Coalition reacts to deputy IGP

The leadership of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has strongly reacted to
allegations made against the party by the deputy inspector general of
police, Jai Sowe on Wednesday October 2, 2001.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the party's campaign manager, Femi
Peters, said the UDP took the strongest exception to the biased and partisan
utterances that the DIG made and wished not only to refute these allegations
but also show clearly that he had abysmally failed in his attempt to paint
the party in bad lights.

Mr Peters pointed out that there was a constitutionally competent body -the
Independent Electoral Commission which in times of elections was competent
to make observations as to the observance of election rules.

"The party does feel it was not proper for the DIG who outspokenly, in an
un-experienced manner, to connect our party to these outrageous allegations.
The police as a member of the security force should absolutely be neutral
when it comes to ethical policies."

He outlined that it was difficult to understand why the DIG had to go to the
press with "this ill- informed diatribe against the UDP. This, he said, was
not only ill-advised but unconstitutional.

The UDP had always said public servants should play an even-handed role as
officials serving the whole community without distinction. "We were not
surprised however, since, when our party leader and his entourage were being
detained at Basse after the attack by APRC supporters, he, while on duty to
investigate the case, was seen driving around town with a youth action
group," he said. Mr Peters added that the UDP would examine DIG Sowe's
allegations because it was a common knowledge that the party had borne the
brunt of all forms of attack from their agents.

He alleged that Mr Sow was willing to slander the UDP and it's militants.
"As for the Kembuje incident that he cited, any person in his right senses
would know that the story he had given was far-fetched."

"The convoy of 15 vehicles was on it's way to Kombo East passing through
Kembuje village and two youths standing by the road side started throwing
stones at the vehicles, in one of which the party sponsored candidate for
Kombo North, Mr Yusupha Cham was travelling .

In conclusion, campaign manager Femi Peters stressed the legality of the
party, noting that the UDP, otherwise the coalition party, was legally
registered and recognised locally and internationally.

"The leadership of the party has confined itself within the laws of The
Gambia and respects further laws and the leader of our party is a renowned
legal practitioner who had educated his party militants, who have already
conformed to the laws of this land," he said.





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