Banjul,
The Gambia (July 18, 2017)
Gambia
Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations has been made aware of a leaked
tape, between one of the Special prosecutors, Mr Sheriff Tambadou and the wife
of Yankuba Badgie, former NIA director and now one of the defendants (NIA 9)
against the Solo Sandeng case. We find this reprehensible that a man of Mr
Tambadou’s caliber will make such a gaffe. We are asking the government to
recuse him from this case as we do not have the confidence that he will
represent the victims in an effective manner. The government should without
delay, assign a new credible prosecutor who will have the best interest of
representing the government and victims to keep the case moving forward.
Yankuba Badgie’s wife has alleged that, only the Sandeng family has not
forgiven their perpetrators and the rest of the victims has; this is a
bold-faced false statement. Most of the victims have not even started court
proceedings yet or even know the truth behind what happened to their loved ones
to even start discussions on forgiveness.
We
are also asking the government to investigate the reasons why Mr Tambadou, an
experienced lawyer, will reach out to Ms. Ndura on such an important case? We
the victims are hoping that the government will take these cases very
seriously. Getting justice for all victims should be top priority of the Barrow
government. Without justice, there will be no peace or reconciliation! We want
to put it on the record that, President Barrow has not met with the victims
yet, even after multiple efforts from the Center to his office and we continue
to encourage him to do so as we believe the victims should be in the forefront
of any discussions that involves Truth Justice and Reconciliation committee.
We
are gravely concerned about how the TRC is described on the tape as merely a
covert operation which will end up freeing the perpetrators via a blanket
amnesty which will be issued by President Barrow, once they are sentenced. We
hope this is not true as this will falter any confidence we have on the TRC. We
are asking the government to request for international assistance. This will
allow them to have the proper capacity and infrastructure to effectively
investigate and try these cases and once tried and justice is served, then on a
case by case, reconciliation will be reviewed for those that deserves or
qualify for it.
The
Center wish to thank the government for siding with the victims and most
Gambians in denying a permit to the AFPRC Junta in their plans to celebrate
July 22, 1994 Coup d’etat. Allowing such a celebration will be a mockery to the
victims and Gambia in general as most victims still do not even know where the
remains of their love ones are? We are urging the government and NAM’s to take
legal measures to make the celebration of this day as well as any other that
tends to be a mockery of the Gambian people suffering under the prior
government, as illegal.
Gambia
Center for Victims of Human Rights Violation’s main priority is to get truth,
then justice. Reconciliation can only begin to happen if perpetrators believe
they have done something wrong and are remorseful as well as being on a track
to rehabilitation so that such events will never be repeated in The Gambia.
Yours Sincerely,
Signed:
Maila
Touray
Chairperson
Gambia
Center for Victims of Human Rights Violation
committeeforvictims@gmail.com
/ https://facebook.com/VictimsofJammeh / @VictimsofJammeh
Press
Contacts
Gambia
- Aminatta Corea - 220 341 - 4496, Ayesha Jammeh - 220 782 - 4013
US
- Olay Ceesay Jabbi - (682) 472 - 2090, Maila Touray - (401) 301 - 3060