GRTS’ Fatou Camara speaks (JollofNews) – A Gambian television show host who fled the Gambia, has used her first newspaper interview to talk about her high profile arrest and one month incarceration at the countrys feared National Intelligence Agencys headquarters in Banjul. Fatou Camara, the darling of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) jumped bail two weeks ago after she was charged with spreading false news and tarnishing the image of President Yahya Jammeh. In an interviewing with the Senegalese l Observateur daily newspaper, which was reproduced in our sister paper, the Gambia Echo, Ms Camara, who also worked as President Jammehs director of press and communications denied all the charges against her. Below we reproduce the interview in full The OBS - Fatou Camara had to answer before the court on October 28. Meanwhile, she fled hell Gambia to find in Senegal. The famous journalist-host breaks the silence and tells of the conditions of his arrest, detention, he fled. Found a place in Dakar that is was for security reasons. Fatou Camara says it all. In his remarks, not transpire any ounce of rancor or bitterness against the Gambian authorities. Exclusive, Fatou Camara tells The Observer. You are in Senegal for two weeks, why did you accept to break the silence? I wanted to break the silence to thank all those who supported me in the event that I went through. Because in these times of difficulty, I saw that there was a lot of people in Senegal, Gambia, England, Saudi Arabia, people everywhere have shown me their support. In my Facebook page, some people have written to tell me they have prayed a lot for me that I do not know them. I find that the contribution of Senegal was crucial and I was very surprised that the Senegalese can identify with my show Fatu Show. Can you explain the conditions of your arrest by the Gambian secret police? Before my arrest, I was in Senegal, but already people called me to tell me not to go in Gambia. Because I could be arrested. And I always told her friends there that I had returned to Gambia. When I returned home, I continued to do my job properly. I did the show Fatu Show (broadcast talk show 30 minutes, airs Thursdays at Gambian TV, Editors note), I presented the paper as usual. And Sunday, September 15, there is a girl named Gnima Bodian who called me to tell me nonsense. I then called to tell him to leave me alone, because I do not know. When I finished the phone with this lady, an hour later, two officers of the Gambian Secret Police (Nia) came to pick me up at my home around 22 hours. How did you react? I was already in bed, but they asked my guard to wake me. I then asked them what they wanted, they asked me to follow them. I let them know that it was Sunday and I can not like that, answer a summons in the night. I told them to wait until Monday morning, that way I can bring to their notice. They told me that it was an order and that I should follow. Thats how I went to the offices of the secret police. I told the investigators that I was in talks with the Tfm When you arrived at the premises, what they told you? When we arrived at the premises of the Nia (Police secreted), they said nothing to me. I knew it was difficult to get out of a meeting on Sunday. Nobody told me anything, if I was asked to turn off my phone, to give them my purse, they did not even allow me to call my children. What happened the next day when you wake up? When I woke up, we did not say anything to me. I was left alone in a room and its about 18 hours they started asking me about the girl Gnima Bodian. I told them I did not know, except that I invited on my show Fatu Show and spoke only ten short minutes. The next day, Tuesday, I was asked to hand over my passport and password of my Facebook page. They let me go home on Tuesday at 18 hours. When I got home, I had just enough time to take a bath and pray that agents Nia returned home to tell me to follow them again. While this was less than two hours I was back home. Is this time the questions have changed? During this interview, they asked me if I had signed a contract with an outside organization? I honestly told them I was planning to relocate the program Fatu Show in Senegal. Because I finished a tour of sponsors Gambia, I had to go to Senegal for me other sponsors. It is in this context that I decided to work with Future TV Media (Tfm) to disseminate Fatu Show in Senegal, but the program will continue in the Gambia. I told them that I have not yet signed a contract with the Tfm, I was in talks with officials from the TV. So I gave them the phone number Ndiaga Ndour (Technical Director of Future TV Media, Editors note), they still had doubts. I told them all the people I met in Senegal. They asked me about what I had gone to the Tfm, Prince Arts. I said that I saw Ngoné Ndour, because I wanted to Sen Small Gallé Gambia. I told them I met a Senegalese journalist whose name I prefer silence. They told me that I should not meet him because he hates Yahya Jammeh. I told them that in all countries, I had friends journalists with whom I loved coffee. Are you able to explain the refusal of the Gambian authorities to let you do your show Fatu Show on Tfm? I think people have worked the ear of some Gambian figures to tell them of anything on my account. And at the time, I thought the Gambian authorities have been influenced by the gossip. Were you in good conditions of detention? I was treated well, most police officers working at the Nia told me they loved my show. What bothered me is the sharing toilets with many people and the state of the toilets was poor. It was difficult. I spent my time praying and asking God to get me out of this situation, because I was cut off from the rest of the world, it was not me any contact with the outside. Why I fell ... the judge told me that I risk 15 years in prison Did you fear for your life? When you go through such trials, God gives you the courage to face them. Often when I was discouraged, I thought those women who have made the prison and I thought if they could withstand certain conditions, I must be able too. God knows why I was chosen, and as I had a clear conscience, I thought I was going to get out of this bad patch. This one-month detention has brought me closer to God. In a given, despite the belief in God now, is that you have not cracked? The only time I happened to crack, thats when I thought of my children, especially the youngest, Ibrahima, who is 7. Omar, who was 10 years and 12 years Harouna grew up with one of my cousins in the United States, they usually get away from me. But my youngest son never leaves me, it is still stuck to my skirts. So when I thought about it, it made me cry. I happened to me also question the fault I have committed to deserve detention. Because this is the first time I was trapped. And I was shocked. After a month in prison, you are released. How it happened? In fact, after a month in detention, the police told me they had found nothing. But he had to do a little formality by going to court and it will be a mere formality. When I arrived at the court, was accused me of tarnishing the image of President Yahya Jammeh. Even if I could, I will not do it, because I worked for Yahya Jammeh and I respect him a lot. President Jammeh has helped me a lot in my life, so I find awkward to speak ill of him. Court judge told me that I might 15 years in prison and I had to pay a deposit of 120 million CFA francs. They released me to say that I benefited a bail. I was dumbfounded charges that stuck me. I could not sleep. This is my ex-husband who has endorsed me for a villa of one hundred million CFA francs. Despite this, I had to report on October 28 the court. Can you imagine me with my young age to win a case against the Gambian government! I did not steal, I did not kill anyone and I was told that I risk my life for 15 years, you can imagine! This has weighed in your decision to leave the Gambia? Personally, if it were up to me, I would never leave the Gambia. Because I believe in God and I know that everything that happens to me under Her control. My mother and my brothers who live in Atlanta (USA) put me so much pressure that I ended up my mind to leave the Gambia. And then, my children began to fall ill. One of my children told me that he heard about my arrest in their establishment. When the case really started to affect my children, I decided to leave my country, The Gambia. Do you keep a grudge against the Gambian authorities have held up for a month in jail? I have no bitterness against anyone. I know that in Gambia, people like me. I know that those who have caused me harm may be trying to regret their actions. Do you dream of returning one day in Gambia? I dream of returning to my country, I left everything behind me Gambia: my house, my car, my goodness, of course I hope one day to return. Are you safe in Senegal? I do not get out much and I do not intend to stay madly in Senegal, I intend to leave the country. But I will from time to time in Senegal. But I wish that these things are settled, because I love the Gambia. I have no grudge against Yahya Jammeh You have been communications director Yahya Jammeh eight months, is that you do not grudge him keep what you have endured? I worked for Yahya Jammeh in a very sensitive area communication. I know everything he has given me in my career as a young journalist. Why, I do not wish him success in his endeavors and peace. I can not say anything bad about Yahya Jammeh, I have no grudge against him. But I would advise him to pay attention to people around who are motivated only by their interests. What lessons do you draw from this? I learned a lot through this event and it has strengthened my faith in God. The arrest came upon me at a time in my life and I cannot help it. I also do not know that people could be so evil as to deprive persons of their liberty for trivialities. Written by Mor Talla Gaye
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 23:38:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015