Wednesday, 31 December 2014

Of Checkpoints And Heartless Soldiers

Fallen soldiers Soldier 1


Check points in Banjul-Serrekunda highway
soldier 2
Amidst the confusion and ecstatic elations amongst Gambians all over the world that, the dictatorial regime of President Yahya Jammeh is about to fall, one prepares himself for some nasty surprises. Gambian soldiers have proven to be the most unreliable elements in the whole Gambian dictatorship.
At Kairo News, we set ourselves to dig beyond the euphoria and high expectations. History is littered with monumental betrayals in dictatorships, thus the length of time it takes to remove tyrants.
Who understands human folly than tyrants? President Jammeh is bad at everything but brilliant at espionage, setting up traps, betraying close confidants and executing his plans single-mindedly without remorse or compassion.
President Jammeh cannot rule the Gambia with due process, and democratic principles. He should have been history long time ago. No one seems to like him, and his behaviours are so stinking, not even his staunch supporters know why they adore him. Ocontinuedly speculate the fanfare and attractions of power, which can be the only explainable reason, some will say “Jammeh for life”.
Yesterday, Tuesday the 30th December 2014 was the day it dawned on thousands of Gambians that, no one likes Yahya Jammeh. Everybody was happy for the brief moment, everyone was expecting that, finally, the devil will be captured or erased from the Gambian presidency. Alas, if only wishes were like horses!
What went wrong in the whole coup debacle, who should we believe and who betrays who, and what was the chain reactions the Jammeh mafias set for unsuspecting Gambians to fall in?
The one thing dissident groups, activists, politicians, media, and civil society have to learn is never to rush in and believe rumours of coup or the fall of an entrenched dictator without detailed analysis. The highs people get at the thought of a man like President Jammeh falling and the lows they go after realising that, he was in fact dictating the whole chain reaction is traumatic and inconsolable.
soldier 3soldier 4
We got reliable detailed news that, Jammeh set a trap and lured dissidents into it. However, with the turn of events, we could not just suspend all over narratives and stick with the plot to incriminate many more innocent soldiers and civilians. We dug deep and discover that, the soldiers at Yumdum Barracks and Fajara Barracks were in fact taken out of the picture. The main infantry and regular Gambian army were not involved in the whole palava last night. Which begs the question, why? However, since we all want to believe that, Gambian soldiers will at last muster the courage and do the only proper thing. One expects, however, the well armed and heartless State Guards were patrolling and searching for remnants of insurgents whilst the main army can only hear stuffs on army radio.
We further enquired as to who is control.
The answer we got are starkly tilted towards Jammeh and his loyalists than the mutineers. On the side of the dissident groups, the news continued to filter that, Jammeh has lost control and that, the insurgents are in fact in control continued to fill the air.
However, when news finally got confirmed that, Jammeh has landed in Yumdum without a finger being raised, it finally became clear that the case is laid to rest.
The final thoughts to remember are: has Yahya Jammeh infiltrated dissidents individuals who may be giving Gambians and the international community the most hopeful and optimist news of Jammeh demised whilst in his payroll? If yes, how many of them are selling the struggle for their fame and name?
Gambians must now realise the soldiers’ angle looks too weak to be the solution. The Gambian people are now the custodians of their own imprisonment and trapping, they must end it. I for one have never had any serious thought that, Gambian soldiers will mobilise themselves and remove Jammeh. A rogue renegade soldiers as in the case of Dadis Camara of Guinea, yes, but organised military takeover, I doubt that very much.
Kairo News’ aim was never to dampen the mood of Gambians, but holding them in suspense for so long whilst the truth is different is unfair to our readers and listeners who relied on our principled analysis all day and night yesterday.
Let the Gambian civilian use their democratic rights to end the 20 years of national embarrassment and pain and stop banking their hopes on soldiers who got us into this brutal and never-ending brutality.
Ends

Jammeh’s Forces In Control

Col. Lamin S. Sanneh being decorated by Jammeh Vice President/State House photo
Col. Lamin S. Sanneh being decorated by Jammeh Vice President/State House photo
Forces loyal to President Yahya Jammeh claimed to be 100% certainty in full control of the situation in Banjul where a reported coup was purported to have been repelled.
Senior military officials also confirmed that former Col. Lamin S. Sanneh and three attackers are feared dead. One of the attackers was captured but is at the moment being treated at the RVH in Banjul. Soldiers are still looking for three or more alleged attackers, our sources alleged.
Our sources also said that General Saul Badjie is not dead as reported earlier.
Jammeh’s forces also said that there was no causality on the side of The Gambia government. This adds to the already growing suspicion filling the air that the attackers were lured into the trap.
Our sources alleged that the attackers came with no heavy arms, and that the heavy firing was a revenge attack to makeup the situation that the country was under attack.
“If there was a real attack on State House, how come no single Gambian soldier died in the reported shootout?” our sources alleged.
Our sources also revealed that President Yahya Jammeh is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, instead of in France.
More details on the purported coup attempt will follow.
Ends

Gambians Remain In Limbo

soldier 4
Heavy traffic in Serrekunda
President Jammeh hasn’t address the nation still 24 hours after reports of coup plot in Banjul. Ministers where said to be instructed to report to work this morning, but by who?
We are frantically trying to established the whereabouts of President Jammeh. We got reports that, he landed in Banjul last night at 1am, yet there also appears to be reports that, Senegal refused to allow his plane passage in their airspace.
The Diplomatic angle reports are indicating is tilting the balance and that, senior military officers will takeover. These are all unconfirmed reports. However, since kairo news is inundated with different news dimensions, we will relate all sides of the story. Will this be the time Gambian army finally become the crucial missing link?
End

Tuesday, 30 December 2014

Senior Military Official Confirms Coup Deaths

A high-ranking official of the Gambia National Army has confirmed the killing of three alleged coupists in the capital Banjul last night.
In a message, the Army Official whose identity cannot be disclosed for security reasons, confirmed that all the armed coupists died in a shootout at State House. The said officer also confirmed that one of the coupists who sustained injuries is hospitalised at the main referral hospital in Banjul.
Col. Lamin S. Sanneh being decorated by Jammeh Vice President/State House photoThis is the message Kairo News received from the said senior high-ranking military official in Banjul.
Good morning sir and how are you, I wish to inform you that there was a coup attempt at state house light night in which three people were kill ( Ex-Colonel Lamin S Sanneh former CO State Guards and two other people). The rest ran way and one wounded and is at the RVTH. Ex-Col Lamin S Sanneh is the head and he died during the shootout.
However, the Gambia government’s failure to come clean on the purported story has led to rumour mongering, with some information circulating that six people died in the ensuing shootout.
We are digging deeper into the coup story in an attempt to remove chaff from the wind

News flash: Coup In the Gambia

jammeh-farmerAFP news sources citing the Gambian army are saying “they have foiled a coup attempt in Banjul.” However, Kairo News gathered that some Gambian soldiers intend to carry the coup attempt after the earlier attempt had failed.
The situation in the capital is still uncertain and no clear news is coming out. What is evident is the paranoia that always grips the Gambian dictator. He concealed and kept away all the heavy military weapons in State House and his birthplace of Kanilai. In his absence, an order was issued to release heavy arms, which may now cultivate enthusiasm among disgruntled soldiers to carry on with the mutiny.
As this story is considered a developing one, Kairo News and Radio will keep its readers audience posted whenever the need arises.
Below is the AFP News story:
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) – Gambian soldiers launched a foiled coup bid in the capital Banjul overnight while President Yahya Jammeh was abroad, military and diplomatic sources said Tuesday.
“The presidential palace was attacked very early this morning, at around 3:00 am (0300 GMT), by armed individuals of whom some came from the presidential guard,” a Gambian diplomat said.
Army sources and residents of the city confirmed the report and said the attackers had been driven back. Soldiers had prevented some civilians from going to work in the morning, an AFP journalist said.
“They wanted to overthrow the regime,” a military source in the small west African country told AFP, while a Western diplomat said a coup attempt has “apparently been foiled” by loyal troops.
Jammeh has ruled over the largely rural country of some 1.8 million people since 1994, when he seized power in a military coup himself, to be elected into office two years later.
Gambian officials said the president was on a private visit to Dubai, but foreign diplomats said Jammeh was in France.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/25878226/coup-bid-foiled-in-gambia-military-source/

Chaos In Gambia As News Of Coup Fills Air

jammehKairo News sources have confirmed the closure of the Gambia’s sea and airport. Businesses and government departments have all closed. This development comes in the wake of what had been termed a coup attempt in the country.
Kairo News is engaging its sources to get to the bottom of what exactly has happened in the Gambia. Our sources hinted one Lt. Col. Lamin Sanneh, the former State Guard Commander, as the leader of the coup. It was not confirmed how many people might have died or injured in the shake up, though unconfirmed reports put the figure at five.
President Yahya Jammeh is currently out of the country. It is not clear who is in charge of the country right.
Our investigative Editor Yaya Dampha is doing his best to bring accurate news out of the Gambia. So stay tuned.
Ends

Three men Faces Homosexuality Charges in The Gambia


By Mamadou Dem
Magistrate Samsideen Conteh of the lower court in Banjul Wednesday,
24th December, 2014 transferred the ‘aggravated
homosexuality’ case of suspected homosexuals to the high court and ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody.The accused persons are facing trial on a singlecount charge of
‘Aggravated Homosexuality’ contrary to Section 144A (1) (f) of the
Criminal Code as amended by the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2014.
During the course of the proceeding, Modou Lamin Bittaye, the third
accused person, who is said to be an asthmatic patient, collapsed in
court. While standing in the box, he complained to his counsel, Mr.
Borry Touray, that he is suffering from an asthma attack. The lawyer then
applied to the court for his client to be allowed to be seated and
which was granted. However the condition of the accused worsens as
he wheezed heavily, he collapsed on the floor and was eventually
rushed to the hospital under the escort of NIA operatives.
Barrister Touray represented Bittaye, the third accused, Mrs Combeh Gaye
Coker, is representing Momar Sowe and Alieu Sarr, the first and second
accused persons respectively.
The particulars of offence on count one states that Momar Sowe at
various times and dates and at diverse places in the  Gambia and
elsewhere within the jurisdiction of the  court engaged in homosexual
acts with Modou Lamin Conteh, Iker Nyan, Albert and Kebba Ceesay and
thereby committed an offence.
On Count two, the particulars of offence states that Alieu Sarr at
various times and dates and at diverse places in the Gambia and
elsewhere within the jurisdiction of the court, engaged in homosexual
acts with Sheikh Bob, Mamond, Fallou Camara, Serigne Mboob and Modou
Boy Jallow and thereby committed an offence.
The third count states that Modou Lamin Bittaye, at various times and
dates and at diverse places in the  Gambia and elsewhere within the
jurisdiction of the  court, engaged in homosexual acts with Saloum
Njie, Njanko Ceesay and Jibbou Jatta and thereby committed an offence.
The trio, who denied any wrongdoing, was subsequently remanded in
prison custody pending their appearance at the high court.
Prior to the court ruling, Hadi Saleh Barkum, the Director of Public
Prosecutions (DPP), applied for the accused persons to be remanded in
prison custody as well as for the matter to be transferred from the
lower court to the high court. He argued that this type of case is
normally tried at the superior court.
This application was objected to by Barrister Touray who argued that
the lower court has the jurisdiction to handle all offences except
treason and economic crime. He added that the court can also
take judicial notice that the high court is on vacation.
The defence counsel further told the court that allowing the state’s
application for a transfer would mean that the matter will not be
heard until after the vacation of the high court.
“Secondly, I wish to make an application for the court to order the
severance of the counts for the third accused to be tried separately
with the first and second accused persons respectively,” he submitted.
He argued that the alleged cases are not committed at the same time.  He
said “They are not offences of the same transactions, same and
similarities, the dates, time and places have been omitted from the
charge sheet,” he said.
The counsel for the third accused further argued that the locus of the
alleged crime was not identified, adding that the guiding law of
jurisdiction of offences is permitted under Section 114 of the
Criminal Code.
He said they are not joined in the same counts but are tried together.
“Let me echo with caution that Section 112 of the Criminal Code does
not avail the prosecution in this case. There is only one offence
before this court allegedly committed by different persons at diverse
places and time,” he submitted.
He continued: “Even from the particulars of offence, the testimonies
are exclusive and information regarding the location and time has been
suppressed.”
He argued that if evidence or evidences are adduced during the course
of trial which has the tendency of embarrassing them to the ingredient
of the offences, the rest of the accused persons stand at trial for
that embarrassment.
He finally submitted that the state has the capacity for the severance
of the charges and therefore urged the court for the trial to be
conducted separately.
Responding to the defence’s application, the DPP urged the court to
transfer the case to the high court by virtue of Section 5 of the
Criminal Procedure Code. He said the defence’s application should have
been before the taking of the plea at the commencement of the case. He
cited Section 161A and Section 218 of the CPC and
urged the court to disregard the defence’s application and grant the
prosecution’s prayers.
Replying on points of law, Lawyer Touray submitted that the state’s
submission that he does not identify the class of persons that should
be joined amounts to a conjecture. He added that he was not applying
for the amendment of the charges before the court.
“The charges before the court are substantive charges and not a
holding charge,” he concluded.
Delivering the ruling, Magistrate Conteh, in addition to transferring
the matter to the high court and remanding the accused persons, also
ordered for the third accused to be tried separately.
When the third accused person collapsed in court, his female
source: www.foroyaa.gm