Tijan
Touray, Ex-President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara’s bodyguard has told the Truth,
Reconciliation and Reparations Commission that Yahya Jammeh was moved out of
the State House due to his attitude and was not trustworthy, adding that he was
not taking orders from his superior.
The
witness further said that Yahya Jammeh worked like bandit and hated the
Senegalese, citing an incidence at the State House where Yahya Jammeh had a
brawl with Senegalese motor cycle rider.
He
said the security arrangements at the State house in 1994 made it feasible for
Yahya Jammeh and his cohorts to overthrow the democratically elected government
of Sir Dawda Jawara.
Tijan
Touray, the 9th witness made this disclosure yesterday before the said
Commission in a video call testimony from the United Kingdom where he presently
resides.
The
witness testified that if the State House guards had put up resistance and if
Ex-President Jawara had not left the State House for the American Ship, Yahya
Jammeh and his cohorts would not have succeeded.
The
witness disclosed that there were handful of guards who were ready to shoot at
them, stressing the absence of Commander Turo Jawneh at the State House as a
deadly blow to the security set up of the State House at the time.
“If
Turo Jawneh was there, Jawara would not have left the State House and I know
that Jammeh cannot organise a coup because he cannot organise himself,” he
remarked.
The
witness said Yahya Jammeh was scared of Turo Jawneh and that after Turo Jawneh
left the State House, most of the guards at the State House were demoralized.
He
explained that Turo Jawneh was a strong person, neat, disciplined with
exceptional qualities of unifying everyone, adding that during his stint as the
commanding officer at the State house, officers were very happy and proud.
He
revealed that the Commander of the gendarmerie at the time was Pateh Secka,
Senegalese who later left.
He
said the Crack Unit started around 1987 and about eleven members were sent for
crack and body guard training, noting that he was among those who were
undergoing the training with the Senegambia Confederation still in place.
The
witness said some members of the Crack Team were also sent to the State House
of which he was among the team that was sent to State House.
The
witness narrated his encounter with one Sambou Grumble, who instructed him to
go to the sentry at the State House.
The
witness revealed that Lt. Turo Jawneh was the commander at the State House who
asked him to move in as a plain cloth officer in 1991.
The
witness told the Commission that he guards the ex-President Jawara, his family
and structures at the State House.
He
pointed out that he was also charged with the responsibility of taking the
ex-president’s children to school and his two wives; lady Njaimeh and lady
Chilen.
The
witness told the Commission that he was a close body guard of ex-President
Jawara and mentioned his ordeal with someone who had attempted to give
ex-President Jawara a letter, his subsequent appointment as an intelligent
officer with the NSS after he was approached by the then director of NSS; Kebba
Ceesay.
Tijan
Touray disclosed that he used to travel with ex-President Jawara on oversea
trips, adding that he travelled with Jawara three weeks before the 22nd July,
1994.
The
witness further disclosed that they first travelled to Tunisia and then to the
United Kingdom and then back to The Gambia on the 21st July, 1994.
The
witness revealed that he travelled with ex-President Jawara along with Lt.
Demba Njie, Lt. Kabba Bajo and Alpha Jallow his Aide-de-camp (ADC).
He
told the Commission that three days before departing U.K. for The Gambia, a
call came from Lang Tombong Tamba to Kabba Bajo, Demba Njie that there was an
attempted coup but had been foiled.
The
witness stated that the information was transmitted to ex-President Jawara but
had treated same as the normal unusual rumor mongering of coups and ever ending
rumours of Kukoi Samba Sanyang re-launching attack on The Gambia.
The
witness told the Commission that they finally arrived on the 21st July, 1994
and as the presidential aircraft taxied at the tarmac, he was the first person
who came out of the airplane; and after he observed that everything was fine he
returned to ex-President Jawara to disembark.
Tijan
Touray further told the Commission after alighting from the aircraft, he met
Lt. Lang Tombong Tamba who instructed him to go and join the officers inside
the waiting State House mini- van.
The
witness told the Commission that it wasn’t right for Lang Tombong Tamba to tell
him to go and join the mini-van because he normally travels with the
presidential convoy to the State House.
The
witness revealed that when they arrived at the airport, he observed that Yahya
Jammeh, a military officer wasn’t armed but later learnt of what transpired
before they landed at the airport.
The
witness further revealed that 21st July, 1994 night was normal, though he
wasn’t allowed to join the presidential convoy but he arrived at State House
and collected luggage and left for his house at the sixth flat apartment
building and did not notice anything unusual that night.
The day of the takeover
Tijan
Touray told the Commission that he arrived at the State House very early
morning and saw Saihou Sabally and the news of the coup was rife that the
soldiers were marching from Yundum Barracks to Banjul.
The
witness further told the Commission that ex-President Jawara had entered the
vehicle with his family and was driving along Wellington Street towards the
port and he was driving following them until they entered inside the American
Ship.
Tijan
Touray disclosed that he saw Kabba Bajo who instructed him to go to the State
House to see what was going on and he left for State House, and upon arrival,
he saw Lt. Yahya Jammeh and Lt. Lang
Tombong Tamba having discussion but heard Lang Tombong Tamba speaking in Jola
language that they are all soldiers and that it’s better to leave them.
Tijan
averred that he observed at the State House that his own men (the witness’s
men) wanted instructions to resist the marauding soldiers and there was no one
to take charge and he then decided to take leave of the State House as he
wasn’t ready to join the mutineers.
The
witness revealed that at the time he went back to the port he found out that
ex-President Jawara had already left the seaport with the American Ship.
The
witness told the Commission that Yahya Jammeh, Edward Sighateh and the other
soldiers who came to the State House turned their berets inside out and looked
like rebels.
The
witness disclosed that when he left the State House he went to see Alpha
Jallow, the Aide-de camp of ex-President Jawara to collect his passport and
told Alpha that he was not joining Yahya Jammeh and his cohorts whom he called
rebels.
He
explained that after Yahya Jammeh and his cohorts took over the State House, he
found out that the soldiers at the State House were not familiar with him and
were not his friends.
Tijan
Touray further disclosed that whilst he was searching for his passport, he saw
ex-President Jawara’s passport but quickly retired to his flat and met Lt.
Kebba Sonko alias Scientist, Lang Tombong Tamba and one Kemesseng whom he had a
brief meeting with; adding how he tried to galvanize and ginger them to launch
attack and kill Yahya Jammeh and his cohorts.
The
witness revealed that he was dissuaded from taking such action but to accept
the situation and join Jammeh and co.
The
witness disclosed that Lang Tombong Tamba informed him that Yahya Jammeh
trusted him and had given him the responsibility of handling Fajara Barracks.
The
witness told the Commission that he wrote a note and left it in his house, this
note the witness pointed out was damaging to Yahya Jammeh and his cohorts.
He
said Lang Tombong Tamba must have reported him and informed Jammeh about his
comments and condemnation of the coup and his decision of not joining them.
Tijan
Touray further said he was told that he was among those later charged with
treason.
The
witness testified that he got to Dakar through a boat and whilst in Dakar, he
met Sir Dawda Jawara.
The
witness revealed that whilst in Dakar he had meetings with Sir Dawda Jawara who
had confirmed to him that he wasn’t happy being in the ship.
The
witness further revealed that Jawara also told him about the American Ship
Commander assurance of stopping the mutineers from crossing Denton Bridge.
He
said Jawara also explained his frustration at the hands of the then Senegalese
president, Abdou Diuof, whom he said they were not in good terms and that he
hasn’t gone to Senegal to seek for political asylum.
The
witness pointed out that Jawara was like being in a cage in Dakar and was so
concerned about the welfare of Gambian people and was trying his best to help
the Gambian people.
Tijan
Touray told the Commission that ex-President Jawara stayed in Dakar until late
August 1994 when he left with Alpha Jallow and others, whilst he (the witness)
left with lady Njaimeh to the U.K. in September 1994.
Meanwhile,
the witness explained how their food was catered for by Saihou Sabally’s
in-laws whilst blaming Bakary B.Darboe, whom he said though he was in position
to help Jawara but failed to do so.
Hearing
continues today.