Over 80 Opposition Supporters Arrested, 90 Year-Old Man in Hiding





The Independent

October 26, 2001
Posted to the web October 26, 2001

Banjul

Mass arrests of opposition sympathizers have been made by the police and the
National Intelligence Agency across the country in the wake of the
Presidential Elections The Independent has been reliably informed.

Over 80 people believed to be opposition supporters, were arrested and
detained in police stations across the country including Bundung, Bakau,
Brikama and Jangjangbureh police stations.

George Christensen of Radio One FM, and Dr. Momodou S.K Manneh were also
held by the NIA. Mr. Christensen has since been released but told to be
reporting on bail.

Mohamed Lamin Sillah, a human rights activist is also being held
incommunicado since Monday October 22 is still believed to be languishing in
NIA cells.

In one mass arrest in Tallinding members of one family living close to where
an arson attack was carried out on the residence of APRC politician Fabakary
Tombong Jatta were whisked away by police officers escorted by a civilian
holding a list of those wanted by the security personnel for questioning
over the arson attack. Those arrested and still believed to be held are
Wudeh Njie, Fatou Saidy, Da Suwareh and other members of the same family in
Tallinding. Pa Nyeleng Suwareh the 96- year old head of the family was also
being sought and his family think he would not be spared arrest if found.

His wife Aja Anna Saidykhan was also being held. Pa Nyeleng Suwareh who was
renowned for his loyalty to the erstwhile PPP is said to be too old to be
subjected to further harassment since he was detained twice before in 1995
and 2000. "Let them have sympathy for the old man, if he was a tiger he has
no more claws, if he was a lion or a shark he has no more jaws", a family
member said, claiming that those picked up by the police from the compound
are innocent of any wrongdoing related to the arson attack. He pointed out
that there is a strong affinity between his family and those of where the
arson attack took place - a relation, which he said was brought about by old
Pa Nyeleng "who could not have turned again to destroy what he had helped to
build over the years".

Meanwhile opposition sources also claimed that some UDP supporters were even
arrested and detained with their wives. Those arrested in Brikama included
Binta Sireh Bojang, Dodou Kah Bojang, Dembo Mabu Bojang and Abdoulie Darboe.

Sources say they were arrested after a clash between some jubilant APRC
supporters and a group of UDP sympathizers. A middle-aged woman who was
among those who stormed the Brikama Police Station to demand for explanation
said there was no reason APRC supporters should be allowed to behave the way
they did. "Celebrating their victory should not mean that they should harass
or castigate others" she protested, adding that after all the politicking
"we are all the same". Another man confirmed arrested is Bunja Sanneh alias
Manis who was picked up on Sunday afternoon by four unidentified men who
alighted from a numberless, grey double cabin pick-up vehicle. His wife told
The Independent that the four men forcefully pushed him to the waiting car
when he demanded to know why they had come for him. "the manner in which he
was arrested worries me. I am afraid that they could do anything to him" she
said. Bakary's son also believes that his father had done nothing wrong to
cause his arrest by the NIA. He said someone had seen his father performing
ablution at the NIA headquarters. "We all cannot support one party. He like
all other Gambian has the right to support the party of his choice" he
asserted.

Among those arrested in far-flung Jarra are Fatoumatta Ceesay, Alieu Ceesay,
Dawda Saidykhan, Soubou Numi Saidy, Demba Taal, Paul Kinteh, Seedy Ceesay,
Jurtung K. Minteh, Wandifa Fofana, Yusupha Njie, Lamin Koto Fofana, Kajali
Dibba, Landing Fofana, Bakoto Ceesay, Almami Saidykhan, Baboucarr Saidykhan,
Kalilu Saidykhan and Khadi Hananding Kinteh.

All efforts to contact the police PRO for an update on the arrests meanwhile
proved futile.


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