COURTESY OF INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER A former member of the APRC Youth Action Group has expressed fear for his personal safety after a series of alleged threats from his former bosses, particularly he said since last month's bye-election. Bakary Kolior Camara said he has been subjected to harassment during the campaign period and that there was even a plan to kill him. He told The Independent that after the final declaration of the bye-election results at the office of the commissioner in Mansa-Konko, he and other five people were approached by the campaign chairman of the APRC Wally Sanneh who he said told him that he (Bakary) will be given "the most notorious beating ever given to a human being". He said Mr. Sanneh told him that he was going to send the youth wing members to beat him to death in his village of Kolior. "Wally said I am his headache in Kiang because even my father followed him, so why not me," Bakary lamented. He however further revealed that on the very evening of the election, "thugs of the youth wing led by Baba Jobe went to my compound at Kolior, but fortunately they did not find me in." On their arrival at his home, Bakary said they met his mother Fatoumata Camara and other relatives of his who expressed surprise at their coming to the compound, "hence we were political rivals". Since then, he said they have been monitoring his movements. He also pointed out that he was not a criminal but a person who had absolute control over his political will and desire. "Since the elections to date, I could not go to my own village, fearing that they (youth wing members) will kill me," and he appealed to human rights organizations and Amnesty International to help save his life. He said he knew the youth wing members very well that they will slaughter him as he is associated with the revelation of their previous activities. The former youth wing member warned that if the trend continuous, he will reveal more secrets of their notorious activities not only to Gambians but the world at large. Bakary indicated that they had a meeting at the chambers of the Mansa-Konko Area Council late last November in order to stage up an election fraud in the forthcoming presidential and National Assembly elections. The aim was one way or the other to register all aliens residing in Jarra Soma and surrounding villages to become holders of a valid Gambian voters cards so that the ruling party will overwhelmingly win the elections. At that meeting, he said, "Seyfo Yaya Jarjusey was present and laid the fraudulent plan saying that was the game the former PPP used to win elections" and Bakary continued that the plan contradicted the electoral act if put in place. "I therefore alarmed the IEC not to allow them register aliens staying in Soma much more their unqualified children," Bakary added. He urged all the youths especially patriotic Gambians not to allow such action to be implemented. When contacted the Communication Officer at the IEC Said Yusuf noted that the IEC is the authority on that issue and that any other information received about the process is not authoritative. He said for any conclusion to be made on the issue one must talk to the IEC to get the accurate information. Mr. Yusuf said the registration of voters is conducted in an atmosphere governed by law and the laws are strictly clear as to who can be registered and how the IEC should register. He strictly pointed out that they have no plans to register non-Gambians. He added that the registration process is governed by the election decree of 1996 which makes it very clear as to how the IEC should conduct the registration of voters. Mr. Yusuf pointed out that the law makes it very clear that it's illegal for anybody who is not a Gambian or not qualified to possess a voter's card to do so. "If the IEC finds anybody in possession of a voter's card that he/she should not have, the matter ill be taken to the police," he said. Mr. Yusuf said the criteria drawn for a person to become a legible voter is clearly stipulated in the 1996 decree. He quoted section 12 (1) which he said made it very clear that before anyone can be registered one has to be a citizen of The Gambia, attain the age of 18 years and to be born or a resident of the constituency in which he/she wants to be registered. He said the decree goes on to say that the person's name should not be entered on any register of voter in the constituency unless one of the following documents is produced; birth certificate, Gambian passport, national ID card or an attestation satisfied by five elders residing in the place of birth of the applicant, he concluded Mori ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------