By Adama Makasuba
As the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission continue its sittings, Lieutenant Colonel Bubacarr Sanyang of The Gambia Armed Forces continues his testimony on Thursday 21st March, 2019 to shed light on November 11 incident.
While testifying in his military khaki uniform-Mr. Sanyang recalled the moral and happenings at the time within the Gambian military officers and personnel.
He said that he noticed soldiers complaining of failed promises made by the council members during the military takeover on July 22, 1994. He then added that he found it very difficult to assemble soldiers to hold parade at the time as a Regimental Sergeant Military (RSM) at Yundum Barracks.
In a marathon testimony, he said that November 11 incident started after soldiers have said that they wouldn’t take part in a parade to honor the Remembrance Day.
Meanwhile, as he continues his revelations, he also said that the victims of November 11 incidents were picked up by a double Cabin Land Rover at Yundum Barracks by the Junta members and their orderlies except Yahya Jammeh, but denied the involvement into the execution of the military officers.
The military officers he named would have been picked up by the Junta members’ included-Captain Gibril Saye, Lieutenant Ablaye Bah, Lt Buba Jammeh, Lt Bakary Manneh alias Nyancho, Cadet Amadou Mbakeh Sillah, Lt Lamin Jarju, and Lt. Lamin Darboe.
“I saw the Land Rover came covered with leaves but legs were outside and I said Allahu Akbarr (God is great). I could see Alagie Kanyi sitting behind the Land Rover when they were leaving….They went alive and came dead,” he said.
However, he said that he has neither participated physically nor taking part in any planning of the atrocities carried out against the military offices at the time.
He also said the day prior to November 11 incident in 1994, that very day he was called by the late Lieutenant Buba Jammeh and Jamboy Sowe who was a military police at then, asking him to leave the Yundum Barracks. He further added that he was told by them that soldiers wanted to overthrow the Junta regime and that his name was on the list of people to be arrested.
He then added that he ran to the bush and spent night at an unfinished building in Lamin village. He added that he and one MA Jallow were being arrested by Corporal Malafing Corr on the following morning and locked up in the barracks.