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Colonel Sarr will never react to the Guinean counter coup story-Lamarana Jallow- BB Darboe, Saihou Sabally, Press Jagne others named!!
By Lamara Jallow, son of the Gambia.

Dear Mr. Editor,

Thanks for the concerns raised by Associate Editor Yankuba Jambang. Jambang should hold tide, as the accused Colonel Sarr is concealing the truth from Gambians. Lets give Sam the benefit of the doubt to clear his image. Sam needs to clear his image over the allegations regarding the Guinean troops assigned to him by Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara to restore his government back to power. Sam would be the last person to deny the said allegations. This was a classified file known to few people in Jawara’s government. The unsuspecting immature coupists at time were totally out of touch. Jammeh himself was not in the picture. The people in the know then were Colonel Sarr, Bakary Bunja Darboe, Lamin Kaba Bajo, former head of the Presidential guards, the Guinean President Alansana Conteh, Sir Dawda and Lang Tombong Tamba, the current Chief of Defense staff. A senior Aide to Jawara told me that the Guineans attempted to land in Senegal but were denied Landing space. These were well trained "parasuiters." President Jawara is here to colloborate my story. BB Darbo is here to deny or confirm Lamarana’s story. If he is really honest he cannot deny this. Look, I’m not looking for fame by unveiling such stories. Had Sam Sarr not started the debate, I was not going to comment on the matter. I was waiting for the day when Jammeh is tied up and place before the courts, then I will submit my name to any enquiry set up to probe the APRC to testify. I'm ready to expose more details before any court of law if Jammeh's government is rendered history.

For benefit of your readers, the information I released so far is just the tip of the iceberg. For the sake of decency, I refrained from exposing certain dossiers currently in my hands. If I pass these dossiers to the Freedom Newspaper, I have no doubt in my mind that Sir Dawda’s relationship with Jammeh would be soured. I think that that is why Colonel Sarr is not reacting any more to my allegations, based on these reasons. He must have been cautioned by friends, family members or even Sir Dawda to avoid engaging me into debate. I have been on the ground closely monitoring the activities before and after the July 22ND coup. Sam might brag that he documented a lot of information about the AFPRC/APRC, Lamarana too has gathered a lot of classified state secrets, when released many Gambians would be shocked. The Freedom Newspaper is doing a good job and I’m ready to share some of these information with them. I like the paper because it’s the only independent paper today in the Gambia. This is the only paper providing Gambians unbaised news. We are more comfortable talking to you than the Observer. Your paper is read by the President on a daily basis even though he dislikes your editorial stance.

For the records, I have advised Colonel Sarr on numerous occasions not to accept job from the junta, but he never heeded to my past advices. Sam was in the army for a purpose according to my understanding. Even though Jawara was trying to use him for his comeback, he Sam, Press Jagne and Mba Jobe were closely monitored by the then Special Branch headed by Kebba Ceesay. This might come as a secret to my former good friend, but this is the reality. Sir Dawad has always been apprehensive about the loyalty of these officers, even though he entrusted them with leadership role. One of the reasons why the Nigerian soldiers were in Banjul was primarily due to lack of trust. There was infighting among the Gambian army top brass. The Nigerians were in Banjul to supervise their activities and also to train them. Many GAF offcials were unhappy about their presence in the country. But Jawara had taken the decision for the Nigerians to coordinate his security during the period in question.

Sir Dawda was briefed by Kebba Ceesay about the July 22ND coup during his long overseas trip. At the time the Nigerians army were in the Gambia. An intelligence report issued then recommended for the arrest of the top army officials. Whether Sam Sarr’s name was in that list is a simple guess. Yahya Jammeh’s name surfaces at the eleven hour, but the original report pointed at top GAF officials.The officers concerned know themselves.

As soon as Jawara landed at the airport, he was escorted to the state house. He warned against the arrest of the GAF officials. Sir Dawda at the time was not convinced that the army would rebel against him. A top Nigerian military official told me at the time that the coup was bound to be successful if arrest were not effected on the spot. And that was what actually happened. The soldiers regrouped over night to strategize their plans to take over the state house.

The NSS report never mentioned Jammeh as the coup leader. By virtue of his position and also the Commander of the military police, Jammeh was disarmed at the airport including other officers. The NSS report focuses more on the senior officers not Lieutenants like Jammeh. When news reached him that Jammeh was the leader of the coupists, Jawara couldn’t believe it. He never dreamt that junior officers of the army would have the daring mind to flush him out of the state house.

Here he started to make last minute calls to foil the coup. Thanks to Lamin Kaba Bajo, Jawara was able to speak to his contacts in Banjul. Colonel Sarr knows what I’m talking about here. Bakary Bunja Darboe was in the picture. BB never supported the junta. He was in Banjul for a mission. An expensive which never materializes. Darboe has since been avoiding the spotlight.

Jawara spoke also to the Guinean President and his Senegalese counter part asking for troops intervention. Abdou Joof was bid cautious. The 1981 blood shed was an enough experience for them. Even he tried to sell the notion that the head of the coupists was of Casamance origin and warns against the dangers of having such a person at the Presidency, but Joof was still not convinced that their was cause for intervention. Joof would have welcomed ECOWAS troops in Banjul and not a single country affair. This to some extent angered Jawara.

The ailing Guinean leader agreed to provide troops for Jawara. Some of his troops attempted to snick through Senegal to the Gambia, but were denied landing space. Abdou Joof is alive and can confirm this. Lamarana Jallow is not inventing stories. Landing in Banjul was suicidal for them. Senegal was the only they could have used to get into the Gambia. But Joof never agreed to Jawara's request. He cited the risks associated with such attacks and the posibility of claiming innocent lives.

On BB Darboe’s comeback, BB returned to Banjul after he been assured by the junta that his security and personal safety was guaranteed. BB also confers with Jawara before returning to Banjul. What they agreed on only God knows. BB spent some time in Senegal before returning to Banjul. BB Darboe, Jawara and other PPP officials were never convinced that the junta would stay in power for that long. It’s wrong for one to brand BB as Jawara’s planted agent under the junta, but the fact of the matter is that BB has always been loyal to Jawara. There is no amount of denial that can save BB Darboe, Sarr and others from being exposed. I loved my country. I don’t believe in tribalism. The Gambia is ours and we owe it to our people tell them the true story of our time. Sarr apologizing is not enough. He should tell us his past dirty errands he runs for Jawara and Jammeh. Sarr’s story reminds me about the NSS report on Saikou Sabally.

I remember when the NSS under the leadership of Kebba Ceesay submitted a report to Jawara linking Saikou Sabally former Vice President and Press Jagne of the police of planning to overthrow his regime. The said report to some extent had strained relationship between Jawara and Sabally. Press Jagne was questioned in relation to an arms issue at the material time. Press shifted the blame on Saikou. There was no evidence to indict the named personalities, but the NSS report cautioned the old man about an imminent security threat against his government.

Sam was quick to clarify that Captain Alhagie Kanteh was not part of the security delegation who gun point Suwaibou Conateh. Sam never denied the story in its totality. He was more concerned about Kanteh’s association with him in my previous postings. My information was that Kanteh was part of the team that held Conateh under duress to write that coup speech. Conateh was also offered a Ministerial position, but due to his love for democracy and free press, he turned down the junta’s offer. Conateh used study in Nigeria and knows what military rule was all about. Sam cannot deny that he communicated the junta’s invitation to Conateh to serve as Information Minister. My reports are based on facts and evidence. I challenge Sam Sarr, BB Darboe and also named in my writings to defend themselves. Abraka Bandirabeh. Heykawalayeh.

Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 (Archive on Thursday, May 31, 2007)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI

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