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Aku_pickin
Christmas Island
162 Posts |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Jan 2015 : 11:36:55
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 COURTESY WITH JOLLOF NEWS Gambia Reveals Identities Of Coup Plotters
"(JollofNews) – The Gambia has revealed the names of the armed dissidents involved in the failed coup attempt against the 20-year-old regime of President Yahya Jammeh.
Last Tuesday, dissidents armed with night-vision goggles, body armour and semi-automatic rifles bought at shops in the US, hidden beneath clothes and shipped in barrels to the Gambia, attacked the presidential palace in Banjul while Mr Jammeh who they code named ‘Chuck’ was away on a private visit to Dubai.
The dissidents are named as Lamin Sanneh code named 'Gibia' a former Lt Colonel of the Gambia Armed Forces and former commander of the State Guards Battalion, Njaga Jagne code named 'Bandit' a retired Captain of the US Army, Babucarr Ann Lowe [Bai Lowe], a former Warrant Officer Class 2 of the Gambia Armed Forces, former Private Modou Njie, code named 'Mike' of the Gambia Armed Forces, Private Landing Sonko, code named 'Young' an active member of the Gambia Armed Forces who was on study leave and was also an orderly of former Lt Colonel Sanneh, Musa Sarr, a former Lance Corporal of the Gambia Armed Forces code named 'Campama', Papa Faal, code named 'Fox' a retired Sergeant in the US Army, Alhaji Nyass, a former personnel of the defunct Gambia National Gendarmerie, former private Dawda Bojang of the Gambia Armed Forces, Cherno Njie code named 'John', a successful businessman in Texas, US, Mustapha Faal, a Gambian resident in Germany and Alhaji Saidy Barrow code named 'X', coordinator of the group who was responsible for logistics and clearing of their weapons and other gadgets from the sea port.
According to the Gambia’s Foreign Affairs minister, Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, documents retrieved from the dissidents have revealed their plan to arrest and kill service chiefs and other high ranking and prominent individuals in the country.Coup
“It is clear from the documents retrieved from the attackers that these operation was well planned and the documents have reveals their intention to destroy key infrastructure including the Central Bank of the Gambia building, Denton Bridge, Gamtel House, Kotu Power Station among other national assets,” she said in a televised statement Wednesday night.
How the attack was coordinated
Giving a detailed explanation on how the attack was carried out, Foreign Minister Macdouall-Gaye said former Lt Colonel Lamin Sanneh, Njaga Jagne, Babucarr Ann Lowe, Modou Njie and Landing Sonko lunched their assault from the main gate of the State House via the Albert Market while three others attempted to enter the presidential palace via the rear gate on Marina Parade.
“During the exchange of fire at the main gate, Sanneh and Jagne were killed, Lowe and Sonko escaped while Modou Njie was captured and is currently helping the intelligence service with the investigations,” she said.
Mrs Macdouall-Gaye added that Musa Sarr, Papa Faal and Alhaji Nyass and Dawda Bojang lunched the attack from the rear gate of the presidential palace.
She said during the attack, Papa Faal positioned a heavy machine gun by the entrance of the Accident and Emergency unit of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital and repeatedly fired rounds at the gate.
The minister revealed that during the shootout, Alhaji Nyass who attempted to ram his vehicle at the gate of State House and Dawda Bojang who was dressed in military uniform and body amour and positioned by heavy machine gun were also killed while Musa Sarr and Papa Faal took to their heels leaving behind their equipment and military attires.
WeaponsMrs Macdouall-Gaye added that other members of the group, Cherno Njie, the main sponsor of the dissidents and proposed interim leader and Alhaji Saidy Barrow were stationed at Brufut heights some 25 kilometres from Banjul. She said both men fled the country after the coup was thwarted.
Another member of the group, Mustapha Faal, a Gambian resident in Germany is reported to have deserted the group before the attack and his whereabouts are not known.
The minister added: “After the confrontation and the defeat of the attackers by the security forces, a large quantity of arms was retrieved which included two heavy machine guns with telescopic sights, 17 MMP15 individual assault rifles with aiming devices, nine AKM automatic assault rifles, four light machines guns, three pistols, one pair of night-vision goggles, 17 body armours, 20 jackets, five camel bags and 11 satellite pro-communication devices which were intended to be used for communication among themselves and to communicate to the outside world when they have destroyed the communication infrastructure in the country after failing to capture the State House."" |
Edited by - kobo on 08 Jan 2015 11:38:40 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2015 : 11:48:17
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 COURTESY WITH JOLLOF NEWS Detained Gambian Coup Plotter Talks
(JollofNews) – One of the armed men involved in last week’s abortive coup in the Gambia used an interview with US federal agents to give a detail account of their attempt to topple the 20-year old regime of President Yahya Jammeh.
Papa Faal, 46, and Cherno Njie, 57, were arrested last week in the US and charged for conspiring against a friendly nation and conspiring to possess firearms.
They were among a group of between 10 and 12 men from the US, Germany and the UK that lunched an armed attack at the presidential palace in Banjul and the strategic Denton Bridge.
Four of his colleagues including two Gambian residents in the US Njagga Jagne and former State Guards commander, Lt Colonel Lamin Sanneh, were killed during the shoot-out with soldiers loyal to the regime. Four others were reportedly taken captive and are currently detained at an unknown security post in Banjul.
Papa Faal and Cherno Njie fled the Gambia into neighbouring Senegal where they were picked up by FBI agents before being flown to the US.
In an interview with FBI investigators Mr Faal, a former US Army sergeant from Brooklyn Centre, Minnesota, gave a detail account of how they purchased weapons and ammunition including their plans to attack President Jammeh’s convoy over the Christmas and New Year to restore democracy to the Gambia and improve the lives of its people.
Mr Faal, AKA Fox, who lived in the US for 23 years told the FBI that he was invited in August 2014 by other conspirators in the US to join a movement to purportedly change the leadership of the Gambia. He said he agreed to join the movement which comprised of ex-US and Gambian soldiers because he had become disenchanted by the way Mr Jammeh was rigging elections and because of his concerns for the plight of the Gambian people.
In the preceding months, Mr Faal and his colleagues–all of Gambian descent- and avid shooters, had conference calls every other week in which they discussed their plans and address each other using code names such as Dave and Fox.
He further revealed that Housing Developer Cherno Njie Cherno Njie AKA Dave, who was their leader, bankrolled the movement and deposited thousands of dollars into their bank accounts to purchase arms and ammunition.Faal and Njie
The group’s Operation Plan was stored online where only members of the conspiracy could view and Mr Faal said he did not believe that anyone outside the group including their wives, families and the US government knew about the coup attempt ahead of time.
Between August and October 2014, Mr Faal and two other members of the group based in the US each purchased eight M4 and AKM firearms at gun shops throughout the US.
Faal himself, an avid shooter who frequented the firing range, ‘legally’ purchased eight M4 semi-automatic rifles in Minnesota using US$6000 paid into his account by Cherno Njie and hid them in four 50 gallon barrels- two rifles per barrel-before stuffing clothing in the barrels around the disassembled weapons to conceal them.
One member of the group identified only as Subject two purchased most of the remainder of the equipment including body armours and ammunition, two pairs of night vision goggles, black military style uniform pants, boots and other personal equipment.
With the arms and ammunition safely in Banjul, Mr Faal said he left the US on 3 December via South African air and arrived in Senegal before travelling by road to the Gambia where he was later joined by other members of the group.
He added that although many members of the group had planned to go to the Gambia, only 10 to 12 men took the trip. Each of the men was given US$4000 to pay their bills while they are away in the Gambia.
Mr Faal said while in the Gambia with the rest of the group, they spoke via phone and rarely met with each other. They also began to implement their operations plan by conducting reconnaissance and mental dry runs of their plan.
Weapons He added that they had initially planned to ambush President Jammeh during his overland travels around Christmas and New Year’s Day with the help of 160 soldiers from the Gambia army. The plan entailed blocking the President Jammeh’s convoy and ambushing his vehicle. They planned to shot into the air to cause his body guards to flee and hope the president would surrender. He said they were prepared to shoot Mr Jammeh if he fired at them.
However, Mr Faal said they abandoned their plan to ambush Mr Jammeh after they found out that he was leaving the country on 26 December 2014. With Jammeh out of the country, the group decided to attack the presidential palace and Denton Bridge.
He added that Cherno Njie, their would be leader was expected to stay in a safe place until the State House was seized before he would meet the commander of the Gambian Army and convince him to have the army stand down and support the change in leadership.
Read US District Court Criminal Complaint and the full text of the interview here. |
Edited by - kobo on 08 Jan 2015 11:50:52 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2015 : 19:41:03
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  1.THE POINT NEWS Dec 30 Attack: Those behind it
Friday, January 09, 2015
The Gambian government on Wednesday issued a statement on the “Terrorist Attack” of 30 December 2014, explaining the plot and naming those behind it. A full account of the plot follows, with photos of the attackers:
On Tuesday, 30th December, 2014, at 2am GMT, the State House was attacked by a well-equipped, well-funded group of Gambian terrorists living in the U.S.A., U.K., Germany and Senegal with support from their collaborators abroad with sophisticated automatic machine guns and assault rifles.....Full report
2.MORE WITH DAILY OBSERVER NEWS Terrorists’ plan to destabilise Gambia exposed |
Edited by - kobo on 09 Jan 2015 19:48:55 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2015 : 19:54:32
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QUOTED: quote:
"Hence any attempt to take over executive mansions by a dozen people as had happened on 30th December 2014 without the complicity of those who are in charge of the command and control structures of armies or the support of a foreign military power is a suicidal adventure which is undertaken only when one’s aim is to assassinate a person or destroy a target and die like any suicide bomber. Such tactics do not lead to the liberation of the masses or change of systems. When they fail perpetrators who are captured often give evidence which could be corroborated to have every detail of their strategies and tactics. This leads to their demoralisation, especially when the weaker elements become state witnesses to get lenient treatment."
Halifa Sallah, PDOIS
SOURCE |
Edited by - kobo on 09 Jan 2015 19:57:25 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2015 : 20:52:36
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THE SPECULATION IS OVER FOUR DIED, 1 INJURED AND CAPTURED AND FOUR ESCAPED
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on January 9, 2015
Eight days have elapsed before the government decided to issue an official statement on the events of 30th December 2014. It has taken too long to know its position. This is why a Government needs a functioning directorate of press to tell its own sides of a story before other stakeholders have their say.
The corroboration of the evidence provided in an affidavit signed by an FBI agent and that revealed by the Government of the Gambia tends to give the whole picture of what happened on 30th December 2014. Foroyaa will publish a supplement which would contain all the details as they are presented so far.
The team which came from the market end of the statehouse is reported to comprise EX Lt Colonel Lamin Manneh of the Gambia Armed Forces, Ex Captain of the US army Njagga Jagne; Baboucarr (Bai)Lowe, a former warrant officer, a former private Modou Njie and Private Landing Sonko who was on study leave. Sanneh and Jagne were killed. Njie was injured and captured. Lowe and Sonko escaped.
On the other hand, the team who came from the Marina Parade /RVTH end comprised Retired Ex Sergeant of the US Army Papa Faal, Ex Lance Corporal Musa Sarr; Alagie Nyass a former personnel of the defunct, Gambia National Gendarmerie and Dawda Bojang, a recent deserter. Alagie Nyass and Dawda Bojang were Killed. Papa Faal and Musa Sarr escaped.
Hence out of a number of nine insurgents four were killed, one captured and three escaped. Cherno Njie , who is supposed to be the financier of the group and the proposed interim leader did not go to the scene but waited at a safe distance.
Foroyaa will publish the statement and all the relevant facts and commentaries on the incident in a supplement to be published on Monday 12th January 2015.
Now that the investigation is complete one would expect that the state would facilitate the holding of a Coroner’s inquest and release the bodies to the families. In the same vein, family members who may still be in detention should be released. Detention would amount to inhuman and degrading treatment if it is done purely as a result of family ties. No body should be punished for a crime one has not committed.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2015 : 03:14:56
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1. TAKE NOTE ERROR IN THE HEAD COUNT ESCAPEES (FOUR INSTEAD OF THREE) NOTED FROM FOROYAA EDITORIAL UNDER FOLLOWING;
"The team which came from the market end of the statehouse is reported to comprise EX Lt Colonel Lamin Manneh of the Gambia Armed Forces, Ex Captain of the US army Njagga Jagne; Baboucarr (Bai)Lowe, a former warrant officer, a former private Modou Njie and Private Landing Sonko who was on study leave. Sanneh and Jagne were killed. Njie was injured and captured. Lowe and Sonko escaped.
On the other hand, the team who came from the Marina Parade /RVTH end comprised Retired Ex Sergeant of the US Army Papa Faal, Ex Lance Corporal Musa Sarr; Alagie Nyass a former personnel of the defunct, Gambia National Gendarmerie and Dawda Bojang, a recent deserter. Alagie Nyass and Dawda Bojang were Killed. Papa Faal and Musa Sarr escaped.
Hence out of a number of nine insurgents four were killed, one captured and three (four ) escaped (Baboucarr (Bai)Lowe, a former warrant officer, Private Landing Sonko who was on study leave, US Army Papa Faal & Ex Lance Corporal Musa Sarr). Cherno Njie , who is supposed to be the financier of the group and the proposed interim leader did not go to the scene but waited at a safe distance."
2. KAIRO NEWS WITH List of Civilians Arrested After Failed Coup |
Edited by - kobo on 10 Jan 2015 04:12:45 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jan 2015 : 23:34:34
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Gambia leader says Britain played no role in coup attempt
Source: AP
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) - Gambia's president says former colonial power Britain played no role in a botched coup attempt last month, backing away from an earlier allegation.
The Dec. 30 power grab was put down by forces loyal to President Yahya Jammeh, who himself came to power in a coup in 1994.
Jammeh initially accused Britain, the United States and Germany of involvement, which those countries denied.
In remarks aired on state media over the weekend, however, Jammeh said there was "no evidence of British involvement" and that no dissidents came from Britain to participate.
American officials have charged two U.S. citizens of Gambian descent in connection with the plot.
Meanwhile, opposition and rights groups have warned of a heavy-handed response in Gambia involving the arrests of coup plotters' relatives. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jan 2015 : 08:44:40
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Culled from Gambia-L
Reflections on the events of 30th December 2014 in the Gambia
By Ebrima Ceesay
Following the attempted coup of 30th December 2014 in The Gambia by Gambian dissidents based abroad, now that things have calmed down and a sense of normalcy has returned, it is important to take time for sober reflection and to learn some fundamental lessons. Over time, what actually took place has become more evident. As far as I am concerned, this was entrapment – a plot devised in the diaspora but manipulated by President Jammeh in The Gambia. It is as clear as noon day that any plot involving civilians or military personnel based in The Gambia would be bound to fail, since it would almost certainly have been leaked in advance to President Yahya Jammeh.
The Gambian Military
The Gambian military has the reputation, deservedly so, of being unreliable and indecisive. The Gambian President orchestrates his subordinates by betrayal, ensnarement, factionalism, implacability and by fostering jealousy and discord. Jammeh has created the climate that protects his interests and maintains him in power. Some members of the Gambian military have been giving verbal assistance to the dissidents who sought to overthrow President Jammeh by force on 30th December, while in reality remaining in Jammeh’s camp. It is highly unlikely that the Gambian military will ever be able successfully to overthrow the current President of the Gambia. An organized military coup, in the context of The Gambia, is highly unlikely. Perhaps a small group of renegade soldiers could achieve Jammeh’s downfall but the chances are that this will never happen in The Gambia. It is well known that Jammeh has, for many years, enlisted Casamance rebels into the Gambian army and now he has also arranged for Tuareg rebels/fighters to join the Presidential Guard, having recently negotiated this with President Idriss Deby of Chad. This is in fact one of his survival tactics – one of the reasons that can explain his prolong stay in power. In short, Jammeh has created a ring of steel around himself for protection and to ensure his prolonged stay in power.
Lessons for dissident Gambian groups abroad
The events of December 30th were not so much of an attempted military coup than a failed insurrection by dissident Gambians abroad who were infiltrated and outsmarted by Jammeh and his henchmen. It is clear to many Gambia watchers that the bulk of the army, especially the Presidential Guard, is loyal to President Jammeh. Those members of the military who are deemed to be disloyal are dismissed, arrested or moved to parts of the army where they pose no threat. The insurrectionists of December 30th made some serious mistakes: they believed that considerable numbers of the military would give them support and join them on the ground. Former Lieutenant Colonel Lamin Sanneh and his group involved Gambia National Army members in their schemes and it was this that contributed to their failure to overthrow the regime. Details of the plot were leaked in advance – indeed, a friend in London got to know of it - about a week in advance. The leak was due both to the unreliability of the Gambian military personnel involved and to the large numbers of civilians who had been involved in the planning.
I am not a proponent of military intervention in politics, but let this be a warning for any future coup plotters or insurrectionists – keep it small, keep it tight, keep it quiet and trust as few people as possible.
There is clear evidence that there was a trap to lure the dissidents into Banjul. State House had been fortified with many additional soldiers, and the first forays by the insurrectionists were met with heavy gunfire from the guard towers. It is as if the attack was expected. And sadly, Jammeh has now effectively used the events of 30th December to divert the attention of the Gambian population from the mounting economic pressures and challenges that his government is facing and to drum up support and sympathy for himself.
As we mourn the loss of these gallant men, and honour the ultimate sacrifices they made for their beloved country, we must, at the same time, caution all Gambians, particularly former soldiers of both the Gambian and Western Armies to draw lessons from the unfortunate events of December 30th in the Gambia. Henceforth, be very careful of these so-called co-conspirators and collaborators based in the Gambia – be they military personnel or civilians. It would be foolhardy, reckless and thoughtless to go into any plot with Gambian soldiers in Banjul, who are known for their brutality, indecisiveness and unreliability.
There is no doubt that those brave Gambians whose lives were cut short on the State House battlefields, were courageous and valiant men, and we pray for the souls of those who died and for their families, as well as for those who were injured in the attack. However, the planned takeover had something of the amateur about it and the plotters’ trust in apparently supportive members of the Gambia National Army and the Presidential Guard was misplaced to say the least. Let us be in no doubt that the Gambia Armed Forces, and especially the elite Presidential Guards, are not as disaffected or disunited as we may like them to be. Jammeh’s regime is strongly embedded and unlikely to be easily ousted by any perilously under armed and ill-prepared group of men. Those who are struggling to see a return to democracy in The Gambia would do well to remember this. In all fairness, I have to say here though that I am speaking with the benefit of hindsight.
Lessons for President Jammeh
For twenty years, President Jammeh has ruled as a despot, mindless of due legal process and against any notions of democracy. His regime is based on fear, threat, intimidation and ballot rigging and yet despite this, large segments of the Gambian population (especially women) and the armed forces appear to adulate him. To a large extent Jammeh has bought their support with blandishments and Dalasis. He has compounded this with vote buying, imprisonment and harassment of the opposition, manipulation of the electoral process and with murder. When news of the December 30th attempted coup started to emerge, many people in and out of the country were delighted that they would at last see an end to Jammeh’s regime. The euphoria was not to last long.
However, the attempted overthrow of the regime by an external force has had a destabilizing effect on Jammeh’s regime and his power base no longer seems as stable and strong as it did prior to December 30th. The weakness of much of Jammeh’s security and military infrastructure has been exposed. There are still many groups of dissident Gambians across the world who are determined to topple the regime and who will have learned valuable lessons from the thwarted coup plotters. They will continue the struggle to overthrow Jammeh. Therefore, another external (or internal) attack on the regime will almost certainly result in unprecedented violence, bloodshed and mayhem throughout The Gambia with all the risks of ethnic overtones.
We therefore, urge President Jammeh to resign; to open negotiations for his resignation with local and external opposition groups under the aegis of ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and the UN, as first suggested by Sidi Sanneh in his blog. Reports of Jammeh’s ill-health abound and these give further impetus to demands that he quit his post.
We know, through unimpeachable diplomatic sources in France and the UK, that President Jammeh has been very sick for some time now, but because of his contempt and hatred for the West, he is still refusing to take prescribed western medication against the wishes of his Egyptian doctors. The Egyptian doctors have repeatedly asked him to stop altogether or at least to reduce his intake of traditional herbal medicines. Years of untreated diabetes, high blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol have led to him developing a serious cardio-vascular disease. President Jammeh has had a health “scare” during a visit to New York a few years ago, when he suddenly collapsed (suffered a blackout). Luckily Pa Harry Jammeh, former Solicitor General, and others were with him at the time, and paramedics had to help load Jammeh onto an ambulance following his fainting episode. Subsequent MRI head scans, carried out in France and Morocco, have ruled out a brain tumour and blamed Jammeh’s prone to fainting on cardiovascular problems.
There is little hope of regime change through the ballot box: Gambians have allowed Jammeh to hold onto power for twenty long years and they are suffering the effects of this. In many ways, the dire situation in the country right now can be laid at the feet of both Jammeh and the populace. Without the voluntary resignation of the President, it will be the Gambian people themselves who will have to end their predicament and bid farewell to Yahya Jammeh – and at what cost? Jammeh’s resignation and a planned return to democratic rule would result in a peaceful, national change for the better and a more certain future for Gambians at home and in the diaspora.
In conclusion, the gravest danger to President Jammeh will remain the threat of externally led or driven rebellion from dissident Gambian groups in the Diaspora. The events of 30th December 2014 have shown that Jammeh’s military and security establishments are not properly set up to deter, prevent and defeat any well planned external threat against the Gambia. Essentially, his Armed Forces are well organised to tackle conventional internal security threats, including civil unrest and military coups from within his Armed Forces, and this is why he has thus far been able to crush all attempts to remove him from power by force. His military has been strengthened significantly over the years to deal with internal or domestic security threats. But the events of 30th December have shown that his forces will not be able to deal easily with a very well-planned, properly coordinated and covert attack, carried out by seasoned, heavily armed and highly trained fighters from the diaspora. The threat he faces is an external one. In short, Jammeh’s grip on power may not be as strong as first thought.
Source: Gambia-L |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jan 2015 : 17:19:33
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President Jammeh apologises to Britain
The Point: Published on Monday, January 12, 2015
 The Gambian leader has apologised to Britain, through the British High Commissioner, for mentioning the country, earlier on, as among the countries backing the ring leaders of the December 30th ‘terrorist attack’ at the State House in Banjul.
President Yahya Jammeh said:“When we mentioned those countries that supported these people (the attackers) and where they came from, we mentioned Britain. The British High Commissioner is here; I invited him to come. I apologise to Britain because as far as the investigations are concerned, up to this stage, there is no evidence of British government’s involvement, for which I apologise to the British High Commissioner.”
The Gambian leader made this apology on Friday while addressing officers of different security apparatus who marched, for the second time, from the new National Assembly complex to July 22nd Square in Banjul to show their loyalty to President Jammeh.
He further added that although there are some Gambian dissidents in Britain, “none (of the attackers) came from Britain.”
“I will repeat, so far there has been no evidence of British support or involvement in this (attack),” he said.“There is not a single Gambian or dissidents from Britain who came to join them; so I am very sorry. As a Muslim if you have wronged somebody you should apologise.”
President Jammeh, who also spoke against so many evils of homosexuality and how great nations and empires had fallen as a result of evil, said he always picked on the British whenever he talk about the West because they colonised The Gambia.“Don’t feel offended,” he told British Ambassador Colin Crorkin.
He said many retired British citizens feel at home in The Gambia.“So even if we have a problem with the British government, we have no problem with the British people,” the Gambian leader added.
Not an enemy to America
Despite his heavy criticism of the West as regards homosexuality, President Jammeh said he is not an enemy “even to the United States of America”.
“I am not an enemy of the people of the United States of America; I am not an enemy of the government of the United States of America, we are not enemies of the people of the United States of America, but we will not be dictated to.
“We may have problems with their (American) government and their system; that has nothing to do with the common American people, they are good people,” Jammeh said.
On 30 December 2014, the State House in Banjul was attacked by some Gambian dissidents with the intention to overthrow the government. Initially, President Jammeh said the attackers were based in the United States, Germany and the UK and were using weapons which are US-made.
In his first interview after the event, Jammeh said: “This is an attack backed by some terrorists that I will not name now but of course we know where the dissidents are based. These are the countries where today if you say ‘I am anti-government’ and you defect tomorrow you have a visa, when decent Gambians would not be given any visa to go.”
Source: The Point |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2015 : 22:47:01
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UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT KEEP SURFACING WILL THE GOVERNMENT MAKE ITSELF ACCOUNTABLE?
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on January 22, 2015
The armed attack on the state house on Tuesday 30 December 2014 led to the death of four of the attackers and the capture of one of them. It took eight days before an official statement was issued. Since then many readers have been asking Foroyaa questions about the incident and these questions keep surfacing over and over again.
The following are some of the questions that readers keep asking:
1. Was there any casualty on the side of Government? The official statement said nothing about this.
2. How many persons have been arrested in relation to the incident?
Readers say that they have only heard rumours or read in the newspapers about arrests and detentions but do not know the extent of these arrests and detentions.
3. How many of the arrestees have been released?
4. How many of these arrestees are members of the army? Some readers say that President Jammeh has indicated that members of the armed forces of The Gambia are not involved in the armed attack and would therefore like to seek clarification on rumours of members of the armed forces being arrested.
5. Have relatives been having access to their loved ones in the army since the December 30 incident? Is it true that some relatives have received gifts from their loved ones without being able to see them since the December 30 incident? Some relatives have not heard from their loved ones since the incident? Readers want clarification.
6. Why are relatives of suspects arrested?
The constitution calls for an accountable government. It says in the preamble, “This Constitution provides for us a fundamental Law, which affirms our commitment to freedom, justice, probity and accountability.”
Furthermore, the constitution wants the government to derive its strength from the people and not to oppress them. It stipulates in section 1 subsection (2): “The Sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the people of The Gambia from whom all organs of government derive their authority and in whose name and for whose welfare and prosperity
the powers of government are to be exercised in accordance with this Constitution.”
Hence to persist in arresting people without due process of law does not make a government strong, it can only undermine its credibility.
Any semblance of strength of such government can only be short-lived.
Source:Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2015 : 10:46:12
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Family Members Cannot Trace Dawda Bojang’s Parents for 22 Days
By Mustapha Jallow
Foroyaa: Published on January 27, 2015
It’s now 22 days since the arrest and disappearance without trance of a mother (Fatou Sonko) and father (Essa Bojang), respectively, of ex-GAF military officer, Dawda Bojang who is reported to have been killed during the 30th December 2014, armed attack on state house, the President’s residence in Banjul.
According to a source, the two parents are still missing from the public view; adding that they have made desperate efforts in search of their whereabouts but all went in vain. He mentioned the various police stations they visited, the most recent being the police headquarters in Banjul but to no avail, as they were told that their relatives are not with them.
However, a source said the reason(s) for their arrest and long disappearance without trace is not known to them as they are worried and still continue to search for their loved once.
Family members are still calling on the said authorities to investigate the whereabouts of their relatives and facilitate their release as they are not charged with any crime.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2015 : 09:06:31
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A DEAD PERSON HAS NO RELATIVE OR FRIEND A DEAD BODY CANNOT LOVE OR HATE
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on January 29, 2015
As reports persist of the arrest and detention of the family members of those who participated in the 30th December insurrection Foroyaa is compelled to remind those who manage the affairs of the country to handle the current situation with a high sense of decency and maturity.
It is important for all Gambians to realise that dead bodies do not have friends and relatives. They cannot love or hate. You may pluck out the eyes of a dead person, cut the ears, chop the limbs and mutilate every part of the body but to no avail since it cannot think or feel.
Hence how a dead body is treated is a manifestation of the character and values of the living. A dead body is entirely different from the person whose personality it represents. When dead bodies are completely burnt the naked eye cannot identify the personalities who lived through those bodies.
Now that the dead are gone the living should leave decency and justice to prevail. No one should be made to suffer just because one is related to one person or the other.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2015 : 14:23:56
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Barrow charged with conspiracy to violate US Neutrality Act, planning to overthrow Gambia Gov’t
The Point: Published on Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin and U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota announced 30 January 2015 a criminal complaint charging Alagie Barrow, 41, for his role in a recent attempted coup in The Gambia.
Barrow is charged with conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act by making an expedition against a friendly nation from the United States and conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
On Dec. 30, 2014, there was an unsuccessful attempted coup against the government of The Gambia. The Gambia is a country in West Africa bordered by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the criminal complaint, in December 2014, Barrow travelled from the United States to The Gambia for the purpose of overthrowing the Gambian government. Barrow is a dual U.S./Gambian citizen and a resident of Tennessee. A separately charged co-conspirator, Cherno Njie, a U.S. citizen of Gambian descent and a resident of Texas, is a businessman who served as a financier and a leader of the conspiracy. Had the coup attempt succeeded, Njie and his co-conspirators expected that Njie would have served as the interim leader of The Gambia had the coup attempt succeeded.
According to the criminal complaint, before departing the United States for The Gambia, Barrow participated in conference calls to discuss the operational plan of the coup. Barrow and two others were the primary authors of the operational plan. Prior to departing for The Gambia, the members of the conspiracy purchased multiple firearms, including M4 semi-automatic rifles, and shipped them to The Gambia for use in the coup attempt. Members of the conspiracy also acquired night-vision goggles, body armor, ammunition, black military style uniform pants, boots, and other personal equipment......
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State House Attack - Coup??
