 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11735 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Oct 2010 : 19:44:30
|
Arms Cache Uncovered in Foni
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
on 15-10-10
Information gathered by Foroyaa from eye witnesses in Foni Bulock and Sutusinjang has it that arms and ammunition were discovered by villagers behind Aslem village near Bajana, and another arms cache was also uncovered by personnel of the Gambia Armed Forces between Bulock and Bajana.
According to an eye witness account, soldiers of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) and some men in plain clothes were seen on Friday 8 October, escorting a suspected rebel to the bushes behind Bulock village where they were said to have uncovered an arm cache buried under a big tree few hundred metres between Bulock and Bajana. The eye witness told Foroyaa that the arms dumped were discovered few metres from the compound of one Saidou Manga under a big tree. The witness indicated that the soldiers were seen digging under the big tree searching for the said arms. The witness posited that to the surprise of many villagers two pick-up trucks were loaded with different arms from the pit dug by GAF men. The eye witness added that the said suspected rebel and arms and ammunition were escorted by GAF personnel who drove towards Banjul.
In a similar development, Sutusinjang villagers were reported to have come across some arms and ammunitions in the women farm (rice fields) on Saturday 9 October. A villager who was on the ground when the soldiers came to the scene to collect the arms, said some children went to the farms and came across some remaining bullets, gas canisters, guns and grenades left in the bushes by the fleeing rebels. The villager indicated that children alerted the elders who also called GAF personnel from Bulock military post to collect the arms in the presence of several villagers. The villager noted that the atmosphere was very tense in the village upon the discovery of the arms in their rice fields. The villager stated that many Sutusinjang and Bajana villagers are now scared to move about within their rice fields due to the belief that some arms might be abandoned in the long grasses and in their fields.
This reporter contacted the GAF Spokesperson, Lieutenant Omar Bojang, on the matter on Monday 11th October, and he promised to investigate the matter and get back to him. On Wednesday, 13th October, this reporter called his phone on several occasions, but did not get any answer. He contacted him on Thursday and a lady answered the phone call and indicated that Bojang was out of office and will be back within thirty minutes. Following several phone calls, a man who identified himself as private Bah said the GAF Spokesperson traveled to Farafenni
Source: Foroyaa
Related Topic: Villagers in Foni Brefet Gambia thrown into panic
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2010 : 20:41:07
|
15th October Quote:
"This reporter contacted the GAF Spokesperson, Lieutenant Omar Bojang, on the matter on Monday 11th October, and he promised to investigate the matter and get back to him. On Wednesday, 13th October, this reporter called his phone on several occasions, but did not get any answer. He contacted him on Thursday and a lady answered the phone call and indicated that Bojang was out of office and will be back within thirty minutes. Following several phone calls, a man who identified himself as private Bah said the GAF Spokesperson traveled to Farafenni"
6th October Quote:
"The Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant Omar Bojang, told FOROYAA that his office is not aware of any suspected rebels being arrested within Bulock and Sutusinjang. PRO Bojang also denied the confiscation of piles of arms and ammunitions from the apprehended suspected rebels by GAF men. He pointed out that they are on constant contact with the soldiers on the ground on hourly basis but has no idea of the arrest of seventeen men with arms and ammunitions seized from them. He added that his office is yet to receive such information from GAF men on the ground."
This is the bit that the initial report tried to find out about on the 6th October:
http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9838 |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 15 Oct 2010 20:44:09 |
 |
|
|
toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2010 : 22:19:47
|
This from The Point,presumably these are the rebels referred to above,I cannot believe that Lieutenant Omar Bojang, was unaware of this development.
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/17-alleged-casamance-rebels-charged
17 alleged Casamance rebels charged
africa » gambia
Friday, October 15, 2010
The police have preferred charges against a group of 17 armed men believed to be rebels from the southern Senegalese region of Casamance.
They were arraigned on Wednesday before Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea of the Banjul Magistrates' Court charged with possession of firearms without authority.
According to the particulars of offence, Yusupha Ceesay and 16 others sometime in October 2010 at Bulock and Bajana villages in the Western Region were found in possession of an assortment of arms of war and ammunitions without authority.
Yusupha Ceesay and Modou Lamin Badjie pleaded guilty to the charge, while Saku Jammeh, Zackaria Jatta, Tijan Camara, Mafuji Jarju, Abdoulie Sonko, Hatab Jatta, Abdou Badjie, Ebrima Jarju, Sang Sambou, Basiru Jammeh, Seedy Sanyang, Tumani Manga, Alasana Jarju and Aziz Kujabi pleaded not guilty.
The police prosecuting officer, Inspector Camara, objected to bail for the accused persons, and applied for an adjournment to prepare the prosecution witnesses and bring them before the court.
He told the court that the accused persons are gunmen believed to be members of rebel factions in the southern Senegalese region of Casamance and, therefore, granting them bail would increase fear in the society.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused persons in custody, pending the outcome of the case.
He said with regard to the first and second accused persons, who pleaded guilty to the charge, the prosecution would present the facts before the court at the next adjournment date for sentencing.
Magistrate Nkea granted the prosecution's application, and subsequently remanded in custody all the accused persons.
The case was adjourned to 22nd October 2010 for hearing.
Author: Bakary Samateh
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11735 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2010 : 20:30:07
|
Foroyaa Editorial : The Minister of Defence, GRTS and Daily Observer newspaper are Silent On the Incursion of Armed Combatants from Casamance into Foni Brefet
By Publisher on 20-10-10
Nowhere in the world could armed combatants be hauled in security vehicles, armed caches unburied and arms and ammunitions found scattered on farms without a state issuing a statement for the general notice of the populace. What is happening in Foni Brefet is an open secret. The recent meeting convened by Chief Camara is a clear testimony that the incursion of armed combatants from Casamance into his district has become a matter of concern and he is doing his utmost to put a stop to it. The following is extracted from a report on a meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Brikama Area Council.
“I know that the reason why armed combatants run into Foni Brefet is because of our blood ties and proximity to Casamance,” said Chief Camara.
He continued to appeal to the village heads to be policemen and policewomen who would report to the proper authorities any strange movement of any person, even a relative, who is suspected to be an armed combatant or is linked to armed combatants.
Foroyaa has tried to get the Armed Forces PRO to give an explanation on behalf of the Gambia Armed Forces but to no avail. The Minister of Defence needs to speak since the matter is a security issue.
Foroyaa will try to approach the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence to get their opinion on the matter. The best way to drive away speculation and rumour is to state the facts as they are for the public to be properly informed.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11735 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2010 : 20:31:59
|
Foni Brefet District and Traditional Authorities Harp on Incursions of Armed Combatants
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
on 20-10-10
As influx of armed combatants from Casamance raised the question of security in the Foni Brefet District. The Chief of Foni Brefet, Alhagie Junkung Camara, on Saturday, 16 October, convened a meeting with all the village heads (Alkalolu) within the district at his residence in Somita, to discuss matters relating to the security of the district. The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Brikama Area Council Mr Sunkary Badjie.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Camara first expressed his disapproval of armed combatants entering and using his district as their sanctuary. He called on all the concerned people, including the Alkalolu and Village Development Committees (VDCs) within his district to act as policemen and policewomen and report to the proper authorities about any unusual movements of strangers within their environment. He appealed to the village heads to stop accommodating people in their homes or villages who are suspected to be armed combatants or have links with armed combatants in Casamance.
He observed that it is a fact that blood and ancestral ties exist between the people of Casamance and those of his district and that this cannot be destroyed. He added that marital ties also exist between the people of the Casamance and the Fonis. He said what they are doing is not meant to stop visits or break relations but to ensure the security of the country. He advised them to be wary of strangers or even relatives who might jeopardize the security of the country. He urged them to report to the authorities any suspected stranger or strange movement within their villages.
He told the gathering that if they do not take appropriate and concrete measures or steps to prevent armed combatants intruding into their district, it can bring catastrophe to the people living in the district.
The Foni Brefet Chief said he is not blaming any Alkalo or individual for allowing the presence of armed combatants in the district, but that it is an obligation or duty for everyone to ensure that this does not happen.
The Alkalolu who addressed the gathering said they should not be blamed for the intrusion of armed combatants from Casamance into their villages. They said as village heads they have individually been taking precautions and safety measures to ensure that armed combatants do not seek sanctuary in their villages. They said one of their constraints is that people from Casamance do always visit their relatives in their villages and that as such they could not easily know if those visitors are rebels or are connected to rebel activities. They added that most of those visitors in their villages are not in arms. The Alkalolu assured that from now on they would be more vigilant to make sure that people entering their villages from Casamance would be screened to determine whether or not they are rebels.
The meeting concluded with the passing of some resolutions by the Alkalolu to strengthen the security situation and prevent rebel influx into the district. They agreed that people should endeavour to pass information to the authorities as quickly as possible regarding any suspected person or unusual movement. They also agreed that the villages that are close to the border should create a buffer zone along the border area; that no individual should shelter suspected rebels whether they are in arms or not and that Alkalolu should screen documents of strangers that lodge in their villages.
At the end of the meeting, certain individuals were tasked to secure all the contact numbers of the security personnel within the district. The Alkalolu were also warned not to stamp documents for strangers without thorough investigation regarding their identity.
Source: Foroyaa |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
