Edward Singhatey told the Truth Commission on Wednesday that former president Yahya Jammeh had ordered them not to take prisoners as they attacked the Yundum Barracks on November 11, 1994.
Former President Yahya Jammeh has ordered former vice chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council to kill soldiers who have reportedly planned to overthrow them on November 11, 1994.
Jammeh and his colleagues have overthrown the regime of former President Dawda Kairaba Jawara on July 22, 1994. They formed a military council and Edward, one of the two primary planners of the coup, was appointed as a defense minister.
He would later be appointed the vice chairman of the Council after Sanna Sabally was fired and arrested. At least 11 soldiers were killed on November 11 including Basiru Barrow, Gibril Saye and Abdoulie Dot Faal.
“Sanna and others came to my house…They said a coup is being planned and the soldiers said they were going to capture and execute us…,” said Edward.
“…Generally, the order was to go and preemptively go and attack the barracks. Before we left, the order that President Jammeh gave to Sanna was “take no prisoners”.”
November 11 incident was one of the first alleged rights violations investigated by the Commission. Several witnesses said the soldiers were captured without any gun fight and executed.
However, Edward said there were some exchange of fire even though he could not say if anyone had died as a result of the crossfire.
But Edward said he would take responsibility for anyone who was executed in the aftermath of the foiled coup.
Meanwhile, the Commission has also heard of several testimonies of witnesses who were tortured in detention. Some of these victims were political detainees and others former soldiers who were accused of counter-coup.
While Edward admitted these tortures had happened and on the orders of the Council, he denied personal responsibility for torturing anyone.
Edward continues testimony on Thursday.
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