>From: TOMBONG SAIDY <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: UPDATE
>Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 01:16:16 PDT
>
>Gambia-l,
>
>As I promised, I would provide information on the ground, after which I
>will
>give my analysis of the whole situation.
>
>NUMBER OF DECEASED
>
>According to the authorities at RVH, the first patients were received at
>around 11:00 A.M. on Monday, 10 April 2000. There was a total of 96
>patients
>seen and all were treated accordingly with a total admission of 28 from
>Greater Banjul area and 3 from Essau making a total 0f 31. 11 have been
>discharged leaving a balance of 20. With regards to the Central Division
>area (Bansang Hospital) there were seven reported cases.
>
>The total number of death recorded in RVH were 11 and one reported from
>Bansang Hospital giving a total death toll of 12. So far 11 bodies were
>identified including the one from Bansang. There is still one unidentified
>body at the RVH, that of a young male teenager.
>
>DECEASED REGISTERED
>
># NAME AGE PROF. ADD/SCH. NATLTY
>
>1. Gibi Njie - Student Nusrat Gambian
>2. Karamo Barrow 24 Student ICE H.S Gambian
>3. Mohamed L. Chune 15 Student LK School Gambian
>4. Lamin A Bojang 19 Student Nusrat Gambian
>5. Ousman Sabally Student Brikamaba Gambian
>6. Omar Barrow 25 Journalist Latrikunda Gambian
>7. Ablie Sajaw 3 Child N. Jeshwang Prsume Gambian
>8. Bubacar Badgie 10 Student Talingding ---------------
>9. Calisco Prera 20 Civilian N. Jeshwang Not Gambian
>10. Reginald Carrol 25 Student 7 Grand St. Sierra Leonean
>11. Wuyeh Mansally 19 Student Talingding Senegalese
>12. Unidentified Teenager
>
>Contrary to Ebrima Ceesay’s source, the bodies are being released as
>relatives claim them. There are not decomposing bodies and there was no
>order from President Jammeh or any one else for the bodies to be kept until
>the President’s return. Ebrima’s source also claimed that there are “14
>confirmed dead in the mortuary" and this is not true. Ebrima, could you
>please asked your source or any body else to come up with the names of the
>remaining two death bodies.
>
>PATIENTS ADMITTED IN RVH
>
>NAME PROFESSION ADDRESS/SCHOOL
>
>1. Allasan Suwareh Student Banjul Academy
>2. Musa Sembeh 3 yrs old child Serrekunda
>3. Yusupha Mbye Student Pipeline Comprehensive
>4. Francis Correa Businessman Serrekunda
>5. Pa Demba Camara Civilian Kanifing
>6. Seeday Jobe Civilian Senegalese
>7. Bakary Singateh Civilian Latrikunda Sabiji
>8. Ousman Jobarteh Student Sepps
>9. Sering Ceesay Civilian non Gambian Mbolgou (Near Kaur)
>10. Yankuba Darboe Fire Officer Bakau Station
>11. Pa Ansu Jarjue Student Forsters (Nema Kunku)
>12. Lamin Touray Civilian, ex GHS Brufut (now residing at
>
> New Jeshwang)
>13. Momodou Ceesay Trader Dippakunda
>14. Bakary Njie Student Pipeline Comprehensive
>15. Wuyeh Fatty Arabic Student Talinding
>16. Baba Suwareh Student Crab Island/ Ebo Town
>17. John Gomez Student GTTI / Ebo Town
>18. Omar Sosseh Student St. A.H.S/ New Primet St
>19. Sulayman Krubally Student GTTI/Sancha-Sulay Jobe
>20. Sana Bojang Civilian New Jeshwang
>21. Haddy Camara Student Ebeneezer High School
>22. Sainabou Camara Student Bakoteh High School
>23. Abdou Karim Janneh Student Sheikh Mass Kah
>24. Francis Mendy Student St. Agustine’s H. School
>25. Alasan Jammeh Civilian Talingding
>26. Momodou Lamin Magassi Guard Comm's Office Brikama
>27. Oumie Jagne Civilian Kanifing
>28. Amie Jagne Civilian Kanifing
>29. Baboucarr Bahoum Student Essau High School
>30. S. Senghore Student Essau High School
>31. Modou Joof Student Essau High School
>
>REPORTED CASES SEEN IN KMC & WD
>
>Serrekunda Health Centre 79 Cases
>Brikama Health Centre 31 Cases
>Fagi-Kunda Health Centre 8 Cases
>Bakau Health Centre 10 Cases
>
>TOTAL 128 Cases
>
>The above were treated and released.
>
>
>PRESS RELEASE
>
>As Attorney General and Secretary of State for Justice, it is my
>constitutional duty to balance two equally valid, but often competing,
>principles:
>
>i. the need to ensure that anyone who breaks the law is called to answer
>for
>it;
>
>ii. and that in so doing the accused person must be accorded a fair
>hearing.
>
>The latter means that the accused can only be arrested and later convicted
>if there is sufficient evidence to warrant it.
>
>The sad events of the last few days deserve a response from the Department
>of State for Justice in line with the dual constitutional role outlined
>above.
>
>In line with the Government’s commitment to the principles of transparency
>and accountability, and having regard to the fact that justice must not
>only
>be done, but it must be seen to be done, I have invoked my powers under
>section 11(1) of the Coroner’s Act, Cap 7.04, and an application is
>simultaneously being lodged with the Chief Justice to order that an inquest
>be held touching on the death of any persons as a result of the events of
>the 10th and 11th April 2000.
>
>The purpose of the inquest is, of course, to establish whether or not an
>offence has been committed by any person, known or unknown.
>
>As for the case of Ebrima Barry (deceased), an information will be filed in
>the course of next week.
>
>In view of the fact that the credibility of our criminal justice system is
>itself on trial, the Attorney General will take the unusual step of
>appointing a Public Prosecutor under section 65 of the Criminal Procedure
>Code. The Gambia Bar Association, the family of the deceased, friends of
>justice (at home or abroad) are invited to suggest names of lawyers, (both
>at home and abroad) who can satisfactorily conduct the prosecution of the
>alleged murders of Ebrima Barry.
>
>The Attorney General’s Chambers will provide logical support; but will
>otherwise do nothing to divert or influence the prosecutor.
>
>The State will, however only be responsible for meeting the cost of local a
>prosecutor.
>
>As for the case of Binta, the Attorney General’s Chambers is handicapped by
>the absence of identification of the alleged culprits.
>
>
>Alhaji Cheyassin O. Secka
>Attorney General & Secretary of State
>For Justice
>
>Attorney General’s Chambers &
>Department of State for Justice
>Maummar Ghadaffi Avenue
>Banjul
>
>13 April, 2000
>
>
>
>Above are the facts from official sources, however I have my take on this
>whole issue. Since my arrival, I have consulted and spoken to both sides of
>the fence and believe me there are a lot of blame to go around.
>
>April 10th 2000 is one of the darkest day in the history of The Gambia,
>surpassed only by the events of July 31st, 1981 – the KUKOI FIASCO. I join
>all members of the list to express my sympathy and condolence to the
>families, friend, and loved ones of the bereaved. This is a sad event that
>could have been avoided both by the Security and the Students.
>
>The Gambia is a democratic country and the students have the constitutional
>right to demonstrate peacefully. However, in every democracy there are laws
>and all demonstrators must seek or obtain some form of permit from a given
>authority, usually the local police. GAMSU never applied for a permit
>according to the authorities. The Department of State for the Interior sent
>a press release on Friday April 7, 2000 to all media houses including GRTS
>claiming that they have received information on a potential strike being
>organised by the Student Union (GAMSU). They warned students to seek
>permission and that the security will not take any unauthorised
>demonstration lightly (I do not have the press release in front of me, so I
>am paraphrasing) . The student could have simply applied for a permit, and
>they would have been given the permit. On Saturday April 8 and Sunday April
>9, some members of the GAMSU Executive met with some Secretaries of States
>and discussed the whole matter. There was an agreement for GAMSU Executive
>to meet with the Vice President at 9:30 A.M on Monday April 10 since the
>President will not in the country. They demanded an escort for the
>Executive
>from the GTTI to StateHouse.
>
>On Monday morning, the Army Chief of Staff and the Secretary of State for
>the Interior went to GTTI for further discuss with the student and to
>escort
>them to Banjul for the agreed meeting with the Vice President. It was
>during
>this time that things started to get out of hand. Apparently some GAMSU
>Executives were reluctant to go to the said meeting for various reasons.
>
>While the Chief of Staff and Secretary of State Badgie were negotiating,
>some GAMSU Members started forcing students from school buses into GTTI.
>The
>Police Intervention Unit came with batons and shields and all hell broke
>loose. I believe the security should and could have contained things and
>this would have limited the damaged done. The demonstrations were emanating
>from different fronts and in most places the demonstrators out numbered the
>police and the Intervention Unit. While commotion ensued at GTTI, students
>began attacking Kotu Police and Fire Station, Bundung Police, Brikama
>Police, Fagikunda Gamtel, West Field Gamtel, Standard Bank and everything
>within their reach that is identified with Government. However, the
>majority
>of the students wanted a peaceful demonstration, but some non-students
>seized the opportunity brought by the chaotic situation to loot, destroy
>private and public properties, banks etc.
>
>The army came after a lot of destruction has already taken place. Soldiers
>came armed, however when the police stations were being destroyed,
>prisoners
>were released in the process, especially at the Serrekunda Police and the
>armouries broken in to. The police carry very few arms and individuals,
>mostly criminal elements and civilians took them. As a matter of fact some
>civilians have been apprehended with arms and they are under custody.
>
>Live bullets were used and this resulted in the number of deaths and
>injuries. There are all kings of claims and counter claims about who stated
>the shooting and who was carrying live bullets. The Secretary of Sate for
>the Interior denied the fact that the armed forces used live bullets. The
>Commission of Enquiry that will be set up to investigate this event will
>verify this. However, the strange thing about this whole matter is that not
>single security official was reported shot while a lot of unarmed students
>were shot and brutally killed. The security has a lot explaining to do.
>
>The attacking of the Standard Bank at West Field, International Bank of
>Commerce in Serrekunda, the looting of shops and supermarkets were
>generally
>done by criminal elements who join the demonstration for their own ends. A
>lot of foreigners and non-students were reported to be part of this whole
>fiasco.
>
>Radio 1 FM, Sud FM and even GRTS Radio did not help the situation with
>their
>phone-in programmes. Instead they added fuel to the fire and their action
>has caused more havoc than good. In such a chaotic situation, having a
>phone
>in programme for every side to be venting their anger was not a good idea.
>All sorts of things, insults, misinformation, you named it were being said
>over the air and that was why they were all ordered to stop the phone-in
>programmes by the security. This was a justified action by the security.
>
>The students had a justified reason to demonstrate, however it went beyond
>their control when other non-students joined in. The security was ill
>prepared and overwhelmed and as a result they too over reacted.
>
>
>The President is saddened and mad about the whole incident both the
>handling
>of it by the security forces and the manner GAMSU went about it. The
>critics
>could say any thing about President Jammeh, however he has done more for
>Gambian youths than any leader ever did, from the colonial masters to
>Jawara. The President practically formed GAMSU. He encouraged them by
>providing funds for their various activities such as their rounds around
>the
>country to recruit and sensitise the students; he bought them computers for
>their office; gave them a super VHS camera, ordered a new Toyota van
>(coaster) for them, and his is helping them to have their own telecentres
>(2) so that they will have a permanent flow of revenue. These are just a
>few
>of the things he did for GAMSU. The President has built schools, a
>University and many other tertiary institutions since he came to power.
>Gambian youths have more access to education now than any other time in the
>history of The Gambia. To call him names and suggest otherwise is very
>unfair.
>
>
>
>
>tombong has given no update. he is only busy defending his murderer
>master.If not, how can he have all the press releases favourable to his
>master and not have the press release issued before the demonstrations
>threatening the students with what turned out to be death. After all he is
>head of Grts and no matter how clearly unfit he is he should at least have
>been capable of knowing that he only had to request for it from the
>newsroom for it to be brought to him. Or is he really that daft
But frankly we dont have much time to waste on tombong.
tombong has always been a YARLUWAAN{DEPENDENT}.So he must spend his life
praising his benefactors.
> All I can assure Gambians is that the truth will be proven
>incontrovertibly to all who want to see.
Meantime, Tombong should learn some English and spellings or go back to
school for he will soon be out of a job.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
