Oustass
Ismaila Manjang Tuesday testified before the TRRC in connection with his arrest
and detention on 17 June, 2011 by the defunct National Intelligence Agency
(NIA).
Born
in Gunjur, Manjang, who did not attend any formal school (Madarassa) was an
Islamic teacher at an Arabic school in Gunjur.
According
to him, on 17 June, 2011, he invited one Omar Faba Gitteh to a graduation
ceremony of his grade nine students. The guest spoke on the topic: ‘Tawhid’
meaning faith in only Allah.
He
added that Gitteh told the students that some were worshipping places like
Bakau Katchilly, Taba Konkonrong and Gunjur Kenikenih Jamano, citing this was
not in line with the teachings of Islam and advised his students to be careful
with these places because neither Allah nor his Prophet Muhammad (SAW) advised
Muslims to be going there for worship. He said his reason for doing that was to
instill Tawhid in their minds.
Mr.
Manjang explained that he did not observe any anger in the audience that was
present at the graduation.
“Islamic
Solidarity Association Executive usually have meetings to discuss the way
forward of the Arabic education in The Gambia and Guinea Bissau and after one
of their meetings in 2011, I went back to Gunjur.”
At
the time of his arrest, he said his wife told him that someone was asking for
him and when he came out, he met one police officer identified as Sowe who told
him that he was needed at the police station.
He
testified that he was arrested and taken away by two PIU Officers with their
batons. The officers sandwiched him.
Prior
to this day, he said he used to see Mr. Sowe because his (Manjang) compound was
not far from the police station and there was a cordial relationship between
them. He added that they attended naming ceremonies together and even shared
his ‘Tobaski’ meat.
Mr.
Manjang testified that he was taken to the NIA headquarters in Banjul.
“Did
they tell you were under arrest? Counsel Singhatey quizzed. “No” responded
Manjang.
He
said at the NIA, he was asked whether he was the one that insulted the people
of Gunjur, but replied in the negative and debunked the allegations as “false.”
He
said the person who was interrogating him told him that he was not speaking the
truth and all of a sudden, he took the baton from the PIU Officer and beat him.
Oustass
Manjang continued that the man further forced him to remove all his clothes but
he refused to remove his trouser and told him that unless he died.
He
said the NIA operative then ordered his boys to take him; adding that he did
not see the PIU officers after they handed him over to the NIA. He testified
that the NIA operative eventually took him to another place.
“The
place was so dusty that I suggested no one was ever put in that cell. I sent a
young man to get me a carton which he did. Those cartons were my praying mat,
and bedding. What I realised was that people who hated me reported me because
there was no enmity or argument between me and anybody.”
Mr.
Manjang disclosed that at this time the APRC was very powerful in Gunjur,
despite that, he didn’t participate in the functions of the APRC neither did he
take their money, sugar or rice.
“I
have never participated or spoken at any political platform but they knew that
I am a supporter of the UDP. I was targeted because I was perceived to be an
opposition,” said Manjang.
“I
am an elder in Gunjur and would not stand and insult the elders of Gunjur,” he
added.
The
old man testified that his head was bald and had nothing to drive the
mosquitoes but he then appealed to another officer to get him ‘Moon Tiger’
mosquito coil which he lit inside the cell and this made the situation better
for him.
“After
the 8 p.m. prayer, I lay down but could not sleep. The following day, my whole
body was swollen as a result of mosquito bite.”
Mr.
Manjang revealed that he was later told by his son Ahmad Manjang that the man
that escorted him to the NIA was Numo Kujabi, an operative working at the
Office of the President.
He
added that during the course of the interrogation, he was asked to provide a
surety for bail.
“I
was not released on the day I was granted bail but was put in light detention
were I had a fan, and a mattress.”
He
said he was not released because the officers told him that they were
investigating the information he gave them and they did not have orders to
release him yet.
The
witness alleged that those that reported him went to the president’s office and
not the NIA.
“Every
Gambian knows what happened under the Jammeh regime, including animals. I was
reporting on bail and during that process, the NIA told me that they did not
find anything which was against the law and that the NIA was ordered to
transfer the case to the Drug Squad headed by Pa Habib Mbaye and Friday Barry.”
He
said the drug squad allowed him to go home but they later went to his home and
conducted a search and further proceeded to Modou Lamin Touray, Supreme Islamic
Council’s president who wrote a letter of recommendation clarifying that he did
not insult the government.
On
his medical conditions, he explained that he was examined but there was no
problem, except that his shoulder pained him from time to time, especially in
the early hours of the morning.
He
appealed to religious leaders to adhere to the dictates of Islam and always
remember the day of judgment.
