April 10 Anniversary: Yahya Jammeh, Isatou Njie Saidy, Ambassador Ousman Badjie And Others Blamed For Student Killings!!!

…Former GAMSU President Pays Tribute To His Murdered Colleagues

Nine years after the brutal murder of 14 unarmed Gambian students, justice is yet  to be meted out to the perpetrators of such heinous crimes, ever committed in the nation’s history. The students were killed by trigger happy soldiers, during what was considered as a “ peaceful” protest, which turned out to be violent. Close to hundred students were maimed, 14 killed, as they protest against the killing of their colleague Ebrima Barry, and the raping of a middle school student by a member of the paramilitary.  Today, is the nine year anniversary of the April 10 and 11 student massacre in The Gambia.  A former President of The Gambia Student Union Omar Joof is accusing President Jammeh, Vice President Isatou Njie, and Ambassador Ousman Badjie as the perpetrators of the student killings.  Speaking in an exclusive interview with the US based Freedom Newspaper, Mr. Joof said the above the named officials played a leading role towards the killing of his colleagues. He first blasted the Vice President who claimed that the students killed themselves. “The student leadership ruled against the possession of lethal weapons by its membership, even in self-defense. This extreme measure was taken to ensure that we maximally contribute towards maintaining a peaceful atmosphere at the sites of our manifestations.  The vice president's assertion in this regard is a slap in the face and an absolute misrepresentation of what really took place. As indicated in the coroner's report, the massacres were effected by members of the national security services,”said Omar Joof.  Mr. Joof said the President Yahya Jammeh gave directives for the students to be killed. “The constitutional powers for such an order are bestowed in the presidency in the person of the president of the republic. And there is incontrovertible evidence that president Jammeh himself gave out the orders,” he alleged. Below is the full text of the interview. Please read on.....

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Freedom Newspaper: Today is April 10. Can you reflect on the day?

Omar Joof:  A very significant day in the sense that it stands without an equal in the anals of student politics in The Gambia. This date and the 11th of the same month, are testimonies of  Gambian students' unequivocal rejection of police brutality.

Freedom Newspaper:  What actually happen on the day in question?

Omar Joof: A peaceful student demonstration was turned into mayhem as a result of ill-advised police intervention.  I believe their response was naive in that it seriously underestimated the students' determination to seek redress for their grievances.

Freedom Newspaper:  Who killed the students?

Omar Joof: According to the coroners report, the ammunitions which killed them were from the inventory of The Gambia Armed Forces,

Freedom Newspaper:  But the Vice President said the students killed themselves. What is the true story here?

Omar Joof: The student leadership ruled against the possession of lethal weapons by its membership, even in self-defense. This extreme measure was taken to ensure that we maximally contribute towards maintaining a peaceful atmosphere at the sites of our manifestations.  The vice president's assertion in this regard is a slap in the face and an absolute misrepresentation of what really took place. As indicated in the coroner's report, the massacres were effected by members of the national security services.

Freedom Newspaper:  Do you witness the killings?

Omar Joof: Throughout that morning, the members of the student leadership stood between the demonstrating students and the security forces. At some point, some of us had to go to other manifestation sites. There was a massive confrontation building at the headquarters of the police intervention unit. I was to go to this site, with a couple of my colleagues. The fatal shootings started as we arrived on the scene.

Freedom Newspaper:  Who ordered for the killings?

Omar Joof:The constitutional powers for such an order are bestowed in the presidency in the person of the president of the republic. And there is incontrovertible evidence that president Jammeh himself gave out the orders.

Freedom Newspaper:  Why do you runaway, leaving your colleagues behind?

Omar Joof: That is one of the most strategic moves I have ever made as a leader. Firstly, my absence created a distraction, so that whatever brutalities my colleagues could have faced were averted. Secondly, while in Senegal, I managed to debunk all the lies that were fabricated by The government of Yaya Jammeh and its surrogates. There is no doubt that if I had stayed on in The Gambia, our version of things would never have come to light. Furthermore, I left the country because during the night after the first wave of manifestations, my house was perpetually raided by unknown persons.

Freedom Newspaper:  How do you managed to escape? Who helped you?

Omar Joof: That question has serious security implication, thus I would rather not answer it.

Freedom Newspaper:  You joined NDAM shortly after leaving the country. Does this confirm the Government’s claims that the opposition were behind the student riots?

Omar Joof:  Not at all! NDAM was formed well after the April 10th/11th 2000 student demonstrations. I had known Mr Lamin Waa Juwara as  a public servant but never had contacts with him. As regards my former colleagues in NDAM'S defunct external wing, I did not know even one of them as of the dates of the manifestations. If the government had evidence as to their claims, it is obvious to everyone that they would have used it maximally to garner political dividends.

Freedom Newspaper:  What motivated your actions? 

Omar Joof: Our love for truth as inculcated in us by our parents and teachers; our hangering for justice as enshrined in the constitution of The Republic of The Gambia; and finally but by no means the least, our respect for the sanctity of the lives and bodies of all persons, as taught to us by all our holy books and cultures.

Freedom Newspaper:  How students were killed on the day in question?

Omar Joof: On record, we have fourteen deaths which occurred during the two days of manifestations.

Freedom Newspaper: How about the wounded? What is their fate?

Omar Joof: The numbers of those injured have not been ascertained. We are aware that some of them have been maimed and apparently disadvantaged for life.

Freedom Newspaper:  Is it true that the NIA attempted to abduct you while you were in Dakar?

Omar Joof: There were two such incidence. One was led by my former classmate Ousman Sowe(degree). The second one involved Kura Mbisane, widow of the late great kora musician Lalo Kebba Drammeh.

Freedom Newspaper:  Why should the NIA come to a foreign soil to abduct you? Where are the Senegalese security?

Omar Joof: The first part of your question can be best answered by the NIA. After giving you refugee status, I assume every host country believes the threats that caused you to relocate from your country of origin will not follow you into exile. However, this has not always been the case.

Freedom Newspaper:  Did you lodge a complaint with the Senegalese authorities?

Omar Joof: My hosts, the human rights organization RADDHO, took some necessary steps, and I have no doubt that the relevant authorities were accordingly informed.

Freedom Newspaper:  Where are the other GAMSU Executives?

Omar Joof:Here and there! The majority are still in The Gambia, but a number of us have opted for various reasons to live outside the country.

Freedom Newspaper:  What is your perception of the current GAMSU Executive? Are they serving students interest?

Omar Joof: In fact the dictatorship in The Gambia has finally succeeded in having things their way and The national student organization is now called NUGS (National Union of Gambian students). It is apparent that the cohort of high school students that were drafted into NAPSA ( National Patriotic Student Association), have now moved into tertiary institutions and have accordingly taken over leadership of the national student movement. We used to have an old saying in the student movement which goes: "If you have the cake in your mouth, you wont be able to talk". But I do understand their circumstance, much of which is beyond their control. They are under the domineering influence of the A(F)PRC dictatorship. But that scenario is unsustainable. The student mind is a very critical one by virtue of the activities it is indulged in. They will eventually see the light and re-assert their freedom.

Freedom Newspaper:  How old are you Omar?

Omar Joof: Wow, what a question! I would rather you ask how young I am.

Freedom Newspaper:  Did you miss The Gambia?

Omar Joof: I missed The Gambia and its wonderful people: The smiling coast and land of peace. However , I do not miss The Gambia of missing journalists and witch hunters! I miss my family and friends, and my home Bakoteh (Leekoteh!). But I am contented to be in exile, as a way of saying no to a political dispensation characterized by banditry, brutality and criminality. If it takes the whole of my days, so be it!

Freedom Newspaper:  What brought Ambassador Ousman Badjie’s, name into the student killings? 

Omar Joof: Ousman was the Secretary of state for the Interior at the time of the demonstrations in 2000. He was also one of the officials to whom we copied our letter of demands which was addressed to The Inspector General of police. I have never associated him directly with the massacre, but have consistently complained about his lack of interest in engaging us in meaningful dialogue. He had every opportunity to be a constructive arbiter in our debacle with the police chiefs. This was even more disappointing considering the fact that he is a former student leader. I definitely had a bias for him and was very willing to talk to him, but he just walked away. This was gross negligence.

Freedom Newspaper:  Will you blame President Jammeh for the student killings? Why?

Omar Joof: I have already done so in very clear terms and have tendered the reasons in answer to an earlier question.

Freedom Newspaper: Any last words?

Omar Joof: In commemoration, I once more urge all to join in prayer for the souls of our fallen comrades. It is obvious that through our decisive action, The Gambian security forces have  learnt to keep their distance from Gambian students. However, the dictatorship's thugs still continue to enact acts of barbarity against innocent people in the country. It should be remembered that what allegedly led to Ebrima Barry's demise on the 8th of March 2000, included the consumption of a nasty concoction which had cement as one of its ingredients. The same savage practice is currently being enacted in the infamous witch hunt. This repetition, is evidence of the fact that violence against the citizenry of our beloved motherland is a core element of The A(F)PRC's modus operandi. This political beast will not even modify itself, thus we are left with only one option, and that is to "change the system now"!

Freedom Newspaper: Thanks Omar for granting us this interview.

 Omar Joof: You are always welcome, and thank you for having me.