Return-Path: <[log in to unmask]> Received: from rly-ye05.mx.aol.com (rly-ye05.mail.aol.com [172.18.151.202]) by air-ye01.mx.aol.com (v74.17) with ESMTP; Sun, 18 Jun 2000 16:28:26 -0400 Received: from 212.60.69.1 (cheeta.mrc.gm [212.60.69.1]) by rly-ye05.mx.aol.com (v74.17) with ESMTP; Sun, 18 Jun 2000 16:28:15 -0400 Received: from mrc.gm ([212.60.69.55]) by 212.60.69.1; Sun, 18 Jun 2000 20:21:47 +0000 Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 20:33:56 +0000 From: Musa Jawara <[log in to unmask]> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win98; I) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>, "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: July 22/ APRC ambush UDP millitants in Basse Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Dear Musa, I thought I should brief you with the clash of the UDP and "July 22 militants" in Basse as the BBC report was too sketchy for an overview. Since, you mentioned Karamba to me before and I could definitely visualize his stance -I will copy him as well. I can see it being reported by Kutubo, but the details are as follows: - The Sarahulley communities in the URD catchment area especially the big villages (Gambisara, BajaKunda etc.) requested that Darbo and his party must pay them a visit as the their previous tour did not allow them to show total allegiance to the UDP. They even offered to sponsor the costs involved in terms of transportation etc., which they did I understand. There was a big surprise waiting for the UDP as a very strong and influential APRC stalwart was to defect at the gathering in Gambisara. This was known to the APRC militants in Basse as they tried to reverse the trends to no avail and so decided to show their true colours violence. Under the guidance and directives of the APRC national president Banta Tunkara and the assistant commissioner Modou Sama Jobe (Baba Jobe's brother) the so called defunct but rather active 22 July movement was immediately mobilized and put on course to maim the UDP leaders at all cost. God being so great they were overpowered and some captured and taken to the police station in Basse. Yesterday, they regrouped at chamoi bridge and attacked again as the procession were coming from another rally in Bajakunda. This time around as faith would direct they only succeeded in smashing the windscreen of the party leader Darbo. Three of them were captured and dealt with severely. The vehicle they were travelling in, got completely burnt ( it was found to be full of weapons machetes, knives, stones etc.) the driver of the vehicle lost his life in the process. Today they decided to take positions at the Bridge again with some deadly intentions this time around. Baba Jobe mobilized a team from the coast and under his command they are looming for the worst. The army camp commander at the Basse barracks and the police had to go and give cover to the UDP team in Baja Kunda. The situation is at this stage. Sam Sillah is heading for Basse and has categorically stated that if the state cannot control things he will intervene to protect his party from the thugs. Radio 1 FM has announced the incident which has alerted both the US and UK ambassadors. They have got in touch with Yaya and expressed their concern over the safety of the UDP party stalwarts and militants on tour. They have made it known to him that their security and safety is basically his responsibility. Radio Gambia is just announcing the incident. The only thing they said was that Alieu Njie died and that UDP's permit to hold rallies in URD haas been revoked and that those responsible Alieu Njie's death will face the law. For your information they are at it again with regards to manipulating the grass root set up and community tranquility. Four nincompoops, Kebba Ceesay (NIA director), Nai Ceesay (SOS Local Gov.), Ousman Badjie (SOS Interior) and Imam Abdoulie Fatty of State house mosque, came to Farafenni two weeks ago on a fact finding mission that the head chief of Upper Baddibu Mattar Gaye is a UDP sympathizer and supporter. They spent the weekend and upon their return, Mattar was sacked/retired to be replaced by no other than Sambujang Jagne (the divisional APRC chairman, former July 22nd chairman and formally PPP chairman). This happens to be blessing in disguise as the man is an outcast already. There are more divisions to follow due to this new development in Farefenni. Thanks. Musa. PS: I have just got a call and the situation is very tense with the UDP team at the moment. They have all taken refuge at the Basse police station as Baba Jobe with 7 vehicles fully armed with people is lying in wait for them. A military escort was promised for the team to return to Banjul, but that seem to be abandoned as of now. I will send you an update soon.