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Momodou
Denmark
11645 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Jun 2007 : 16:37:53
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FOCUS ON POLITICS
JULY 30th UPRISING
THOUSANDS VOW TO DEFEND THEIR COUNTRY RESULTING TO EIGHT HUNDRED DEATHS
With Suwaibou Touray
We have been focusing on politics. We have analyzed the political history of the Gambia from pre-colonial to post independence era. We have started narrating the happenings of the early 1980s. We have stopped where we said Commander Tambajang was in action in Banjul but it was not clear which side he was fighting for or against; that this must have been the information given to Sir Dawda as a sign of resistance in the capital.
We now continue from were it stopped. Continued from: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3786
At this stage, Sir Dawda revealed his tactic and said, he was going right away to Dakar Senegal to see if the Senegalese Government would want to help, based on the 1964 defence pact which he claimed was signed between the Republic of the Gambia and the Republic of Senegal. Others argued that the pact only referred to a situation where either the Gambia or Senegal is being attacked by an external enemy. He then chartered a plane from England direct to Dakar.
According to the Outlook, the people were so convinced that Kukoi was in control; that even a cabinet Minister Mr. Dembo Jatta and a head chief of Kombo Central Mr. Sanjally Bojang went to the radio and prevailed on Jawara and Abdou Diouf not send Senegalese troops to the Gambia. Pa Sanjally even called on the president not to come, for the country does not belong to him alone; that the young people have now said it is their turn to develop the country. He called on him not to destroy the country and so on..
Hostage Taking
When it became clear that the Senegalese were on the way, Kukoi resorted to the age old tactic of taking hostages. Kukoi might have done this with three objectives in mind;
1. To make it very expensive for Jawara to decide on his plan to deploy foreign troops to the Gambia;
2. To establish themselves in such a status and power position that they would not only represent a real threat to the status quo but also command loyalty and adherence from significant sectors of the population.
3. Thirdly, the kidnapping of certain people would be seen as a consequence of the wrongdoing of Jawara which must be paid dearly, as well as, for them to be seen as the de facto government.
Kukoi ordered the arrest of Sir Dawda’s wife, Lady Chilel and kids. He took them to Radio Gambia to call on Sir Dawda not to come. She also emphasized that Kukoi was indeed in control, with sobs.
At this stage, people were confronted with the option of following Kukoi or siding with Jawara. Since many people believed that Kukoi was indeed in control many pledged their support and loyalty to him and started to participate actively in the struggle.
With the Senegalese threat hanging, Kukoi intensified the propaganda that patriots should come out and repel the invasion. Young people thronged in their numbers and climbed the back of trucks from places such as Brikama and Serekunda and some even walked on foot and headed for Bakau to join the struggle. At this time, many blamed Jawara for bringing a foreign power to come and kill Gambians. The people far outnumbered the weapons.
According to Outlook, despite the death threats to his family and numerous children, Sir Dawda was still prepared to sacrifice every thing for what he called the welfare of the people.
According to Foroyaa (1988) Kukoi was in control for days, that many Field Force personnel do not have any prior knowledge of the coup; that ministers and members of parliament went into hiding; that none could hear their voices; that Kukoi could walk into almost all police stations, any office, use any government transport, speak over the radio and so on, without any obstacles.
Foroyaa reported that this was why many Field Force elements had to struggle to win the favour of the new regime to retain their jobs.
The Senegalese finally arrived. The people initially became aware of it when Kukoi took two arrested Senegalese combatants to the radio after capturing many of them and told them not to interfere in Gambia’s domestic affairs. He also said that he was in control and that president .Abdou Diouf should withdraw his troops from Gambian soil, and that Jawara should send and collect his family thus accepting defeat. He then threatened, according to Outlook that he would kill all the captured prisoners if his demands were not met. He then ordered them to take his message to Abdou Diouf to rinse hands off the Gambia or bear the consequences. He also said he was fearless of death because he had nothing to lose.
While Kukoi and his men were confronted with the Senegalese intervention threat, the poor people, some of whom were armed, decided to help themselves with the long cherished dream of manufactured goods, such as electrical appliances and other essential commodities. Anything they could lay their hands on was looted in the shops. The only areas that were spared were the Banks and insurance companies.
It was either that the people did not have the sophistication, at the time, to break into the banks, or that the field force and the police were so effective in protecting some key institutions and installations, which saved those places. .Kukoi constantly threatened to shoot people who were determined to engage in looting. The looting spree could not be controlled. The people far out numbered those who were struggling to prevent it. Some were infact shot with their loot in the streets.
HOW DID THE SENEGALESE TROOPS INTRUDE THE GAMBIA?
According the Gambia Outlook, they first arrived through the air and dropped the parachuters.
During the operation at the Banjul International Airport, they suffered so many casualties because according to the Outlook they were with the illusion that Gambians were poorly armed and that the rebels, as they were called, would not be aggressive. The paper went on to insinuate that because of the stiff resistance, the Senegalese believed that the rebels had bullet proofs (jujus), chams.
It was also speculated that the rebels did not obey the regulations governing war; that they had taken pot shots at the Senegalese in the air before they landed. Through that the Senegalese invaders lost quite a number of their troops. The desperate Senegalese were said to have utilized bombs on the rebels and a commander Bojang died in that.
According to the Outlook, Kukoi was in full control for two clear days, that is the 30th and 31st of July 1981. The second columns of Senegalese contingents were led by Icie B.R.D Tamba, P.D.M.L. which troops arrived with tank units. This contingent came from Tambacounda in Senegal through the high way leading from Wellingara to Basse. They were said to have driven right through to the capital city of Banjul. The troops experienced stiff resistance in Brikama where several people had died including some Senegalese women. A lot of skirmishes took place in the town centre resulting to several deaths mainly civilians.
This columnist was serving as a volunteer for the Red Cross, at the time. Their chief commanding officer was said to be adgt. Ebra Diop. From Brikama, they passed through the airport to consolidate the situation there. Then they drove through Lamin where they experienced some resistance.
According to reports, when the Senegalese were passing through Lamin, there were onlookers who came out and a rebel or rebels fired at them; that the fire was returned, which resulted in the death of several children and many others wounded.
The Senegalese, who must have by now suspected continuous attacks awaiting them on the way to Banjul, exercised no mercy and did not take any chances. They then drove through Serrekunda firing indiscriminately as they headed for Banjul. According to reports, the famous Pa Njie Bass of the Ifangbondi Band met his death when he was coming from Bakau in an MRC Land rover and met with the Senegalese troops who shot and killed them, as they regarded them as rebels, at sting corner. Throughout this period Kukoi was speaking over Radio Gambia to the surprise of many observers.
According to the Outlook, the Senegalese troops went past through the Bakau depot, Radio Gambia and Radio Syd and eventually to Banjul. But Kukoi could still be heard over radio Gambia. It was later realised, according the writings of MOJA, that Kukoi was using a portable radio transmitter while on his escape route.
According to the Outlook, on Friday morning, explosions of bombs could still be heard in Banjul coming from the Yundum area and Senegalese troops were visibly seen for the first time all over the place. The estimated number of casualties stood at 800 dead and thousands wounded.
See next issue for more on the happenings of the 1981 crisis.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 60/2007, 25 – 27 May 2007
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