The first witness of Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), Ebrima Chongan, ended Tuesday his testimony with an emotional closing argument that left the audience in floods of tears, overcoming a long-held grievance to preach forgiveness.
“I am happy to wear the badge of honour after having been tortured, abused, victimised for defending the constitution of my motherland,” Chongan said as he was allowed by TRRC lead counsel, Ensa Faal, to give his final argument.
The much-awaited Inquiry Panel started its sittings on January 7 with a former top officer of the country’s security forces detailing the circumstances that led to the overthrow in July 1994 of President Dawda Jawara’s three-decade long democratic rule. Ebrima Chongan gave an insightful account of the tribulations he went through for standing up against illegality.
He expressed hope that government and Gambians in their entirety will learn some lessons after listening to his testimony and avoid committing the sames mistakes from the past.
While making it very clear that he is not soliciting pity from his fellow citizens, Chongan said his primary objective was to show the “callous nature of the Yahya Jammeh regime and how sticking to the truth will eventually prevail.”
The Gambia is still recovering from 22 years of dictatorship marked by arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings.
He seized the opportunity to make a submission, requesting the government to retire him honourably.
“I have no interest in putting up uniform anymore, but I believe I should be retired honourably and paid my dues,” he disclosed while indicating that most of his colleagues who abdicated their responsibility to follow illegality have been paid their dues.
Chongan urged Gambians to be honest, and have honest discussion to know the type of citizens and Gambia we have.
“We should fight tribalism, nepotism, corruption and mediocrity,” he said. “We should hold people accountable and not encourage impunity in our society.”
As he has decided to voluntary embark on the path to forgiveness, Ebrima Chongan displayed a great ability to move on and clear his emotional space.
He went on to say that he is not angry about what happened, but remains proud of the stance he took to defend a democratically elected government.
Inspired by his great grand father, the venerable Hadimmu Rassul (Serign Touba), Chongan preached forgiveness.
“Serign Touba came back from exile after seven years and forgave everybody. I have forgiven everybody,” he voiced out. But he was quick to add that it is important for the truth to be told about what appeared to be a dramatic episode of Gambia’s political history.
In re-echoing TRRC’s Never Again Campaign, Chongan warned Gambians against allowing hypocrisy to continue taking shape in the country.
“It can only succeed if we are honest to ourselves,” he remarked.
Written by Abdoulie JOHN
The post Gambia: In His Closing Argument, Chongan Embraces Forgiveness appeared first on Freedom Newspaper.