Pap Babucarr Saine, veteran Gambian Journalist and co-founder and managing editor of The Point Newspaper has indicted ex-President Yahya Jammeh and his Junglars for the death late Deyda Hydara also a co-founder of The Point Newspaper.
He made the accused on Thursday at the Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), where he testifies that the late Deyda Hydara was targeted base on two reasons notably for his ‘Good Morning Mr. President column and his stance against the National Media Commission Bills that the government was wanting to enact at the National Assembly.’
“Sanna Manjang and Kawsu Kassama alias Bombardie, are the main suspect who killed Deyda Hydara. As far as am concern government investigations into Deyda’s murder were all bogus because it is an open secret that Jammeh’s Junglars killed Deyda Hydara,” he told the commission.
“Deyda was like everything to me, he was oldest than me for four years and we lived in the same neighbourhood in Banjul.
We did many things together even before Radio Sdy came up. He was very humble and generous person, he initiated the fencing of the Jeshwang Cemetery through fund raising and as well sponsored many Gambians financial towards their education,” Saine told the Commission as he lookup.
Recounting the circumstances that to the murdering Press Freedom Hero, he told the commission that news was a big surprise to him, saying that there were no eminent threats noticed.
He said Deyda was at work and they both discussed The Point’s thirteenth (13) year’s anniversary and his brother’s marriage ceremony.
Saine noted that personally, the late Gambia Press Union President never informed him of any threats, but was quick to say The Point Staff were not surprised at all.
“It was not a surprise for Jammeh’s regime to killed him because he was always sensitizing the populace on the corrupt practices of the regime as well as the rights violations that were taking place at the time,” The Point managing editor told TRRC.
Testifying further, he recalled that on the evening Deyda Hydara was murder, he was highly expecting Deyda presence to preside over the marriage ceremony of his brother but upon many attempt to reach him on phone failed and he decided that someone else should preside over the ceremony.
According to Saine, it was his wife who later informed him that he misses a lot of calls from their Secretary and that he should call back.
“I fainted when the news of Deyda’s death was announced to me by our secretary; I couldn’t understand what was wrong and what may have been responsible because there were no threats and the morning of our 13th anniversary I had a meeting with Deyda but he wasn’t as normal as he used to be,” he recalled.
According to him, Deyda told on the day of the paper anniversary that 13th is and odd number and he was thinking that his colleague was contemplating whether they can celebrate or not.
He added that Deyda adjourned the discussion saying that he having discussion with the US Ambassador on matters of the National Media Commission Bill.
“Immediately I learnt about the death of Deyda I wasted no time to rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital to confirmed the news, revealing that he noticed that Deyda was shot three times with bullet that led to his death, revealing Nyang Sarang Jobe and Ida Jagne both staff of The Point Newspaper were the ones on-board the vehicle that Deyda was driving,” he recalled.
He dismissed the t press release issued by government that blame Deyda for his own death as well as accusing him for running an extra marital relationships with the ladies he offered lift after work.
Pap Saine described the government press release and its allegations as false and insulting, saying that it was normal for Deyda to provide lift to his staff irrespective of the fact that he pays his staff with transport allowances.
