The current rising trend of unabated brutality by members of the Gambia's security forces against innocent and well meaning citizens and other residents in the Gambia is indeed very worrying and a cause for concern for the long-term stability and prosperity of our beloved country.Such unjustifiable occurences are becoming a common feature of conduct by some members of our security forces be it be from the Gambia National Army, the Paramilitary Forces, the Gambia National Guard, the Gambia Police Force and the Gambia Fire Service, not to mention the Notorious Intelligence Agency (NIA); the most brutal of them all,whose members even seem to thrive on their atrocities by gaining promotions and greater recognition from none other than Yaya Jammeh.I don't need to catalogue on a case-by-case basis such atrocities committed against unsuspecting members of the public by those who were supposed to protect,safeguard and enhance their security and integrity as human beings.However recent headlines in the Gambian press such as the brutalisation of Mansaray by some members of the Bundung Police; the unlawful detention and brutal torture of Kassa:(Bakau UDP militant)by the NIA;the harassment and torture by members of the Gambia National Army at the Yundum Barracks of the 'Independent' reporter are among a number of such crimes reported recently.Any truly well-meaning Gambian and others who wish the Gambia well cannot help but be saddened by these retrogressive and worrying cowardly actions.What is even more worrying is that the perpetrators of such crimes and atrocities are evetually rewarded by their superiors instead of being accordingly disciplined,prosected and eventually dismissed.This culture of impunity and immunity which is being nurtured and promoted by the APRC regime,if unchecked and eliminated from our justice and peace-loving society would eventually result in to a severe backlash from the majority populace with a 'God-forbid' possibility of civil strife.The recent decision of the Government to indeminify themselves from any accountabilty for the April 10 and 11 massacre of peaceful student demonstrators is not only a gross injustice and insult to Gambians but has also conveyed the message to our security forces that they can get away even with murder as long as the targets or victims are not known sypathisers or thugs of the regime. My message to our security forces is that they should remember that we are one with them and that they "thus consitute" as the late Captain Thomas said of the Burkinabe(Upper Volta) Armed Forces,"simply a detachment that is more specialised than the rest of the population with regard to the defense of ....internal and external security.Similarly even though the health of the voltaic people is the business of the people as a whole and of each Voltaic individually,there exists and will continue to exist a more specialised medical corps that will devote more time to the question of public health".In essence,Sankarah is alluding to the fact that security like health is a collective reponsibility of all and that without the co-operation and support from the public,the security forces by themselves cannot bring about genuine national security.Therefore,national security will never be enhanced through brutal and inhumane tactics from the security forces.Members of our security forces should always in their interaction with members of the public be guided by the fact that they are employed to serve for the public good in accordance with the principles of justice and respect for fundamental human rights.After all,they are paid from taxpayers funds and not from the wealth of any individual,entity or interest group and are therefore obliged to serve the collective public interest.As Sankarah said,"gone are" (should be,mine)" the days when our national army acted like a corps of foreign mercenaries in conquered territory".Our security forces should " have no place for any person who looks down on,and brutalises the people"(Sankarah,Oct. 2,1983). My final message is to those guilty of perpetrating and condoning crimes against their civilian folk, that we are taking notes of their atrocities and will bring them to account at the most opportune time which is nigh.They will be accorded a fair trial very soon and sentenced for their inexcusable crimes against humanity. We must shatter the yoke of oppression! BMK _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------