By Sainey Darboe:
Gunjur native, Omar Darboe, has disclosed to Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Repatriations Committee(TRRC) his ordeal during the presidential campaign of 1996.
Appearing before the TRRC earlier today, Omar Darboe who was born in 1974 recalled joining the opposition United Democratic Party in the lead up to 1996 elections following a military takeover two years prior.
He told commissioners his decision to join UDP was influenced by his subscription to their policy thrust, as well as a desire to see more of his country hence his decision to join the campaign.
But Omar added that his desire to participate in the democratic experiment would bring him substantial grief as the then ruling APRC party unleashed soldiers and paramilitary officers on them whose violence left injuries and death in its wake.
“At different points we were stopped by security forces who tried to interfere with our campaign activities. In Foni we had stones thrown at us. We were physically beaten by security forces.
While being detained I saw a woman get stabbed. I was tortured and lost my teeth. I saw a dead body that day”, Omar said.
He added:
“The security forces came back and asked for one Fatou known as F. She probably thought they were going to help her. But they dragged her into a room. She was later thrown out by two men and at this point it’s hard to say if she was dead or alive”.
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