By Adama Makasuba
The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) had found the ex-President Yahya AJJ Jammeh responsible for killings, tortures and rape during his 22 years rule.
Kimbeng Tah, an official of the Ministry of Justice, who read out the list of the crimes at Sir Dawda Jawara International Conference Centre, Bijilo on Friday named Jammeh and his associates for criminally responsible for human rights violations including killings and tortures.
Mr Tah however told reporters: “its findings are not legally binding, with those accused still benefiting from presumption of innocence.”
“All members of the Junta comprising Lt. Yahya AJJ Jammeh, Lt. Sana B. Sabally, Lt. Edward Singhatey, Lt. Sadibou Hydara, Lt. Yankuba Touray, and Lt. Peter Singhatey including their orderlies Private Baboucarr Njie aka Njie Ponkal, JCB Mendy, Mustapha Touray (Churro), Lamin Marong, LaminS enghore (Pa Senghore/Assassin), Private Zackaria Darboe, Ensa Mendy and Jali Madi Suso are responsible for the torture and inhumane treatment of Capt. Momat Cham, AIG Ebrima Chongan and RSM Baboucarr Jeng at Mile II Central Prison on September 6, 1994. Sanna Sabally and JCB Mendy are responsible for the torture of Political prisoners after 1994 coup particularly O.J Jallow. Yahya Jammeh also bears criminal responsibility for these crimes due to his failure as Commander-in-Chief to investigate and punish the perpetrators,” the report stated.
“Capt. Yahya Jammeh, Capt. Sanna Sabally, Capt. Edward Singhatey, Capt. Sadibou Hydara, Capt. Yankuba Touray, Capt. Peter Singhatey, and Major Baboucarr Jatta together with their orderlies and security guards are responsible for the torture and inhumane treatment of soldiers arrested and detained at Yundum Barracks on November 11, 1994 and also unlawfully killed Lt. Gibril Saye, Lt. Abdoulie Bah “Achopin Chopin”, Lt. Bakary Manneh (“Nyancho”), Lt. Buba Jammeh, Lt. Momodou Lamin Darboe, Cadet Amadou Mbackeh Sillah, Lt. Abdoulie Dot Faal, Lt. Basiru Barrow, Fafa Nyang, Sgt Basiru Camara and E.M Ceesay.
“Capt. Yahya Jammeh, Capt. Edward Singhatey together with their orderlies and security guards including Alhagie Martin and Lamin Senghore are responsible for the unlawful arrest, unlawful detention /imprisonment, torture and sexual violence of Sanna Sabally and Sadibou Hydara. Capt. Yahya Jammeh and Capt. Edward Singhatey are also responsible for the unlawful killing of Sadibou Hydara Capt. Yahya Jammeh, Capt. Edward Singhatey, Capt. Yankuba Touray, Capt. Peter Singhatey, Pte. AlhagieKanyi, Pte. B.K Jatta and Pte. Pa Alieu Gomez is responsible for the unlawful killing of Ousman Koro Ceesay. Capt. Yahya Jammeh and his State Guards personnel including Almamo Manneh (deceased), Bubacarr Bah, Musa Jammeh (Malia Mungu) (deceased), Sgt. Gomez (Hitler) and Kawsu Camara (Bombardier) were responsible for the persecution, sexual violence and torture of the PPP supporters, particularly OJ Jallow, Housainou Njai and MC Cham, who were arrested, mistreated and unlawfully detained at Fajara Barracks in 1995 and 1996,” it stated further.
“As leaders of the group that went to the bridge, Edward Singhatey, Yankuba Touray and Peter Singhatey are responsible for the tortures of scores and the murder of two UDP supporters around Denton Bridge in Banjul sometime in December 1996. Yahya Jammeh also bears responsibility for these serious crimes of unlawful killings, persecution, torture and inhumane treatment of UDP supporters at the Denton Bridge in December 1996 due to failure to prosecute. Yahya Jammeh is responsible for the persecution of Gambian journalists between 1994 to January 2017 by unlawfully arresting, harassing, detaining, deporting, torturing, forcing them into exile, kill and disappearing them,” the report added.
