If the Gambia government is not seeking extradition of Ousman Sonko (former Interior Minister under Yahya Jammeh) as it seems to have been confirmed by Abubacarr Ba Tambadou, then he (Tambadou) must resign. The pronouncement that the Gambia is not seeking Sonko’s extradition is preposterous by all accounts. These are people who are responsible for some of the worst atrocities against innocent Gambians whose only crimes were to exercise their fundamental human rights as citizens. Ba Tambedou’s behaviour goes to vindicate his brother’s statement that they are not interested in prosecuting Jammeh’s cronies (Yankuba Badjie in particular) as evidenced in the recent voice recordings revealed by Ndura Jawara, wife of former NIA Director General Yankuba Badjie.
I personally believed in what Sheriff Tambadou said in the voice recordings (when I listened to it), as his brother’s behaviours and actions correlate with the statement. What Sheriff said in the recording typifies the modus operandi of the legal fraternity in the country (with a few exceptions). Since Ba Tambadou’s assumption of duties things have been at a chameleon’s pace (if I may say). Whenever he makes pronouncements or is seen to be taking action, it is always in reaction to something or an event.
The way the so-called Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) has been empanelled is an insult to the Gambia and Gambians. People should not be hand-picked for such a serious body as the process can be prone to serious subjectivity. In fact, people complained about the inclusion of Marie Saine-Firdaus in one of the committees (financial) and Ba Tambadou’s response was that Saine should not be punished for his father’s actions. That statement is simply an insult on Gambians’ intelligence. Nowhere in this world will a person be included in a committee that will be investigating his/her father or the father’s associates. The conflicts of interest is obvious and in the open.
I have always doubted Ba Tambadou’s experiences for this position and as time goes by I seem to have been vindicated. People talked about his experiences in Rwanda. A colleague of mine who is a specialist in International Law told me that the Rwanda’s case cannot be advanced as demonstration of one’s experiences for complex scenarios like that of the Gambia. In Rwanda, everything was in the open and people literally know who has done what, where and when; it was a case of community against community. A far more experienced person should have been appointed as the Justice Minister. The person does not necessarily have to serve in the so-called UN systems.
The President should have accepted Ba Tembedou’s resignation and use that as an opportunity to appoint someone with the right experiences. Ba Tambadou is certainly not the right person. Let me emphasise that I have no grudges against the Tambadou brothers. I do not know them and I have never met them either. The only thing I know about them is that their parents come from the same area with me. But this is not about that, this is about the Gambia and ensuring that there is no repeat of what Gambians experienced in the hands of Jammeh’s and that justice prevails at all costs.
Morro Touray
Ends
Morro Touray Said
”In fact, people complained about the inclusion of Marie Saine-Firdaus in one of the committees (financial) and Ba Tambadou’s response was that Saine should not be punished for his father’s actions.”
Clarification needed please. was it about Marie Saine Firdaus or somebody else who was appointed as part of the commission investigating the financial activities of the former president Jammeh which was queried by some?
And your statement…
”Since Ba Tambadou’s assumption of duties things have been at a chameleon’s pace (if I may say). Whenever he makes pronouncements or is seen to be taking action, it is always in reaction to something or an event.”
How accurate is the last sentence here that ”Whenever he makes pronouncements or is seen to be taking action, it is always in reaction to something or an event.”. What about the monthly press briefings his ministry has been giving which can be said to be the first of it kind in the history of our country ?
Fabaks, thanks for this contribution. Morro has made a sound and thought provoking statement here . If it is not Saine please tell us who it is. What in fact matters is the truth in Morro’s statement. It is a fact that it happened. He may have missed the name by mistake which is human. I have learnt a lot from his comment and I accept it in totality.
Morro hardly makes comments in Kaironews but whenever he does they are always educating and I read them very carefully. The only unfortunate thing is that is he appears to be a Touray Kunda koo.
Lamin, it is Bai Mass Saine, a banker and not Marie Saine Firdaus a former attorney general and minister of justice under Jammeh.
And this what Ba Tambedou said about this issue..
”However, in response to the NAM’s misgivings, the Minister of Justice Aboubacarr Tambadou, said: “On membership of Bai Mass Saine, I personally believe that no son or daughter should be made to pay for the sins committed by their parents if at all there are sins at the first place.”
“We need to be very careful here, on how we judge people. Bai Mass Saine is a very mature person and a qualified banker with an impeccable integrity. He should be judged on his character alone and not by those of his family members.”
He said it is unfair to cast doubt on Saine’s credibility and integrity on alleged sins of his family.
“Allow me to emphasise that this Commission of Inquiry is a fact-finding one and its powers are only limited to making recommendations,” he concluded.”
Thanks Fabaks for this clarifications. It corroborates Morro’s argument as the reality is that “no where in this world will a person be included in a committee that will be investigating his/her father or the father’s associates. The conflicts of interest is obvious and in the open,” if I may quote Morro. That is a fact we must all accept. Ba Tambedou is equating it with a sin but this has nothing to do with a sin and they cannot be compared. Ba Tambedou may believe in Islam whilst others do not believe in any religion. So in that respect we have to pursue sound ethical practices that will ensure justice and which cannot be questioned in a court of law.
With Bai Mass Saine’s involvement, a very good lawyer can successfully defend those the commission finds wanting. Conflicts of interest can affect the outcome of cases in a fair and genuine court of law. For example, if the commission finds Mr Tom wanting, he can very easily argue that he has been found guilty because he was not in good relationships with Saine’s father; if it did not find Mr Dick wanting it can also be argued that it is because Mr Dick was a good associate of Saine’s father. Whichever ways the commission’s findings go, it can be very easily challenged.
To conclude, I accept that no where in this world have I seen such a scenario happening; where a son will be asked to be part of a commission investigating his father or father’s associates. Conflicts of interest scenarios must always be avoided. If I am Mr Saine, I would have by now excused myself from this Commission.
Ba Tambedou is a Cabinet Member holding the portfolio of Minister of Justice. His pronouncements, though delivered through his ministry, are a reflection of the policy of government on the matter(s) concerned, which, in this case, is a reluctance of The Gambia Government to seek the extradition of Mr Ousman Sonko. Singling out Ba Tambedou alone for blame, whilst seemingly absolving everyone one else in Cabinet from blame, including the Foreign Minister, Mr Ousainou Darboe (as his ministry has a role here), is the problem I have with Morro Touray here. Since Ba has not been fired and no one has resigned from cabinet in protest to this policy, we have to conclude that they (Cabinet) are in agreement. Our dissatisfaction, disappointment and anger should be directed at the entire executive, not individual members, unless there is evidence showing that their pronouncements and actions don’t reflect government policy, which would raise many other serious questions.
Bax, you are coming with a very interesting argument by using a different approach. I will not dispute what you said as I am not privy to the ins-and-outs of the Cabinet. As at now I want to believe that Ministers and Ministries have decision making powers within their respective portfolios unlike in the case of the 22 years of Jammeh’s government we recently experienced. Moreover, if it was the entire government position, I would have expected the pronouncement to have been made by the Information Minister or the Press Secretary. But it was not the case here. So to be prudent, I will avoid bringing Ousainou Darboe and other Ministers and their Ministries into the equation.
I only hope that the government is taking note of these concerns.
I am not claiming to be privy to whatever is going on in Cabinet, but surely, a Minister will not make a decision like this and communicate it to the public, without first discussing it in Cabinet. And if the decision was just the minister’s and not in line with government policy, why didn’t anyone come out and say so? In the absence of any statement from government contradicting the minister’s position, it can be assumed that it is government policy, and all should be held responsible; not just Baa Tambedou, as the writer did. Let’s hope government is taking notice.
@Bax, you seem to have a kind of fixation with Ousainou Darboe. It is not surprising anyway considering your support for Halifa. It looks like “fixations” are traits of PDOIS and its supporters.
Well, Ousainou Darboe is a public figure and if I’m fixated with him, then it is my right to be, as a citizen of the Gambia. Do you ever hear me talk about his brother (if he has any) or his son (if he has any) or his wives?
As Minister of Foreign Affairs, any attempts to seek the extradition of any Gambian must involve his ministry. So, if anyone is going to blame individual ministers for government’s reluctance to seek the extradition of Ousman Sonko, they shouldn’t leave Lawyer Ousainou Darboe out, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs.
I wonder whether it would easily be possible [ or if at all ] to find someone who did not serve in Jammeh’s Government or did not have a close relative who did or one who did not have an issue with Jammeh or his associates suited to serve in this commission.