The Executive Secretary of Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) Dr Baba Galleh Jallow, has given reassurance of impartiality of the commission set to investigate alleged atrocities committed under the 22 year regime of former president Yahya Jammeh, saying the commission will not be biased or corrupt.
The TRRC executive director made this observation in an interview with The Voice ahead of preparations for the commission to start operations.
Recalled that Mr Jallow was appointed in February 2018 to head the commission mandated to investigate human rights abuses committed during the regime of former president Yahya Jammeh, who, now living in exile in Equatorial Guinea, was forced to step down from office after losing the presidential election in December 2016.
He was one of the prominent journalists in the country and publisher of the defunct Independent Newspaper before relocating to the United States, where he was an assistant professor at La Salle University in the State of Pennsylvania.
However, many people consider him as a victim of the former regime, which allegedly firebombed the headquarters of his newspaper some times in April 2004.
Moreover, Dr Jallow is currently staffing the commission, but his hiring decisions came under attack, especially with respect to some members of the secretariat. The controversy centered around one Alagie Barrow, who was appointed as director of research and investigation for the commission.
Critics of Barrow’s appointment considered his involvement in the 31st December 2014, failed armed rebellion against former President Jammeh as grounds for disqualifying him to play a key role in the commission that must maintain the appearance of impartiality. He was wanted by Jammeh’s government on allegations of his role in clearing cache of weapons at the Sea port (Gambia Ports Authority), which were concealed in bales of used clothing and used of other clandestine operations.
As a result of taking part in the botched incident, Alagie Barrow and four other Gambian US citizens, were convicted and sentenced in May 2016 to serve six months in prison as a result of taking part in the cited botched incident.
According to the US based Chicago Tribune, Alagie Barrow and convicted personnel were charged by the US District Attorney’s Office for conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act, which makes it illegal to take military action against a country with which the United States is at peace.
As such, hiring of Barrow drew criticism some of whom argued that failed the principle of fairness which is one of the cardinal principles and requirement for the TRRC Act 2017. The Act provided among others that, appointment or appointees to the commission must have high moral character and integrity and no criminal record or involvement in human rights abuses in The Gambia.
Dr. Jallow disagreed, reiterating his previous justification of the appointment, saying he think the critics of appointment of Alagie Barrow should know that the would be coup plotters were not out to topple a democratically elected government, because that government had no regard for the democratic principles of our nation.
He went further to contend that, “If Jammeh can go public and say he will rule the country for a billion year without paying respect to the democratic values and principles of the country then how democratic was that regime?” Jallow questioned.
Author: Kebba Ansu Manneh