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GMC calls for arrest of key Jammeh allies for Koro Ceesay’s death
Saturday, 18 September 2010 01:08
Gambian opposition party, Gambia Moral Congress is demanding the arrest of some
key former allies of President Yahya Jammeh for the murder of a former Finance Minister, Koro Ceesay.Ceesay was killed in some eerie circumstances in the early days of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council Junta under Lieutenant
Yahya Jammeh, after he and these men ousted former President Jawara in 1994. Earlier calls for justice for the murder have faded over the years amid government’s indifference on the matter.
However, a recent publication by US based Gambian online newspaper, The Gambia Echo, has sparked a new wave of acrimony over the issue. Published 17th September 2010, the report cited revelations by a former member of the junta which allegedly presided over various bloodbaths in the aftermath of its successful bloodless coup, implicating five other key members of the regime.
Virtually all of them have fallen out with President Yahya Jammeh and some are said to have died. Key among these are former Junta No. 2, Edward Singhateh and his younger brother Peter Singhateh. There is also Yankuba Touray, Alagie Kanyi and Landing Badgie, a former police chief, best known as 13 Badjie.
“GMC is heavily troubled by the revelations,” a statement attributed to the party leader, Lawyer Mai Fatty, said.
A number of theories have been forwarded regarding the motive behind the cruel murder of Koro Ceesay, a young, intelligent and highly respected promising man. But the most persistent one had been that his murderers were unhappy about his budget report, which was to be announced to the nation on the eve of his murder. Even though evidence from other quarters largely points away from President Yahya Jammeh, his failure to act even with abundant evidence of the involvement of these men has received severe criticism.“We believe, irrevocably, that the shocking revelations made by Mr. Jallow, is more than required for the arrest and prosecution of the culprits by The Gambia Government,” the statement reads, and it adds: “Even more troubling is Mr. Jallow’s allegation that President Jammeh (then Chairman of the AFPRC) had assured the Singhateh Brothers that the issue of the ghastly murder of late Koro Ceesay ‘is foolish case’ as far as he remains President of The Gambia.”
The two principle suspects in the matter, brothers Edward and Peter Singhateh, together with Alagie Kanyi, were alleged to have been directly responsible for the death of the former Finance Minister.
Edward Singhateh and Yankuba Touray, both of whom served at various ministerial positions following transition to civilian rule, until their dismissal recently, are believed to be living in Gambia presently. So is Alagie Kanyi.
While Peter Singhateh remains in exile, reportedly, in Ireland, Landing Badgie is presently serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur.
GMC said it had already contacted the AU in Addis Ababa and the office of UN Secretary General Banki Moon on the dismissal and arrest of Mr Badgie.
“The United Nations cannot shelter an alleged murderer let alone hire one to keep the peace in a country that is bedeviled with murder. A murderer will always shelter another murderer and Landing Badgie’s continuous service in Darfur will put Darfurians at serious risk and compromise the integrity of international forces serving in Sudan,” the statement said. “We will not rest until Landing Badgie is dismissed and arrested for crimes committed against The Gambian people.”
The party is also counting on the Gambian government to “issue an international arrest warrant via Interpol against Landing Badgie and Peter Singhateh, and their eventual repatriation to The Gambia to help law enforcement in final investigations.” It said that those un-named State House soldiers allegedly involved could be identified by Edward Singhateh and Yankuba Touray.
According to the statement, it is imperative that President Yahya Jammeh dissociates himself from this allegation by arresting those implicated by his former spokesperson. “It is impossible for the family of the slain Minister, Gambians and the international community to exculpate President Jammeh’s further complicity in or validation of the assassination of Minister Koro Ceesay unless he acts on this information in a transparent and committed manner,” GMC said, while assuring consequences for any failure. It also counts on Gambians across all sectors to pass on every bit of information they have for future possible prosecution of alleged crimes.
“None of those implicated should go on believing that this ugly incident and others in the past shall be swept under the carpet, or somehow disappear through the passage of time,” it said.
Read the full statement by the GMC leader here
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Comments
Comment
Sure Badara, there are accomplices in crimes yaya committed & continue to. Whoever played part will be accountable, formerly/informal at some point. Yaya does give the green light & continue to lurk behind in deceit of innocence. On D-Day, yaya & co faggots of murderers will realise all lives are equal; ruler/ruled.
Comment
Guys I have avoided this topic but realise got to comment in respect. Koro won’t hurt a fly; this is evident in his attempt to shake hands of his own murders as stated in the piece & narrations of some of the contributors. His only crime was out of love for his country & humanity at large; to have accepted to work with the devils he mistook as genuine humans!!! I still recall the day I went to family home in Dippa kunda & can’t ever forget a brother named after koro’s dad & also father to name sake koro-junior, Sainey mundow’s devastated state of mind whilst aunty Fatou, Koro’s mum, had a haunted dry smile of faith & hope in GOD, hung around the face; So yaya thought he can evade justice for pretending not to be involved? If so, why hasn’t he ever acted to redress; to date???
I believe Lamin's move is understandable; CPJ's revelation is just too much. There is no more any point continuing the dzfznsz of a defenceless as Jammeh, amid all these ludicrous behaviour from the man... waht? fabricate an awrad from the White House of all places? In this digital generation? This is unbelievable...
I do not blame Lamin; the guy just can't continue on like this...
But you should have known better, Jammeh is not the guy you trust so much that you support without caution; he is not!
I disagree that the online media are entirely hostile to Jammeh. I have been free to write in support of Jammeh and other APRC sympatisers many times by The Freedom Newspaper.
God Willing I will continue to be allowed to do so when I see good developments from Jammeh.
In my humble view..I think Jammeh should now seek a successor.
He has said publicly that he will not work for the opposition? I took that to mean if defeated he would resign as party leader...{Opinion}
The pressure of so many unsolved crimes and murders...would be a compelling reason to resign in a western democracy.
The problem still remains...as to how The Gambia will progress if he stands down.
Who can unite the whole country? This is Jammeh biggest failing in my view.
I have been impressed by your views.
You should continue and state your case.
You impress me greatly..young man.
You raise some very good points.
Thankyou for acknowledging my work on behalf of Gambian's..I was not aware that you knew so much..perhaps we have met?
I used the words "some ignorance" perhaps wrongly..I should try to acknowledge some differences in our respective cultures which conflict.But at this time they are not so important.
To change government requires the will of the people.
To change the style of government requires the will of the government or a change of leadership.
I was against sanctions when Jammeh expelled our Deputy High Commissioner.
I wrote vigourously to protect The Gambia's independant sovereignty.
My position with the British government was damaged by that...but it reinforced my position with the APRC.
Hence for sometime I was seen as a Jammeh sympathiser.
I never changed one way or the other.
Mike, Adurahman, Joe, Bajaw, Boy Pulo, Sistergambia, Samba, my economist Badara, John and anyone I have not mentioned here. I am sorry for any offence I have made. My participation here will sooner or later be driving me to an unethical writing that I don’t want to engage. To anyone I have hurt I seek your forgiveness and am saying bye for good and will only read as 1000’s read and don’t comment. I will continue reading the Observer and the Diaspora media to balance the news. We are brothers and sisters that I know we have problems back home and looking for solutions but it is not by anger or oppression that we can see change happen. Thanks to all for ever
I recognized your efforts and generosity in the Gambia that I do disagree with you on certain issues but find it difficult to challenge. You have sacrificed your time and resources to improve hundreds and I have still seen the interest in you that you miss a lot. What you have done a lot of Gambians including me would be selfish not even to attempt it. I one time commented that it is our governments that are failing us and even in the UK at the moment with the new government there are a lot of issues that are disapprove by most people. Can I ask you this question, how are we now going to change our government as you lived in the Gambia and know people talk more than action? When I say public opinion back home, whether you call them ignorant or what they are they are the only people who can decide the faith of a government. Should Gambia now be under sanction because of Jammeh?
I doubt if you really do talk to independent minded Gambians here in Gambia, lest yoy wouldn't be saying some of the thinks you say.
Have you see a country, a democracy, where the people do not openly express their political views if they do not support the ruling party? THis is the case in Gambia... Will you deny that? Well, I live here, I see it on a daily basis...
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