By Aisha Tamba
Former commander of the defunct ‘Operation Bulldozer’ Lieutenant Colonel Amadou Bojang, has admitted that people’s human rights were violated at the Bulldozer. But he denied all reports of torture under his watch as the commander.
Testifying before TRRC yesterday, Colonel Bojang admitted that there were unlawful detentions at the Bulldozer during his time, saying “I didn’t know at the time detaining people beyond 72 hours was a violation of their rights.”
The ‘Operation Bulldozer’ was established by former president Yahya Jammeh to weed the nation of criminals.
Colonel Bojang was accused of torture and unlawful detention by Musa Fofana and Ebrima Keita. The two told the TRRC on Monday that Colonel Bojang directly took part in their torture and had also accompanied them to the graveyard threatening to kill them.
Reacting to the allegation yesterday before the truth commission, Colonel Bojang, who is now the second in command at the Farafenni Military Barracks, accepted the unlawful detention of the two but denied they were tortured.
“They were never beaten in my presence,” he said. Colonel Bojang argued that he cannot completely rule out that torture was taking place.
He said the two were well-treated during their detention. Colonel Bojang also denied involvement in Ebrima Keita and other detainees’ investigations.
He recalled that they received information from the intelligence unit of the Bulldozer of a planned demonstration, military incursion and assassination of the former president being discussed by some people in Sukuta.
“We received information that there was a planned demonstration, military incursion and assassination of the president. We discussed it, some said it was a mere talk, while others said it would tantamount to concealment, if they keep it quiet. That was when we dispatched an arresting team to Sukuta.”
Asked by lead counsel Essa Faal whether he accompanied Ebrima and Musa to the cemetery, Bojang replied: “Never. That never happened. It was a primitive statement. When they were testifying, I was listening keenly. I was confused by those claims.”
The witness also denied ever drinking alcohol or smoking cannabis.
On Ebrima and Musa’s testimony that they were denied access to a lawyer, Bojang contended: “I did not deny them access to a lawyer. As far as I am concerned, I have never had an interaction with a lawyer. People missed the Bulldozer in those days, and they don’t like to interfere with anything related to General Badjie and Yahya Jammeh. That’s why.”
At that juncture, lead counsel Faal intervened to assert that people were scared of the Bulldozer because it was notorious just like the ‘Junglers’.
Colonel Bojang replied that “there were no tortures at the Bulldozer”.
He said Ebrima and Musa are unhappy with him for reasons best known to them. “They once told my family they were going to teach me a lesson,” he said.
“We were about 50 to 60 but when I came back [from peacekeeping], there were some PIU officers from TDA. They were all dismissed, they were reinstated and they were all sent to the Bulldozer and the strength increased from 150 to 160,” Amadou Bojang told the TRRC.
Bojang apologised to Musa and Ebrima for the unlawful detention.
