by Our Own Cassandra
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It has been more than one year when three politicians of the United Democratic Party were rounded up, tortured, humiliated and detained incommunicado away from people away from life and away from reason across the Gambia. It is without doubt that this tiny West African country with about 11 000 square kilometers could hide anyone. Just in time they were spotted at Sare Ngai Police station and reported, the Government denied, the politicians cried and the Government paid no mine, the human rights organizations complained and the government ignored and the courts ordered yet the government denied ever seeing them or having them in there custody and even when there families did a passion plea when all avenues were exhausted, the government still said "malamba". This was the state of affairs about this breadwinners, husbands and community leaders in the Gambia. Children were made fatherless, newborns cannot embrace there fathers, women separated with there husbands and students lacked scholarships; yet the government said "malamba". All in all they were busy transporting innocent prisoners of conscience around the length and breadth of the country tortured and dumped in cells without regards to there human rights or there individual liberties. As NIA directors come and go and as Inspector general of police come and go; the same story flourish and stayed the same while innocent citizens languish in jail; OH Gambia ,My Gambia.
All this was put to a halt, a complete halt; when Amnesty International sent delegates to the Gambia, reportedly visited Rambo and were themselves arrested and detained. Then the storm went up, worldwide condemnations galore and the dictator threw the towel. Within a twinkle of an eye, the Amnesty guys were released unconditionally as demanded and also Rambo was released unconditionally forth wit as demanded. The state which lied of not knowing there whereabouts produced them out of the blue and with another rude action refused to facilitate there travel from custody; even convicted criminals are given one way car fares to there respective destinations. Shame! what a shame; Gambia, my Gambia; I don't know why we are being punished by such an inhuman and ruthless dictator, a dictator with no human passion and a dictator with no respect for the RULE OF LAW; for him the law is not what the people promulgated but what he says and believes in; Even Hitler and Mussolini allowed some form of law to flourish. Even his teacher in LIBYA respects the rule of law by throwing the towel and releasing the Bulgarian doctors who I believe were justifiably convicted and dismantling his nuclear arsenal which I believe was a right thing to do.
Master Tamba was also the prey of injustice; how can such an elderly man be exposed to such inhuman treatments for mere support for an opposition party. He is a dedicated civil servant, dedicated to his job that earned him the position. He has no doubt taught peers of his captors or his captors themselves. I do not know what is in that ugly police station in Gunjur that warrants high profile detainees. Indeed people must be aware one day.
Now, I talk about my senior from Armitage; a decent and ambitious young man, Kanyiba Kanyi was a respected student and an admirable fellow during our days in Armitage in the early 1990s. Bonto was a good place for him because this slender and thin guy gained much weight that I always crack jokes with him when we meet at Brikama carpark. He was a dedicated and efficient community organizer and CCF must credit him with a dedicated service because his skills in mobilizing earned him the favor and respect of the people of BONTO even though he hailed from Jarra Jassong.This no doubt were the qualities that CCF must need from a social worker. This qualities landed him in the net of the APRC; because when he refused to sway his popularity to the party of Yahya Jammeh on the eve of his third term re election, he was arrested and since then no trace of him is seen. I read Darboe appealing to the NIA Director General for his release; please Darboe go to Amnesty International. It is the only voice, the dictator can hear because the buck lies with him. I urge CCF to stand up for Kanyiba as the teachers who are mostly lame duck stood for Master Tamba, indeed you could come to Richmend, Virginia in the land of freedom if he banishes you.
We patiently await the light of day when the Gambian state would once more gain her independence from "militocracy" and be salvaged from the long arms of a dictator.Rambo,Master and Kanyiba and all the other innocent victims of this ruthless regime would one day have the opportunity to narrate there stories. That is the day when the tales would be told and the dictator and his cohorts would be held accountable for their actions. Long live the people of the Gambia.
