By Amadou Jadama
Dr Naffie Ceesay, a younger sister to the late Ousman Koro Ceesay, has said her brother’s killers will not dictate her family’ forgiveness.
Koro, a former finance minister in the AFPRC government was killed in cold blood, allegedly by the AFPRC Junta members, in June 1995.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday at FajiKunda Health Centre, Madame Ceesay said the family chose to remember how Koro lived, not how he died.
“Koro was a man of discipline, integrity, service, funny and above all, a man full of love for his family and the country,” she said.
She described her late brother as patriotic and visionary who wanted to transform and improve his country and her people.
She went on: “Koro’s legacy is about service, uplifting and making a difference. It should not be confused with cheap attempts to smear his reputation. We have heard a lot about forgiveness during these hearings but forgiveness is not for the villain or perpetrator. It is the victims’ way of taking back their power and strength.”
She said “forgiveness is not a line you cross after hearing a superficial or pathetic apology. It’s a path you take and our family took that path a long time ago, independent of our brother’s killers. They do not get to dictate when we heal. They tried to eliminate him and instead they amplified his message. For the last 23 years, we wondered what we would do or say to Koro’s killers, honestly, what we feel for them is sadness. True power is not by using guns and terrorizing innocent citizens. True power is to hold back from using power when you can use it, and instead choosing to use mercy,” Madame Ceesay said.
She added: “Koro’s life was not ours to forgive: his killers would need to ask the Almighty for that. We pray that he shows them more mercy than they chose to show to our brother and other victims. We believe justice will be served.”
She thanked the Gambian people for their unwavering support. “We are very appreciative and hope that everyone remains optimistic, for justice delayed is not justice denied.”
Madame Ceesay however went on to state a very good initiative taken by the family to relive their late brother. “In his memory, our family has founded the Ousman Koro Ceesay Foundation which has been providing free school supplies, medical services, screening and community education to countless citizens for the past 4 years.”
