Jammeh- Hero
Or Human Butcher? July 22, 1994 Coup- What Did We Learn?
By NYANCHO, Stockholm Sweden
Kebba Sanneh, Nyancho
For the past fourteen years, The Gambia, a once prosperous and democratically promising entity within the annual Human Quality Index’s projections, with human and intellectual resources to propel the tiny Republic into a bastion of fruitful and contributive power in the sub region, suddenly collapsed registering and lengthening the sequence of so-called failed states in contemporary history of the post colonial, and perhaps the last monarchial type of state under the pretext of African democracy. We have heard, read and saw films of men who created and committed mass destruction of life and property under the name of protecting and or defending the very people they claimed to serve. The hopeless list could begin anywhere on the continent of our birth and our hopeful place of death, by any man. Even if one were to be blindfolded and given a pen in his hand, one could merely press the tip of the pen on the map of the continent in a geography lecture because the entire continent is replete with scenes of barbarity and hopelessness. From the 70's era Amin of Uganda, the brutal white South African apartheid system, the brutal mass murders classified as genocide by the United Nations and many men and women of conscience in Rwanda, Central Africa, and so on. What happened to us as nation-states with flags and independence, anthems and countless shows of extravagance by despots and self-serving dictators, egoistic and consumed in meaningless life styles is simply, pathetic!
Fourteen years ago, those sad and lingering dark clouds that the Gambian middle class and the elites would read about other countries in the neighborhood, several and often violent uprisings among oppressed and marginalized Africans for self determination, of selflessness for independence and an abrupt halt to all forms of colonialism was always news to Gambians. The rebel troops loyal to so and so rebel leader in so and so country could be heard on the BBC Focus On Africa by the likes of Robin White and the others. Those reports where coming from afar, very far away... we thought. Crisis as close to us as Liberia and Sierra Leone where still to us unimaginable. As a complacent people, Gambians thought such scenes were highly un-Gambian as if were social isolates. The negative peace under Jawara, where nepotism and foundations of a solid elitist state was in formation, with lies and countless promises of working towards a better life for all Gambians was pushed deep down and subdued by the relative voice they granted to the people. In other words, it was as if by the time people started to understand the tricks played on them by the government, than they were granted the voice to dissent. People were closely guided by conscience. Therefore, the feeling of expressing one’s resentment towards the government could be simply expressed within any community- the Bantaba, the restaurant, the clubs and even in front of the seat of power-State House, The Gambia’s equivalent of the White House, in DC, without fear of arrest or death in mysterious circumstances or forced exile. Give people the voice to call for help in circumstances where they feel helpless and you stay in power for long or descend as soon as possible as a man of dignity, with respect, with a brain to think and a heart to love and to give. Using this formula, the PPP managed and sustained power on several grounds, but the truth shall set us free.
Finally, the mighty blue flag that for years fluttered over the tiny Republic along side the national flag was replaced by the green flag depicting a man who would be remembered as one of the last laughing stalks of a series of sick, manipulative and blood thirsty African Dictators. July 22nd to majority of Gambians within and out side of the country bespeaks of ominous things and a sudden offensive, stray dog-like smell occupying a room meant for civilized beings. As a Gambian, the day does not register anything genuine or serious to me.
Yahya Jammeh, a junior officer with little or barely no knowledge of the geography of the world, the location and bearing of the state he supposedly governs, knows nothing about economics or any discipline of leadership, outside of the circumference of a few years of military training. No knowledge of modern laws of change of leadership of a sovereign state. He defied, flouted all Conventions on principles of peaceful, democratic change, seized power and embarked on a mission of massacre, death and destruction of the Gambia people on this date of July 22nd. A one-man state introduced, maintained and sustained by a minority with utter disregard to the majority, armed with total and excessive order of implementing terror and fear within one of Africa's most tranquil, peace loving and highly civilized by all standards of history as one of the most sophisticated Africans in politics and art, religion and the astrology of the stars, descendents of the peoples of the great Kingdom of the Mali Empire.
Gambians would not forget Jammeh, but sad tales would follow him, uncovering and revealing this man as one of those brutal fellows like Mobuto. The New York Times once quoted an American top brass, who described Mobuto as "one of the creatures of history". I just wonder how Jammeh would be called once he falls from his imaginary empire of greed and hallucination. The monster driving him to his own ultimate destruction would look at his face of guilt and congratulate this messenger of evil for a job well done by killing Ousman Koro Ceesay, the brilliant man of the pen and an exemplary character of ethics, moral and sense of duty and responsibility to his country of birth and consequent place of death. The fact of the matter is neither the perceived enemies, nor the loyalists within the rank of the APRC, no descent Gambian with a feeling and understanding of self could or would forgive you or the government for the death of some of our best. Our men of the armed forces, serving, risking and compromising family events and gatherings, the good and quality times with their families, in order to serve their homeland.
July 22nd can only, be described as another turning point in human suffering of yet another civilized people, enslaved by their own. History repeating itself, the wheel is rolling backwards for us when we see Africans deprived of food, water, and other basic needs by another African, with the same language. With children among and beyond the boundaries I say what our great leaders planned, imagined and put entire life times to, would have to wait for other seasons in the future.
Gambia is worst today under Jammeh than any other time in the history of our country. July 22nd brought death, and a total change of atmosphere in the human-to-human relationship and on the psychic of each and every citizen of the Republic. I cannot celebrate because I have reasons to cry. I cannot call home to say to friends how are you, because they would say mine is better than theirs. I cannot join the masses for fear of being identified as the one alone, but because I feel sorry for any man who dine and wine with people who hold our people in bondage depriving them their basic human rights. Honestly speaking, it is sad and really mind bugling, ironic so to speak. July 22nd, the thieves would be partying while the owners would be singing in their minds the following:
Song for July 22nd "Revolution"
For Jammeh our dictator
Who came out of poverty
Enriched himself on our labour
Left us sing in slavery
Works for God in Allah's Bank
Through the devils and demons
Demons who fought and disappeared
And Jammeh still in hot pursuit
Lost in the world of false prophets
Symbolizes and represents Satan on earth
He built a hotel and an Allah's bank
He leads prayers and sermons
He carries beads and swords
Jammeh who grows fat while we grow slim
Who feeds wild animals while we starve
For Jammeh who kills and lies
For the dictator who enslaves
Him we hate and him we show faces of smile
His net is just laid and the fool is surrounded
Blinded by his ego, betrayed by his imaginary friends
Time's not on his side, he can feel the heat.
Bye bye dictators, bye bye Butcher of Kanilai
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Editor's Note: In the coming days, we will profile the new Director General of the National Intelligence Agency Mr. Benedict Jammeh . Gambians need to know who their leaders are.
Hopefully, we will also reveal those who killed Mohammed a case that only a few Gambian insiders know about. Who was Mohammed? Where was he from? Why was he close to President Jammeh? Why did they fall apart? Why was he killed? Where was he buried?