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Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Jan 2007 : 15:42:02
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AT THE COURT MARTIAL
CAPTAIN SECKAN TESTIFIES
By Bubacarr K. Sowe & Abdoulie G. Dibba
On Thursday 11th January, 2007, Captain Seckan testified before the court martial. He said that on the day in question while he was in his office, a short time after noon, Lieutenant Dem, now Captain Dem informed him (Seckan) that he (Dem) had received a telephone call from Captain Bunja Darboe that he (Dem) and him (Seckan) are to report to him (Bunja). He also said that when they went to his (Bunja's) office, he (Bunja) asked them whether they knew what was in the making and they said "we did not know". He then said that (Bunja) expressed surprise that they did not know what was happening. He said (Bunja) then told them that the Armed Forces in the Gambia are trying to overthrow the government of the Gambia and then asked if they had got the information.
Seckan told the court that they (he and Dem) asked Captain Bunja Darboe who the officers trying to stage the coup were. He said Bunja told them that the officers involved were so many that he could not tell them all those involved. Captain Seckan said at that stage, he told Bunja that if he wanted them to also join him, then they too should know all those who were involved. But he said that Bunja insisted that they were just too many. He said he then asked Bunja how many are involved at the GAF headquarters. In response Bunja started giving him the names of those involved namely, himself (Bunja), Abdoukarim Jah and Lieutenant Alieu A. Bah. Seckan said he then asked Bunja for the names of those involved at Yundum Barracks. In response Bunja gave the names of Captain Wassa Camara, to take care of Yundum Barracks; Captain Yahya Darboe to take control of Farafenni Barracks and he (Captain Seckan) and Lieutenant Modou Alie Bah to take care of Fajara Barracks. The witness said at that juncture he asked Captain Bunja Darboe why he was not told earlier given the enormity of the task. Seckan said Capt. Bunja Darboe could not give a reply to him but told him that the operation is at high gear and that all preparations were at their final stage.
Capt. Seckan asserted that he then asked Capt. Darboe when the operation was going to start, and Capt. Darboe replied that the operation would start at 2:00 am on the 22nd March, 2006 after the President travelled to Mauritania. He said that Capt. Darboe also made mention of two senior non-commissioned officers; RSM Bah and Manlafi Corr who were to be responsible for maintaining vehicle check points and also arresting those to be arrested. It was at that stage Capt. Seckan said, that he got up from the seat and told Captain Bunja Darboe that "you people are ready to die tomorrow." He said in response Bunja said while looking into his eyes "but we are all officers." Seckan said, he then told Capt. Bunja Darboe, "the fact that you called us here is a testimony that we are all officers." He said he then told him that if he wanted to talk to him on this issue, he had to meet me in his office and he agreed to meet him in his office at 3 pm.
While leaving his office Captain Seckan said he told Bunja that he (Bunja) would help him to die but not to get his money. Seckan said Bunja asked him which money, and he told Bunja his UN mission money. Seckan then said that Bunja asked him whether he had not received his money and Seckan told him in response to go to the finance office to clear his doubts which Bunja did. The witness then said that when Capt. Bunja Darboe went to the finance office it was confirmed to Bunja that he did not receive his money.
Captain Seckan now told the court that he returned to his office where he met Capt. Dem and where they finalized that they were not going to be part of the plot and that as officers their duty was to work against the coup plot. Capt. Seckan told the court that they decided to contact the NIA as they (NIA) were the most competent authority at the time. He said that they (Dem and himself) agreed to contact the NIA individually. Captain Seckan indicated that he contacted his NIA counterpart and requested him to report to his office and the NIA officer agreed. He said, shortly after this communication, he saw the presidential motorcade leaving for the airport. He said he made another call to his NIA counterpart to inform him how much he needed him but the NIA counterpart told him that he was somewhere in Serrekunda and could not make it back to Banjul. Capt. Seckan indicated that after emphasizing the urgency of the matter Capt. Dem came to him (Seckan) and told him that he was to attend a burial. Seckan said Dem left and he (Seckan) stayed in his office till closing time (4 pm) but up to that time Capt. Darboe did not turn up for the 3pm appointment. He said he (Seckan) then went home, changed his clothes, had his lunch and went to Tina's Bar and Restaurant in Bakau where he called his NIA counterpart. Captain Seckan said his NIA counterpart came and he (Seckan) told him the story as narrated. The witness said at this point, after the narration, his NIA counterpart attempted to talk to his superior at the NIA but due to poor network, he could not contact anybody at the NIA. He said they then dispersed and the NIA officer promised to make a follow up. He said all this happened on Monday, 20th March, 2006.
The witness now proceeded to Tuesday, 21st March, 2006. He said on that day when he reached the office, he asked Capt. Dem whether he had received a call from Capt. Darboe and he (Dem) replied in the negative. Capt. Seckan then indicated that he told Capt. Dem that he (Seckan) would call Capt. Bunja since he had not honoured the appointment and did not call either. He said he called him and asked why he did not honour the appointment. Seckan said Capt. Bunja Darboe apologized and said he could not honour the appointment because he was in Lamin, Kombo North. He said Capt. Bunja Darboe then read his (Bunja) operational order for him (Seckan) which he objected to on the basis that he told Bunja to come to his office and since he had failed to come he (Bunja) should not talk to him about the coup plot again, Captain Seckan pointed out that he then dropped the phone off but that before dropping the phone, Captain Bunja Darboe scheduled another appointment with him at 3 pm the same day, Tuesday 21st March, 2006.
The witness said, a little later after talking to Capt. Darboe a charge sheet was brought to his office which he communicated to Ndure Cham who asked him (Seckan) to come to his office with the charge sheet and the Sergeant. He said that he then called the NIA and told them that he (Seckan) was going to Ndure Cham's office for a meeting. He said, the NIA personnel told him that they had got the information and that they were on the ground. He said he then went to the former CDS' office but he could not go with the said Sergeant simply because he was not at work.
Seckan told the court that when he reached his office, the former CDS asked whether he had met Captain Darboe. He said, he replied that Bunja told him something scanty but that they had arranged to meet again.
At that stage Seckan said, the former CDS told him that there is nothing to joke about; that their operation to overthrow the government was at high gear and that he (the CDS) had given out his last charity and nothing would stop it. He said the CDS went on to tell him (Seckan) that they were making the list of those to be arrested and that once the list was ready, he (the CDS) would make it available to him. He told the court that those in the list included the current CDS Col. Tamba and Captain Badjie. He said at that stage, the chief clerk of the Gambia Armed Forces entered and they suspended the discussion. He said the CDS then examined the charge sheet and pointed out some errors and asked him (Seckan) to reproduce the charge sheet. He said he left for his office at this stage and when he reached his office, he called the NIA and told them what had transpired between him and the former CDS, Ndure Cham.
The witness said that after this, his NIA counterpart told him to meet a senior officer of the NIA. He said he agreed to meet him after working hours but not at the NIA headquarters and suggested an appointment at Leybato Bar and Restaurant at 3 pm the same day. He said he then told Captain Darboe that he would not be able to honour the appointment and Darboe responded positively. While in his office, Seckan said, he saw the former CDS drive in to join him. He then went to Captain Dem's office, where he saw an NIA operative watching through the window while the CDS was parking his car. Captain Seckan told the court that he then told the NIA operative and Dem to remain in Dem's office while he returns to his office. He said the former CDS met him there and told him that he (Ndure Cham) had come from the Security Council meeting and that he was surprised that nothing was made mention about the coup plot. He said the CDS asked him whether he had the list of those to be arrested and he (Seckan) replied in the negative. He said, the CDS then told him that the list was under preparation and once it was ready, it would be given to him to conduct arrests. Seckan told the court that the CDS emphasised to him that anybody who resists arrest should be shot at, soldiers would shoot at him if he fails to do this. At this stage Seckan said, he told Ndure Cham that Capt. Bunja Darboe told him that the meeting would be at Leybato at 8 pm and he the CDS told him that Capt. Bunja Darboe would call him since the place would be changed.
The witness said, moments later, the former CDS left his office when it was approaching closing time and he called the NIA for a meeting at 6 pm at a place yet to be determined.
Captain Seckan indicated that when the former CDS left his office, Capt. Dem came out to meet the CDS. He said, on his way out he received a call from Capt. Bunja Darboe indicating that the Leybato venue had changed to a place he (Darboe) could not tell him yet.
Seckan said that Capt. Darboe told him to wait for him in his (Seckan's) office to pick him up at 7.30 pm to take him to the venue that was yet to be determined. He said he called him (Capt. Darboe to tell him where they could meet. Seckan said that he called the NIA to re-schedule their meeting for 5 pm. He said he then got home, changed clothes and went to look for a place to meet the NIA and after locating the place, Seckan said, he called the NIA and told them where he was and how they could get there. Capt. Seckan indicated that the NIA operatives turned up and his NIA counterpart asked him to narrate the story to his superior as he (Seckan) narrated to him (the counterpart) which he did. The witness said because they spent so much time and it was approaching the appointed time for Capt. Darboe, he asked to leave so that he could attend the meeting. He said the NIA officer asked him to wait where he was, while he dropped his superior. Captain Seckan said that soon after the NIA officer left, former CDS Ndure Cham called him and directed him to call Capt. Bunja Darboe and inform him that the operation should start at 8 pm. The witness told the court that in response he put off his phone. Captain Seckan indicated that he proceeded to look for a telecentre and on his way, he met the NIA operatives and told them that the operation would start at 9 pm instead of 2 am. Captain Seckan told the court that he then suggested to the NIA operatives to start the arrests by 9 pm. Seckan said that he was then asked to go and meet the NIA at a place an when he (Seckan) did, he was put under custody.
WITNESS DENIES DOUBLE STANDARDS
Captain Saikou Seckan has denied playing double standards when the March 21st abortive coup was being planned. He testified before the Court Martial on Friday.
Captain Seckan testified that he was only supporting the government camp at the time, and all his movements were known to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). Asked whether he gave out any charity for the success of the coup d'etat, he said he gave it for security purpose, since the plotters wanted to be successful and he also wanted to be. Captain Seckan added that the candles found in a drawer at his office were not part of the charity to complement the efforts of ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Colonel Ndure Cham. He said since the electricity supply in his office was not regular, he kept it there to light it in the absence of electricity. On why he told Colonel Cham the candles were part of the charity he gave out, he answered that Cham was playing a psychological warfare on him and he has to show him that he gave a charity.
He also said that he was given blank sheets of papers on March 21st to write a statement which he said was certainly not less than two pages. He denied being charged or accused at the time, and was not cautioned before he worte the statement. He said he wrote a second statement on the 3rd of April, but said he cannot tell whether it was a cautionary statement. He was asked by the defence whether he is saying the truth since he said in the statement it was voluntary, Seckan said that is his understanding of the language. Asked whether he can recognise his third statement, he answered "yes." He added that he wrote two statements and signed them all. Seckan adduced that he did not precisely read over all that he wrote before signing.
On the involvement of Captain Wassa Camara (3rd accused) in the coup plot, he said that he does not know. Seckan also admitted in court that there was no point in time when he had spoken to Captain Camara on anything linked to the coup. Asked whether Camara has a good track record of being a good soldier, he said: "I know him of being a discipline officer."
In an earlier cross examination by Borry Touray, he said there was only a proposed meeting, which never happened. He agreed with the defence that apart from his line of communication with the NIA operatives, he never communicated with any of the accused persons. Consequently, Seckan said he had done so with Captain Bunja Darboe alone and no other accused person.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 006/2007, 15-16 January, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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