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25 Held Over Bissau 'Coup Plot', Weapons Cache Seized
Thursday, 29 December 2011 22:56
(AFP) - Twenty-five renegade soldiers involved in an apparent coup plot in Guinea-Bissau are being detained in the capital and
at an air base north of Bissau, an AFP reporter said, after the army uncovered a large cache of weapons.The arms were seized at the homes of two soldiers arrested for taking part in Monday's attack on army headquarters which the regime has described as a coup bid.
Army chief General Antonio Indjai said he was "staggered" by the quantity of arms found during search operations in the northern suburb of Plack 1, at the homes of the soldiers who admitted taking part in the attack.
Guinea-Bissau's Chief of Staff of Armed Forces General Antonio Indjai (2nd L) and Minister of Defense, Baciro Dja (C) (AFP/UN/File, Vladimir Monteiro)
The army seized 30 Kalachnikovs, three rocket-launchers, a machine-gun, six crates of shells, three crates of flamethrowers, eight bulletproof jackets and ammunition in searches witnessed by AFP.
"I am surprised to see so many weapons which would have been used to destroy our country... I call on government to build secure armories to avoid having thousands of arms circulating outside of appropriate channels of control," Indjai told journalists.
On Monday, Indjai announced that a coup attempt by a group of renegade soldiers had been foiled.
The army said it had arrested controversial navy chief Rear Admiral Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto -- whom the United States has branded a drug kingpin -- as the "mastermind" of the plot.
Some observers put the mutiny down to a falling out between Indjai and Bubo Na Tchuto who was among 25 detainees paraded before journalists on Thursday.
Bubo Na Tchuto is being detained in Mansoa, 60 kilometres (40 miles) north of the capital, and the 24 others in four cells at a Bissau air base.
Another officer, General Watna Na Lai, was wounded and remains in hospital.
Bubo Na Tchuto told visiting journalists, human rights activists and NGOs he was "in good spirits".
But he criticised the conditions of his detention in a 20-square-metre (215-square-feet) office at the Mansoa garrison that had been turned into a cell.
"Since I was brought here, I haven't seen my doctor, I'm suffering from high blood pressure," he said, adding that he had not been able to see his family including his wife.
"When she sends food I never get it," he said.
In Bissau, journalists saw another 24 detainees held at the air base.
Journalists were not allowed to speak to them but members of NGOs who organised the visits said they also criticised the condition of their detention "in very small, badly lit cells with filthy toilets and without running water".
"We will plead with military authorities so the conditions of their detention are improved," Luis Vaz Martins, a member of an NGO that organised the visits, told the press.
He said none of the prisoners had been presented to a military investigating magistrate.
"Some have minor injuries, generally bruises suffered in their arrest; they did not suffer gunshot wounds but were beaten with clubs," Vaz Martins added.
Guinea-Bissau is notoriously unstable, with a history of coups and army mutinies, and has become a stomping ground for drug cartels which use it as a hub to traffic drugs to Europe.
The two soldiers targeted in Thursday's search were Sergeant Jose Batista Sambe from the navy and Antonio Mario Cabi, a former member of the presidential guard.
Sambe told journalists he led a commando unit in Monday's attack which was meant to "seize weapons to overthrow the current leadership of the army".
The two men said they were dissatisfied with poor salaries and living conditions in the impoverished former Portuguese colony.
Two people died on Tuesday in clashes between security forces and alleged mutineers as joint teams of soldiers, police and paramilitary police hunted suspects.
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Comments
So you see How small this world is ?
That is why, we don't have to start insulting each other online, because you might insult someone here and later find that, the very person is close to you.
Those Mannehs are my real friends.
By then, whenever I went to Lameng during the NAWETAAN Football I used to be host that very Manneh-kunda Boys.
In the service of the truth I remain
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Thanks bro lalo kebba i am wishing you the same in return a very happy new year and lots of success.
I am not a socalle Nyancho my last name is manneh from lamin village i wish you know me better.
Comment:
Well Brother Nyancho, If you are real of what you've said that, you are from the Manneh's in Lameng, Well if it is Kombo Lamin you mean, then you are a real Nyancho, since Iam familiar to those Nyanchos there, and they still remain in their cultures and up till today one can find them living together as one Big family compound, their area remain the same name for years now since as: NJAMBAR-KUNDA: Correct me if Iam wrong?
In the service of SeneGamBissau I remain
Yes you are very Right I can see that, you were following my rejoinders here for so long from the onset.
You know when I go against the PPP regime many were looking upon me as a fan of Jammeh which never was and I don't think will ever be, But I was just trying to let them know the real cause of what brought us to where we are ?
That doesn't mean that Iam trying the exonerate Arafang Yahya.
But many read the lines and start the attacks from here and there !
It sometimes bit my imagination whether they are real Gambians ?
Or maybe some of them were enjoying during Kairaba's era that is why they are always annoyed of my rejoinders !
What is the crime to tell Kairaba and His Boys where they took us to in these Days of Kambi Bolong ?
If that is why they call me names let it be period !
In the service of the truth I remain
I am not a socalle Nyancho my last name is manneh from lamin village i wish you know me better.
If all am saying watch news on critical media stations to the west, and hear and see comments been made by war Vietnams. Most people who are engaging on violent writing are the first to seek refugee. The Brikama mosque problem hundreds left their shoes at the praying ground with no bullet fired. The Brikama market vendor problem most where unconscious and 100’s left their shoes for the sound cocking of an AK and a pistol warning shot. The couple Dumbuya arrest case when he ran into Albert market with an AK47 with soldier’s unprofessional running after him, how many walked on foot home from Banjul? Some made calls to serrekunda market and Brikama causing commotions and yelling everywhere. Now you see some of these people telling us how brave they are by insulting and provoking everyone on the cyberspace in the name of self proclaimed heroes. What an ironical statement.
They knew when war break their will be no winner or loser but it will be Gambians killing Gambians. My brother you know why one can’t get to my nerves by calling me names or insults? I will never boast this because is all a regret. I have encountered bitter heart breaks and pains that I only now think of repenting and peace. What is more painful being in a trench for days with bullets raining 24/7 non stop? What is more painful raiding a family under the watchful eyes of their wives and children? What is more painful watching someone been half destroyed by a gun and saying his last words? What is more painful watching someone being subjected to brutal torture just to confess and killed at the end? As I even comment my eyes are filled with tears and panic and do you think no matter how much we disagree in politics I will pray to see this in my country?
When I started reading your comments my intelligence informed me that you are a critic of Jammeh with reasoning and responsibility. You are mostly focused on realities and always look at the root causes of the coming of the APRC. You blamed the PPP for the root caused that today we find ourselves in the wrong hands. You predicted what will be the outcomes of the elections that your judgment was base on a divided selfish opposition that only represent their interest. Where you wrong? Because you say the realities on the ground they accuse you of a Jammeh supporter. If you could remember during my earlier days in this forum I use to stick to “Gambian problem is a Gambian solution and not people who call for war are heroes or people who call for peace are cowards”. I have great admiration and respect for critics at home who despite not given much room, exercise their political views with maturity and responsibility.
This way will help us for everyone to keep one name just as the online e-mail IDs, ! Just a suggestion.
In the service of the truth I remain
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