By Adama Makasuba
Mamadou Kaddy Cham, former minister under the regime of the People’s Progressive Party has said that he and a number of people were disrobed naked by Almamo Manneh and his people while in detention at the Fajara Barrack in October 1995.
Cham, 82, told the Truth Reparation and Reparation Commission on Monday that: “They asked us all to remove our cloths naked and sat down on the ground. Almamo said to me I will kill you.”
Monday, the Truth Commission began the second phase of it proceedings of hearings into the human rights violation occurred under the 22 year rule of ex-president Yahya Jammeh.
However, giving his testimonies about the 1994 bloodless coup led by ex-president Jammeh, Mr. Cham said he was subjected to torture with his colleagues detained during their detention at Fajara Barracks, adding that Amamo hit him with a branch of tree on his back which caused bleeding.
He also told the commission that Manneh and his men later conducted ‘mock execution’, adding he was arrested a number of times by the AFPRC regime arbitrary without arrest warrant and charges.
He said Almamo code name crocodile told him that “you have been stealing and eating for 30 years and now you will not allow Yahya Jammeh to do his part.”
He also narrated his first arrest by the AFPRC came after he granted an interview to a Newspaper and said that the Gambia National Army and the Gendarmerie were established under the PPP regime, adding he was arrested and taken to Banjul Police where he described then to be dark, smelling and dumb.
Mr. Cham, who said to have held various ministerial portfolios under the PPP regime, said throughout his arrests by the junta men that he was denied access to lawyer, shower, change of dress and family visits, describing it a “gross violation of human rights.”
