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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------