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Feature
Yahya Jammeh’s Charnel House
Human rights theater, like the global outcry over Gambia’s death penalty, only obscures the real nature of lawless, despotic rule.
It was in the summer of 1845 that Thomas Eyre Poole parted from his family, picked his way through the jagged lanes of Wapping, and descended to the Thames docks at Shadwell Basin, boarding the fast-sailing brig Soundraporvy, bound for Senegambia. Prior to accepting the post of colonial and garrison chaplain of Sierra Leone, Poole had been warned that he was en route to a “lovely charnel-house,” a region “no less remarkable for a peculiar kind of beautiful scenery than its hostility to human life.” In his diaries, published five years later as Life, Scenery, and Customs in Sierra Leone and the Gambia, Poole worried that his chaplaincy on the west coast of Africa could prove “little better than a stepping-stone into an unnatural grave.” His concerns were hardly misplaced.
Fifty years earlier, Poole’s destination had earned the sobriquet “White Man’s Grave” after three-quarters of the founding European settlers perished in the first year of the Sierra Leone Company’s existence. And yet, for this altruistic Oxford-educated doctor of divinity, the cause of morality and religion required his presence in the budding colony, no matter what the risk. So he took leave of his native England, cabined as the sole passenger on the “dirty, heavy timbered” Soundraporvy, and made for tropical climes.
If ever Poole imagined his posting to be a comfortable equatorial sinecure, he would have been quickly disabused of this notion by his arrival at the dreary Freetown Gaol. There was nothing lovely about this particular charnel house. The poorly constructed yellow daub jailhouse offered too few cells to properly separate murderers from debtors and men from women. Many prisoners had no clothes. Ague and elephantiasis ran rampant. “The sight of them was revolting to every feeling and sentiment of decency,” Poole wrote. “Their wild and vacant stare, their grinning and chattering, I cannot soon forget.”
In the high-walled prison yard, past the well, the cook house, and the woodshed, Poole stumbled upon a “melancholy spot” of well-churned earth, the resting place of “the most guilty of the guilty,” whose graves were routinely disturbed to accommodate “the kindred and disfigured remains of a brother felon.” Here, at the most macabre place in this colonial “Land of Death”—rendered all the more noxious by the wafting stench of the nearby slave yard—the Reverend Doctor Poole mused upon his surroundings and his mission:
Of all clerical ministrations, those at the prison are, perhaps, the most unsatisfactory and discouraging….What can be more distressing than the uncertainty and difficulty of arriving at any conclusive convictions, particularly in extreme cases, of the genuineness of criminal repentance, when the law is left to take its last awful course!
One such extreme case was soon encountered: Williams, a murderer whose guilt was not in question. Prayerful and contrite, his fettered hands clasped in quivering supplication, Williams begged to receive last rites, which Poole duly provided on the Sunday night before the prisoner’s Monday appointment with the gallows. On that fateful morning, the chaplain witnessed a scene bearing little resemblance to those spectacular public executions then taking place at English sites like Tyburn, Newgate, or Horsemonger Lane. In this dilapidated prison yard, Williams addressed the modest crowd gathered silently before him, exhorting those who would survive him to avoid his wretched path. “God bless you all! I am going home,” the condemned man concluded, moments before the long drop silenced him forever.
Poole wrote that the spectacle was increased by the “gross mockery of office which was displayed by the wretch of a hangman,” who painted his face red and white and plied his grisly trade while sporting a smile and a Tom-fool’s cap. It was too much for the sensitive bystanding man of the cloth.
A question presented itself: Was capital punishment effective? Terror of the scaffold was proving no deterrent. In less than five years under Poole’s watch, five men were executed for murder, and he doubted in any case that the fear and shame associated with such a punishment would translate from European society to African. The punishment of death, he suggested, had “little to say in its favour.”
By all appearances, Poole was asymptotically approaching an abolitionist position, but at the last minute he pulled back:
And, yet, to abolish the punishment of death in Sierra Leone, viewing the question entirely apart from every argument but that of expediency, would be to let loose upon the community the most ungovernable and wildest elements of the worst portion of its society. Released from this check, inadequate as it often proves in its operation…there would be no security for life and property.
Poole’s conclusion: “Justice and necessity require its continuance, at all events in Africa.”
A GREAT MANY YEARS LATER, on the night of August 23, 2012, nine prisoners emerged from the crowded, poorly ventilated, mosquito-infested cells of the Mile 2 State Central Prison, located on the outskirts of Banjul, Gambia, a city the Reverend Doctor Poole knew as Bathurst. The detention facility, erected by the British colonial authorities, is today as ill-built as anything the chaplain witnessed in his Senegambian wanderings, though the wattle-and-daub architecture of Poole’s day has since been replaced by ordure-stained concrete. That night, eight men, Alieu Bah, Gibril Bah, Dawda Bojang, Lamin Darboe, Lamin Jammeh, Lamin Jarju, Malang Sonko, and Abubacarr Yarbo, and one woman, Tabara Samba, would be dispatched by a firing squad. There were no last-minute ministrations, no speeches, indeed no mummery on the part of the executioners. Just the cracks of rifles, the hail of bullets, the thud of their impacts, and nine terminal breaths.
Those nine prisoners were among 47 Gambian and foreign individuals on death row in the Mile 2 facility, all of whom were the subjects of a chilling August 19, 2012, television address by Gambia’s leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh Naasiru Deen, better and more conveniently known as Yahya Jammeh. Gambia had not carried out an execution—at least an officially recognized one—since 1985, but marking the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, President Jammeh announced that all existing death sentences were to be “carried out to the letter,” posthaste, by mid-September. “All those guilty of serious crimes and are condemned will face the full force of the law,” Jammeh declared. “There is no way my government will allow 99 percent of the population to be held to ransom by criminals.” In other words, the wildest and worst portions of Gambian society, from Jammeh’s distinct perspective, were to be held in check for the sake of life and property, through acts of annihilation if necessary.
A humanitarian hue and cry was promptly sent up from within and without the tiny, serpentine African republic, as the inmates in Mile 2 State Central Prison instantly became global causes célèbres. Gambian expatriates like journalist Mathew Jallow urged international action against the “demented megalomaniac” holding the reins of state in Banjul. Members of the Gambian diaspora demonstrated at sites as far-flung as Seattle and Oslo, with September 4, 2012, declared a “Day of Outrage.” At the regional level, Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, spearheaded an effort to “engage all African and international institutions,” with the goal of implementing economic sanctions. It was not long before the European Union and the United Nations were weighing just such a course of action.
Members of the capital punishment abolition movement quickly entered the fray. Navi Pillay, the UN high commissioner for human rights, expressed her revulsion at the executions, stating that “Gambia has, for almost three decades, been one of the increasing number of states that did not practice capital punishment—until this sudden, grave, unfortunate change of course.” The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights issued a statement calling on Jammeh to ensure that Gambia “complies with its obligation under the African Charter by refraining from the use of death penalty and to continue to observe a moratorium pending the eventual abolition of death penalty.”
Letter to the Editor View all comments (43) | Leave a comment
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Intelligent Design| 2.21.13 @ 6:47AM
He's a Muslim, of course: http://www.jollofnews.com/news/24/3745
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 7:23AM
Where's Beyonce?
I mean........that's Jay Z, isn't it?
Is that the guy from the Mother Wheel?
Obama's old Lover? (Google: Barack Obama Gay Bathhouse Story)
Obama's new Lover?
Reggie Love?
Obama's old Pastor?
Obama's new Pastor?
The guy on the Box of Rice?
Or, the African Muslim King that was Banging Jack's Wife's Niece?
Seriously. I wanna know.
Kwan| 2.21.13 @ 12:37PM
According to the article it's a guy called His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh Naasiru Deen. With the Democrat Party's new love-affair with African dictator types they might well be offering in the near future a Presidential Candidate with a similar name and modus operandi.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 1:13PM
Right?
If he lived here, I'd say that his Baby Momma wasn't really sure who his Baby Daddy was, so she just named all of the guys she Slept with that week, lo those 9 Months ago.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 1:17PM
And, you spelled Jesus, Chung King, Jammies, and Jimmy Dean wrong.
Occam's Tool| 2.21.13 @ 11:36PM
I note NO Jack in Wi. here, otherwise known as FudgePacker Jack. This is because he is a great supporter of Muhammed (PBUH) and cannot bear criticism of his prophet's religion.
Just another Islamic hellhole, like the kind he wants to condemn 6 million Jews to. Good old Jackboot, treasonous, cowardly, FudgePacker Jack.
Occam's Tool| 2.21.13 @ 11:37PM
And Nathan would regard this government as equivalent to our own.
markenoff| 2.21.13 @ 2:19PM
AKA Marcellus Wallace
Joellen| 2.21.13 @ 4:18PM
It's the "son" Obama would've had if he would've had one or could've had should've had or wish he had or well, you get it. I think.
Tina Trent | 2.21.13 @ 7:11AM
Interesting history. But if you want to press the case for international treaties written by people like Babcock (whose colleague in these matters is Bernardine Dohrn) superceding our own criminal law, then just say so. And readers should note that Mss. Babcock and Dohrn have been buzzing away at imposing UN rule on topics as diverse as school discipline and sentencing rules with assist from Jimmah Carter, the ACLU, and George Soros for some time now and have achieved some victories for UN sovregnity in that most perverse legislative chamber, the Chicago city council.
Me, I'd rather not have our legal sovregnity handed over to the thugocracy of the UN Human Rights Council, an entity richly deserving of discussion in tandem with the matter here.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 7:14AM
So, then. WTF was that all about?
With all the Shitt that goes down in Ross Kaminsky's "Vacation World" - The Land of the Flies on your Face and the Home of Death by Malaria, Death by Dysentery, Death by Starvation, and Death by the Religion of Peace - this idiot's worried about Murderers getting the Death Penalty?
The whole 'Road to Hell is paved with Good Intentions" thing, should be re-looked at. I'm thinking that it's paved by a lack of Men with the Will to do what is right. With the Will for Discipline. And we can see this every day of the week.
We've all seen the Kids in the Checkout Line screaming bloody murder for a Candy Bar that they most always end up getting. We see it in every Black Community in every City in America. We see it in the Recidivism of our Criminals. Some of them receiving just a Couple Years for the Murder of an Innocent.
I was sorry to hear that Yaya Sisterhood had Mr. Bojangles put up against a wall, and Shot. But like Baretta always said: "Don't do the Crime if ya can't do the Time". (I miss his Bird)
The liberals quote a God they don't even believe in: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Yet, they say nothing of CHRIST'S admonition that "We all must OBEY THE LAWS of the Lands where we live". And, Breaking those Laws emtails Punishments. (The Koran used to say the same thing, that Christ said. Apparently, that was the one that got Flushed down the Toilet)
The Punishment should fit the Crime.
And an Eye for an Eye sounds just about right, if you ask me.
WRTolkas| 2.21.13 @ 8:20AM
I wish Yahya Jammeh was mayor of detroit.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 10:21AM
You're thinking of Mommalukabubaday.
And, why stop at Detroit?
Fred the Cockatoo| 2.21.13 @ 11:19AM
"But like Baretta always said: "Don't do the Crime if ya can't do the Time". (I miss his Bird)"
Thanks for remembering, TLP. You're the Man!
Kwan| 2.21.13 @ 12:04PM
In the never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American Way Tony Baretta had the bad guys wishing they'd chose a different profession. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAUFuTKdWAw
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 1:22PM
Apparently, at least 537 of them took his advice, and went into Politics.
Kwan| 2.21.13 @ 2:22PM
And another Democrat Party thief bites the dust... Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife pleaded guilty to federal charges on Wednesday related to years of using campaign funds for personal expenses. Jackson admitted to diverting about $750,000 for personal purposes from 2005 to 2012. Jackson could face up to 5 years in prison.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 3:34PM
Like Father. Like Son.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 2.21.13 @ 3:37PM
...did the son get to sleep with Tamara Holder, too?
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 4:56PM
FINALLY!
I've been a Voice in the Wilderness, on this one, since it happened.
Thank You, Albert.
I thought I was all alone on this one.
p.s. They tried to get me Banned, again.
Joellen| 2.21.13 @ 4:21PM
Are we talking about the "son" obama would have had if he could've had, or should've had or wish he had or are we talking about jesse's loonie toonie son?
Tina Trent | 2.21.13 @ 7:15AM
I should also learn to spell sovereignty.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 7:25AM
You spelled "Eye" wrong.
Tina Trent | 2.21.13 @ 7:42AM
Typing on an eyepad is messing with my isight.
Pecos Pete| 2.21.13 @ 9:04AM
Tina: You done good.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 10:23AM
You spelled "food" wrong.
Hardcard| 2.21.13 @ 9:17AM
you spelled entails wrong "emtails" WTF are emtails? yahya say Hi, you come to my house for dinner? we got big pot, you fit good.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 1:23PM
Touché, mon ami.
Ryan| 2.21.13 @ 9:19AM
Let's see if the typical despotism defenders show up...often we see a handful of in-country regime supporters show up and try and deflect and blame the US for their own issues...
Ryan| 2.21.13 @ 9:20AM
Let's see if the typical despotism defenders show up...often we see a handful of in-country regime supporters show up and try and deflect and blame the US for their own issues...
Kwan| 2.21.13 @ 9:51AM
Gambians found themselves subjected to the whims of a despot so divorced from reality...Divorced from reality. Sounds similar to our Kenyan Great Leader. Which raises the question: Is there any member of the Democrat Party that is married to reality?
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 10:25AM
You spelled "Home Depot" wrong.
Kwan| 2.21.13 @ 10:45AM
My spell checker must be broken. Let me try it again. Gambians found themselves subjected to the whims of a Home Depot so divorced from reality. Yeah now it looks right.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 10:58AM
Perfect.
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 1:25PM
Have you BEEN to a Home Depot, lately?
They've got everybody by the balls.
Kwan| 2.21.13 @ 3:55PM
Lately I've been going to Lowes. What's going on at Home Depot are they raising their prices? I wouldn't be surprised if they are. Obama's "War on Energy" has fuel prices rising and that has to translate into higher shipping costs. But let's not forget that the Democrat Party is the Party of the little guy. Which is why all these low income little guys have to commute to work on a skateboard because they can't afford to put gasoline in their car.
Hardcard| 2.21.13 @ 11:46AM
Didn't Barretta (robert blake) pop a cap in his wife? YoYo !! Yahya cook her and bird, big pot!! The guys in the background look like the voter fraud watch in Philly. At this point what does it matter?
TLP| 2.21.13 @ 1:26PM
I heard they were arrested for that, but Eric Holder let them go.
Fred the Cockatoo| 2.21.13 @ 3:49PM
That's the name of that tune!
Fred the Cockatoo| 2.21.13 @ 4:09PM
If you don't mind, I hope we can skip the bird recipes and references. I get nervous enough at Thanksgiving thinking what I might looked like plucked, roasted and on a platter in a project home in Newark or one of the Oranges.
woodsman1st| 2.21.13 @ 12:36PM
I had a momentary vision of Obama along with his wished for private army when I saw the photo heading up this article.
And today obama's attacks upon our 2nd Amendment will continue; strict gun laws have proven NOT TO BE A DETERRENT TO CRIME!
So why else would obama want to take our firearms; now think back to that photo as you try to come up with a reasonable answer to that quesiton. Every dictator in the history of the world has first disarmed his people; and obama wants to disarm Americans.
Just a coincidence, right?
Sure it is!
cicero| 2.21.13 @ 5:00PM
Africa is almost too sad to comment on. The barbarity is overwhelming. The Christian and animists must form an alliance and finally decide to fight the Islamist nuts who insist on killing anyone who doesn't submit. History has shown that the only deterent to Islam is force sufficient to drive it as far away as can be managed. The British realized that, but are now too weak and dissipated to offer much help. Besides, they are afraid to be called colonists, again. The French are making an effort in Mali, and we will have to wait and see how that turns out. The americans may send a little money, which will end up in someone's Swiss bank account.
Darkness will descend on that continent again, and it will be soon. The only thing that may possibly save it is a renewed push to exploit its resources by outside forces, that will bring a little order in return for its riches.
Job| 2.21.13 @ 6:22PM
Among equals "an eye for an eye" and "do unto others," is practiced. All the rest of us lying, cheating, killing and stealing good folks practice the law of the jungle where "might is right" is still in effect.
The first sociopath Cain killed his brother Abel, and it got noticed probly that evening when his dad asked, "say Cain what happened to that other boy"...anyway, near 6 millennium ago he got away with it more than likely because...might is right, course the practicality of putting the only son you got left in jail may have been a factor. hmm...guess everybody had to watch their back after that with a killer on the loose and all.
All I can say is Armchair Activists better watch their backs too.