Truth, Reconciliation & Reparations Commission (TRRC) Digest Edition 9 #MeToo #SurvivingMelville #IamToufah Presented by: © 2020 ANEKED & The Point Newspaper 1| Photos: ©Jason Florio The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) is mandated to investigate and establish an impartial historical record of the nature, causes and extent of violations and abuses of human rights committed during the period of July 1994 to January 2017 and to consider the granting of reparations to victims and for connected matters. It started public hearings on 7th January 2019 and will proceed in chronological order, examining the most serious human rights violations that occurred from 1994 to 2017 during the rule of former President Yahya Jammeh. While the testimonies are widely reported in the press and commented on social media, triggering vivid discussions and questions regarding the current transitional process in the country, a summary of each thematic focus/event and its findings is missing. The TRRC Digests seek to widen the circle of stakeholders in the transitional justice process in The Gambia by providing Gambians and interested international actors, with a constructive recount of each session, presenting the witnesses and listing the names of the persons mentioned in relation to human rights violations and – as the case may be – their current position within State, regional or international institutions. Furthermore, the Digests endeavour to highlight trends and patterns of human rights violations and abuses that occurred and as recounted during the TRRC hearings. In doing so, the TRRC Digests provide a necessary record of information and evidence uncovered – and may serve as “checks and balances” at the end of the TRRC’s work. After each release, the Digests are translated into Fula, Jola, Mandika and Wolof, and transmitted over local radio stations. In addition to translation and transmission of the Digests, ANEKED and The Point Newspaper facilitate panel discussions which aim to engage journalists, activists, victims, politicians and the general public to expand on the themes of the sessions, the trends and patterns arising as well as how the country can learn from the findings to prevent such atrocities in the future (#NeverAgain). |2 DISCLAIMER The current publication is NOT a document emanating from the TRRC. It is produced by ANEKED and The Point Newspaper. The information in this publication has been compiled from live testimonies given at the TRRC hearings. Great care has been taken to accurately represent the verbal testimonies, however errors cannot be fully excluded. Please note that the culpability of any persons mentioned by witnesses can only be established by a competent court. Discrepancies and conflicting testimonies are highlighted on the next page. Photo: ©Jason Florio Photo: ©Jason Bintou Kanyi was part of the “Kalamaa revolution”, a group of women who demonstrated with brooms and calabashes, demanding for Yahya Jammeh to leave. In May 2016, she was unlawfully detained with other women at the Police Intervention Unit Headquarters. She was three months pregnant at the time and repeatedly beaten by masked men, which resulted in her miscarrying. 3| DISCREPANCIES/CONFLICTING TESTIMONIES Masireh Jammeh and a woman called Julia, were killed, the Jungler team was joined by “outsiders” Edward Singhateh who the witness called the bodyguards and who were Edward Singhateh’s testimony conflicted with Saikou Jammeh, Sainey Jammeh, Yusupha Sanneh, the testimonies of witnesses given during the Omar Jallow, Bora Colley, and Michael Correa. During previous sessions regarding his involvement in the his testimony at the TRRC on 23rd October 2019, 5th/6th September 1994 mock executions at Mile Yusupha Sanneh refuted being present during that 2 Prison; the 11th November 1994 failed coup operation. and subsequent extrajudicial killing of Lieutenant Regarding the killing of the West African migrants in Basirou Barrow, Lieutenant Gibril Saye, Lieutenant 2005, Malick Jatta said that he was based in Kanilai Abdoulie Dot Faal, Sergeant Ebrima (Ebou M) the night of the killing and that he and his team led Ceesay, Lieutenant Buba Jammeh, Sergeant Fafa by Solo Bojang met the vehicles carrying the victims Nyang, Lieutenant Lamin Darboe, Sergeant Basirou on the road. Yusupha Sanneh on the other hand Camara, Lieutenant Bakary Sanneh/Nyancho and claimed that Malick Jatta was present at the house Cadet Amadou Sillah; the unlawful arrest and close to the Palma Rima junction and that he was incarceration of Sanna Sabally and Sadibou Hydara; the one who tied the hands of some of the West the assassination of Ousman Koro Ceesay in 1995 African migrants before putting them on the back of at Yankouba Touray’s house; the arrest, detention several pick-ups and driving them to their execution and torture of civilian said to be demonstrating site. near the American Embassy and the attack on UDP supporters at Denton Bridge in 1996. During his testimony, the Lead Counsel highlighted and counted fifty allegations by other witnesses, all of who claimed to have been present during the alleged incidents and testified to the Commission that had been put to Edward Singhateh to show that there had been allegations of his direct involvement. Nevertheless, Edward Singhateh maintained that all of them had lied. Though he accepted overall responsibility for the allegations in terms of being present, he denied any part in the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay and instead launched into an elaborate story of money to the tune of two hundred to two hundred and fifty thousand US Dollars from Libya to support rebels in Casamance. Yusupha Sanneh In his testimony at the TRRC on 22nd July 2019, Malick Jatta said that when Daba Marenah, Alpha Bah, Ebou Lowe, Alieu Ceesay, Manlafi Corr, Masi/ |4 OVERVIEW 40 persons were mentioned by witnesses in relation to human rights violations committed, namely2: The 9th session of the TRRC public hearings started th st on 14 October and ended on 31 October 2019. BADJIE (first name not given): Police Intervention The three-week session focused primarily on the Unit officer (PIU). Accused of torturing Sainabou highly sensitive topic of sexual and gender-based Camara, including on her genitals, during the April violence, SGBV. Testimonies from women subjected 2000 student demonstrations. to sexual and gender-based violence and witnesses to these human rights violations during the Yahya Nuha BADJIE: Former Lieutenant Colonel in the army Jammeh era were heard thus breaking the taboo; as and senior official within the death squad team “the well as testimonies from two experts who provided Junglers”. Accused of torturing Yusupha Sanneh. further clarification on the definition of sexual and His name is on the list of wanted persons issued by gender-based violence and highlighted the rape Gambian authorities in 2018. culture entrenched in Gambian society. In the course of this historical session, three days Sulayman/Saul BADJIE: Former Lieutenant General were dedicated to hearing the testimony of a high in the army and head of the death squad team “the profile alleged perpetrator, Edward Singhateh, Junglers”. Accused of having participated in the regarding the numerous human rights violations he arson of the office of the Independent Newspaper has been accused of throughout the TRRC public in 2003. Accused of torturing Yusupha Sanneh. hearings1. The session also included a televised His name is on the list of wanted persons issued reconciliation between Edward Singhateh by Gambian authorities in 2018. Reported to be and another high-profile confessed human rights in Equatorial Guinea at the time of release of this violator, Sanna Sabally. publication. The session saw 15 persons testify including 10 Sambou BARROW: Probably soldier in the Gambia victims (9 of whom women) and one high profile National Army (GNA) and driver of the Junglers in alleged perpetrator of human rights abuses 2005. Named as having been present during the and violations. Two persons testified via video killing and enforced disappearance of West African conferencing/Skype. migrants in 2005, without participating. In the course of the session, the human rights Solo BOJANG: Kanilai Farm Manager and second in violations reported include: command of the death squad team “the Junglers”. Said to be a relative of Yahya Jammeh. Accused -Extrajudicial killing of having participated in the killing and enforced disappearance of 56 West African migrants in 2005. -Enforced disappearance His name is on the list of wanted persons issued by -Arbitrary arrest and detention Gambian authorities in 2018. Last reported to be in Casamance, Senegal. -Torture, including rape Kawsu CAMARA (also known as Bombardier): -Sexual abuse Colonel and member of the death squad team -Sex trafficking “the Junglers”. Accused of arbitrary arrest of Bakary Dampha in 2000. Fled the country in 2017. -Sexual exploitation Subjected to an arrest warrant for the murder of Deyda Hydara. -Forced abortion 1For clarity purposes and in order not to interrupt the SGBV thematic issue, his 49-page testimony was placed at the end of this publication. 2The allegations against individuals listed here are only those that were mentioned in this session. Individuals might 5| have been accused of other crimes in previous sessions. Please check our previous Digests. Bora COLLEY: Former Brigadier General in the Sadibou HYDARA: Former Captain in the GNA, army and member of the death squad team “the member of the of the Armed Forces