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Gambia: School Girl And Mother Petition Army

Reports have it that a seventeen year old school girl (name withheld) together with her mother, who allege that they were severely beaten by soldiers on 6 April 2007, have forwarded a petition to the Commander of the Army Camp in Basse, URR.

According to family sources, a Lance Corporal from the Army Camp followed her home and insisted that she returns to the camp and when she refused he started to drag her out of her mother's bedroom.

The sources claim that the school girl's mother enquired from the soldier why her daughter must go to the camp but he did not respond. The mother said she asked the soldier to leave her daughter and go to the police as they are civilians. She said she was taken aback when the soldier kicked her (the mother) and then left, but returned with a pick up full of soldiers. She alleged that these soldiers seized her daughter and took her to the Army Camp where they beat her up. She also alleged that her daughter's clothes were torn and her earring and shoes were missing. She further alleged that when they went to the Army Camp together with some neighbours they found the soldiers torturing and harassing her daughter.

The mother claimed that at one stage, the Sergeant Major and a sergeant had to intervene, asking the soldiers to leave the school girl alone.

According to the mother, she and her daughter lodged a complaint against the soldiers at the Basse Police Station but they were told by the police that the police have no jurisdiction over army officers.

Upon enquiry, the police in Basse confirmed that such a complaint was launched but referred our reporter to the police PRO. When asked, the PRO said the matter should have been reported to the military police for action.

After seeing the police, the family proceeded to see the Deputy Governor who invited the soldiers and listened to both sides. The Deputy Governor blamed the soldiers and asked them to apologise to the girl and her mother. Our information is that the lance corporal did not only refuse to do so, he verbally insulted the Deputy Governor.

This reporter got in touch with the GAF PRO, a fortnight ago, to get their reaction to the story and have visited the office twice and made several phone calls (almost daily). He has promised to find out and give their reaction but up till Friday the position of the GAF on the matter is yet to be known. Foroyaa shall continue to solicit for the position of GAF on the matter and publish it as soon as it is available.