NIA Arrests Observer Reporter, Editors Condemn the Arrest



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The Daily Observer (Banjul)

March 19, 2002
Posted to the web March 19, 2002

Ibrahim JT Brown & Alhagie Camara


Observer's reporter and head of Provincial Desk, Demba Sambou, has been
arrested by the National Intelligence Agency officers at Bansang, while
attending a presentation ceremony at the Bansang Hospital.

In a telephone interview with our reporter yesterday afternoon, Mr Sambou
said an NIA officer from Bansang found him at the Bansang Hospital and
picked him up for interrogation at the the NIA office. He said he could not
recall what offence he had committed to warrant his arrest.

However, Demba said he believed it was in connection with a story published
in the Daily Observer on the sudden death of an NIA senior officer, the late
Adboulie Gaye, who reportedly died in a motor accident.

Mr Sambou was later taken to the Basse NIA office, where officers questioned
him about where he got his facts from or why he did not consult them on the
matter before publication.

Sambou however, told them that a victim of the accident who was admitted at
Bansang Hospital gave him the information and that his facts were correct.

The victim he said, was Mamie Drammeh, whom, he said was still receiving
treatment at the Bansang Hospital.

The police public relations officer, Inspector Sarjo Keita could not be
reached for comment. Meanwhile, Sambou is said to have been released.

However, Observer's edito-in-chief, Kebba Dibba and his deputy Momodou Musa
Touray, have expressed outrage at such a conduct by the intelligence agency,
emphasising the need for cooperation between the press and the security
forces. Mr Dibba said by all indications, the reporter was doing his job and
had posed no threat to whatever security, national or otherwise. "Whether it
was the act of a rouge individual element within the intelligence agency or
not, remains to be seen but such conduct is unacceptable". He urged the
authorities to take the necessary steps to avoid such an uncalled for
behaviour.

"We are partners in national development and the security should not see us
as threats to national security," deputy editor Touray reiterated.

Mr Dibba and his team vowed to take up the matter with the NIA top brass to
minimise such a thing in the future.





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