‘I am a rebel fighting for the liberation of Casamance’

Yusupha Ceesay, one of the alleged 17 rebels from the southern Senegalese region of Casamance currently standing trial in Banjul, yesterday told the Special Criminal Court that he is a rebel fighting for the liberation of Casamance.

The accused persons, including Modou Lamin Badjie, Saku Jammeh, Zackaria Jatta, Tijan Camara, Mafuji Jarju, Abdoulie Sonko, Hatab Jatta, Abdou Badjie, Ebrima Jarju, Sang Sambou, Basiru Jammeh, Seedy Sanyang, Tumani Manga, Alasana Jarju and Aziz Kujabi, were all charged with unlawful possession of firearms in the Republic of the Gambia and for illegal entry into The Gambia. They all denied the charges.

Testifying in his defence, the first accused person, Yusupha Ceesay, told the court that on 2nd October 2010 while at their camp in the border between the Gambia and Casamance, they were attacked by unknown persons in the night with heavy weapons, while some of their members were sleeping.

The accused told the court that they know the border  area very well, but because of the unexpected attack, they had to run into the Gambia to save their lives, adding that they concealed their weapons somewhere in the jungle in Gambian territory.

He added that they used to visit some Gambian villages, and even have relatives in those villages, and this was why they did not take it as an offence.

The witness further said that, after their arrest by the security officers, they were severely beaten and tortured, as a result of which the youngest among them, Abdou Badjie, the ninth accused person, could not resist the beating and he revealed the place where they hid their weapons in the bush.

He said that after the recovery of the weapons by members of the Gambia Armed Forces, the weapons were dropped along the highway and photographs were taken at Bajana village.

He further disclosed that the weapons were taken to Bullock Police Station, where some of their colleagues came to secure a permit, and their names were listed.

“Our shirts were used to cover our faces and we were taken directly to the NIA headquarters,” he told the court in his defence.

He also revealed that they earned their living through the sale of timber and charcoal, adding that they have been living in that camp for many years.

“We inherited the camp from our elders, and I will never abandon this camp, even if I have children,” the accused told the court in his defence.

 Also testifying, Modou Lamin Badjie, the second accused person, told the court that he is 22 years of age, and is a rebel fighting for the independence of Casamance from Senegal.

He added that he came into this country as a result of problem that erupted in their camp, where they were overcomed by their attackers and they decided to dig a hole, bury their weapons and ran into the Gambia.

He added that upon their arrival at Bullock police checkpoint, in order to look for a permit so that he can enter into The Gambia, he was arrest at that point, where his colleagues were also arrested.

He said he was asked whether he knows them and said he knew them.

This witness further alleged that they were tortured.

The case was adjourned till 13 April 2011.