By Adama Makasuba
Ministry of Justice has clarified the controversial pending release of the three death squad members of former President Yahya Jammeh as ‘not an amnesty.’
The release announcement of the trio- Lt Malick Jatta, Omar A Jallow and Sgt Amadou Badjie came after their last month disturbing testimonies before the Truth Reconciliation Reparation Commission.
The three men’s admitted their role in participating in gross human rights crimes and abuses including killing and torture under the 22-year rule of Yahya Jammed.
At least six ‘jugulars’ almost all military officers were arrested and detained since the 22-year rule of Yahya Jammeh was put to an end through a ballot box by the Coalition leader President Adama Barrow in 2017.
“Let me clarify from the onset that the recommendation to release the three men is not an amnesty at some claim this is totally false – it is only the TRRC that can recommend amnesty in appropriate cases.
At this point the objective of this release is to put the three men in a similar situation as those who have appeared at the TRRC and admitted to participating human rights violations and abuses,” Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou said during a press conference in Banjul on Monday.
He said the objective of released of the ‘jugulars’ is to promote truth telling in exchange for amnesty and promotion of healing and national reconciliation.
Abubacarr Tambadou said: “all those who assist the TRRC to establish the truth shall and should be treated the same way – neither can we charge anyone including the three men with any crimes at this moment because the TRRC has been mandated identified for prosecution only those who bare the greatest responsibility for the human rights violations and abuse.”
He said the decision about who to prosecute will depend on the recommendations of the Truth Commission base on totality of all facts and evidence before it.
