TRRC Recommends Former President, Vice President to Stand Trial for Deaths, Injuries of Students in 2000

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Photo Credit: thegambiatimes



By Amadou Manjang


Following the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) recommendations on the human rights violation committed during the former president Yahya Jammeh’s 22 years dictatorship, the Commission has recommended the prosecution of the former president and the vice president.

The report revealed that the vice president, Isatou Njie Saidy is also recommended for the arbitrary arrests, detentions, tortures, injuries and killings of the demonstrators in April 10 and 11on students. 

The Truth Commission stated that Yahya Jammeh, the former Commander in Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces should be prosecuted for all the atrocities against students, such as arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions, tortures, assaults causing harm and killings of the demonstrators.

The recommendations were given on the ground that Jammeh either gave the orders and instructions to kill the students or he had failed to investigate and prosecute members of the security forces who committed the violation.

 The evidence revealed that Yahya Jammeh instructed Vice President Isatou Njie Saidy to “take care of the bastards in whatever way, in whatever form”. The Commission concludes that these instructions were an order to shoot the student demonstrators, the investigation of the commission reveals.

The commission added that: “Isatou Njie Saidy pursuant to the instructions of Yahya Jammeh instructed Baboucarr Jatta to deploy the army who complied by deploying soldiers with AK 47 rifles and the live rounds to push the demonstrators out of key installations resulting in the fatal shooting of the student demonstrators.” the report revealed.

The commission further recommended imposing a ban on Isatou Njie Saidy from holding public office for a period of ten (10) years.

“Yahya Jammeh and Isatou Njie Saidy are responsible for the arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention, torture and rape. Jai Sowe, Officer Commanding Banjul Police Station, unlawfully authorized the supply of firearms and ammunition to Police Officers including Gorgui Mboob, Yorro Mballow and Ousman Cham,” the report said.

Gorgui Mboob is recommended to be prosecuted for the assault and injury of Ousman Sabally. He is also recommended to be banned from holding public office for five (5) years. 

Abdou Giri Njie is also recommended to be prosecuted for the unlawful arrest, detention, torture and for the unlawful shooting resulting in the deaths and injury of two students Sainey Nybally and Ousman Sabally. 

Ousman Badjie, the former Secretary of State for the Interior is also recommended by the commission to be prosecuted for the arbitrary arrests, detentions, tortures, injuries and killings of the demonstrators.

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