Lieutenant Malick Jatta pleads for forgiveness amid startling revelation of killings

By AMADOU MANJANG

Lieutenant Malick Jatta a member of the Gambia Army Force and a “Jungler” who confessed participation in killing of Deyda Hydara, renowned Gambian veteran journalist and co-proprietor of The Point newspaper and other innocent victims has yesterday pleaded for forgiveness.

“I know I got it all wrong. I regretted it. And I’m very sorry for everything,” he pleaded.

He was making his final remarks before Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC), stating that people should not disbelieve their stories because they have not been involved.

He said he is testifying to reveal the truth to the commission so that there can be reconciliation to ensure peaceful co-existence of the people in the country.

The member of the President Yahya Jammeh’s killing squad named in extra-judiciary killings told the TRRC that he felt humiliated to face the commission testifying on his killing the people he should have protected.

At that juncture the lead counsel at TRRC, Essa Faal informed him that the purpose of the TRRC is not to humiliate him but to conduct research and investigations into human rights violations committed from July 22, 1994 to January 2017.

Among the aims of the Commission is to prevent a repetition of the violations and abuses suffered under the past regime by making recommendations to government and citizens aimed at ensuring the crimes of the past never recur in The Gambia.

Lt. Malick Jatta took out his green military beret and placed it on the table and continue pleading for forgiveness from the people he harmed, loved ones and the nation at large.

He further told the Commission that accepted responsibility for his actions, adding that was using people for his personal gains.

He revealed that he was present when Daba Marena, Malafi Corr, Masireh Jammeh, a sister to the former President Yahy Jammeh, Ebou Lowe, Alieu Ceesay, Alpha Bah and one Julia were killed.

He also recalled that he saw Sanna Manjang, a member of the ‘junglers’ pushing Masireh Jammeh from the vehicle into a bush.

He said she Masireh was saying ‘praise be to God,’ disclosined that Sanna then Sanna kicked the woman until she fell on the ground and pointed a pistol on her head and shot her.

He said all the corpses were thrown in a well in the bush.

He revealed that Haruna Jammeh, a brother to Yaya Jammeh was also killed by his fellow ‘junglers, ’Sanna Manjang, Staff Sergeant Omar A. Jallow and Alieu Jeng.

The Monitor

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