By Sulayman Waan
Alhagie Basiru Gassama, ex-Intelligent Officer under Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara has slammed top military officers for the 1994 coup as he urged them to keep quiet and apologized Gambians.
The former officer of the defunct National Security Service (NSS) made the remark in an exclusive interview with The Voice on Tuesday as he blast ex-service men testifying at the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC).
“These military personnel should apologize to the entire people of the Gambia because there was no resistance at Denton Bridge during the 1994 coup. They [military officers] just give up in preventing the coup. To be honest with you and the fault was not done by Yahya Jammeh alone,” he said.
According to him, the senior military officers then taught Jammeh was a fool, adding that Jammeh is wiser than them.
Mr. Gassama, who was the youth adviser for the opposition APRC for Kanifing Municipality, alleged that if those testified so far were not part of the 1994 coup they wouldn’t work for Jammeh but would have fled the country
It can be recalled five military officers over thrown former President Jawara’s government in July 22, 1994 led by Yahya Jammeh and setup a new government immediately. But for Mr. Gassama five people alone cannot overthrow a government without the help of others.
He added: “if the military officers who testified at TRRC were not involve in the 1994 coup then they would have not work with the Jammeh’s administration rather they would have gone into exile. “They were here for their selfish interest and money.”
“How these young military officers [lieutenants and captains] can mobilize themselves and overthrow a government, where were the senior military officers? They fail their responsibilities, their aught of allegiance to the former President and the nation,” he asked.
The former intelligent officer said the top military officers should have come up with mechanisms to prevent the coup, saying they supposed to deploy and lead loyal forces from the major military camps such as Yundum, Farafenni and Fajara Barracks so as to stop Yahya Ja mmeh and the crew.
Gassama lamented that the then military personnel failed the nation for not stopping the junta, saying those senior military officer lacked the protective measures to stop the five junta group from overthrowing the Mr. Jawara’s government.
He emphasized that these military officers should not blame the Junta alone because some members of the military as well as civilians were handling positions in the Junta’s government, noting that it was Halifa Sallah, Omar A Jallow among few people who rejected their offer by the Junta.
