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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Oct 2007 : 14:13:09
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Master Tamba Fofana and Ousman Rambo Jatta Freed At Last By The Gambia Journal
Oct 15, 2007, 21:29
The Gambia Journal is pleased to report that Mr. Tamba Fofana, a school headmaster, commonly known as Master Tamba, has been released from secrete detention on Friday 12 October. The Gambia Journal was able to talk to Mr. Tamba on phone on Sunday 14 October. Though he was still suffering from general fatigue and other ailments accrued from the 13 months detention, Mr. Tamba said he was delighted to be out. He was arrested on September 15th, 2006 shortly after the Jammeh presidential campaign paid its Kuntaur leg of the nationwide tour. He told the Journal that he was arrested by by Station Officer, Omar Jawo of the Bansang Police Station. Officer Jawo had told Master Tamba that he had been reported by one Mr. Bunja Ceesay, a former Head Master of the same school, for being an opposition supporter and for refusing to commandeer the school children into parading along a particular place on the highway for welcoming Jammeh and his entourage in to the Central River Region, CRD, town.
The informer, Mr. Bunja Ceesay, is a native of the village of Kudang. The formal charge was that Mr. Fofana had “violated the Civil Service Code of conduct by being an opposition supporter.” Since his arrest Mr. Tamba had been moved from one detention center to the other in a style that has since become typical for political detainees. From Bansang police station to be detained without charge and been moved from one detention center to the other; the Yundum Police Station, before he was made to spend a night at the Mile II Prisons in Banjul. Then he was moved to the Gunjur Police Station, then to Kotu Police Station, near Serekunda, and later to Sibanorr Police Station, after that the Fatoto Police Station and finally to Sarra Ngai Police Station where he said he was kept in solitary confinement in a cell under very deplorable situation to the day he was released October 12, 2007.
Since his arrest the authorities have repeatedly denied knowing Mr. Tamba’s where abouts. It is the same standard answer they have been giving as regards the whereabouts of journalist Ebrima Chief Manneh arrested July 2006 ;Ward Councilor Ousman Rambo Jatta, and opposition UDP member Mr. Kanyiba Kanyi, among others. The where abouts of many others including former NIA Director General Daba Marenah and four others, as well as Dawda Nyassi, who are all feared killed. While this article was being prepared for posting to the web, the Gambia Journal also learnt of the release of Mr. Ousman Rambo Jatta, popular youth leader, member of the UDP and ward councilor for Old Bakau and Cape Point Ward.
Their release is believed by many to last week’s visit to the Sara Ngai police station by a pair of officials from Amnesty International, accompanied by a journalist working for the Foroyaa newspaper. The where abouts of Mr. Kanyiba Kanyi are yet to be determined. In November 2006 a High Court Judge ordered for the release of Jatta, Kanyi and Fofana without any complying respect from the authorities.
Mr. Tamba, complained of the conditions of his detention and that throughout the thirteen months of detention he was only once allowed to see a doctor in December 2006. The veteran teacher, who is disabled and may Likely be amputated as a result of lack of medicl attention during his detention.He denied having ever supported any political party and says he has in fact never attended any political rally.
When Rambo was reached late this evening , he was in good spirits not withstanding his terrible ordeal. Additionally he was not the least bit cowered by his treatment and was adamant that he would continue to fully participate in national life especially on matters of politics and public policy.His treatment throughout his year long abduction was manifestly cruel characterised by food deprivation,dingy cells, denial of medical treatment despite a persistent bout of malaria caused by deliberate exposure to mosquitoes. From the begining up to to the time the O C Basse ordered him released following a directive from the IG on Saturday morning, he had always been in the custody of the Gambia Police department who shuffled him from one police station to another in a specious attempt at flouting a court order that demanded the gov't produce him and Kanyiba.
His detention and that of the others held under similar circumstances is as criminal as it is cruel and is primarily done to sow fear that political opponents of the regime will face state ochestrated terrorism. While our hearts are heavy that good men have to spend lengthy periods in a government run gulag system, we take solace in the courage and moral strength both Rambo and Master Tamba exhibit in their refusal to be intimidated by the awful tactics of the gov't. Both men were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd having arrived from their various illegal detension centers .They will undergo medical evaluation and expected to resume normal routine doings as they have always done and that is serving the people of the Gambia.The release of the two political detainees goes to show the propensity of the authorities to misinform and tell lies to the Gambian people when it comes to such cases. This attitude and practice of deception and lies by the Gambian authorities goes to complete the picture of Soviet-style rule that Gambians live under. The Gambia Journal hopes to shed more light on the detention and release of Mr. Jatta, who belongs to a politically persecuted family in Bakau. The authorities had denied knowing his where abouts since his arrest on the 23 September 2006.
As an advocacy tool for justice and respect for Human Rights, The Gambia Journal is calling upon concerned readers to call the informer Bunja Ceesay of Kudang, at 00220 554 6052, and ask him to stop collaborating with the repressive Jammeh regime. This simple gesture may help dissuade Mr. Ceesay and his ilk from further collaborating with the tyrannical Jammeh regime.
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Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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BambaLaye
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2007 : 22:40:50
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Now these two decent and hardworking Gambians can go about doing the right thing for our people as they always did. Noe will be comwered and all will be empowered.
Welcome home! This struggle against ruthless evil is endless. |
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Edited by - BambaLaye on 15 Oct 2007 22:41:08 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 16 Oct 2007 : 00:37:09
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Santa
Your title of the topic is from the old Negro song" Free At last" and martin added "Thank Almighty God that we are free atlast" in his famous "I have a Dream Speech" |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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