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Momodou
Denmark
11715 Posts |
 Posted - 24 May 2010 : 14:59:59
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There are gramitacal errors in this article but interesting revelations.
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Another Frustrated Rally Triggers Division in the Police
By Saikou Jammeh
National Reconciliation Party leader Hamat Bah Saturday attempted to float-up after long absence in The Gambia’s political arena but was blocked by the police in yet another frustration of opposition parties’ rallies.
Hundreds of NRP militants passed through the evolving villages in Upper Saloum chanting, but combined armed and unarmed police forces denied them entrance to Fas village, the venue for the rally.
They were escorted to N’Jau police station –almost 6 kilometres from Fas - where they were kept for almost 2 hours before returning to Panchang, a village next to Fas, where they met their party leader.
Assembling supporters in mass political rallies, for opposition parties in The Gambia, is as hard as cracking a hard nut, whilst the ruling party engages in aggressive campaign across the country.
This situation provoked instances of defying the Public Order Act – the legislation requiring parties obtain permit – to stage political rallies, in pursuance of their basic right of Assembly.
As a result, the opposition-UDP campaign manager Femi Peters, the hardest hit victim, is imprisoned after his party staged a rally when ex-IGP Ensa Badjie, now under trial for string of offences, refused them permit.
"Division in police"
The Fas saga has triggered division in the Gambia Police Force. Operations of Commander Omar Jawo, when contacted via phone by Hamat said the rally must be held since the permit was approved by the IGP.
But the Commissioner of Police in Central Riversaid he did not have the permit and that the area is under security threat, thus no rally.
"Even some police officers on the ground bitterly argued among themselves", said Hamat. "If I go ahead with the rally, they would provoke and it would have been bloody because I cannot control my people from retaliating.
Then the IGP and Commissioner of Police would be sacked and the CRR police Commissioner would be made IG"
"Politically motivated"
What seems to bitter NRP militants most is the presence of ruling APRC party militants at the scene, as Awa, a militant says, "where they have no business."
An unconfirmed rumor tracked down by this reporter is that the village head of Fas was panicked because he was threatened. He then wrote to the Governor to suppress the meeting.
"There is no security threat in the area as clamed by the Commissioner of police there," Hamat said. "It is all politically motivated.
"Tensions"
The atmosphere that has characterised the row was tense. Even the party militants, too, had conflicting views as others, pressed to go on with the rally.
As Musu, a female supporter said: "even if it means clashing with the police we must have our meeting," reflecting the sentiment of many others, especially youths.
Some supporters were however conserved. "In the interest of peace let us cancel the meeting. There are many ways we can go about it," says one man who appeared eldest, a decision the leader Hamat supported.
"Coming back"
The NRP leader vowed not to let-up in his mandate as a party leader to gather his supporters to chart the way forward, particularly now that both presidential and parliamentary elections draw nearer.
"I am going to apply for permit again," he said. "And this time I will tour the whole of Upper Saloum constituency village by village."
See next edition for full interview with Hamat Bah
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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