Gamsu VP testifies before commission
     

Alhagie S Darboe, vice president of the Gambia Students Union (Gamsu), yesterday, told the commission of inquiry probing the incidents of April 10 and 11, on its first day of hearings, that the students  were told by the Interior secretary of state, Ousman Badjie, that orders "had already been given" for the security personnel to forcefully disperse the demonstrating students on April 10. 

Appearing before the eight -man commission, Mr Darboe said SoS Badjie made that statement when Alieu Darboe, member of Gamsu, approached Badjie, urging him to ask his men to cease using force on the students. 

He said SoS Badjie did not tell them who gave the order for the security personnel to use force on the students. 

In a marathon testimony, Mr Darboe explained to the commission how they were arrested by the paramilitary officers and taken to the paramilitary base, where he said, they were "mercilessly beaten" while in detention. 

Mr Darboe said the paramilitary sat on their heads while they were being transported to the paramilitary base in Kanifing. He told the commission that they were arrested by paramilitary officers who returned from chasing fleeing students. 

He said they were released unconditionally when SoS Badjie visited the paramilitary base. 

He said the Gamsu executive members appealed to the students to calm down and throw away their stones and the students complied. 

He said the paramilitary continued firing at the students while chasing them. 

At Westfield, the Gamsu members could not address the students because the situation went "totally out of control" when firing erupted, he said. 

He said when the paramilitary officers began firing, the students too stoned them. He added that some of the students were later arrested and beaten up. 

He said he went to the Kanifing Mobile Traffic Police office area, where firing was going on and students were running helter-skelter. 

Asked by the commission to describe the sound of the gunshots he heard, Darboe said  the sound was like "pratt..." That prompted laughter from the audience. 

He said he saw four boys dressed in school uniforms lying on the ground and he hailed to a stop a passing Red Cross ambulance coming from Sankung Sillah end. 

He said the bodies were put on board the Red Cross ambulance by the Red Cross personnel and taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. 

He added that a student later came and informed him that another student was injured and was hiding near the Sankung Sillah junction and he visited the area. 

Mr Darboe explained to the commission how he escaped from the hands of the soldiers at the Abuko checkpoint, while he was travelling to his home at Brikama. 

He said when the soldiers stopped the vehicle he boarded, while asking passengers their identity cards, he walked slowly and escaped. 

He added that the army chief of staff, Babucarr Jatta, was at the Westfield area during the clashes and was communicating on his mobile phones. 

He added that he also saw Baba Jobe, former chairman of the defunct July 22 Movement, also talking on his mobile phone. 

On their demands which provoked the demonstration, Mr Darboe said the students wanted the alleged murderers of Ebrima Barry and the alleged rapist of the Brikama-ba school girl be brought to justice. 

He said they also requested for the redeployment of the Brikama Fire Services personnel accused in the Ebrima Barry incident and the sacking of the paramilitary head on duty at the Independence Stadium at the time of the alleged rape. He said a letter containing their demands was read to the IGP during their meeting with him. 

He said the IGP, Rex King, admitted receiving copy of their demands. 

He said while the dialogue was in progress, Landing Badjie, alias 13 Badjie, former police crime management boss, told them that he had no mandate to sack the head of the paramilitary officer on duty at the  stadium. 

Mr Darboe said 13 Badjie told them it was possible to redeploy the Brikama Fire Service personnel and that "he would talk to the IGP and SoS Interior to make sure that it is effected." 

He said the chief fire officer told them, "What is Gamsu? Can they make demands?" 

Sainabou Jaye, Gamsu secretary general, also appeared before the Commission. 

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