A police officer, Awa Sanneh-Bittaye, has laid the blame for her baby’s stillbirth on the April 10/11 students demonstrations.

Mrs. Bittaye told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission on Monday that she was hit on her right rib with a stone during the students protest in April 10/11, 2000. She was pregnant at the time.

She said on the day of the violent students protest and subsequent crackdown she was on duty at the Kairaba Police Station.

The police officer said while they were having their breakfast they immediately heard stoning on their corrugated roof.

She said she was hospitalised after the incident and suffered a still birth as a result.

“I was there until October when I gave birth and I lost my baby on the same day, because the doctor told me that ‘we will endeavour to make sure that the baby will be alive’.

“I went to the hospital every two days. A stone hit me on the right side of my rib. The doctor said it’s because of the stone that led to the death of my baby that’s what the doctor said because I am not a doctor.”

Mrs. Bittaye said it was painful experience for her as it was her first pregnancy, adding that when she was informed of the death of her baby that she was distraught and crying.

She said she stayed at the hospital for an extra two weeks after her stillbirth, adding that she had to go on leave for three months.

Mrs Bittaye told the commission that she and two other police officers were promised compensation by the regime of Jammeh but that she didn’t receive the compensation, adding that she was summoned to the Kairaba Police station after her ordeal.

“When I went to the Kairaba police station, I met Sankung Badjie (deputy inspector of police) Ousman Badjie, Interior minister and other senior officers. I also met Menga Ceesay (police officer) and another officer …. Tamba I met all of those seated in the SOS office. I got inside and they asked me to explain what happened to me on April 10\11.”

She said nothing came out of the meeting at the Kairaba Police Station.

Reporting by Adama Barrow