By Yunus S Saliu
The family of Koro Ceesay’s who have chosen to remember how Koro lived but not the way he died has stated in a clear words that forgiveness is not for the villain or perpetrator; but it is the victim’s way of taking back their power and strength.
Dr Naffie Ceesay in a press briefing held at Fajikunda Thursday said Koro Ceesay’s family has belief in the Truth Reconciliation and Repatriations Commission (TRRC) but quickly noted in a strong term that her family will not seat behind watching an unremorseful psychopath to slander the character of their brother.
She said for someone who does not have a moral complex to insinuate that Koro was probably involve in dealing with rebels or been killed by rebels can only believe by insane people. This is because he was trying “to plant a seed of doubt about his opponent and underestimate the intelligence of the Gambia people.”
With time, she said, “people will see the truth and people know the truth because that is not the type of person my brother is,” Dr Ceesay echoed.
She stated clearly that Koro was a patriot and visionary who wanted to transform and improve his country and her people because “his legacy is about service, uplifting and making a difference and should not be confused with cheap attempts to smear his reputation.”
She was emphatic about forgiveness as lots of forgiveness was heard during these hearing but “forgiveness is not for the villain or perpetrator; it is the victim’s way of taking back their power and strength.”
She added further that it is not a line you cross after hearing a superficial or pathetic apology but “it is a path you take and our family took that path a long time ago independent of our brother’s killers.” Adding that they do not get to dictate when we heal.
The US based Gambian doctor noted that in Koro’s memory, the family has founded the Ousman Koro Ceesay Foundation which has been providing free school supplies, medical services, screening and community education to countless citizens for the past four years.
She noted that the family doesn’t go into this process in having expectation to avoid the tendency of disappointment “because for the past 23 years we wondered what we would do or say to Koro’s killers, what we feel for them is sadness.
In words for thought she said ‘true power is not using guns and terrorizing innocent citizens but true power is to hold back from using power when you can use it and instead choosing to use mercy. And Koro’s life was not ours to forgive; his killers would need to ask the Almighty for that.”
