By Baba Sillah
Maimuna Sanyang, who identified herself as a cousin of slain former Finance minister Ousman Koro Ceesay, has called on the technical team of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, TRRC, to investigate the death of her brother and expeditiously bring the culprits to justice.
“We heartily welcome the commission and hope that it will help finally establish the truth about all the terrible murders so that the families of the victims will get justice,” she told the TRCC committee of technicians at the Semega Janneh Hall in Serekunda.
Adding her voice to the call for the investigation into Mr Ceesay’s death, another relative who has not been identified, said: “We can forgive the killers but we cannot forget. So we hope the commission will investigate the death of our brother and bring justice to the family.”
Responding to queries of the families of the victims, Justice Minister Tambadou assured them that the commission will fully investigate all crimes to make sure that justice is served. He however appealed to them to exercise patience and said the establishment of the commission is part of the promises made by President Adama Barrow when he was seeking office.
Ousman Koro Ceesay, a finance under the AFPRC military junta, died in mysterious circumstances on 23 June 1995. His charred body was found inside his burnt official vehicle in the outskirts of Jambur village. No official investigation into his death has been conducted publicly.
Earlier this year, 14 members of the Ceesay family lodged a petition at the Ministry of the Interior demanding an immediate inquiry into Ceesay’s death.
In the petition the families stated that “such monumental abdication of state responsibility can only lead to strong suspicion of foul play” and consequently demanded the Coalition government initiate an urgent investigation into his death to establish the truth, hold any guilty party to account and bring about a long-awaited closure for the whole family.
Meanwhile, Imam Bakawsu Fofana on Wednesday also hailed the setting up of the commission in a meeting held at Bakau. The imam, a critic of the former regime, is of the view that the commission will pave way for justice for the victims.
