By: Nyima Sillah
Citizens expressed personal perspectives as the country witnessed another year of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) gaining control of Gambia in July 1994, in a military coup d’état.
28 years ago the AFPRC deposed the late Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara’s government and banned opposition political activity. Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh, chairman of the AFPRC, became head of state. A few months later, Captain Sadibou Hydara, who was the spokesperson of the AFPRC, and Captain Sabally , deputy leader of the AFPRC, were accused by Jammeh of plotting a coup. Both men were arrested and detained at the maximum prison. Captain Hydara was tortured and killed in prison. It was believed that Captain Hydara who was the most educated among the original members of the AFPRC was in favor of returning the country to civilian rule, and strongly objected to Jammeh’s candidacy.
Following Jammeh’s defeat in the popular vote that ended his 22 years ruled in 2016, the day that brought him to power has not been celebrated openly. We reflect the minds of the Gambians in the 22 years of Jammeh’s regime.
Thus, Today is Friday and in 1994, it was the same day that Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh overthrew the late Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. This day used to be among the days that were celebrated in the national calendar.
Recalling this day, The Voice newspaper conducted interviews with concerned citizens to know their perspectives on the 22nd of July.
Hagie Suwareh, said: “that Sir Dawda was a humble person and respects human beings, I felt disappointed when he was overthrown by the military government led by Jammeh.”
“When the government changed my father, somebody who attended World War II always told us the dangers behind the military rule.
My Dad would say Jammeh took the country, some are happy but they will regret why a military government is ruling them because a military government can never be better than a civilian government. That’s why I always see his government as a government that will not do well to the citizens and everyone can see that.”
According to him, the difference between Jammeh’s regime and Jawara’s regime is that, during Jawara’s regime there was democracy and freedom of expression everywhere in the country. Bantaba used to be a political office for the old men and politics was discussed everywhere. But, when Jammeh took over, the country was in a different style. People have the fear to speak up and the government always does what they think is right for them. There was a complete dictatorship in the country. The AFPRC ruling injected fear into the public.
“When they overthrew the sitting government, what they were advocating was that they will fight corruption because Jawara’s regime was corrupt and they said they came in to tackle that corruption, and eventually they set up a commission.
So, people started listening to them and started trusting him. This is how they gain public trust and move on for 22yrs because people trust them and later fear challenging them knowing that they were more corrupt with the public funds they claimed were corrupted by the Jawara regime.
“I don’t think anybody with your right mind will celebrate this day because I don’t think even Jammeh would like to celebrate this day now because the day causes us a lot of harm as Gambian people will reflect this day has created chaos, this day has born a dictatorship in this country it is a day that brought in corruption. This is a day that is the incurable day that people can forgive but can’t forget because it’s a day that brought in the 22 years of the Jammeh regime it’s a day that empowered human rights violations and corruption and this is a day every Gambian should regret about including Jammeh,” he added.
However, he said that the government of the day should learn from this day because it is a day that people in power should think positively and know that power belongs to the people.
“No matter how long you stay in power a day will come, you will go.
I believe every Gambia will remember this day in a very sad mood and not a happy mood therefore, I don’t think it should be celebrated,” he said.
Molamin Dampha, another concerned citizen said: “I was just four years old when the 1994 coup happened, so I wouldn’t be able to recall what was happening at that moment. But I still hold the blurred memory of the report of someone’s unrest in the country at the time. And my dad would later hold a political position mobilising youth to join the APRC. By far, that’s what I can recall about the 22nd July 1994 Government takeover by the AFPRC.
According to him, the differences between the pre-1994-coup and thereafter are things he read from books or heard from comments from those that witnessed both times.
He said on the human rights and democracy aspect, it is reported from authentic sources that President DK Jawara’s Government was more committed to the protection and promotion of human rights and freedoms adding there is videographic evidence and witness testimonies confirming that.
He added the economy was also stable with vibrant public institutions.
“The AFPRC junta Government was the converse. It came by the use of undemocratic means suspending the Constitution and disbanding political parties, thus stifling human rights and political participation. TRRC testimonies showed the overwhelming rights abuses and atrocities perpetrated between 22nd July 1994 to 21st January 2017. Arbitrary killings, tortures, and detentions of opposition supporters and their leaders, and the summary execution of members of the army prisoners alleged to have been in a planned counter-coup on 11th November 1995.”
He further said the AFPRC-turned-APRC Government’s tenure is generally characterised by serious abuses and impunity, adding that it constructed certain infrastructural structures such as roads and bridges among others.
He also said some public institutions like the state-owned GRTS TV, and for the first time, the University of The Gambia were also established, noting that some analysts believe that made him the most transformative head of state.
“For 22 years in power, that Government had its successes and failures. But I believe the failures greatly outweighed. The gross misappropriation of public funds by President Jammeh and his close associates unearthed by the Janneh Commission and many more that would likely remain unknown forever crippled the country. That added to the systematic violation of the human rights of people by agents of the state following the authorisation of Jammeh and his agents. The AFPRC/APRC days were too brutal and opaque to be good.”
Meanwhile, he said: “It is my view that 22nd July 2022 should be celebrated. That falls within political participation for the APRC and its supporters. I understand that victims of that Regime would be in opposition to that, but in light of human rights to freedom of political expedition, assembly, and expression it should be allowed. Though, measures should be taken to avoid occasions where re-victimisation would occur. This could be done by stating conditions on the police permit, the violation of which renders it voidable.”