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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Oct 2010 : 12:23:19
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Gun Battle At the Border between armed groups in Casamance Villagers in Foni Brefet Gambia thrown into panic
By Fabakary B. Ceesay on 06-10-10
Reliable information gathered by Foroyaa from the villages of Foni Brefet District, namely, Sutusinjang, Bajana, Aslem and Bulock has it that gun battle has broken out between armed groups in Cassamance and has affected the outskirts of Aslem and Sutusinjang Villages respectively, thus throwing the entire villagers into total panic and confusion. This reporter who was assigned to investigate the matter went to the ground was told by Sutusinjang and Aslem villagers that heavy fighting has been going on within Cassamance since Friday 1st October.
The Sutusinjang residents said they heard heavy gun fire coming from the direction of the camp of an armed group situated near a village called Gurack in Cassamance on Friday morning at around 2am and the exchanges continued up to midday. They said that they could hear and see fire from heavy guns like mortars and Rocket Propelled grenades (RPGs) at opposite direction from the Cassamance side of the border. They said that the firing was so heavy that some houses in their village were shaking. The Sutusinjang villagers indicated that to their surprise on Saturday 2 October, at around midday, heavy fighting broke out at the outskirts of their village. They said that the fighting was so close to their village that some residents had to vacate their homes for safety. They said that the Saturday fighting at the outskirts of their village lasted for about an hour and the Gambia Army had to come to the scene. They stated that they had to alert the Gambia Armed Forces that were stationed at Bulock to intervene to stop the fighting from spilling over to the heart of the village. The Sutusinjang villagers told Foroyaa that many farmers who were working at their farms have to immediately abandon them due to the continuous gun fire coming from all directions towards them.
This reporter tried to get to the Alkalo of Sutusinjang, Mr. Jammeh to get his comments but he was not available at the time.
According to Aslem villagers, they were at the school when they heard gun shots being fired between the hours of 12pm to 13:00pm. They said that the gun shots were so close to them that they had to vacate the school and run for safety in their houses. They stated that bullet shells could be heard from all directions and some even fell on the roof top of their houses. They indicated that the fighting was so close to their compound that they became convinced that it was spilling over Gambian territory. They said they were scared to death before the arrival of The Gambia armed forces. The villagers said they did not see any of the fighters but they believed that they were hiding within their immediate surrounding before the arrival of The Gambian army. They said they now feel safe as Gambian forces are now patrolling the area. They noted that they will still remain indoors for the time being until the situation is totally put under control.
However, this reporter who walked across the Cassamance border for about a hundred and fifty metres was told by a farmer that he saw about three dead bodies and captured wounded fighters being dragged by opposing armed groups back into Cassamance from the Gambian side. The farmer said he and his children had to abandon their farm and hid in the bush to avoid being caught in a cross fire between the two sides. The farmer stated that he believed the fighting was between two rebel groups for the control of the timber, charcoal, firewood and other trade, adding that the collection of taxes is a lucrative business for the rebels and for their sustainability in the bush. He said he believes both factions belong to the same rebel camp which is the Salifu Sadio Camp. The farmer said the information that he gathered was that the group that were stationed at the border to collect taxes and dues from the cross border traders was not depositing the collected monies to the coffers of the main camp, adding that that has prompted the fighting among them. When asked whether he saw the Gambian army engaging the rebels in a shoot out, he answered in the negative. He noted that he only saw rebels shooting at each other from his hide out. He said The Gambian forces arrived at the scene almost thirty minutes after the departure of the rebels.
When asked where the fighting was taking place, he said the Friday morning fighting was within Cassamance, but added that the Saturday incident was within The Gambian territory. However, he stated that he believes that the attacking rebels may not know that they were attacking their enemies in The Gambian soil. He stated that the attacking rebels came from the main camp near the Guinea Bissau border and that they might not distinguish where the Senegalese border ends and mistakenly pursuing their enemies into The Gambian territory. He added that after the battle ended, he saw the rebels dragging the dead and wounded back into Cassamance. He also added that he saw some people he considered to be defeated rebels escaping towards The Gambian villages un-armed. He noted that most of them dropped their weapons while fleeing for their lives.
When contacted the spokesperson of the Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant Omar Bojang said they are aware of the recent fighting in Cassamance, but added that it has not reached The Gambian side of the border. Lieutenant Bojang pointed out that The Gambia Armed Forces were stationed within the border to monitor the infiltration of the rebels into The Gambia and to stop them from entering. He stated that the Gambian army has been on the ground since 2006 to arrest the flow of rebels into the country. He posited that since 2006, several rebels were arrested within Gambia who were prosecuted and some are still being tried in court. He said he was not aware of any fighting within the Gambian territory, adding that the Gambian army was not engaged in any fighting with the rebels. He added that the Gambian army was only on the ground to monitor the in and out movements of the suspected rebels and to take further measures to protect the lives and properties of the people. PRO Bojang assured Gambians within the border that the army will do everything possible to protect their lives and properties. He called on the border villagers to stay calm and go on their normal daily business as the army is on the ground to protect them from any rebel menace. He added that the Gambian side of the border is under tight security control by GAF.
Source: Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
Posted - 08 Oct 2010 : 18:08:56
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WHO IS APPREHENDING SUSPECTED ARMED COMBATANTS FROM CASAMANCE IN FONI?
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
08-10-10
As the fighting between Casamance armed groups at the Gambian border dies down and some of the defeated combatants seek sanctuary within the immediate border villages in The Gambia, reports are reaching Foroyaa that over a dozen of them were apprehended in Bulock and a few at Bajana and Sutusinjang.
The information gathered from Bulock village points out to the fact that on Saturday three well known suspected armed combatants were apprehended from the village and one of them goes by the nick name of Zariko. The apprehensions were reported to have been made in Bulock in broad daylight while the public looked on. On Monday 4 October, Foroyaa was also informed that a suspected armed combatant by the nick named “Duniya.”
While on the ground, Foroyaa also learned from eye witnesses that the alleged rebels and a pile of arms were escorted together towards the direction of Banjul on board three pickup vehicles. The eye witnesses also stated that before the suspected rebels and the arms were taken away, their particulars were recorded and were also recorded in a video tape.
While still on the ground, this reporter saw one of the suspected apprehended armed combatant Alias “Zariko” being escorted by GAF men back and forth, between Bulock and Sutusinjang villages. He was escorted to several places in Bulock and was seen being seriously engaged by soldiers in red beret while the public looked on. On more than three occasions he was seen being escorted from Bulock to Sutusinjang and several times into the bushes behind Bulock. He was later seen taken towards the Bulock military post.
Foroyaa also learned from the villagers that night movement within these villages have been restricted as the patrolling soldiers question and ask for identification cards.
Eye witnesses told Foroyaa that on Sunday afternoon, a village youth was seriously man handled by some soldiers after he was suspected of being an armed combatant. It was said that the young man was later rescued by villagers who confirmed to the soldiers that he is a native of Bulock.
Foroyaa also learned of an emergency meeting called by the district Chief Alagie Junkung Camara at Bulock on Tuesday 5 October, where he summoned the village heads (Alkalos) and compound owners and warned them not to habour any armed combatants from the Casamance within their homes. Chief Camara was reported to have warned the village heads and the entire villagers to cooperate with the security personnel and to feed them with vital information about any suspected rebel movement or activities. He was said to have warned the villagers that fighting against the rebel menace in their villages is not about tribe, but the interest of the entire country. He was reported to have stated that when one part of the county is engulfed with rebel activities, the entire country would be affected.
When contacted, Chief Camara confirmed his meeting with three village heads, namely Sutusinjang, Bajana and Bulock. He told Foroyaa that his meeting with the three village heads was witnessed by the area GAF commander who accompanied him to all the three villages. He said that he gave a strict warning to all the Alkalos and the entire villagers to cooperate with the security forces to halt the infiltration of the rebel activities within his district. He added that the office of the Governor of Western Region was in the picture about his meeting with villagers in his district.
When contacted, the spokesperson of The Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant Omar Bojang, told FOROYAA that his office is not aware of any suspected rebels being arrested within Bulock and Sutusinjang. PRO Bojang also denied the confiscation of piles of arms and ammunitions from the apprehended suspected rebels by GAF men. He pointed out that they are on constant contact with the soldiers on the ground on hourly basis but has no idea of the arrest of seventeen men with arms and ammunitions seized from them. He added that his office is yet to receive such information from GAF men on the ground.
Editor’s NoteThe Minister of Defence needs to issue a Press Release on the incidents in Foni so as to put an end to rumours. The people need facts and not fiction. What is happening before the eyes of the people is no longer secret. The people should be properly informed at all times
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 08 Oct 2010 : 19:21:56
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http://www.foroyaa.gm/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5443
I think this is an excellent piece of reporting clear no long words,very good.
BUT
I was rather disappointed when I read this on the ground response from the man in charge:
"When contacted, the spokesperson of The Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant Omar Bojang, told FOROYAA that his office is not aware of any suspected rebels being arrested within Bulock and Sutusinjang. PRO Bojang also denied the confiscation of piles of arms and ammunitions from the apprehended suspected rebels by GAF men. He pointed out that they are on constant contact with the soldiers on the ground on hourly basis but has no idea of the arrest of seventeen men with arms and ammunitions seized from them. He added that his office is yet to receive such information from GAF men on the ground. "
The usual Gambian problem confusion and lack of clarity. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 08 Oct 2010 19:23:25 |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2010 : 05:50:35
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quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
The usual Gambian problem confusion and lack of clarity.
Toubab, it is call cover-up. The authorities in the Gambia don't like coming up with facts especially if it doesn't suit them or help their cause. For them, it is better to stay as rumour rather than being official.
Regards |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 09 Oct 2010 05:52:24 |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 09 Oct 2010 : 14:08:43
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I understand that,hence the words I used.
quote:
Originally posted by Nyarikangbanna
quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
The usual Gambian problem confusion and lack of clarity.
Toubab, it is call cover-up. The authorities in the Gambia don't like coming up with facts especially if it doesn't suit them or help their cause. For them, it is better to stay as rumour rather than being official.
Regards
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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