By Yero Jallow
In the aftermath of the Self-defense operation that took place in the Gambia on December 30th 2014 to liberate Gambians from the clutches of tyranny, the U.S Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have talked to many active Gambian activists in the United States of America. Mr. Papa Faal, an activist and IT Instructor from Minnesota and Mr. Cherno Njie a businessman from Texas were arrested and charged for violation of the U.S Neutrality Act.
In an effort to seek clarification on what looks like a “crackdown and intimidation” on Gambia’s Diaspora activists in the United States, this reporter reached out to the Minneapolis (Minnesota) FBI office to seek their clarification on their current engagements and to register noted concerns relating to “causing panic and fear” in many Gambian communities as expressed in many quarters. In fact, what gave credence to such rumors is the fact that the Jammeh administration has used this as an opportunity to create more fear among the Diaspora activists, in an effort to silent them.
Mr. Kyle A. Loven, FBI’s Chief Division Counsel and Media Coordinator located in Minneapolis (Minnesota) Spoke with this reporter today (January 12th 2015) at length and set light on a wide range of speculations. According to Mr. Loven, who is currently consulting his agency through the Special Agent in charge of the investigation to grant Gainako an exclusive interview, “We are only after the violations of the (U.S) Neutrality Act.” Mr. Loven who regrets any panic and fear among Gambian communities further acknowledged receiving a communication from this reporter regards to concerns expressed by some U.S-Gambian citizens and promises to get back with Gainako.
Without doubt, U.S.-Gambian citizens are peace-loving and in the center of America’s democratization process, added to the fact of being tax payers and voters in all U.S elections. Said and done, when America’s history is looked at, she no doubt knows, U.S-Gambian citizens are contributing greatly to the economic, political development and stability of the United States; take for example, one of the accused, Mr. Papa Faal, who is a U.S military veteran and a doctoral candidate honorably served the United States military for more than a decade.
Contrary to the lies and fabrications peddled by the Jammeh administration both at home and abroad, where the tyrannical administration is using this as an opportunity to further silent Gambians critical of the tyrannical regime in the Gambia, the U.S FBI are in fact on a mission to protect U.S Citizens, investigate any committed violations of the U.S law and to get the whole facts surrounding the unfortunate December 30th 2014 incident, especially after Gambia’s criminal ruler Yaya Jammeh in a televised speech directly accused the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom for taking part in ending his regime.
One of Gainako’s political analysts who want to remain anonymous also spoke with the FBI at length earlier on this evening. According to him, “the U.S FBI are interested in the facts surrounding the incident and to ensure all U.S citizens and their families are safe and protected both in the U.S and outside.”
Another Diaspora activist noted that the FBI is more equipped with sophisticated mechanism and they should intensify their investigation with Jammeh and his administration, the very root cause of the whole problem, where the country continues to remain lawless and clawed under tyranny with one of the worst dictators ever born.
It remains to be seen, that Gambia’s diaspora activists has vowed to keep the fight against tyranny active even in the wake of such trials both at home and outside the Gambia. Jammeh’s years of misrule and criminality is being exposed greatly to the outside world, especially in the height of such trial dealing with the U.S Neutrality ACT. The question begs, whether the U.S Government will swiftly take actions to help liberate the Gambia, just like they have done in other countries where dictators reigned for decades.
Stay tuned…