NEWS
Jammeh's Intimidation of Gambians Extended in the US -Says Chairman of
Movement For Democracy and Development
BY OUR NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT
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September 18, 2005
"President Yahya Jammeh's intimidation and persecution of Gambians is now
being extended in the United States of America, as I'm a victim of Jammeh's
security harassment. I was not only harassed but treated as a common
prisoner by Jammeh's security delegation. They applied all measures to place
me under close surveillance while at an APRC meeting in New York attended by
Jammeh." those were the words of Saihou Mballow Chairman of the New York
based Movement For Democracy and Development.
Mr. Mballow, a veteran politician accompanied by his colleagues Messrs:
Kebba Janneh, Wassa Janneh, Musa Janneh and Lamin Mboge told the ALLGAMBIAN
online Newspaper that they were subjected to humiliating reception at the
meeting which was held at 780 East, 3RD Avenue, between 48 Street and 49
Street down town New York.
Narrating his encounter with Jammeh's security officers, Mr. Mballow said
his camera was confiscated at the entrance of the hotel, where he and his
colleagues were exposed to intensive security screening by Jammeh's guards.
While Mballow insists that it was his constitutional right to witness such a
meeting as a Gambian, he further adds "If Jammeh is really here for Gambians
and his trip had been sponsored by Gambia's tax payers, I see no reason why
I should be denied entry."
According to Mballow while awaiting security screening at the door, they
were told by Pa Boto Sanneh that no questions or comments will be
entertained. "Notwithstanding, I made it clear to him that I had few
questions of interest to Gambians, which I will like to ask Jammeh. But my
request was still turned down." Mr. Mballow told the ALLGAMBIAN.
While at the meeting Mballow went on "I realised that there was a close
surveillance mounted on me by Jammeh's guards. They thought that I was
there on a different mission. At one point, i went to the rest room, they
followed me there, pretending as if they were to use the toilet. They also
will not allow me to stand or walk alone. I was treated like a common
prisoner in a free country like the United States." Mr. Mballow disclosed.
Shortly after Jammeh's speech Mr. Mballow added "I stood up and raised my
hand and requested to be heard. I was later confronted by Jammeh's security
officers who urged me to sit down. I insisted that I must ask questions to
Jammeh. One of the officers told me that they rented the hall and it was
time to call off the meeting."
Attempts by the security for Mballow to surrender his written questions was
greeted with strong resistance as Mballow said he refused to entertain such
a request.
Among the pertinent questions he wanted to ask Gambia's iron hand President
Jammeh he said were "the mysterious killing of former APRC Finance Minister
Ousman Koro Ceesay, the killing of journalist Deyda Hydara, the shooting of
lawyer Ousman Sillah, the sacking of the IEC Chairman Gabril Roberts, The
Gambia/Senegal border impasse and the recent appointment of Yankuba Touray
as agriculture minister despite being ordered by the Paul Commission to pay
back D2Million dalasis to the state."
Mr. Mballow added that also part of the questions he lined up for Jammeh
were the pending 2006 presidential elections. "I wanted Jammeh to tell us
whether there will be equal access to the radio and the television. I also
wanted him to throw light on the pending investigations on the burning of
the Independent Newspaper printing press.
Despite the hostile reception meted out to them, Mr. Mballow says they are
still determined to organise a demonstration, anytime they have access to
Jammeh. He said the New York meeting was made known to them at the eleven
hour, adding that "he organisers were bent on trying to preempt any planned
demonstrations."
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