By Bubacarr Sankanu, afromediafilmtv.net
Mr. Editor:
I cannot help but take a break and congratulate your Verdict Columnist Adama Hawa. Her piece titled “Gambia Armed Forces Not Fit for Peacekeeping Operations”(The Gambia Echo, July 30, 2007) is ground breaking. Unlike some people who indulge in second hand reports, rumours and insults, Adama Hawa has, in exhaustive details, catalogued the atrocities committed by our security forces in a clearly-worded manner that will convince any serious decision maker.
Adama Hawa has once more demonstrated what serious investigative journalism is all about. I agree with the idea that soldiers who have blood in their hands should not be assigned peacekeeping duties without prior rehabilitation. The negative reports from United Nations peacekeeping missions show a number of the blue helmet solders are competing with the rebels and armed bandits in raping women and children and, looting local resources. This is an insult to the Commonwealth of civilized nations.
Disqualifying brutal soldiers might serve as a deterrent in the short term. For sustainable results, there must be long-term mechanisms so countries that meet the global human rights benchmarks can fully contribute the required number of peacekeeping troops for a given mission. Otherwise, politics and double standards will compromise the noble idea.
I recommend the fast tract creation of a sub-regional stand by force under the auspices of our ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) that can be part of a global network of sub-regional peacekeeping divisions for use by the African Union, the United Nations and other bodies mandated to solve conflicts. The recruiting strategy can be two-dimensional. On one hand, countries can contribute soldiers who have in-depth knowledge of human rights and are innocent of crimes against unarmed citizens. On the other hand, there can be an open recruitment for all citizens who would like to serve as “Legionnaires of Peace”; a form of volunteer support group to the regular troops. These volunteers could be engaged to offset short falls in the supply of national solders for the sake of flexibility. They equally need training in peace building, cultural sensitivity and human and indigenous peoples’ rights before field deployment.
Coming to our Gambia, I am very sure that our National Security Council will analyse Adama Hawa’s professional account for a rectification programme in respect of human rights issues. As an unofficial adviser-at-large and moderate critic of Jammeh’s Government, I am optimistic that things in The Gambia will get better. The decision makers at Number 1 Marina Parade in Banjul are now embracing the idea that it is not in our national interest for us to box ourselves out of the civilized regional and international folds. As the Mandinkas say, if there is calamity between you and your bliss, let it buntang (thunder down)! The killing of the 44 Ghanaians and their 6 West Africa brothers is, in my analysis, the CLIMAX of extra-judiciary killings at home. The Jammeh Government will as of now on adopt an anti-climax drive towards the Rule of Law and the respect for Basic Rights or face more international isolation and eventual collapse.
Hopefully by the end of this legislative period in year 2011, our national human rights records will meet international standards. This time might be too long for some people but politically speaking it is not. Government work across the globe is generally slow due to bureaucracy and competing national issues. Take for instance our National Intelligence Agency (NIA). Since the appointment of Pa Jallow as Director-General, there has not been new and unnecessary detention of people like before. Those who are still in detention are part of pending cases Spy Chief Jallow inherited from his predecessor. They could not be processed due to the obsessions with the dissidents in Senegal that diverted attention and resources to intelligence gathering. Now that there is gradual rapprochement with Dakar, the pending cases will be processed accordingly.
I am seeing a greener future for human rights at home. We should understand that the security officers whose names have been linked to the extra-judicial killings and brutal torture are just doing their jobs: they are trained “killing machines” that do not understand the language of public diplomacy! The commanders controlling these terminator-toys bear most of the blame just like Dr. Frankenstein. It will therefore, take time to retrain these killing machines into “healing machines” like me! The training manuals of our security forces need revision to include respect for Human Rights and International Protocols for things to improve.
Adama Hawa, hope you are not conservative? You have done our Gambia a priceless job and I wish I could kiss and munch you till the doctor comes. That is if you are a cool lady going by your pseudonym! However, I owe you at least a dinner anytime and anywhere we meet!
Banking on my 15-year experience in journalism, I hereby claim the authority to declare Adama Hawa’s piece “Gambia Armed Forces Not Fit For Peacekeeping Operations” THE BEST GAMBIAN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF THE YEAR 2007! I humbly request The Editor to republish Adama’s piece during the next appropriate international media and political event on human right issues for sustained check and balance on the ground. Any one who does not agree with my accolade to Adama has seven (7) days to complain to The Editor or padlock his or her mouth. Sorry, I am not being rude; I just have fun in being an enfant-provocateur!
Finally, I would like to belatedly congratulate the Management and the Editorial Team of The Gambia Echo for the excellent international online journalism it continues to practice. This sense of professionalism will no doubt continue to increase your readership. I therefore strongly wish you to maintain this unwavering pattern especially, considering the developments in online Gambian journalism. This unique style does not only give potential advertisers strong arguments for audience impact and product/brand exposure, it quantitatively demonstrate the CITIZENS’ VOTE of CONFIDENCE in THE GAMBIA ECHO as an Instrument of pluralism and development. I pray Gambians at home and abroad continue to honour and patronize The Gambia Echo as an arbiter of dialogue and progressive nation building.
Sincerely,
Bubacarr Sankanu (alias “The Serene Prince of Taste”).
Email: bubacarr@gmx.net