United Democratic Party Leadership Threatened With Death




The Independent (Banjul)

September 25, 2000

Banjul

Unimpeachable sources have intimated to The Independent that members of the APRC
Youth Wing have threatened to attack and kill United Democratic Party top brass
including Ousainou Darboe, Lamin Waa Juwara and Lamin Shyngle Nyassi to avenge
the death of Alieu Njie an APRC supporter who allegedly died following clashes
between opposition and ruling party supporters in Basse earlier this year.

According to the sources, members of the ruling party's youth wing have
threatened to 'attack, disrupt and kill' members of the UDP leadership and their
supporters anytime they hold rallies outside the Greater Banjul Area. The
sources also added that APRC militants have planned to attack UDP convoys going
to or returning from rallies. They further suggested that those making the
threat are 'determined to kill at least 50 UDP supporters.' The alleged threat
to assassinate UDP leaders, the sources emphasised, came as some undisclosed
members of the APRC youth wing reportedly incensed over the death of one of
their supporters, wanted to 'get even'.

Meanwhile, a letter dated 18th September from the UDP addressed to two state
authorities suggested that its leadership has got wind of the alleged threat.
The letter sent to the Secretary of State for the Interior and the Inspector
General of Police, the UDP notified them of the alleged threat to carry out 'the
carnage'. Not only did the letter mention the alleged determination by some
members of the APRC youth movement to assassinate UDP leaders and their
supporters, but it also alleged a systematic programme of extermination starting
with Ousainou Darboe's personal bodyguards.

The letter, which was copied to the chairman of the Independent Electoral
Commission also claimed that the reported presence of the movement's members at
a rally in Farato 'was part of their scheme to cause trouble, which was only
averted by the presence of the Police Intervention Unit'.

The letter had also notified state authorities of a planned UDP rally in Brikama
on September 23, requesting for necessary action and precaution from state
security agencies to avoid what the party's leadership called a 'national
catastrophe'. It also reiterated the party's commitment to the laws of the land
and its readiness to co-operate with law enforcers in ensuring peace and
stability in the country.

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