Lt. Samba Baldeh Fight for his Reputation

                   Dear Editor:

        I am disheartened by your May 05, 2007 publication regarding unfounded issues about me during my tenure as 2ice (second-in- command) at the State Guard Battalion. Your source intimidated that my former Commanding Officer (CO) Captain Sonko now SOS for Interior confessed to an investigation initiated by the NIA that I shared the alleged stolen amount of one hundred and forty thousands Dalalasis (D140.000), out of which D 60.000 was recovered after Capt. Sonko paid D50, 000 and Lt. Savage paid D10.000. If I had been increased in the purported NIA investigation why was I not aware of any missing money nor was I ordered to pay back? Your report or publication on these issues are very misleading to your esteemed readers and I would encouraged you to search for the truth rather than drawing conclusion on matters of this proportion. I would like to let you know that no money was unaccounted for either by Capt Sonko, Lt. Savage or my humble self and there was no impending Special Forces training at the time in Kanilai. The State guard HQ was already engaged on a Comprehensive VIP Protection training at the Brikama Firing Range (Jan 04-Mar 19, 04), with no requirement for additional funds from the President or some other budget at that material time. Most of the logistic back up were provided by the State guard HQ under the Training Directives of Capt. Sonko of course in consultation with GAF HQ and the President. You further alleged that I might have been planted at the State House by fugitive Col. Ndure Cham with a view to feeding him information, for the maturation of the aborted March 2006 coup in the Gambia. I was posted to the State Guards in Nov.2000 with the sole recommendation of the then CO Major Tamba, the present Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) and the approval of the President and Commander-In-Chief, when Col. Ndure Cham was out on overseas assignment. My relationship with fellow officers and my subordinates was based on mutual respect and professional ethics. I would therefore recommend that you encourage your source without naivety or prejudices to revisit my profile while I was a serving member of the Gambia Armed Forces, with a view to reaching at the core facts about me. Suffice to say I accorded respect to all, and Col. Ndure was no exception, my relationship was rooted on his professional attitude, nothing more, and nothing less. Another unfounded issue regarding your publication was that of Njaimeh Bah, whom you said was introduced to Capt. Sonko by me. This is absolutely false. I do not know who this innocent lady is, and I have never in my life introduced Sonko to a lady other than my wife. This goes to show how a little "source" could trigger misgivings of a greater magnitude, you could make a better impact on your readership, if you make efforts to interview concerns persons prior to publications. We have feelings, just like any other Gambian. In conclusion, I would like to inform you that my resignation from the Gambia Armed Forces got nothing to do with alleged stolen money as you mentioned. I resigned my Commission based on the principles I stand for and it is in no way connected to misusing "presidential funds”. I do not serve as a stooge to any one, and based on my strong convictions I quit for good.

Samba Baldeh Ex- Lieutenant State Guard

Editor’s Note: Lt. Baldeh, thank you very much for your rejoinder or rebuttal. That said, I wish to make it categorically clear that we stand absolutely 100% by our unassailable sources. Since you are out to set the records straight, one would have expected that you would be honest in your rebuttal. Who said that Special Forces were trained at Kanilai? That may be a figment of your own imagination. Our report never stated the precise location of the murderous forces. Besides, while you have every right to rebut our allegations, you have no business defending Interior Minister Ousman Sonko, a convulsive womanizer, a murderer and a confessed rapist. For your information, before the July, 1994 coup Sonko raped a 16-year-old girl, the sister to the late Khaddy Khan, and (wife to Staff Sgt. Khalifa Khan) who now lives in the UK. You were in the Gambia National Gendarmerie then but this is documented evidence and you and Sonko can take me to any credible court of law and I will win. I have women who were resident at Yundum and they are willing to speak out. 

            Back to brass tasks, our sources never said that Lt. Baldeh stole the money. No! Instead, our report alleged that your Commander, Ousman Sonko was given over D200, 000 to train Special Forces; he diverted the funds and upon investigations by the late Daba Marena, Sonko confessed that he had family problems and shared the money with Lt. Savage and your self. Why he would pay back D50, 000 and Lt. Savage D10, 000 and Lt. Baldeh D000 is subject to conjecture. A reasonable reader can argue that after all, Baldeh did not participate in the scheme otherwise, he too would have been asked to pay. And we do not doubt you if you say that you never diverted funds. What we cannot accept is for you to defend Sonko, that rapacious, genocidal rapist, the most libidinous officer within your ranks, and a predacious womanizer by every stretch of your imagination. Was it not the same Sonko who executed Almamo Manneh? After Manneh died, Sonko ransacked his room and stole the wife’s jewelry and entertainment sets. He also framed Lt. Sanneh and during Sanneh’s trial Sonko lied to his teeth. No wonder he wanted to eliminate lawyer Sillah because he was grilled like a barbeque bull and left the Courthouse a disgraced idiot.  

            Now that you are defending Sonko please tell us your role in the April 10-11 student massacre because you were at Basse at the time but moved your officers to Brikamaba and at least three innocent students died at Brikamaba and several others were wounded thanks to live ammunitions that your boys used. Who ordered the soldiers at Brikamaba- you or Wassa Camara?  The April student massacre was part of the same report that you are refuting but you carefully shifted through it, and chose only that part that specifically mentioned your name. Your erstwhile colleague Lt. Lalo Jaiteh did the same thing after we revealed how your Commander Ousman Sonko killed Lt.Almamo Manneh. The Gambia is unfortunate to have a list of lying lieutenants. Did you tell the US Immigration your role in that bloodbath? We are curious!!!

            Finally, Mr. Baldeh, we have no animosity or ill will against you. The fact of the matter is that you were in a system that has systematically abducted, killed and brought untold suffering to Gambians and that remains unassailable. Please ask Sonko and Jammeh to reply. Be rest assured that no one can stop us or tell us how to do our job. So leave our sources and how we conduct our business alone. Tell us what you know about the killings and the lingering doubts that pervade the corridors of State House.