UDP Militants Recount State Guard "Brutality" The Independent (Banjul) August 10, 2001 Posted to the web August 10, 2001 Banjul, the Gambia Two United Democratic Party (UDP) militants who claimed to have been arrested by State Guards at Kuli Kunda in Kiang West last Thursday and eventually taken to Kanilai and subjected to beatings and torture recounted their ordeal to The Independent. According to them 15 heavily armed State Guards descended on the village after a family row which ended up at the Mansakonko Court. They said three of them were later taken to Kanilai, President Jammeh's home village where they were brutally tortured and humiliated by soldiers for more than 24 hours. Basirou Njie and Jansuri Njie, who were hospitalised in a private clinic after their release said that they were subjected to the most degrading and inhumane treatment. Basirou, explained that the problem began when he had a problem with Jerreh his brother's son and that he was surprised that one Fatoumatta Njie, the APRC area councillor found it necessary to interfere in the matter and reported it to the Mansakonko Police Station. He added that despite knowing that the matter was a civil suit the police forwarded the case to the court, even after the village elders including the Seyfo and the Alkalo intervened and resolved the matter. He noted that Fatoumatta was not happy about the outcome and informed the State Guards "through some of her contacts" that there was a serious row in the village caused by some UDP militants which has gone beyond the purview of the police. He said that the State Guards went to Fatoumatta, who he alleged "fabricated lies" against them, and without even allowing them to speak, they were allegedly forced into a military vehicle. He noted that all the elders of the village intervened and informed the soldiers that it was a family matter, which was amicably resolved, but, according to Basirou the soldiers told them that they are not policemen and they would not listen to anyone. One of the alleged victims said they were seriously beaten in the presence of their wives and children and taken to Kanilai where they were again tortured by several soldiers under the command of one Lt. Yakuba Badjie. He said they were forced to "swim" on dirty water, and told to "monkey dance". Basirou disclosed that all such activities went with severe beatings on their heads, necks and backs mostly by one soldier called Michael who boasted of having been in Liberia and witnessing different methods of killing. He said a pistol was pointed to his head while he was asked which political party he belonged to. He said since he was scared he told them that he was a member of the village APRC and was forced to repeat it seven times with beatings. He disclosed that Lt. Badjie insisted that they should be tortured more. He claimed that a soldier called Lamin Jammeh was instructed to beat him. He further alleged that Lt. Badjie told them that the Jolas were voting and dancing for former President Jawara, but the Mandinkas have refused to support President Jammeh. He said they were reminded that in the forthcoming elections soldiers would be prepared to "kill a lot of people like bedbugs". He alleged that they were also threatened with death. He revealed that later elders of their village visited them in Kanilai and pleaded for their release. Jansuri Njie, on his part said that the soldiers had said it was legal to torture them. He alleged that certain top government officials such as the Secretary of State for Local Government and Lands Momodou Nai Ceesay, the Secretary of State for the Interior Ousman Badjie and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Colonel Baboucarr Jatta were aware of their arrest and detention in Kanilai. He alleged that it was one Babasanding Njie who advised Fatoumatta Njie to contact the soldiers and "frame up" a story against the UDP militants. He said a list of UDP militants were handed over to the soldiers, which included one Karafanding Njie and others to be arrested. Meanwhile the National Assembly member for the area Omar Kebba Mass said that the two gentlemen were in terrible pain following their ordeal. He added that as their representative, he felt affected and advised Gambians to appraise the role of our security forces and contrast it with what has happened to them. He said security forces should not oppress people and take the law into their own hands with impunity. Therefore he said no defence could be put up to justify the alleged torture. Mr. Mass said security forces should not complicate the political process by harassing and torturing those they are supposed to defend. He said members of the security forces who are interested in politics should resign and join the party of their choice. Mr. Mass indicated that it is the third such incident involving the security forces in politically motivated acts of torture on civilians. He therefore called on the Army Chief of Staff to act immediately and explain to Gambians who authorised the arrest and torture of the UDP supporters. According to him it is high time the security forces became law abiding. He advised the people of Kiang West who are behind the UDP to be law abiding but said no one can prevent them from exercising their constitutional rights. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------