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. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>