Honestly, I am smarting from the barrage of insults and other accusations of unseriousness, hypocrisy and corruption raining on my head and on the head of the TRRC over the past few hours. I must be clear that I DO NOT and WILL NEVER take offense at being insulted, even by people I have great respect for, in the course of executing my duties. But being human, I cannot pretend that I am not deeply hurt that people are hurling all manner of insults at me, Dr. Sise, and the TRRC because the Commission was requested to and facilitated a reconciliation event between two Gambians who, like everyone else, have every right to the services of the TRRC, whatever crimes they may have committed. So yes, I admit I am deeply hurt by the insults. But no, I do not take offense at all and I forgive everyone who is insulting me or will insult me in the future, rightly or wrongly. May God forgive and bless you and your loved ones now and forever. And may you never be insulted, called a hypocrite and a liar, or have your character questioned and disparaged for whatever reason. May God honor you all.
Having said that, and even as I smart and cringe from the barrage of insults, let me try to briefly explain the context of the reconciliation meeting between Edward Singhateh and Sanna Sabally. In essence, the TRRC is tasked by the Act establishing it “to promote reconciliation and healing” among and between ALL Gambians, not just SOME Gambians. So if any two or more Gambians approach the Commission with a request to facilitate reconciliation between them – as Edward and Sanna did – the TRRC is obliged by law to do so. Refusing to do so would have amounted to the Commission breaking its own law. And so while we knew fully well how sections of the Gambian public would react to such an event taking place at the TRRC, it was part of our mandate as required by the TRRC Act to do this, however difficult.
Baba Galleh Jallow
Ends
It is sad that innocent people trying to do their job in good faith will be subjected to any kind of abuse. Many of the TRRC staff have been doing a wonderful job for their country. however, it is high time we differentiate the chaff from the grains. Why the manipulative dramas such as “May God forgive and bless you and your loved ones now and forever. And may you never be insulted, called a hypocrite and a liar, or have your character questioned and disparaged for whatever reason”
Forgiving and, consequently, reconciliation, should be premised on a number of factors: the offender (1) stopping the offense (2) accepting guilt, (3) showing remorse and (4) and promising not to commit the offense again. How many of these conditions has these two COLD-BLOODED MURDERS, Edward and Sanna, have meet?
The real victims are those who have suffered in the hands of these two.