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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Dec 2009 : 19:21:00
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The Aborted UDP Meeting
By Mamadou Dem
Foroyaa was informed by some UDP organisers that the party had sought permit to facilitate the holding of a meeting at the LatriKunda Yiring’anya and Kairaba Avenue Junction on Saturday, 12th December 2009. A reporter was sent to the area for coverage.
On Saturday, the 12 December, 2009, around mid-day, this reporter went to the Latrikunda – Kairaba Avenue junction opposite the Africell. This reporter saw taxis parked at the said venue where the meeting is supposed to take place. There was no sign of preparation for a meeting. However, one could notice the presence of an unarmed detachment of the PIU, numbering more than a dozen standing at the open space in front of the NAWEC water tank. The reporter saw a man in mufti moving towards a man who later identified himself as the “chef de garage” or the person in control of the garage.
The man in mufti ordered that no vehicle should be moved away from the junction by anyone and that the taxis should continue their normal work of transporting passengers to and fro. The man, who was later identified as Mr. Jawo, then headed towards a group of about 8 people who were standing some ten metres away, after speaking to the head of the drivers at the garage. He asked who the leaders of the organizers of the meetings are and one man, identifying himself as Mr.Nyang said he is one of the organizers. At this stage, Mr. Jawo asked Mr. Nyang what they wanted to do there and he replied that his party the UDP had written a letter to the Police requesting for a permit to hold a political meeting at the said venue. Mr. Jawo then asked an assistant to write down his name. He then told him that as the Police Commissioner of Operations in the Kanifing Division what he could say is that the permit for the UDP has not been approved. He was heard saying to them that. “…..holding meeting in this place will be illegal as far as the request was not approved. I hope I’m clear?” indicated Mr. Jawo.
Mr Nyang did not want to appear to want any trouble. He simply said “Yes sir”.
Mr Nyang was with Mr Solo Sandeng, the UDP Candidate for Dippa Kunda Ward during the Council elections of 2008.As he tried to say something his colleagues put him in a taxi and he left. Mr Nyang also left. The rest walked by foot towards the Dippa Kunda meeting place or bantaba.
As he was leaving, Mr. Jawo told the PIU personnel left behind to arrest any person attempting to hold a meeting there.
This reporter later, around 6 pm, visited the scene again but found out that there was no meeting. It was only the PIU personnel who were seen there standing at different positions near the proposed meeting venue.
Source: Foroyaa Online
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