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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 18:16:54
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HOW THE ALLEGED COUP PLOTTERS WERE ARRESTED
By Yaya Dampha
Over 30 people were arrested for taking part in the alleged coup plot that is said to have been uncovered late Tuesday evening. The head of the alleged coup plotters is the former Chief of Defence Staff Col. Ndure Cham. Foroyaa is reliably informed that army officers, intelligence agents and civilians have been arrested and put under custody by the security forces. Those arrested are, Major Sang Pierre Mendy, Commander of the Fajara Barracks, Captain Muhammed Jah, Chief Clerk, PRO, Captain Bunja Darboe, Captain Pierre Mendy, Commander of the National Guards, Captain Savage, Commander of the Military Police, Captain Wassa Camara, Second in Command at the Military Police, Lieutenant Samba Bah of Yundum Barracks, Lieutenant Yaya N.S. Darboe, RSM Alpha Bah, RSM Famara Jammeh, Sergeant Abdoulie Sanyang, Private Lamin Sonko, Rtd. Col. Vincent Jatta, Rtd. Col. Mayor Abdoulie Conteh, Samba Bah, former Secretary of State for the Interior, Abdoulie Kujabi former Director of NIA, Daba Marenah, former NIA Director, Lamin Kassama, Security Officer at Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, Kemo Balajo, Internal Operation Commander at the National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Singhateh, Deputy Director of NIA, Alieu Jobe Accountant General, Rife Diab a businessman and M C Cham a long serving minister in the former PPP regime. The Inspector General of Police, Ousman Sonko, and the Director of Immigration, Musa Mboob and Secretary of State for Interior were called for questioning.
The family members reported that the arresting team mainly composed of State Guards and Police Intervention Unit personnel who dehumanized the arrestees.
According to Captain Yaya Darboe’s family members, he was later put in chains and beaten before being carried away. Lai Conteh’s neighbours said the nature of his arrest was inhumane in that he was tied before being carried away. Mr. Kemo Balajo’s wife, who is said to be about eight months pregnant, was said to have had a confrontation with the arresting team when they started searching Balajo’s house, looking for his military uniforms. The members of the NIA normally wear military fatigues during such operations. Mr. Balajo’s wife could not bear the ransacking of their house. She is said to have rushed in and come out with the military uniforms and threw them at the officers.
RSM Alpha Bah is said to have been brutally manhandled. Sources said he was tied and thrown inside a black American car. The two military police commanders were also reported to have been handcuffed and carried away. Daba Marenah’s family said he was arrested on Tuesday night at his home by the soldiers. Lamin Kassama, a security at the Civil Aviation Authority was said to have been arrested at his home in Brikama Nema where he was handcuffed and put in a military pickup on Wednesday morning. Captain Bunja Darboe was said to be found in his house in Fajara while taking his breakfast. He is said to have been handcuffed while the family members and neighbours stood staring at the scene.
According to family members, MC Cham was arrested by 3pm on Friday at his home in Banjul by a plain clothes officer and some armed military officers.
What is not clear is how advance was these people’s ploy and what the civilians arrested have to do with the chief of defence staff’s alledged coup d’etat.
It could be recalled that this is the seventh time that President Jammeh’s government has reported an attempt to overthrow it from within and outside the army. The first was November 11 1994 which involved Captain Basirou Barrow, January 27th 1995 was Sana B. Sabally and Sadibou Hydara, the Farafenni attack, the Kartong attack, Dumo Saho and Co, Captain Landing Sanneh and Alimamo Manneh and recently Chief of Defence Staff, Ndure Cham.
When contacted, the Army PRO, Lieutenant Ganno confirmed the arrests of the above mentioned names. He said, “Our investigations are not still completed so we cannot tell if all of the arrestees were actually partners in the ploy.” However, he failed to say how many were arrested in all.
The PRO said the meeting that took place on Friday 24th March at Yundum Barracks was aimed at adjusting the security apparatus within the army. On the coup leader, PRO Ganno said “As far as we are concerned, Col. Ndure Cham is not apprehended. Our sources are that he is in Cassamance. He said that efforts are being made to bring him back so that he can face justice. He advised the general public to remain calm.
Source:Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.23/2006, 27-29 March, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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