Four
victims of human rights violations during the former President Yahya Jammeh’s
dictatorial regime, who have testified before the Truth Reconciliation and
Reparations Commission (TRRC), have on Friday been awarded air tickets with
three escorts for free overseas medical treatment in Turkey. They are expected
to leave the country on Monday.
Among
the victims are Abdou Karim Jammeh, Yusupha Mbaye and Oumie Jagne, who suffered
gunshot wounds during the students’ demonstration in April 2000, and Nogoi Njie
who was arrested and detained as a result of the 2016 protest.
The
presentation ceremony was held at the TRRC premises and the victims who will be
accompanied by three escorts, got the sponsorship from the Turkish government,
three tickets from The Gambia Ports Authority, two from Unique Solution and
TRRC provided two air tickets and paid the daily sustenance allowances to
victims and their escorts.
Ismail
Sefa Yuceer, the Turkish ambassador to The Gambia, in an interview with The
Point, promised Turkish continuous support in providing free medical treatments
to Gambians annually, while stating that victims’ medical files were sent to
Turkey but it was too late for some to be treated.
“We
have met all the charges of the treatment and it will be free treatment and accommodations.
We are expecting good result from the treatment because the victims are good
for The Gambia and must especially fight for democracy.”
The
deputy chair of the TRRC, Mrs. Adelaide Sosseh, who is also the chairperson of
the Reparations Committee, expressed delight for having succeeded in sending
the victims for overseas medical treatment, while thanking GPA and Unique
Solutions for their support. She said the TRRC’s contribution is from the fifty
million dalasi the Gambia government provided for reparations. Mrs. Sosseh also
acknowledged support given to victims by Gambians home and abroad and
encouraged others to support the victims.
Representative
of the victim center and chairman of the board of directors, Baba Hydara, has
disclosed that the victim center has been working on its free medical treatment
for long time before the establishment of the TRRC.
“The
support came up when we got to know that some of the victims were not getting
better and need urgent treatment, we decided to seek for support. We visited
the Turkish Embassy and the ambassador was so kind to help and we are so glad
for the amazing gesture he did for the victims. We promised not to forget this
because is our first support from institutions.”
Other
speakers included Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow, TRRC’s executive secretary and Mr.
Ousman Jobarteh, managing director of The Gambia Ports Authority.
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