By Yunus S Saliu
For the sake of peace, tranquility, and living together as one people, one Gambia, a Gambian-Denmark-based philanthropist, Sulayman Junkung Sawaneh has urged the Gambia-led government by President Adama Barrow to address the increasing caste issue in the country.
Mr. Sulayman Junkung Sawaneh’s call came on the heels of the issue that ensued among the youth of Gambisara and Aluareh in URR on the 2nd through 14th of October 2022.
He said in this century, it is awkward for someone to see him/herself classified or treated like a slave, low class, or irrelevant person in society.
“This deep-rooted caste system in The Gambia is reminding everyone that there is still slavery in The Gambia despite the abolition of the slave trade closer to two hundred years ago, now that we are in the modern age with civilization everywhere, President Adama Barrow should do everything to put an end to this issue once and for all,” Sawaneh urged President Adama Barrow and member of his government.
He noted that the former two presidents of the Gambia, the late Sir Dawda K Jawara and exiled Yahya Jammeh failed to address this issue, “though Yahya Jammeh in his era was able to liberate his people and himself from this modern slavery, still he and Jawara did not address the caste system which is prevalent, especially in the whole Central River Region (CRR).”
“The worst part of this issue is that the elders from the areas are still narrating and passing the issue of the caste system to their children. They are planting the seed of discord in their minds,” he added.
He noted this recent issue that happened in Basse should have been settled peacefully among the youth if the government and its cabinet members are willing to put an end to the issue of slavery in the Central River Region and across The Gambia.
However, reaching out to Bakary Trawally, the vice chairman of Gambanaou Fedeh Association, he narrated that on the 2nd of October, there was a semi-final football match between Gambanaou (of Gambisara) and Aluareh teams in which Gambanaou United Football Club defeated Aluareh team 2 goals to 1 at the Basse Mini Stadium. But on their way back to Gambisara, despite the players including their supporters being escorted by paramilitary, they were doubled crossed and attacked in Aluareh about 12 kilometers away from Basse “they were beaten, wounded, broken and damaged some glasses and cars.”
According to him, on the 8th of October, the final day, the football match final was played between Gambisara and Manju teams and the Manju team beat Gambisara team 2 goals to 1. Still, “Gambisara team and fans were happy and jubilating going back to their community despite losing the game to the opponent team but one of the fans, Baba Trawally, was seriously beaten and had his arm broken while he suffered a bodily arm injury. The matter was reported to Bakadaji Police Station and they gave us a letter to take to the Alkalo. That’s all the police did without any follow-up.”
At the hospital, he said the doctor, too, didn’t touch Baba Trawally instead they said they should go to the police station again to report the matter.
However, “Waiting till the 14th October without any response from the police, the youth decided to remove the post from the football field,” he added.
According to him the suspected cause of the problem is the issue of ‘Noble Class and Slavery Class (freeborn and slavery)in the communities, “these people went to report our youth at the Bakadaji Police Station where the youth was immediately served a letter to report at the police station.
They reported at the police station and they were detained from Friday till Tuesday morning. Despite all my calls to the police officer Mballow on Monday to arrange for their bail, still they were arraigned before the court on Tuesday morning where they were sentenced to pay D20,000 each in default to serve two years in jail each.”
“The amazing part of the whole matter is that I was shocked that how could they beat a boy and dislocated his arm, police did not make any arrest nor charge anyone for the beaten and the bodily harm caused to the boy and others. But why is the removal of ordinary postal by the youth from the stadium attracting penalty and imprisonment? The police meted out unjustified judgment on them by detaining them for five days and still taking them to the court. The judge also meted on them unwarranted punishment.”
After paying the sum of D60,000.00 to release the three youths to avoid being imprisoned for two years they were released but later police came back to arrest them again and detained them for about 30 minutes before finally releasing them.