Culled fro the Point

Tuesday, June 4, 2002

Former President Jawara Returns Home

Point’s SR Attempts To Talk To Him At Fajara

The former President of the first republic Sir Dawda K. Jawara returned home
from the United Kingdom last Saturday morning at 4.00 am. Sir Dawda was
accompanied by one of his wives lady Chileh Jawara and the deputy director
of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Mr. Abdoulie Kujabi. Sir Dawda’s
arrival was a low-key affair with only some of his family members at the
airport. Also at the airport was the commander at the State Guards Lang
Tombong Tamba amid heavy security presence.

According to GRTS, the security would not allow them to speak to the 78
years old Sir Dawda and he would not comment either. Sir Dawda and his
family were then driven in a motorcade that took him to his Fajara residence.

Mr. Abdoulie Kujabi who accompanied the former president also told GRTS
that he is one of those that were given the responsibility to look into Sir
Dawda’s return. He indicated that all went on very effectively. According to
Kujabi, Sir Dawda came not on holidays but for good. Sir Dawda, he added,
is an elderly statesman and a Gambian for that matter. However when his
coming was announced, Kujabi went on, “A lot of people made so many
remarks, but for Sir Dawda he knows what it means when you say amnesty
and he takes it seriously and since that time he was making preparations
and he is finally here”. Also talking to GRTS was a bodyguard to Sir Dawda
Mr. Tijan Touray who said he was proud to come back home together with Sir
Dawda.

In a related development, senior reporter Pa Ndery Mbai, also VOA’s
correspondent yesterday visited Sir Dawda’s Fajara home in a bid to interview
him but was denied access by the soldiers on guard. According to Mbai, the
soldiers told him that they received orders not to allow visitors to Sir Dawda’s
home. “Sir Dawda is relaxing with his family and we received orders not to
allow visitors at this time. I am sorry you cannot talk to him at this time”, said
one soldier. Interestingly as Mbai was about to leave the premises. One of
them said: “Please come I have to hand you over to my senior man and
anyone coming here must be interrogated on the reasons of the visit. He
complied and was handed over to one caporal Sowe who asked him to
identify himself.

According to Mbai who described Sowe as a polite soldier, he was told by
Sowe that they received orders and would like the public to understand that.

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