Exhumation of slain soldiers should be fast track

By Adama Makasuba

Victims of human rights violations under the 22-year rule of exile Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh have called on state authorities to Fast track the exhumation of 1994 slain soldiers.

The group made the call as they marked 26th anniversary of slain soldiers of November 10/11 1994, those soldiers were accused of staging a coup against the regime of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council led by former military officer Yahya A.J.J Jammeh.

Last year, the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission exhumed bodies of some of the slain soldiers at Yundum military barracks.

“Another important thing on this commemoration is to call on the Government through Ministry of Justice and other relevant Stakeholders such as TRRC to speed up their actions in identifying the exhumed bodies of the fallen Soldiers who were improperly buried at the Yundum Barrack so that they can be received by their families for befitting burial.

“We want to thank the ongoing Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, United Nation Development Programme and other international partners for their unflinching support in providing redress for the victims and deter from the recurrence of future human rights violations and abuses in The Gambia,” the statement from the Gambia Victims of Human Rights Violations said.