Demba Kunda Residents Take GRTS to Task The Independent (Banjul) August 20, 2001 Posted to the web August 20, 2001 Banjul, the Gambia The residents of Demba Kunda, a village in the Upper River Division have reacted to reports broadcast by Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) Radio suggesting that 210 UDP supporters from the village recently defected to the ruling APRC. Representatives of the villagers, who approached The Independent, described the report as unfounded and based on political propaganda, without any "iota of truth". They explained that since the alleged defection of the UDP militants and supporters was announced by the GRTS radio station in Basse in the beginning of this month, they confronted the station's personnel and told them to make a rectification of the story as it was "totally baseless and unjustifiable." The Demba Kunda residents said some of the GRTS personnel later told them that due to the fact that it was a state institution, they were "afraid to carry any rejoinder." They remarked that they later felt it was quite unfair to them as nobody believed the story or announcement, and therefore they found it appropriate that their concern is taken to the private press for clarification. They reaffirmed their loyalty to the UDP whatever comes, they will ever remain in support of the party despite such propaganda campaign against it. They also predicted that the UDP would sweep the polls in the area as they are prepared to massively vote for the opposition. They claimed that they have suffered enough and need to regain their "pride and dignity." A senior GRTS staff, when contacted, noted that he could not do anything about the issue as the announcement has already been made. He added that the Demba Kunda residents also have a right to express their concern about the issue and that as a matter of fact he could not do anything about it. When contacted for comments regarding the claims, the UDP leader Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, stressed that the "APRC is fond of such rubbish claims," and because the opposition do not have access to the state media they continued to misinform the masses. Darboe also added, "they are liars so it does not bother us at all." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------