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Momodou
Denmark
11645 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jun 2007 : 19:06:29
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FOCUS ON POLITICS
1981 POLITICAL CRISIS
DIBBA AND CO. FREED, FOREVER!
With Suwaibou Touray
We have been focusing on politics in this column so that young people, in particular, and Gambians, in general, can reflect on the history of our dear mother land, appreciate the efforts of men and women who had made strenuous efforts to bring our country to where it is today.
Continued from: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3841
We have said in the past issues that politics is the steering wheel of a Nation and it has been argued by others that because Gambians do not appreciate or respect their citizenship, this is why the expected progress into our Democratic experiment has not been realised. This is one of the reasons why it is important to review the happenings of the past in order to focus our talents into the future with renewed commitment to the political and economic development of the country.
In issue No. 69/2007, we have concluded with the history of women in politics which we said is a sad case study for the Country; that the Gambian women participate fully in political campaigns but hardly participate as contestants who want to serve the people; that they have always been used as clappers, praise singers and dancers since independence to date. We attributed this mainly to the low level of literacy among them. We also argued that it is due also to the fact that not much encouragement was given to them. We cited the first woman to enter parliament as St. Clair Joof, who was even nominated not elected and the reason cited was a mere fact that she was committed to the ruling PPP . Nyimasata Sanneh Bojang has been cited as the first woman to enter parliament through the ballot box under the ruling PPP. Let us look forward to the first woman to brave through the storms to penetrate to parliament through the ballot under the banner of the opposition. From then on, we can say, Gambian politics and democracy has moved two steps forward. In the last article we asked how long Assan Musa Camara the former Vice President could remain calm after he was marginalized. Let us continue from where we have stopped.
Now that Jawara had been firmly placed to run the country for the next five years, the case of Sheriff Dibba could also move on to the finish in a swift manner.
The case proceeded on Wednesday 26 May 1982. Throughout the trial, a total of 50 (fifty) prosecution witnesses appeared and testified against Dibba and seven others. The trial was considered as the most protracted high profiled criminal trial since independence because of its political implication. The trial also took more than two months to complete.
Among the fifty witnesses were the presidents' wife, first Lady, Chilel Jawara and a former minister of state, Mr. Kebba Nyama Leigh, and Mr. Mass Jarra a former IGP.
The first witness that testified was one Kawsu Jammeh of Bakau. In his testimony, he said he belonged to the PPP. He said he saw the 4th accused with a white head band.
On 4th June 1982, Mr. Kebba Nyama Leigh, in essence, said in court that one Bakary Saho, a Field Force man told him and the Inspector General of Police that Sheriff Dibba contributed D500 to the plan to stage a coup d'etat. Lawyer Darboe asked him during cross examination where Bakary lived, Mr. Leigh said at Bakau New Town. He then asked him whether the president Alhagie Sir Dawda was in town, he answered in the negative. When he attempted to ask another question, Mr. Leigh complained to the prosecuting council that Darboe's father was his political opponent and that was why he was 'hambugging me' (bothering him). There was laughter.
After the prosecution closed their case, Dibba and others entered their defence. In summary, Mr. Dibba denied ever knowing before hand an attempt to overthrow the government; that he had not conspired with anyone to overthrow the government; that he believes in the constitutional process and that was why he and others formed their party since 1975.
Mr. Dibba however admitted that Kukoi came to his house between 1pm and 3pm on the 1st of August 1981 but as he said there was no prior appointment made with him for that day or any other day. He said Kukoi was in his house for about ten minutes. He also said he was with one gentleman, Kebba Bayo; that Kukoi requested for him to go with him to radio Gambia so that he could appeal to the Gambian Nation and promised to appoint him as their Chairman but as he said he turned down the offer and did not go.
Meanwhile, on 11th June 1982, The Gambia Court of Appeal delivered nine judgments arising out of the July 30th events which involved some members of the Supreme Council of the Revolution, such as Mr. Alieu Sallah and others. The acting president of the court upheld the high court judgment and dismissed their appeals, meaning that they were all sentenced to death and the method of which rested on the Attorney General and Minister of justice who now happened to be Fafa E. Mbai.
DIBBA AND CO. FREED
The most protracted treason trial had come to an end with much suffering for the accused persons. Dibba and co. would be brought to court at about 7.30am and remained there up to the end of each day's proceedings which usually lasted between 2.30pm and 4pm. Among the accused was one 83 year old man.
The court's judgment was not officially made public. But all the same, the private press simply mentioned that they were acquitted and discharged of the charges levelled against them.
Despite the court order, Dibba and co. were sent back to detention to await their fate. Many began to wonder why that was so. Some said it was vindictiveness whilst others thought there may have been some legal loophole being used against them.
But by 21st June 1982, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Fafa E. Mbai made an announcement over radio Gambia that Mr. Dibba would continue to be in detention and the state of Emergency was cited as the reason for his continued detention. It was amazing to hear from people who were expected to know better justifying the keeping behind bars of Dibba and co.
Shortly after, other accused persons such as one Foday Touray, Sarjo Touray, Abdou Sarr, Lang Bojang, Ousman Drammeh and Kebba Talibuya Bojang, accused of conspiring with Kukoi to commit treason in their attempt to overthrow the government, were all sentenced to death.
By about 24 June 1982 however, some good news was published by the official Gambia News Bulletin that the Gambia Government has now authorised the release of Messrs Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, Lamin Danso, Alhagi Jasseh and four others from detention on the 24th June 1982.
The release went further to say that "In so doing, the government has demonstrated once again its scrupulous attachment to the principle of the rule of law." Mbai said, now that the due process of law has taken its course, Dibba, Danso and Jasseh are acquitted and discharged; that government had chosen not to shun this decision after the usual administrative formalities were completed. Imagine the jubilation and relief of NCP supporters and sympathisers across the country. Many concluded that Dibba was infact framed up with unnecessary charges just to deprive him from participating in the 1982 election campaign.
The issue that now came to the fore was what would be the fate of all these people sentenced to death. Would government carry out the verdict to send all of them to the gallows or the firing squad or what? This was why letters began to pour in asking for clemency on behalf of those sentenced to death in connection to July 30 incident.
Continued: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3905
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 72/2007, 22-24 June, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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