yaya supporter that came here over the weekend
peddling ideas about giving the guards police powers did not return when we
asked him about the effective date of the grant and the reasoning behind
that choice of date. If Pap Cheyassin Secka thinks that he can use this
piece of legislation to absolve the soldiers that partook in the massacre of
our children, then he must be out of his mind. This law would be repugnant
to natural justice if its effect would be to deny the victims of the
massacre their day in court. Therefore any court in which they wave this
piece of thrash should treat it as toilet paper. Knowing how incompetent and
sinister the AG and his gang are, I would not be surprised if they still try
to go to court and embark on another futile attempt to defend the
indefensible. Every one (including the ordinary Samba in the street) is
watching them. We know what they are up to. Again, if the AG keeps changing
the laws and denying people justice, people will just take things into their
own hands. So the AG should muster courage and tell Yaya that some of these
positions they are taking will just lead to disaster. The Press should put
the AG on the spot and ask him to interpret the legislation for them and
guarantee them that it is not going to be used in any future trial against
the perpetrators of the April massacre. People should also continue to put
them on the spot about the role of this force in the coming campaign season.
Do we want to unleash brutal thugs (armed with the law and heavy weaponry)
on the political supporters of opposition parties?
This latest shenanigan coupled with reports that the AG is planning to hoist
Darboe back to court should be another wake up call to Darboe supporters.
They should insist that the charges against him and his supporters be
dropped forthwith. They should not put all their trust in the legal system.
Try and find political solutions to the problem by rallying around your
leader and not permitting the government to railroad him. If the need
arises, attack any police station they wish to illegally incarcerate him or
any court that wish to railroad him. We also respectfully urge Darboe's
legal team to explore following forensic avenues to have these charges
dropped without a full-blown trial. Even if they do not succeed in court,
they would help in showcasing the brutality and sliminess of this regime.
KB
>From: "Jeng, Beran" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FWD:Disgruntle Police Officers React,AS National Guard Takes Over
>Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 16:34:49 -0400
>
>Disgruntled police officers react, as National Guard Takes Over
>The Independent <http://www.qanet.gm/Independent/independent.html>
>(Banjul)
>June 26, 2000
>Banjul - A number of police officers have expressed dismay over
>government's
>decision to have the National Guards assume police duties, describing it as
>a
>move to undermine the integrity of the police.
>The disgruntled police officers who spoke to The Independent Wednesday
>complained that giving the National Guards police duties simply indicated
>that
>they are being stripped off their original functions. They noted that when
>they
>learnt about the issue at first they thought it was 'just a mere rumour.'
>They
>said that to their disbelief and dismay it was implemented.
>The police officers stressed that if the National Guards are charged with
>the
>responsibilities of controlling riot, combating drug-trafficking, cattle
>rustling, money laundering, counterfeiting and service crimes it is
>'useless to
>have police officers around.'
>'Let them just simply dissolve the police. If the function of the police is
>taken away from them only because of malice then it is better for the
>police to
>leave,' one of them suggested.
>The officers also complained that from colonial times to date, the police
>have
>been effectively carrying out their functions, developing a cordial
>relationship
>between them and the civilian population. They feared that if the National
>Guards are given police duties, civilians will suffer the consequences and
>may
>be denied their fundamental human rights and freedom.
>The officers called on the authorities concerned to reconsider the decision
>and
>treat the police accordingly. 'This is totally upsetting and frightening.
>We are
>a competent force. Our CID officers are among the best in the sub-region,
>so the
>authorities should definitely revoke the decision,' another officer mused.
>The police officers who said they serve in various sections of the Police
>Force
>appealed to the government to change their opinion to that effect.
>The department of State for Defence recently issued a statement, entrusting
>the
>Gambia National Guards with limited police duties, which was reported to
>have
>taken effect on April 7 - a date before the student demonstrations.
>The statement indicated that the approval of the said memorandum
>necessitated an
>amendment to the relevant section of the Gambia Armed Forces act to cater
>for
>these responsibilities.
>A cross-section of the general public have also criticised the statement as
>not
>being in accordance with the rule of law and the spirit of the country's
>constitution.
>Bakary Janneh of Bakoteh, a local human rights activist told this reporter
>that
>everyone was surprised at the statement. They accused the government of
>trying
>to vindicate the security forces whom they held responsible for the student
>killings of April 10 and 11.
>When contacted, ex-Inspector General of Police Rex King directed this
>reporter
>to the Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Abdoulie Sanyang who said
>he
>couldn't comment on the issue.
>
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