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Survivor of Gambia killings rejects compensation
Thursday, 24 June 2010 22:34
By Yusupha ChamLess than 24 hours since Gambia’s offer of $500,000 compensation for Ghanaian deaths was announced to Parliamentarians in Accra, the lone survivor of the Gambian killing has rejected the sum as compensation package for the deceased families.
Martin Kyere, the man who witnessed the horrific massacre of his innocent compatriots is even more disappointed because he has been left unattended to.
In a chilling rerun of his ordeal in the jungles of the Gambian forest as he ran for his dear life, Kyere told myjoyonline: “I walked through the forest and what I have seen is not easy. I struggled for five days in the forest; even the dead they got a better deal. They were just shot and they died, but me, I struggled five days in the forest. So I deserve more compensation than those who are dead,” Even that, he said the paltry sum provided by the Gambian authorities does not in anyway compensate for the lost lives.
Martin Kyere was part of a number of Ghanaians who sought greener pasture and attempted to use The Gambia as a transit point to Europe.
They were arrested and killed by unknown persons, but luckily Kyere escaped the unprovoked slaughtering.
Foreign Minister Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni disclosed to Parliamentarians on Wednesday that the Gambia government has agreed to pay $500,000 as funeral expenses to the deceased families.
According to him, government has accepted the compensation because of some revelations by the UN/ECOWAS fact finding committee which investigated the mystery surrounding the killing in 2005.
The committee reported that only six Ghanaians died in the incident, contrary to earlier speculations that they were 44.
The committee could not also confirm allegations that the Gambian government was responsible for the killings.
But Martin Kyere is contesting the report of the fact finding team. He said the Ghana government has been misled.
Even though he admits he was not forced to embark on the journey, he was unequivocal that the Gambians had no right in killing his colleagues.
Meanwhile the Executive Secretary for the Media Foundation, Prof Kwame Karikari said the perpetrators of the killing must be found and prosecuted.
Photo: Not the exact one
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Comments
This is just the tip of the iceberg.From Deyda Hydara to the disappearance of the alleged coup plotters of 2006,Jammeh's deeds will haunt his dreams for the rest of his life and cost us Gambians very dearly both in lives lost and compensation claims from torture victims and survivors of his death squads.
Comment
As Gambians we share same topics & issues of discourses with each other. Friends & relatives of some security elements in yaya's killing machinery have divulged same/similar information collaborating this survivor's version of events. These people are here & will be readily available, am sure, if & when are needed for verification in honest courts. Redress for justice & fair-play for the victims are humane & essential.
Comment
As Gambians we share same topics & issues discourses with each other. Friends & relatives of some security elements in yaya's killing machinery have divulged same/similar information collaborating this survivor's version of events. These people are here & will be readily available, am sure, if & when are needed for verification in honest courts. Redress for justice & fair-play for the victims are humane & essential.
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