|
Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Dec 2007 : 21:48:16
|
Tobaski Ram Sellers Arrested, Released
By Emil Touray & Bakary Seedy Dampha
Aggrieved ram sellers at the Abuko livestock market on Thursday 20 December (Tobaski day) expressed acrimony over the arrests and detention of their colleagues and loved ones by state security agents. Giving an account of the horrific situation, Hali Ceesay, from Mamudfana, told this paper that “President Jammeh’s security guards” descended at the Abuko livestock market on Tuesday afternoon and arrested people they accused of selling sheep at exorbitant prices. He said his uncle, Omar Jeng, from Mamudfana, was arrested together with
Hali Bindi, Pateh Samba and Sarra Nyass (all from Mamudfana) . He said Ebou Fatou Mbaye from Kerr Homar Dacko and Alagie Jong of Niamina, who is currently residing in the Kombos, were also arrested.. Hali Ceesay said, “when they came here, they asked my uncle the price for two rams, he told them that one is costing D8,500 and the other D10,000. They ( State Security Agents) said the rams are expensive and asked him to follow them”.
He continued,” we were not told that we should sell our sheep at specific prices. Infact when a delegation of ram sellers went to their place of detention at Yundum Police Station, the police on duty said they, were only
asked to detain them there”.
He said the horrifying situation had forced him to sell his rams at a loss. He remarked,” I bought a sheep at a cost price of D3000 and spent D450 on transportation, only to sell it at a loss price of D1000". He said his uncle brought twelve sheep and he had sold all. Another ram seller, Madi Ceesay from Mamud Fana gave a vivid picture of the incident. In his narration, Ceesay said three plain clothes officers went to the livestock market at Abuko at around 3pm. He said upon arrival, the men met and asked Omar Jeng the price for his
rams. Continuing his explanation, Ceesay said when Omar told them the prices; they said the rams are expensive and that they will not allow them to sell the rams at such prices. Going further, Ceesay said it was at that juncture that one of the officers phoned somebody and a vehicle came to the scene. He said one of the officers had told them that nobody should sell their sheep at a price which is more than D5000. He said an officer at Yundum police station had told them that the order to arrest and detain the ram sellers is from a high
authority. Justifying their prices, Ceesay said they purchased the rams at Senegal at prices ranging from CFA 25,000, to CFA 80,000. He said they also spent money on transportation and that is why they had to sell the rams at these prices so that they will not incur any loss of revenue. Madi Ceesay is of the view that the action of the state security agents contravenes the free market policy of The Gambia.
Other ram sellers expressed consternation over the arrests and detentions of their colleagues. Some of the ram sellers said other ram sellers at Abuko were arrested, but they did not know their names. Some of the ram sellers mobilized themselves on “Tobaski” day and headed for Yundum police station with a objective to facilitate the release of their colleagues. Some of the ram sellers were seen parking their items and preparing for their journey back home since they were going to celebrate the Tobaski on Friday. Speaking to this paper on Saturday evening, one of the arrestees said they were released on bail on Friday evening. He said they were twelve in number, but one of them escaped while they were in police custody. He further stated that they were asked to report to the police on Monday. He told this paper that they were arrested by
state security agents after Omer Jeng told them the prices he was selling his sheep.
This paper contacted one of the arrestees on Tuesday and he confirmed that they have been finally released unconditionally. He said Dawda Ceesay from Ngayen Sanjal who was arrested later was also released.
This paper contacted the police spokesperson on Saturday, but he said he was not aware of it. When contacted on Monday, he said he was ill and not at work but had promised to contact Yundum police station and would brief us on the matter afterwards. The Foroyaa contacted him later and he said he did try to contact the officers at Yundum Police Station, but his efforts did not bear fruits.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 150/2007, 27 December, 2007
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
