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Editorial: Great resistance ‘Balangbaa’
Wednesday, 21 April 2010 00:43
When in a spontaneous wave of chaos junior soldiers broke into armories and commandeered vehicles on their
way to dislodge a 30 year old democratic government, it became the duty of a patriotic elite police deputy commander of the loyal forces to stop the mutineers. Though he failed through sheer over powering, and not because of failure to try, Ebrima Chongan’s attitude towards the July 22 coup in Gambia remains the same, a treasonable act. And he paid dearly for keeping to his unbending virtues of military discipline and loyalty to democracy and the civilian authority when the coup makers swiftly put him in jail. To them Chongan and the threat he represented was over and done with. In Balangbaa, however, we realized that it was not. In fact, Chongan who, as the former boss of the leader of the coup, therefore received the hardest brunt of his angry scores settling was more active even in the confines of his cell.
In this book, Balangbaa, "Great resistance'' in Mandinka, Chongan told of the most authoritative account of that eventful day and beyond. Being among the few privileged to be in the midst of the action on that day, Chongan used this advantage to tell the inside story of the coup that changed the Gambia. He seemed to be telling the reader, "Look there are many conflicting accounts but I was there: I know what happened, how it happened and why it happened."
While the reader is led into a free flow of suspense as the sequence of events leading to the coup unravels, one would recognize Chongan’s honesty in acknowledging the flaws and loopholes characterized by negligence and a dangerous laxity of security which allowed the coup plotters and executors free room to plot, no matter with what amateurism, and unleash their diabolical plan without detection or brute abortion by the top security apparatus, comprising of men that included the writer himself.
With its simplicity in expression, Balangbaa gives even the uninitiated clues towards a deeper understanding of the nitty-gritty of the workings of the military and the actions of its members leading to and beyond the July 22 coup.
It is important to note where the mere word of mouth alone in describing the work of a magnificent policeman amounts to a recommendation. That has been the legacy of Chongan in the Gambian security services. His latest work, Balangbaa, goes to consolidate that esteem.
Many stories have been written and many more would be on this same topic. But Balangbaa would be hard to rival because of the unique position on the course of events of the author, prior and after the coup, as well as the inside knowledge of the key players of the event; an un- put-downable bed time book that will leave you wondering how much did you know of your country before.
Jollofnews’ rating: A must read for any one in search of the soul of the Gambian military and political history on and after the July 22nd take over.
Hurry and get your copy at www.lulu.com.
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Comments
I agree with you a hundred percent.Chongan is a wolf in sheeps clothing.This man aided and abetted the first republic that destroyed our country.I feel saddened if he is making himself a hero.The fact is he has sought sanctuary in London which is benefitting him.
Please send me a copy of your article incase jollofnews dont publish it.I am interested in it greatly.Please dont send it to senegambianews because no one reads that site.Yankuba Jambang has lost his remaining credibility as he is bend upon insulting people than writing the news.
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