By: Sekou Hydara
Adama Conteh, a widow to late Lamin Tunkara, the only Gambian who was massacred alongside forty four (44) other West African migrants in 2005 is calling for justice amidst the release of Junjulars who admitted killing her husband.
She pointed out that it is a disbelieved that ‘those who killed her husband are walking freely in the streets.
The Jungulars admitted to the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that they killed Lamin Tunkara and other West African migrants on the instructions of former President Yahya Jammeh but late in July 2019 Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambedou made a surprise announcement that Gambia government has taken the decision to release four Jungulars.
“Releasing these Jungulars is like a slap on the face by the very government that pledges to defend and protect you against aggression and impunity.
Since my was husband killed in the hands of these people I think my family should be engaged before any decision is taken as far as their release is concern but what is more shocking is ‘those who killed my husband are walking freely in the streets’ while we the victims are still suffering,” Madam Tunkara said, as she expressed her disappointment to Gambia’s government.
Adama told The Voice that the last time she set an eye on her husband was during Tunkara’s detention at the Kairaba Police Station, adding that the circumstances in which he was killed was never revealed to her by the regime of ex-president Yahya Jammeh even though she made several attempts to enquired from the state authorities at the time.
“I was shocked when I heard from the testimonies of the Jungulars that they were the ones who killed my husband along with 44 others West African national on the order of Jammeh. This will continue to shock me for the rest of my life especially when justice is not seen to be done in the killing of my husband.” Madam Tunkara emotionally stated
She added: “The massacred of the West African migrants including Ghanaians is no more a secret, time and again Gambia government have made repeated statements about it but they have never mentioned my husband’s name.
To me Gambian government values the dead of the West African migrants than its own son, Lamin Tunkara.”
The 37 year old widow disclosed that Tunkara has been the breadwinner of the family, adding that his demise marks the beginning of a long journey of suffering for her and her 13 years old girl who never enjoyed her father’s love and caring.
“The only unfortunate episode of his story is that he was killed when I was conceived with a seven months old baby that he never had the chance to see and show his fatherly love to her,” Adama Conteh stated.
According to her, Lamin never tells her what sort of deal he have entered into with the massacred West African migrant neither did he disclosed what or who is involved, noting that he only talks of the reasons why he was getting late to come home that he attributes to a business venture he was involves in.
“I want to appealed to The Gambian Government to look into the issue of my late husband because is not fair to leave those who admitted killing him being free from detention and still want to keep us (her family) suspended like nothing happens to Lamin Tunkara. At the same time its’ shocking to always hear government statement on the dead of the West African migrants without making references to my husband’s name,” Madam Tunkara protests.
