Matty
Sanyang alias Sami Jatta, Thursday testified before the TRRC’s regional
hearings in Sibanor, revealing that the witch hunters’ concoction which was
forcefully given to her in 2009 made her unconscious for a day.
The
witness, 68, who was born in Sintet said Tambajiro, the lead witch hunter for
Yahya Jammeh was the first person to set foot in Sintet. She narrated that she
was not around when Tambajiro was releasing smoke in the village.
Explaining
the main incident of the Fulas’ witch hunting exercise, Mrs. Sanyang said the
paramilitaries and the soldiers were at the ground chasing people, and they
were captured and taken to Kanilai.
“I
went to Kabong Kabila around Casamance and entered a house. I locked the door
but when they came, they told me to open the door or they would break it. I
tried to climb the ceiling to escape but I couldn’t. It was later I opened the
door, where they met me and took me away. About 40 people were with me in the
bus.”
Describing
the looks of the witch hunters, she adduced that they were dressed in red and
holding horns with cowry shells.
She
added that her elder brother Malangaye Gaye who was mentally ill was also
captured and beaten to the extent of bleeding. “He died six months after he was
beaten.”
The
witness explained that they were made to drink the concoction forcefully in a
toilet, adding that they were as well bathed naked by young armed
paramilitaries and soldiers.
After
drinking the concoction, she testified that they fainted and became unconscious
till the following day.
“We
were forced to confess to be witches. I admitted to witchcraft because if I
didn’t, they would for the second time give me the concoction to drink and that
can kill me.”
Mrs.
Sanyang explained that three days after leaving Kanilai, she was not able to
eat. He said her children took her to Ahmadiyya Hospital because former
President Yahya Jammeh decreed no government hospital attends them.
“My
aunty Sansang Camara died in Bwiam Hospital after she was released due to
improper treatment and medication.”
The
witness said she dislikes Jammeh and also anyone who likes him, taking into
account the horrible things he did to her.
