Even
before the press conference started, journalists were intimidated by a crowd of
supporters; the greater number of them belonged to the United Democratic Party
(UDP) and a few from the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and the Gambia
Moral Congress (GMC).
From
the beginning, we were even wondering what type of press conference the event
was because the aggressive-looking supporters heavily outnumbered the
journalists.
After
all the statements from Ousainou Darboe, Hamat Bah and Mai Ahmad Fatty, the
leaders of the UDP, NRP and GMC respectively, I was the first to ask my two
questions. As soon as I introduced myself as Foroyaa newspaper journalist, I
was continually interrupted by the supporters.
I
could hear them say, “He is sent by Halifa Sallah’. It was hard to put my
questions across because of the harassment and interruptions. I could hear my
colleague journalists telling the wild supporters “please allow us to do our
job” but they never accepted.
My
questions were directed at Darboe and Fatty. To Darboe, I asked him for
clarification and the question: ‘What causes the split from the coalition since
it looks like the tactical alliance he mentioned was part of the options Halifa
mentioned last week in his press conference.
Mai
Fatty in his deliberation stated that the coalition couldn’t contest in the
election based on legal ground. I then asked him: “If the coalition could
contest in the presidential election to unseat President Jammeh, why can’t they
do the same unison in the parliamentary election?”
Darboe
clarified the differences saying they split because others including the PDOIS,
NCP, PPP, and GPDP are not in for tactical alliance but to contest as
independent candidates which they cannot do because they don’t want their
parties to die. Fatty answered that Adama Barrow whom I used in my question as
a reference is one but that cannot be applied to all the constituencies in the
National Assembly election. It was from here I started to face more
intimidations.
At
the end of the press conference, while I was still in the room directly
standing opposite Mr Darboe, who was flanked by Mr Bah and Mr Fatty, a young
man approached me from behind saying: “Why not you go and ask Halifa Sallah?” I
kept quiet but he repeated it again and I told him “I am here as an independent
journalist representing Foroyaa newspaper, not Halifa”. He insulted me. He
continued to harass me. This happened right in front of the 3 leaders. More people came to the scene and a colleague
from GRTS Radio, Abdoulie Sey, held me and took me downstairs. The insult on me and my mother intensified.
Some could not understand what happened yet they were following and insulting
me; I was later held by two police orderlies of the ministers. As I was coming
downstairs, the party supporters followed me shouting: “Why should you insult
Mr Darboe”? I never insulted Darboe
though.
As
Sey was still holding me towards the highway, they followed me. This time one
of them hit me but I tried to defend myself.
Then they came in a group to attack me including women and one who
eventually scratched me with her fingernail at my neck leaving me with
bruises. They torn up my shirt and I
also suffered internal shoulder pain too.
As
larger crowds continued to approach me on the highway, I was forcefully pushed
into one of the taxes packed on the roadside. This vehicle was obstructed by
the supporters; they don’t want it to move so that the driver can ask me out.
Kebba
Jeffang, Foroyaa newspaper
