DATE=4/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=GAMBIA VIOLENCE UPDATE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261151
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: As many as 10 students were killed in the
Republic of the Gambia on Monday, as students and police
clashed in the capital and another large city. As V-O-
A's John Pitman reports from our West Africa bureau, the
students were protesting the death of a fellow student,
allegedly killed by members of the country's security
services.
TEXT: Witnesses say the student demonstration began
peacefully Monday morning in the capital Banjul, but
quickly deteriorated as security units fired rubber
bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The students responded by attacking government offices
and vehicles in Banjul and Serekunda, a suburb of the
capital.
/// OPT ///
Among the dead was a local radio journalist who was
volunteering with the Red Cross. Omar Barro worked for
the private Senegalese radio station Sud FM, but had put
on a Red Cross jersey during the riot to help the
injured.
/// END OPT ///
Alhaji Mbye [pron. Bye], a journalist who covered the
riot for the "Independent" newspaper in Banjul described
the violence as a "rampage". Speaking to V-O-A by
telephone, Mr. Mbye said local emergency rooms were
crowded with injured students Monday night, and that
health officials are warning the death toll could rise.
/// MBYE ACT #1 ///
The stories I gathered from the hospital indicated
that many students are lying there and they are
requesting donations of blood - that those who can
go over there and help to donate blood would be
highly appreciated. And the death toll definitely
may rise.
/// END ACT ///
The students were protesting the death of one of their
comrades last month, allegedly at the hands of government
fire-fighters.
According to Mr. Mbye, student leaders say the young man
was tortured by the fire-fighters, who have also been
accused of raping a female student this year.
Following the incident, several fire-fighters in the city
of Brikama, south of Banjul, were arrested. They are
currently awaiting trial.
/// OPT ///
In Gambia, the fire department is structured as a kind of
paramilitary force, whose duties extend beyond putting
out fires.
Again, Alhaji Mbye.
/// OPT MBYE ACT #2 ///
According to the student leaders, this student had
some problems with one of his teacher and the
teacher reported him to the fire fighters in
Brikama (city approx. 50 km south of Banjul). And
eventually he was arrested and definitely tortured,
according to the students. And these students are
demanding that these fire fighters be brought to
book (held responsible).
/// END ACT ///
/// END OPT ///
Mr. Mbye says the students launched their protest
movement to draw attention to what they believe is a
system of brutality and impunity within the Gambia's
state security apparatus.
By Monday evening, calm had returned to the streets of
Banjul, and police and army units could be seen
patrolling the capital in force. With President Yahya
Jammeh in Cuba for the Group of 77 summit of developing
countries, the Gambian government has issued a statement
assuring the public it is in control of the situation.
An emergency meeting of ministers was reportedly convened
to discuss and evaluate the day's events.
/// REST OPT ///
The violence comes at a sensitive time for President
Jammeh.
In January, Mr. Jammeh put down what he said was an
attempted coup. But despite this apparent victory over
his real or imagined rivals, the president has become
increasingly obsessed with security - even going so far
as to move his official residence to his home village,
hundreds of kilometers from the capital. (Signed)
NEB/JP/TVM/gm
10-Apr-2000 19:01 PM EDT (10-Apr-2000 2301 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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