Pap Saine says Deyda’s killing by Jammeh’s ‘junglers’ indisputable
Pap Saine, co-founder and director of The Point newspaper testifying before TRRC
By AMADOU MANJANG
More on the death of Deyda, he said it was December 16, 2004 that he fainted when he received a call from Mary Banky Njie who informed him that she heard that Deyda had been shot.
He said he went to the hospital after his recovery from his faint to see Hydara only to be told that he was dead because they shot him in his head, chest and leg, revealing that he was then advised by a doctor to hide at the duty room before perpetrators would come for him.
He also stated that he was invited for questioning by Aziz Bojang, then police PRO on December 24, 2004 and asked if he had financial or any other problem with Deyda Hydara but he answered in the negative.
He said after a week, he was also invited at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) where hewas asked a similar question and further asked to come with the company’s cheque book, but he told them Deyda used to handle it.
He said he think Deyda was killed because of his column called Good Morning Mr. President which former President Yahya Jammeh was never happy with.
He said his colleague was also advocating for the National Media Commission Bill not to be enacted.
“After his death, we closed the paper for 3 weeks but we were advised by some to continue the publication,” Saine told the Commission.
He added that again in 2009, he was arrested for publishing a press release from GPU about Deyda condemning the statement of former President Jammeh for ridiculously blaming Deyda Hydara for his own death.
Pap Saine related that he was taken to the NIA for interrogations and Alhagie Morr Jobe was among those who interrogated him then detained for four days.
He said he was later taken to Kanifing Magistrates’ Court and remanded at Mile 2 Prison but when the case reached the High Court in Banjul he got a lawyer who was able to secure him a bail at the tune of D400, 000 (four hundred thousand dalasis) with two Gambian sureties.
He said he was jailed at Mile 2 Prison and later taken to Jeshwang Prison along with five other journalists but pardoned by ex-president Jammeh.
He further informed the Commission that he had gone to UK for heart surgery on two occasion following his release from prison.
Recollecting one of his arrests in 2009, he said The Point published a story captioned, ‘Gambian Diplomat Lamin Sanyang Arrested’ and the police arrested him because there was no by-line on the story.
He said when the police asked him about the author he took responsibilities and was charged for false publication then dragged to court after which he was asked to write a statement indicating that he was the author which he did and took full responsibility.
The veteran journalist and World Press Freedom awardee said, three months later, charges against him were dropped with the help of his lawyers.
He reminisced March 3, 2009, when his citizenship was questioned, he was detained for two days, charged and arraigned before Banjul Magistrates’ Court, explaining how he was followed by the then IGP Ensa Badjie resulting in arrest upon arrest.
Saine, one of the founding fathers of Gambia Press Union (GPU) recalled how a story he authored entitled ‘Revolt in Mile 2 Prison’ resulted in his arrest on 30 March 1995.
He said it was one morning when he went to Standard Charted Bank in Banjul for a transaction where a police officer approached him and said, the Inspector General of Police, Gibou Joof wants to see him (Pap), adding that he was then arrested by Bai Nyass Bah, Babacarr Sarr, Keita and Mr. Jobe and taken to police headquarters.
He further told the Commission that Dayda Hydara went to police headquarters and told the officers to release him and that he (Deyda) would stay for him because he was supposed to travel but they refused.
He said on the same day the story was published, government stopped all newspapers printing at the National Printing and Stationary Corporation.
Saine said denying them printing compelled them to publish The Point on A4 size paper the following publication day and they were astounded to see the paper in circulation.
The Golden Press Medal awardee informed the Commission that he spent four days in the police custody without any torture but charged with false publication at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
He disclosed that he sent Ebrima Sankareh, now spokesperson of the Gambia government to lawyers in order to defend them and they were discharged in September 1995.
He explained that the United States government promised him a 10 years visa with his family but he decided to stay with Deyda Hydara to fight for press freedom.
About The Author
