Bad Blood Between The Army And The Paramilitary (PIU)

 By Staff Reporter James Jammeh, Banjul

Reports reaching this paper reveal that for the past couple of months there has been bad blood between two units of the Gambian security, precisely the military and Police Intervention Unit (PIU).

According to our sources, the antagonism has been going on for months among the Army and the PIU. They alleged that members from the two units frequently clash at functions when they meet. A senior PIU officer told this paper that the hatred between the two result from the soldiers, whose men, he alleged, are fond of assaulting their men while on duty. He said the situation went up to a stage when they resolved to fighting back.

''And now it is becoming more rampant and out of hand,'' he stated.

The PIU officer added that if there is no proper mechanism to end this trend, it could lead to a huge fight among the security forces, ''and that will not be a good sign for the two sister forces whose sole aim should be to defend the people and promote the rule of law in the country.''

He went on, "If we the service men are engaged in brawl and street fights, then what can we say to the people, more especially the civilian population?"

This reporter was later informed by some military officers that the story is true, but they added that some disciplinary measures would be taken against any offender. They admitted further that in most cases they find out that it was the soldiers who were at fault, ''when ever a fact finding was conducted to verify the root cause of the matter.''

An insider at the Yundum Military Barracks who preferred anonymity said the matter was before the military police. And he added that information he has so far gathered from his fellow officers showed that the soldiers were at fault.

It could be recalled that a recruit from intake 29 of the Gambia Armed Forces recently clashed with a PIU officer when he went to a programme at the Independence Stadium. The military man who was dressed in civilian outfit provoked a scuffle when he refused a request by the PIU official to identify himself. The military man attempted to get his way forcefully, sparking a heated fighting before the matter was reported at the military police headquarters in Yundum Barracks.

In another embarrassing development, PIU officers based at Farato Village were reportedly assaulted by another soldier, some months back, after the soldier allegedly drove on the PIU checkpoint in high speed. He later engaged the PIU guard on duty in a fight. That also resulted to a big fight between the two security units.

Military sources said that the blame has always been put on their guys, calling on new intakes to be well mannered and disciplined as that is what the service calls for.

ENDS: 12/31/09