In the past couple of years, a few things about the Gambia and are her affairs had me devastated and broken down to a point of withdrawal. I'd doubted if I was indeed emotionally and psychologically prepared for this fight to rid Gambia of the repressive jaws of the 21-year old tyrant with all the emotional rollercoaster.
When the video clip of a visibly tortured Amadou Sanneh paraded on GRTS surfaced, I was crushed. I was sad and wept for the old man who was physically manhandled to coerce and force a confession of wrongdoing out of him before he had his day in court. The humiliation had me livid.
On December 30, 2014, when an attempt to effectively terminate the worst regime subsaharan Africa has seen including during colonialism. It was bad enough that Yaya Jammeh was not caged or riddled with bullets, the lost of lives that we suffered of decent patriots who risk it all for country and her people still feels like a nightmare that wish I could undo. We've still not recovered from that.
The reason I reserved a lot of respect for sister Juka Ceesay is beside her unflinching commitment to getting work done, this young lady embodies what 'true family' is. She is relentless and courageous in refusing to budge as she fights on with hope and faith that her brother Alhagie Mamut Ceesay would come home. Same can be said of a devout, bravehearted wife Mai Badgie. When I saw her at the demonstration in DC with her son under the scorching sun, I stared and applauded. But things were unbearable when the whole family including the mother of Mamut Ceesay, broke down on radio, pleading for their family loved ones to be let go. That faithful Friday afternoon was tough.
All these are caused and brought to us by one person - Yaya Jammeh. The President of the Gambia, elected and sworn in to serve and protect Gambian lives and properties, has chosen to not only abuse but maim and disappear innocent nationals who pose no threat to him or his regime. This man, who had from childhood been a beneficiary of the people and families he derives pleasure from hurting, has been nothing but a vindictive, mean-spirited renegade. He's become synonymous to Gambian State and his paranoia has morphed the State into a heartless Dracula.
When news of 'Amnesty' and Prisoner 'Pardon' broke, I held my breathe with anticipation that many innocent people languishing in state custody, but must especially Amadou Sanneh, Alhagie Mamut Ceesay and Ebou Jobe, would be let go to reunite with their families. Until very recently, when I wake up the first thing I do is to check 'breaking news' headlines to a point that I'd recently dreamt about them granting an interview on radio. That is how emotionally invested I am in this. I've struggled to comment about them because the many questions about why they're detained in the first place and obvious uncertainty of their condition is tough to imagine. Why they're still kept when murderers, rapists and large-scale drug dealers walked is beyond me. Well not really. The explanation could be found in the hateful, unreasonable, erratic nature of an unfair, unjust president in Jammeh.
I've been deflated for over a week and thought I'd tune out to take a break but it's impossible. Despite our disappointments we must never relent or despair. The resolve and faith of the families who are going through this are an inspiration. We must redouble our efforts to demand the release of these gentlemen by hitting all pressure points. Yaya Jammeh, the State are solely responsible for the wellbeing of these people, and we'll continue to hold him personally accountable.
FREE AMADOU
FREE EBOU
FREE MAMUT
Pata PJ
August 6, 2015
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