(Tuesday 15th October 2019 Issue)
Bintou
Nyabally, a witness who testified before the TRRC on Monday has said that
United Democratic Party (UDP) militant Ousman Ceesay was shot by soldiers in
2001, after having a discussion with the deputy party leader of APRC Fabakary
Tombong Jatta in his residence in Tallinding.
“In
2001, a day before election, I was standing around Fabakary Tombong Jatta’s
compound and saw soldiers standing with him (Mr Jatta) and they were talking
and facing us with guns. Later, they shot Ousman Ceesay alias Oustass on his
forehead and I heard people saying Lamin kill him.”
She
said she couldn’t tell what led to the shooting but she knew that the soldiers
were operating on orders.
Nyabally
said after Ousman was shot, the soldiers wanted to take the body but the UDP militants didn’t agree which
led to an argument. “During the argument, paramilitaries who joined the
soldiers fired tear gas to disperse people. The militants also stoned them and
the Paramilitaries started to beat some people with their batons.”
The
witness further stated that the Army commander at the time, Baboucarr Jatta
arrived at the scene and asked them to stop and they did. “I was beaten with a
baton and my body was swollen. I also saw some people who were bleeding,” she
said.
She
said she worked at Sea Front in 2016 but she left because of threats. “I used
to attend my uncle Solo Sandeng’s court sitting where a solider once told me
that he recognized me and that’s why I left my work because it was not safe.”
On
whether she knew about Sadibou Hydara’s death, the witness testified that
Sadibou is her uncle and she was informed that Hydara died due to high blood
pressure. “I don’t believe that because we never know him as high blood patient
and I know that before you enter the army, you must be checked.”
“The
2001 elections was won by APRC and they were celebrating while insulting us, I
always insulted them and I had a fight with three of them.”
