By Omar Bah
The Gambia Center for Victims of Human Rights Violations has renewed demands that former President Yahya Jammeh and his colleagues, Sanna Sabally, Edward Singhatey, Yankuba Touray and all former AFPRC Junta accomplices face justice. Their call came after a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court stripping members of the AFPRC junta of any immunity against prosecution.
The victims made this call at the Paradise Hotel on Saturday where they gathered in large numbers for their Annual General Meeting and Remembrance Day commemorations.
Saturday’s event also witnessed the dissolution of their board of directors, nomination and election of new members, presentations on enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings/executions, torture, sexual violence and abuses.
Addressing the delegates, the chairman of the Centre, Sheriff Kijera said: “We will make sure that Jammeh and his accomplices face justice so that the killings and torture meted out to our fellow Gambians will not go unpunished. I mean the deaths of Deyda Hydara, Mahawa Cham, Solo Sandeng, Sol Ndow and the rest will not go in vain.”
“We will continue to fight for justice to make sure that Jammeh is put on chains and brought before a court of law and we will not relent in our efforts to hold the government of Adama Barrow accountable to make sure that there is a political plan to bring Jammeh to justice. The Jammeh2Justice campaign is very much alive and we will continue to consolidate the gains that we have already registered so far,” he said.
Last December, the Victim Centre got the support of four prominent Gambian lawyers, Neneh Cham, Salieu Taal, Abdoulie Fatty and Gai Sowe who added their weight and impressed the Supreme Court to consider the implications of letting Yankuba Touray go scot-free with the crimes he committed.
Last week, the Supreme Court interpreted that Yankuba Touray has no immunity, which is the wish of the four lawyers . Commenting on the ruling, Kijera said the ruling has assured the victim community that hiding behind impunity will no longer work and that Jammeh and his accomplices will not go scot-free.
“As a victim association, we will stand by you (victims) to continue to fight for justice for each of the souls that perished under the dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh. I appeal that we all come together to fight,” he told the audience comprising hundreds of victims.
Kijera also registered the victims’ disappointment over the government’s deliberate actions of allowing perpetrators to continue to serve in key positions.
“It is quite disheartening for the victims to see alleged perpetrators continuing to hold key positions in government. But as an institution we will continue to fight to ensure these perpetrators are dismissed,” he said.
Kijera also paid tribute to all the fallen heroes and victims of Jammeh’s 22-year rule.
A staff of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) and victim of human rights violation under the NIA, Lamin Kabou, told The Standard on the sidelines of the AGM that the same person who tortured him is now his boss at the agency.
“This is why I have no respect for him and I want him to face justice for the violations he meted on me and my fellow victims because he has not shown any remorse over his actions,” Kabou said.
He said although the victims are very appreciative and confident that the TRRC will do justice in their recommendations they will submit to the president after the conclusion of the hearings, they remain pessimistic over whether the president will implement them as required.
