Chief Ebrima Manneh died at Garawol or Basse – Pa Ousman tells TRRC
Pa Ousman Darboe testifying before TRRC
By AMADOU MANJANG
Pa Ousman Darboe, Gambian journalist resident in the United States has told the TRRC that disappeared journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh died somewhere in Carawol or Basse police station.
He said Manneh was picked when plain-clothed officers came for him at Observer office in Bakau on a Sunday in July 2006 after he was reported to the authorities by the former Daily Observer Manager Director, Dr. Saja Taal for his attempt to publish a story critical of former president Jammeh.
Testifying via Sky, Darboe said the article was printed but never published as they felt it would not go well with Dr. Taal knowing his agenda of promoting Jammeh and the APRC.
He said they arrived at a decision as a team to remove that part from the publication and keep it in their store.
Ousman added that Chief Manneh was in charge of the international page of Daily Observer at the time and he downloaded a story about the African foreign ministers who were to discuss on a charter on good governance and democracy in Africa at the AU summit held in The Gambia in 2006 that was critical of the Jammeh regime.
He said when Dr. Taal became aware of the unpublished content, he threatened to report the editorial team to Captain Lamin Saine of the NIA to investigate to know those behind it.
The former Daily Observer and The Independent journalist informed the Commission that two plain-clothed officers including a Sheriff Sey picked Chief Manneh at the office and told him that he was needed at the Bakau police station.
He said when they insisted on joining Chief Manneh asked them to stay to avoid any problems and they took him to Bakau police station.
Darboe who was in exile in the US said moments later they decided to go and look for their colleague but were told he was taken to the NIA.
He said Chief Manneh was severely beaten and reportedly admitted at the RVTH before transferred to a military medical unit.
The witness who testified at the Ecowas Court against the Gambia government in Chief Ebrima Manneh’s case, said Dr. Saja Taal disclosed to him that he could not sleep anytime Chief’s case came to his mind.
Explaining his investigations into Chief Manneh’s whereabouts, Darboe further revealed that he visited several police stations and detention centers where Manneh was detained.
He further revealed that Chief was detained at Sibanor, Gunjur, Bundung, Sare Ngai and Fatoto amongst others before his final disappeared.
He said Yahya Dampha a former Foroyaa journalist also went to Fatoto police station with representatives of Amnesty International where he saw Chief Manneh under police escort to have his lunch, even though the police insisted he was not in their custody.
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