The
JerrehSittanunku Development Association (JSDA) wishes to register its
solidarity with the families of all victims of Sittanunkuorigin concerning the
brutality and injustices that they have been subjected to by the government of
Yahya Jammeh.
It
is public knowledge that Sittanunku village, Upper Niumi District, North Bank
Region, is part of many settlements that suffered miserably during the 22 years
misrule of the previous regime.
Three
gallant sons of village who diligently served in the national army were
killed extra judicially and many others forced to go on exile after being accused
by Jammeh and his thugs for plotting to overthrow his government.
They
include the following:
Cadet
Amadou Sillah, a brilliant soldier accused of allegedly taking part in the
purported attempted coup of 11 November 1994.
He was killed without availing him the opportunity to a free and fair
trial before a competent court of law thereby violating his human rights.
Staff
Sergeant Almamo Manneh, a key figure in theJuly 1994 revolution, was also accused
of plotting a coup against Jammeh together with Lieutenant Sanneh in January
2000. He was also manhandled and
subsequently killed without availing him opportunity to a free and fair trial
before a competent court of law thereby violating his human rights.
Lieutenant
Lamin F. Jammeh (LF Jammeh), another key figure of the July 1994 revolution,
was also accused of taking part in the 11th November 1994 coup and the attack on
Kartong military barracks. He was
brought before a law court and subsequently sentenced to life
imprisonment. To the disappointment of
all, he was executed during Jammeh’s August 2012 execution of the nine prison
inmates at Mile Two. He was therefore
killed without availing him opportunity to a free and fair death sentence
hearing before a competent court of law thereby violating his human rights.
These
are different from the myriad of sons of Sittanunku who fled The Gambia of
Yahya Jammeh due to threats on their lives. These include Ebrima (Borry) Manneh
who was forced to leave The Gambia since 1994, after escaping an attack at his
house in Brikama by soldiers from the State House.
It
is against this background that the entire membership of JSDA welcome the fall
of APRC regime and the keen commitment demonstrated so far by the new government to set up a Truth and
Reconciliation Commission which will investigate the causes and consequences of
these atrocities and where appropriate, offer reparations for families of the
victims.
Similarly,
we also appreciate the efforts being made by the government to investigate all
other arbitrary killings and disappearances that took place during the
Jammeh-era.
However,
though we are cognizant of the fact that certain criminal investigations takes
time, we are calling on the government to expedite the investigations with a
view to bring the perpetrators to book because justice delayed is justice
denied.
The
people of Sittanunku, The Gambia and indeed, all human right defenders the
world over want to see that justice is done andjustice is served to the families
of victims all over the country. This is important because these families have
suffered so long since the demise of their loved ones and breadwinners.
We
therefore plead with the new government and the international community to
consider the plight of all concerned families by bringing those responsible for
these heinouscrimes to justice and ensure that all beneficiary families receive
fair compensations for their forever lost loved ones.
It
is in recognition of the above that we stand together as people of Sittanunku
and The Gambia, united in solidarity with the families of our fallen countrymen
and women and demand that justice be seen to be done and be done expeditiously.
About
JSDA
Jerreh
Sittanunku Development Association (JSDA) is a registered non-profit,
nonreligious and non-partisan community development organisation in Niumi
Sittanunku, Upper Niumi District in North Bank Region.
The
association was formed by people of Nuimi Sittanunku decent both in the Kombos
and Sittanunku about three years ago.
The
association works to, among other things, support socio-economic development of
the Village in all areas including education, health, agriculture, culture, and
sports.
JSDA
also hopes to strengthenthe bond of unity, mutual understanding, friendship and
cooperation among youth of the village, and complementefforts of government and
the village authority in the promotion of a just and prosperous ruralcommunity.
The
association has a board of advisers whose mandates include providing strategic
guidance and thoughtful advice to ensure that the association remains true to
its aims and objectives.
Signed
JSDA
Executive Committee
