In a lengthy interview the president arranged with GRTS, President Jammeh emphasised that he and his government had nothing to with the killing of Ghanaians and other West African nationals. This is the first time the President has spoken on the matter since the incident occurred in 2005.
He said that his government has been vindicated by the UN/ECOWAS panel which does not hold his government responsible for the killings. He partly accepted the report of the panel. He does not feel that his government should pay compensation to the families of the victims. But he is willing to contribute to the funerals.
The Ghanaians talk of the killing of 50 West Africans including 44 Ghanaians, while the Gambia talks of the discoveries of 8 bodies whose identities they do not know.
The killings were first reported by the Commonwealth Human Rights Institute after interview a Ghanaian who claims to be an escapee of the killings.
The president also spoke on the killing of Deyda Hydara. Again, he emphasised that he had no reason to kill Deyda and nothing to do with his death. He indicated that to trace the killers of Deyda's death the investigation must be conducted in Senegal where the witnesses of the killing are.
His statements were suggestive of conspiracies against his government.
In the next edition of Foroyaa we will publish the full text of the president's interview regarding the killing of the Ghanaians side by side with the full text of the statement of the foreign minister of Ghana. This is what we can do in the absence of the report of investigating panel.
Source: FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
1 comment:
Even if the Gambian president is not directly responsible for the murder of Ghanaians and other foreigners doesn't he has a moral responsibility to ensure that an unrestricted investigation will conducted to ascertain the circumstances of the death of the victims? Why has it taken him 4 years to come out to say what he said? What has he got to hide ? What will be his attitude if all of a sudden 44 Gambians including his own children are murdered in a foreign country in an unexplained circumstances? We are in the 21st century and he must know that whatever happens during his administration will be laid squarely on his door step.
The Gambia leader must be very careful the way he has begun his dictatorial career. Many like Abacha before him started on the very path he is threading and their end is nothing to write home about.
He should stop his caricature and the buffoon style of governance. The killings and torture of innocent civilians must stop now otherwise he will be made to stand trial in the Hague with no one to protect him. He should remember Charles Taylor.
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