Ex-Interior minister speaks of arrest, April 2000

61

Ousman Badjie, former minister of the Interior on Wednesday testified before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), giving accounts of how he was arrested, detained and imprisoned and also the role he played on April 10/11 students’ demonstration in 2000.

The witness disclosed that he was later taken to Mile 2. “If my memory serves me well, we were 10 in a cell.”

“I was detained for 640 days (almost 2 years)”

He was released in October 1996 which he described as a big relief for him.

As commissioner of police in charge of Operations shortly after his release, he said he received a letter of dismissal from the police.

He divulged that he was later reinstated in the police as commissioner of police, responsible for Administration until his appointment as minister of the Interior January 1999-2003.

On the issue of internal security, he said the responsibility was on the IGP while he (Badjie) was in charge of policies, such as expansion of police barracks, stations and also negotiate the welfare of the men including feedings of the men and women.

“The IGP can report to both the president and the minister of Interior, but in cases for investigations they work more with the Ministry of Justice. I was not supervisor of the police but would rather serve as the mouthpiece for the IGP at the National Assembly.”

On April 10/11, he said he got information from police that students were trying to have a demonstration in connection with the death of Ebrima Barry and the alleged rape case of Binta Manneh.

According to him, the IGP and the chief fire officer told him that the matter was under investigations. He said they had a meeting at the College to re-assure the parents of the victims that the issue was a concern and that the police and fire service were investigating the matter.

“We were in a haste to expedite everything, especially when it involves death; for the fact that a postmortem was to be conducted; while for the rape case an identification parade was to be conducted.”

“I told them it is your right to demonstrate but it must be within the confines of the law because the Public Order Act states that if you want to demonstrate you write to the IGP for a permit.”

On the allegations by witnesses Alagie S. Darboe and Lamin Jobe that during their meeting at the College, his and the IGP’s tones were harsh and threatening, but Mr. Badjie, however, submitted that they told them that everything surrounding the cases was going to be dealt with.

“I was not aware of any order being given to the fire service or PIU officers. I sent a press release to GRTS and it was aired on the 9th of April, 2019.”

On the day of the demonstration while on his way to work, he explained that he found the situation chaotic because vehicles were not moving as students were not happy. He added that at that point, he saw 10 PIU officers trying to disperse students not to occupy the road and they were using force for students to go back to their schools.

He added that the students told him that they didn’t want to see any PIU officer around them and all student leaders that had been detained should be released. He told the Commission that he ensured that their demands were met.

Upon arrival at the PIU Headquarters, he said, he instructed the officers to release the students and all of a sudden, he heard the noise of a tear gas.

“I did not observe anything abnormal around the PIU. I later parked my car and walk on foot to Westfield and found former CDS Babucarr Jatta on the ground.”

“After I left Westfield I went with Babucarr Jatta to Latrikunda, and when I spoke to the students about the release of their leaders, a student threw a stone and as he continues to speak, another student threw a stone and later I decided to leave the scene because I didn’t want to be in a place where violent will be erupted.”

He explained that internal affairs are under the portfolio of the minister of the Interior and that the president is also mandated by the Constitution to deploy soldiers. However, he took responsibility for not doing anything.

According to him, when he returned to the PIU Headquarters, he found that the place was deserted. He added that it was unfortunate for him because he found that his vehicle’s windscreens were smashed.

On whether he spoke to the IGP or any cabinet member on that day, he responded in the negative.

He said shortly after arriving at his office in Banjul, he heard from multiple sources that students were shot and killed while others were injured and taken to Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital now Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital.

Further responding to counsel, he could not remember talking to the former president or his vice president either on the telephone or in a meeting.

“I remember making a statement to the press that the shooting came from the crowd and this was information I received from junior ranking officers.”

Mr. Badjie testified that he thought there was need to communicate and that it was wrong for him to do that. He said he later realised that he made an error after he was visited by Dr. Ceesay who advised him to be careful of what he was relaying. This was because the information the hospital had been receiving was that students died as a result of gun shots.

Mr. Badjie admitted that the statement he made to GRTS in 2000 was misleading and apologised to the victims’ families for what happened.

At this juncture, a summary of his testimony before the Commission of Inquiry on April 10/11, 2000 was read out by deputy lead counsel, Horejah Bala Gaye. It was observed that there was a discrepancy between his testimony before that Commission and the TRRC.

In the Commission of Inquiry report, commissioners recommend that former Secretary of State, Ousman Badjie, deputy IGP, Sankung Badjie and former commissioner of Operations, Babucarr Sowe, should be held responsible for the tragic actions that occurred on April 10/11.

However, the Commission further concluded that he did not give the order for students to be shot at.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here