Gambians aghast by death sentence

Gambians are horror-struck by the death sentence passed on former head of the country’s military, Lang Tombong Tamba and seven other men, on Thursday.

The eight men were accused of attempting to overthrow the government of President Yahya Jammeh.

‘Very sad,’ ‘unfortunate,’ ‘outraged’… seem to be the favorable words for the few who summon enough courage to mention the issue at all from within Gambia.

“This is a very sad day for the country … these people are killers…” stated a source who wouldn’t want to be named, via facebook.

“There was no truth in this co-called treason trial,” said another one via the same medium. “Gambians just don’t talk about it because of the obvious reason of fear.”

But certainly there is one man who dared said it openly.

Assan Martin is arguably Gambia’s most outspoken human right activist at present. His views are representative of the resurgence of the long held feeling of lack of trust in the country’s judiciary. That is probably nowhere well expressed than on this very forum.

A human right lawyer, Lawyer Martin is well-known for his uncompromising attitude towards the country’s judicial system and its overall human rights situation.

Martin, on Thursday, relayed the general feeling of Gambians to the Voice of America. He said the people were shocked and disappointed by the court’s decision.

“I can tell you that the reaction today is very somber and it is a big sad day in our legal history for this court’s judgment. This is a shocking judgment (and) a sad judgment for many Gambians… I can honestly tell you in my own view that all those evidence and the testimonies were very, very weak,” he said.

Going by Martin’s remark, lack of confidence on the Nigerian dominated Gambian judiciary is not limited to well-known opponents of the regime, despite the deafening silence that characterizes the legal fraternity within the country.

“Today, I can tell you one thing that public confidence in our legal system is very low…we are grappling with the decision of the court to be honest,” Martin said, adding: “I believe that anybody who does anything should be dealt with according to law, but there should be enough evidence to warrant a conviction.”

The caliber of witnesses forwarded by the prosecution has been the most focus of attention throughout the over four months’ trial. The largely incoherent testimonies of star witness Ebrima Marreh, an estranged nephew of the main accused, made a perfectly suspicious combination with the largely questionable character of the second witness, a self confessed drug dealer imported from Guinea Bissau.

According to Lawyer Martin, Gambians are of the opinion that the judicial process was not thoroughly followed. He said the decision undermines the confidence the people repose in the judicial system.

Despite the general feeling of melancholy about Thursday’s development, there is however a sizeable section of Gambian society, both home and abroad, which appeared apathetic to the plight of the convicted coup plotters. Some are merely angered by the alleged involvement of especially Lang Tombong in similar treatment meted out to other victims of the wrath of the regime.

“There is no hatred from me to Lang and the others,” wrote a commentator who blogs here on Jollof News under the name mafuji. But they asked: “Where were they when the family of Ebou Lowe, Chief Manneh and others were mercilessly murdered by their regime? As the saying goes: 'The Evil That Men Do Leaves After Them.”

Even traditional defenders of the Gambian government on this forum appeared moved by the death sentence.

“Sad!!! Some of them were arrogant public servants but I really felt sorry for them and their families. Hopefully Jilanka (President Yahya Jammeh) will pardon them one day,” said a notable supporter of the regime who blogs under the name Farato Jatou.

The situation is no different from what is in Gambia, except that obvious fear of reprisal is forcing people to keep their feelings in their chest.

“People are sad, but don’t give a damn… you know Gambia…? People don’t want trouble,” remarked a civil servant who obviously wouldn’t want to be mentioned.

Death Warrant unlikely

Meanwhile, while defense lawyers are said to be currently contemplating appealing the death penalty ruling within the next constitutionally guaranteed 30 days, there is general feeling that President Yahya Jammeh is not likely to append his signature for a death warrant for the men, one of whom happens to be the most decorated security personnel in Gambian history, thanks to him. Analysts believe the verdict is more of a warning against the numerous alleged coups that have besieged this country since 1994.