THE ID PALAVER |
The ID PalaverNews Watch this weeks looks at the burning issue of Identity Cards
at the Denton Bridge. In many of the incidents, commuters have complained
of harassment and even physical force being meted against them by soldiers
following their failure to produce their IDs. News
Watch has interviewed a cross section of the general public to find out
how they feel about the whole saga.
Mr. Barry, GAMTEL: "If this is a national thing, I
don't think the security personnel should be exempted. Just this week an
Immigration Officer came to our office and then I asked him for his ID, he
could not produce it but produced his department's identification and
argued that it was sufficient evidence of his identity. I also had the
opportunity to listen and contribute to the "Living in Peace" programme on
GRTS and I heard the Immigration Officer denying that the ID cards were
being issued at the Denton Bridge. This is very untrue because I have seen
them doing this at the bridge.
The Point: What do you think the authorities
should do in this case?
Mr. Barry: I think that the authorities should be
honest and fair with people by informing them about such happenings
because this is creating a lot of public discontent against the
authorities.
Omar Barrow, journalist Sud FM: "Well I don't see
this as a form of harassment because in most countries people carry their
ID cards with them so why not in The Gambia? After all the ID cards
are for our own protection.
The Point: "How about people who claim to have
been beaten, detained or intimidated at the bridge because of failure to
produce IDs?
Barrow: "Well I think the best thing for them is to
report the matter to the appropriate authorities rather than go crying to
the media.
Anonymous police officer: "The request for
identification is a very good thing but I think the problem lies with the
way the security men act in certain situations. As a security
officer I can request for your ID but I am not empowered to
ill-treat you or do otherwise.
The Point: So there should be no harassment?
Officer: "I am definitely against the kind of
harassment I have been hearing about but at the same time I am very much
in support of people carrying their ID cards with
them.
Fakebba Manga, security officer: "It is a positive
requirement that people must have ID cards with them, so Gambians have to
get used to the idea. On the alleged beatings, it depends on how you talk
to the officer requesting for the ID card. If you talk rudely, it is
obvious that he will feel provoked.
Ida Faal, businesswoman: "The first thing I want to
say is that the soldiers don't have any respect especially for the
womenfolk. Some of them don't even greet you before shouting for the ID
cards. Sometimes women and very young girls are detained at the bridge
until the early hours of the morning. Nobody is saying that people should
not carry their ID cards but the soldiers should exercise some respect in
their duties.
Abdou Jammeh, a victim: "I have been through it so I
can tell you exactly what happened. Just because I did not have the new ID
card and I did not have money to change the old one which I had with me at
the time. Two of the soldiers pushed me around and shouted insults at me.
They forced me to monkey dance and gave me a cutlass to cut the tall grass
near the police station there.
The Point: Did you report the incident?
Jammeh: I reported it to the Army Headquarters and
they kept on telling me to go and come back. After some time I got fed up.
The soldiers think they can do anything they feel and get away with it.
Momodou Nai Ceesay, Director Immigration: "First of
all I would like to contradict people's beliefs that the soldiers are not
supposed to ask for ID cards. Any security officer can act on behalf of
the Immigration Department. In short, they are complementing the services
of the Immigration.
The Point: But in requesting for the ID cards,
there have been reported incidents of beatings and harassment by the
soldiers, what can you tell us about that?
Mr. Ceesay: "This has not come to our notice yet. No
such matter has been reported. Any way in this view, we will try to
educate both the security services and the general public on their
approach.
But the important thing is for people to get their ID
cards and carry them at all times. Its an important requirement which must
be met when you attain 18 years. So why go through all these problems with
the security?
The Point: Your department has now taken to
issuing ID cards at the Denton Bridge. Don't you think that some
foreigners can get secure the cards?
Mr. Ceesay: "This is not possible because you have to
produce documents to satisfy the Immigration Officers on duty. You also
have to undergo intensive interviewing to verify your nationality before
you are issued with an ID card.
I want to assure the general public that this procedure
is for their own security and protection of our country. Please carry your
ID cards as failure to carry attracts a penalty. The ID cards supersedes
all other documents and its your right as a Gambian to have
it. |