Okah’s Sentence, Perfect Example Of Justice – Oloyede
A lawyer, John Oloyede has disagreed with claims that the judicial procedure involving Henry Okah, leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is a travesty of justice.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Mr Oloyede stated that “in fact, that’s what justice should be like.”
The lawyer who stated that ‘justice delayed is justice denied,’ lamented the typical practice in the Nigerian justice system whereby criminal cases are adjourned instead of being attended to expeditiously.
He said such cases are usually flooded by frivolous appeals and applications which tie the hands of the judge.
Commenting about the silence of the Nigerian government regarding Mr Okah’s sentencing, he said that “the position of the government is to maintain sordid silence.”
President Jammeh gives to Christian community
Thursday, March 28, 2013
(Daily Observer) - The
Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh
on Wednesday made a surprise donation of over four thousand (4, 000)
bags of sugar and rice to the Christian community in The Gambia ahead of
the Easter feast.
The
donation, which came as a surprise to the executive members of The
Gambia Christian Council also included the presentation of a handsome
cash amount of D500, 000 to the Christians as their “saliboo” for the
Easter.
The
presentation ceremony held at the State House grounds in Banjul, was
graced by cabinet ministers, the secretary general and head of the Civil
Service, the Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of the
Province of West Africa, Rtd. Rev. Solomon Tilewa Johnson, among other
prominent individuals.
Speaking
shortly before delivering the gift to the Christian Council executive,
the Gambian leader commended the Christian community for showing good
examples of what a good religious person should look like.
“Continue
the good work that you are doing. As far as I am concerned I am here
for everybody irrespective of our religion. God didn’t ask me to be the
president of anybody but for the Republic of The Gambia. I will do
whatever I can do for humanity and religion because religion is the way
of God and if we help people to know their Lord we are also helping the
country to become more disciplined because if we have a God-fearing
nation we will have a very honest and disciplined country. It is fearing
God that can instill honesty in the hearts of humanity. So whatever I
can do, I will do it for both the Muslims and Christians,” President
Jammeh assured.
He
continued: “As I always say and I will continue to say it; when you talk
about discipline in this country is about we the Muslims, because they
always blame me that I am the one spoiling children, but do I have a
school where I am spoiling them? No! I want to make sure that every
Gambian child gets what I lacked when I was going to school. I want to
make sure that the sky is the limit for education. And so disciplining
our children should commence from our homes and we should not expect
them to be disciplined in the school if we parents fail to discipline
them at home.”
Dress code
President
Jammeh used the platform to once again emphasise the need for parental
advice for children regarding their dress code. He said no parent would
be happy with him if he interferes with their (the children’s) dress
code.
“How
many of you would like to be called and all of a sudden be informed that
your daughter is at the police station because of the way she dresses?
You will start insulting the president if this happens. So we cannot as a
state be arresting people for the way they dress, I am not going to do
that, because after all religion is private. I cannot defend even my
own children in the next world but as a parent my responsibility is to
show them the way and to make sure that they are disciplined and they
behave well and respect themselves.
Unfortunately,
when we are talking about this, we also blame the men, because they
leave everything to the women in this country. I mean the Muslims and so
the women are inclined naturally by instinct, to take care of the girl
child first and then the boys. That is why even in their school
performance you will realise that girls perform better in science
subjects than the boys despite the fact that they are being taught by
the same teachers. This is because the boys didn’t have the required
level of care they should have at home because we parents dump all our
responsibilities on the mothers,” he further remarked.
Good neighbourliness
The
Gambian leader further spoke about the attributes of a good neighbour.
He said: “Here, we are Muslims and Christians and when you have a
gathering you can tell from the appearance of the young girls, who is a
Christian and a Muslim by the way they dress. So at least when I talk
about them I am not fabricating anything, I am saying things that people
can see. Also, when you look at the statistics of criminal cases in
this country, the minister of Interior can tell from 2008 to date, the
criminal cases against Christians I think, is just about three. The rest
are either civil suits with regards to property and they sue each other
and go to court to settle the dispute.”
Tolerance
President
Jammeh renewed his call for religious tolerance. “As regards to
tolerance, I am not going to compromise on that, you worship the way you
want I worship the way I want. It is not stated anywhere in history
that during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) he attacked any
Christian or destroyed any church. During the first Hijrah, He [Prophet
Muhammad SAW] asked his people to flee Mecca and go to Abyssinia to a
Christian king because their lives were in danger.
I
am saying this because religious intolerance is not going to be
acceptable. I am a Muslim and my faith in Islam is based on the
teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and nobody else. So as far as I
am the president of this country I will make sure that there is
religious tolerance,” he said, while urging the Christians to continue
being an example to humanity.
Speaking
on behalf of the Christian community in The Gambia, Hanna Caroline
Faal, the chairperson of the Gambia Christian Council, thanked the
Gambian leader for the gesture.
Her
words: “Your Excellency, you are a good man and you try to do good. And
for many people who would say you are not doing good, it is not new in
history. Good people have always heard those who would say they are not
good and would never recognise the good that they do. So on behalf of
the Gambia Christian Council and on behalf of every Christian, we want
to say thank you for your generosity to individuals, groups both
nationally and internationally.
Wherever
you meet Gambians, you try to show them they are part of The Gambia and
to me it’s not being part of a Muslim. It is not about being a
Christian, it is about Gambians being together, so that we can do well
and help people to live the life to its fullness. May Almighty God bless
you, Your Excellency in this holy week and all of us? You have not only
made the hearts of Christians happy today but the hearts of all
Gambians because all the “Nan-Mburu” that would be made would be eaten
by all of us. So God bless you and give you long life and prosper you
and your family and all of us.”
Also
speaking at the ceremony, Father Edward Sambou, the vicar general of the
Christian Council, also thanked the Gambian leader for his generosity.
“I thank you on behalf of the Christian community, my Bishop and I pray
that God gives you the wisdom, the understanding, the courage and the
love for you to continue leading us in peace,” he prayed.
Solomon
Owens, the minister of Agriculture, who moderated the ceremony, thanked
President Jammeh for his continuous support to the cause of religion
and humanity in the country and beyond.
ROC donates over $700,000 to Gambia
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The Point - The
ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan on Tuesday 26th March
2013 presented two cheques, valued at US$ 760,000 to The Gambia
government.
The
first cheque amounting to US$700,000 was meant for the President’s
Empowerment of Girls Education Project (PEGEP), whilst the second
cheque, valued at US$ 60,000 was meant for an expert managing the
Foundry of the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI).
Both
cheques were received by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Nuha Touray, on
behalf of the Government of The Gambia, at a brief presentation ceremony
held at his office in Banjul.
In
presenting the cheque, on behalf of his government, Ambassador Samuel
Chen, spoke extensively on the cordial ties between The Gambia and
Taiwan.
Noting
that the project has registered great successes, Ambassador Chen, said
since the initiation of PEGEP in 2000 by President Jammeh, it has been
empowering the girl child in the country.
“Today,
I’m also pleased to present another cheque for funding in the sum of
US$60,000 for an expert managing the Foundry at GTTI, so as to train
Gambian technicians at the institution. And we hope both projects will
be very helpful towards education and vocational training in The
Gambia,” he said.
In
receiving the cheques, Nuha Touray, the Secretary to Cabinet, who
thanked the people and government of Taiwan for the support, said “This
is not the first time you have done such presentations. The PEGEP
project is very important to the government as it helps in promoting an
area so dear to the Gambian leader. Any effort to help in that regard is
highly welcomed,” he said.
He
disclosed that the project runs right across the nation, stressing that
the Gambian leader has also put in a lot of efforts in that regard.
Mr.
Touray described the GTTI Foundry as another important area, especially
in the training of technicians. He said technical education is very
important in the development of the country, emphasising that the
foundry was set up by the Gambian leader.
He assured the Taiwanese diplomat that the funds would be put to its intended purposes.
Jammeh warns of ‘drastic action’ against hooliganism in sport
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Point -President
Yahya Jammeh has denounced the acts of hooliganism in sport in general,
and football and wrestling in particular, warning that such must stop
or drastic action will follow.
‘There is no way we can allow wrestling to be overtaken by hooliganism in this country, it has never been a violent sport and it will never be a violent sport. So this face of hooliganism must end or drastic action will be taken,’ Jammeh said.
The Gambian leader was speaking yesterday at State House when he received committee members of last year’s SOS children’s village wrestling championship, and the 2013 school athletics organising committee, who were at State House to present to him winners of both championships.
‘That also applies to football; I have seen nowadays that the slightest problem in football ends up in violence; I am going to set a nasty example on that,’ he said, adding that he will not accept hooliganism in sport under whatever pretext or in whatever form.
‘So if wrestling is going to be a traditional cultural sport, we must not change the rules; what we have in The Gambia is free-style wrestling, and it is only in this way that people can see talents,’ President Jammeh stated.
According to him, wrestling is very entertaining, but it should not have anything to do with hooliganism.
‘We are not going to allow imported indiscipline in this country; we don’t know violence in wrestling and so anybody who want to organize wrestling should make sure that the wrestlers and the different groups understand that this is a competition, where one is bound to win and, that being the case, there is no room for violence; supporters have to behave or otherwise face the full force of the law,’ Jammeh added.
While lauding the move to organize such championships, the Gambian leader commended parents and teachers, without whose support, it would not have been possible.
President Jammeh called on Gambians to maintain our characteristic way of wresting, stressing that there is no way he would allow ‘boreh dorr’ wrestling with punching because it is very violent, and not our wrestling style.
‘We have to preserve our indigenous way of wrestling, and that is the way it is going to be. Wrestling builds self confidence; so I wonder why it has not been part of the school sporting event, it boosts somebody’s morale, it boosts somebody’s confidence and I think this is one sport that must be integrated into our educational sporting events,’ he noted.
Other speakers at the meeting included several cabinet ministers, and Ms Omou Taal, national director of the SOS Village in The Gambia.
The meeting, chaired by Fatou Lamin Faye, minister of Basic and Secondary Education, saw President Jammeh present cash prizes to all the winners.
‘There is no way we can allow wrestling to be overtaken by hooliganism in this country, it has never been a violent sport and it will never be a violent sport. So this face of hooliganism must end or drastic action will be taken,’ Jammeh said.
The Gambian leader was speaking yesterday at State House when he received committee members of last year’s SOS children’s village wrestling championship, and the 2013 school athletics organising committee, who were at State House to present to him winners of both championships.
‘That also applies to football; I have seen nowadays that the slightest problem in football ends up in violence; I am going to set a nasty example on that,’ he said, adding that he will not accept hooliganism in sport under whatever pretext or in whatever form.
‘So if wrestling is going to be a traditional cultural sport, we must not change the rules; what we have in The Gambia is free-style wrestling, and it is only in this way that people can see talents,’ President Jammeh stated.
According to him, wrestling is very entertaining, but it should not have anything to do with hooliganism.
‘We are not going to allow imported indiscipline in this country; we don’t know violence in wrestling and so anybody who want to organize wrestling should make sure that the wrestlers and the different groups understand that this is a competition, where one is bound to win and, that being the case, there is no room for violence; supporters have to behave or otherwise face the full force of the law,’ Jammeh added.
While lauding the move to organize such championships, the Gambian leader commended parents and teachers, without whose support, it would not have been possible.
President Jammeh called on Gambians to maintain our characteristic way of wresting, stressing that there is no way he would allow ‘boreh dorr’ wrestling with punching because it is very violent, and not our wrestling style.
‘We have to preserve our indigenous way of wrestling, and that is the way it is going to be. Wrestling builds self confidence; so I wonder why it has not been part of the school sporting event, it boosts somebody’s morale, it boosts somebody’s confidence and I think this is one sport that must be integrated into our educational sporting events,’ he noted.
Other speakers at the meeting included several cabinet ministers, and Ms Omou Taal, national director of the SOS Village in The Gambia.
The meeting, chaired by Fatou Lamin Faye, minister of Basic and Secondary Education, saw President Jammeh present cash prizes to all the winners.
NDEA’s Benedict Jammeh, PRO Ceesay appear at High Court
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
(The Point) - Former Director General of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), Benedict Jammeh, and Abdoulie Ceesay, former public relations officer of the same agency, yesterday appeared at the Banjul High Court before Justice M. Abdoullah.
When the case was called, defence counsel E. Jah stated among other things that investigation into the case had been ongoing since and the accused persons were in custody for about 30 days.
He added that they should be legally charged.
The judge then adjourned the case till 11 April 2013, for mention and hearing on the bail application.
He also stated that the office of the DPP should file charges on or before 11 April 2013.
It would be recalled that Benedict Jammeh and Abdoulie Ceesay were earlier arraigned alongside others at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, and charged with eleven counts.
The particulars of offence on count one at the lower court stated that Benedict Jammeh and Abdoulie Ceesay, between 2010 and 2013 in Banjul and diverse places in the country, extracted from the monies recovered from the 38, 800 Euros and other Gambian currencies amounting to D6, 000 and organised a party for their operatives, which monies should have been tendered as exhibits to the court.
Count two stated that Abdoulie Ceesay, between 2010 and 2013 in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, intentionally failed to exhibit cash of 18, 500 Euros to the court in the case of Muminatou Ceesay and others, but later kept it at the Sheriff’s Division, which in the judgment was forfeited to the state. But instead he withdrew it from the Sheriff’s Division and it was used to purchase a vehicle for Benedict Jammeh, and thereby caused economic loss to the Government of The Gambia.
Count three stated that Benedict Jammeh, between 2010 and 2013 in Banjul and diverse places in the country, failed to properly manage the properties of Sillaba Samateh as ordered by the court by failing to collect the rent fee of those properties from Ecobank for onward transmission to the NDEA accounts, thereby causing economic loss to the state.
Count four stated that the second accused, Abdoulie Ceesay, between 2010 and 2013 in Banjul and diverse places in the country, abused his functions as a staff employed in the services of the Gambia government by failing to exhibit cash of 18, 500 Euros to the court in the case of Muminatou Ceesay and others, but later kept it at the Sheriff’s Division which in the judgment was forfeited to the state, but instead he withdrew it from the Sheriff’s Division and was used to purchase a vehicle for the first accused Benedict Jammeh, thereby causing economic loss to the Government of The Gambia.
Count five read that Benedict Jammeh, between 2010 and 2013 in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, being employed as the director general of NDEA, abused the functions of his office by failing to properly manage the properties of Sillaba Samateh, as ordered by the court; instead he paid such monies accruing from the rent of such properties to Ecobank, and thereby caused economic loss to the state.
Count six stated that Benedict Jammeh and Yusupha Jatta, between 2010 and 2013 in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, gave information to the Office of the President and the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) that one Assan Touray was wanted for drug-related offences, information they knew or believed to be false.
Count seven disclosed that Benedict Jammeh and Abdoulie Ceesay between 2010 and 2013 in Banjul and diverse places in the country, conspired among themselves and fabricated evidence that Abdurahman Touray of Pristine Company was wanted in The Gambia for drug-related offences, for which they preferred criminal charges against him and presented it to the Gambia police force, which was later found to be false.
Count eight was about the neglect of official duty, and the particulars of offence stated that Benedict Jammeh and Foday Barry, between 2010 and 2013 in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, were given executive directives from the Office of the President, instructing them to trace one Adama Jobe through bilateral and security contacts in the case of one Juergel Odelward, the general manager of Ocean Bay Hotel, which they failed to do, and thereby committed an offence.
Count nine indicated that Abdoulie Ceesay, between 2011 and 2012 in Banjul and diverse places in the country, being employed as the public relations officer at the NDEA, was using one vehicle marked KIA belonging to Ocean Bay Hotel, and thereby committed an offence.
It was stated in count ten that Benedict Jammeh, between 2010 and 2012 in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, being employed as director general of the NDEA, abused the functions of his office by unlawfully terminating and dismissing the services of twenty (20) NDEA officers without authority, and thereby committed an offence.
Count eleven stated that Yusupha Jatta, between 2010 and 2011 in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, stole fifteen gallons and 20 litres of fuel from one Demba Jobe, and thereby committed an offence.
38 NGOs Protest Gambia’s Rights Violations
Catherine Dupe Atoki chairs ACHPR
We reproduce below the full text of a protest letter sent to the Chairperson of the Banjul-based continental Commission Catherine Dupe Atoki.
Madam Chairperson,
Re: Protest against holding sessions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in the Gambia where basics human rights are constantly violated with total impunity
We, the undersigned African and international non-governmental organisations would like to update the ACHPR on a decision we have taken to cease attending sessions of the ACHPR and NGOs forum so long as these activities continue to be hosted in the Gambia where blatant violations of Human rights continue to be committed by the authorities.
You may recall that on 6 October 2012, the day that the continental African Human Rights body celebrated its 25th anniversary, in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, we made a collective declaration to the ACHPR through the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies that The Gambia should be stripped off the privilege of hosting the ACHPR because it has betrayed the trust of its own citizens and the continent. The Gambia government has demonstrated that it is an unreliable partner and an unworthy host of the body established to protect and promote the rights of the African citizenry.
Madam Chair, the Gambian government has consistently shown total disrespect for fundamental rights enshrined in the African Charter. The inability and unwillingness of The Gambia to comply with the most basic obligation in the Headquarters Agreement makes its position as the host of the Commission untenable.
We have documented several public threats from the Gambian Head of State against human rights advocates who are considered enemies of his regime. Human rights organisations, despite the appalling situation in The Gambia -exacerbated by the unlawful execution of nine (9) inmates in August 2012- continue to be cowed and feel unsafe to make public pronouncements on the human rights situation before your august Commission when its sessions are held in the Gambia.
The ACHPR has made important strides in the recent years, but its ability to legitimately protect human rights will considerably be hampered if it continues to be based in The Gambia, one of the most repressive countries on the continent.
We are profoundly disappointed that notwithstanding the ongoing violations of human rights, the ACHPR decided to hold its forthcoming session in The Gambia. Our decision to decline participation in the forthcoming session in Banjul expresses the depth of our disappointment. Unless there is a credible redress against the wilful and egregious assaults on the African Charter system by The Gambia, we are determined to launch a campaign hereby for the removal of the Headquarters of the African Commission from The Gambia.
We call on the ACHPR to cease having its sessions in The Gambia and heed our appeal to call on the leaders of the African Union to move the ACHPR to another country that is credible to host a continental human rights mechanism. We remain as ever committed to supporting your mandate and contributing our quota for the advancement of human rights and respect of human dignity on the continent.
The undersigned
Burkina Faso
1. Festival International de la liberté d’expression (FILEP)
2. Mouvement Burkinabé des droits de l’homme (MBDH)
Cote d’Ivoire
3. Club Union Africaine CI
Gambia
4. Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG)
5. Coalition for Change (CCG)
6. Save The Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP)
Liberia
7. Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP)
Mauritania
8. Association mauritanienne des droits de l’homme (AMDH)
9. SOS Esclaves
Nigeria
10. Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative (CRAI)
11. Coalition against impunity
12. Center for Democratic Development (CCD)
13. Institute for Media and Society
14. International Press Center (IPC)
15. Human and Environmental Development Agenda
16. Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
Sénégal
17. Action Humaine pour le Développement Intégré au Sénégal (AHDIS)
18. Conseil des ONG d’Appui au Développement (CONGAD)
19. Cicodev Afrique
20. Groupe Agora pour l’éducation aux droits et à la paix (GRA-REDEP)
21. Organisation Nationale des Droits de l’Homme (ONDH)
22. Ligue Sénégalaise des Droits de l’Homme(LSDH)
23. Rencontre Africaine pour les droits de l’homme (RADDHO)
Sierra Leone
24. Citizens for Constitutional Changes
25. Freedom of Information Coalition
26. Police Accountability Consortium
27. Society for Democratic Initiatives
Zambia
28. . Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice (Africa IDP Voice)
Regional and International Ngos
29. The African Editors Forum (TAEF)
30. African Media Initiative (AMI)
31. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
32. Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
33. Panos Institute for West Africa (IPAO)
34. West Africa Journalist Association (WAJA)
35. West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
36. ARTICLE 19
37. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)
38. International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
CC
All members of the ACHPR
Secretariat of the ACHPR
African Union Commission
African Union Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC)
The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC)
African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (ACDHRS)
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission
Intergovernmental Authority on Development in Eastern Africa (IGAD)
The Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC)
Pan African Parliament (PAP)
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN ECA)
United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA)
Chinua Achebe Dies: Beyond ‘Things Fall Apart,’ And His Best Books
The titan of African literature has died at the age of 82. We know him as the writer of Things Fall Apart, but here’s a primer on his other great novels and nonfiction—and his life.
The Classic
Chinua
Achebe, the Nigerian writer and statesman who changed African
literature forever, has died at the age of 82. You know him as the
writer of Things Fall Apart,
his debut novel of 1958, about the decline and fall of the proud
Okonkwo, leader of a collection of villages among the Ibo people of
Nigeria who are besieged by changes wrought by British colonization. As Ruth Franklin wrote in The New Yorker, Achebe practically invented the Great African Novel. There
were famous Nigerian writers before Achebe, like Amos Tutuola, who
based his novels on folk tales, and Cyprian Ekwensi, who wrote memorable
children’s stories. But, as Howard French wrote on the 50th anniversary of the publication, “among the greatest qualities of Things Fall Apart
is the vigor of its revolt against the everyday amalgamations and
condescension that treat Africa as an undifferentiated wasteland.” Things Fall Apart stood up and stood strong, as Achebe did throughout his career.
The Overlooked Novels
Things Fall Apart lives on in Achebe’s second novel, 1960’s No Longer at Ease,
which follows the story of Okonkwo’s grandson, Obi. Whereas Okonkwo’s
downward spiral was Sophoclean, Obi’s path was supposed to be up, up,
and up. He leaves his village, receives a British education, and takes a
job as a civil servant in Lagos. But, in the end, he is “no longer at
ease,” and things fall apart just as tragically.
Achebe was not only a chronicler—he’s even been considered an oracle. A Man of the People,
his 1966 fourth novel, is about the conflicts of a young and educated
school teacher, Odili, and his former teacher, Chief Nanga, now a
corrupt Minister of Culture. The story ends with a coup, which
anticipated a bloody one on January 15, 1966, the day the book was
published. After a counter-coup and genocide, the Ibo people, of which
Achebe is a member, seceded from Nigeria and formed the Republic of
Biafra, leading to the civil conflict known as the Biafran War—which led
to even more genocide. An estimated one million to three million
people, mostly Ibo, were killed or starved when the Nigerian government
blockaded the Biafran border.
The Essential Nonfictions
The Biafran War waged from 1967 to 1970, and is the subject of Achebe’s final book, the memoir There Was a Country. The accuracy of A Man of the People’s
events was such that the Nigerian government that took over after the
counter-coup thought that Achebe must have been a conspirator, and he
was forced to flee to Britain. He fully supported the Biafran secession,
and took a break from fiction, thinking that politics was more
important. (He would not write another novel until his final one, 1987’s
Anthills of the Savannah.) When the civil war ended in 1970 with the Nigerian government crushing the Biafra republic, Achebe increasingly took refuge in Britain and the United States.
He moved to the U.S. for good when he was forced to undergo overseas
medical treatment after a car accident in Nigeria that left him paralyzed from the waist down in 1990.
At the center of Achebe’s legacy
is his clear analysis of Africa, which the world sees as a homogenous
continent of malfunction and despair. Achebe attacks the use of Africa
as an empty metaphor, which he voiced in a now-legendary Chancellor’s
Lecture he gave at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, on Joseph
Conrad’s racism. The classic essay “An Image of Africa: Racism in
Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” is included in Hopes and Impediments, a collection that commemorates one of the most brilliant minds of our time.
Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, pioneer of modern African literature, dies
Craig Ruttle, File/Associated Press -
FILE - Chinua Achebe, Nigerian-born novelist and poet poses
his life at his home on the campus of Bard College in
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York where he is a professor in this Jan. 22,
2008 file photo. Achebe, who wrote the classic “Things Fall Apart,” has
died. He was 82. Achebe’s publisher confirmed his death Friday, March
22, 2013.
NEW YORK — The opening sentence was as simple, declarative and revolutionary as a line out of Hemingway:
“Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond,” Chinua Achebe wrote in “Things Fall Apart.”
Africans, the Nigerian author announced more than 50 years ago,
had their own history, their own celebrities and reputations. Centuries
of being defined by the West were about to end, a transformation led by
Achebe, who continued for decades to rewrite and reclaim the history of
his native country.
Achebe, the internationally celebrated Nigerian author, statesman and dissident, died at age 82 in Boston on Thursday after a brief illness. He lived through and helped define traumatic change in Nigeria, from independence to dictatorship to the disastrous war between Nigeria and the breakaway country of Biafra in the late 1960s. He knew both the prestige of serving on government commissions and the fear of being declared an enemy of the state. He spent much of his adult life in the United States but never stopped calling for democracy in Nigeria or resisting literary honors from a government he refused to accept.
In traffic today in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, hawkers sell pirated copies of his recent memoir about the Biafra war, “There Was a Country.”
“What has consistently escaped most Nigerians in this entire travesty is the fact that mediocrity destroys the very fabric of a country as surely as a war — ushering in all sorts of banality, ineptitude, corruption and debauchery,” wrote Achebe, whose death was confirmed by Brown University, where he taught.
His eminence worldwide was rivaled only by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Toni Morrison and a handful of others. Achebe was a moral and literary model for countless Africans and a profound influence on such American-based writers as Ha Jin, Junot Diaz and Morrison, who once called Achebe’s work an “education” for her and “liberating in a way nothing had been before.”
His public life began in his mid-20s, when Nigeria was still under British rule. He was a resident of London when he completed his handwritten manuscript for “Things Fall Apart,” a short novel about a Nigerian tribesman’s downfall at the hands of British colonialists.
Turned down by several publishers, the book was finally accepted by Heinemann and released in 1958 with a first printing of 2,000. Its initial review in The New York Times ran less than 500 words, but the novel soon became among the most important books of the 20th century, a universally acknowledged starting point for postcolonial, indigenous African fiction, the prophetic union of British letters and African oral culture.
“It would be impossible to say how ‘Things Fall Apart’ influenced African writing,” the African scholar Kwame Anthony Appiah once observed. “It would be like asking how Shakespeare influenced English writers or Pushkin influenced Russians. Achebe didn’t only play the game, he invented it.”
“Things Fall Apart” has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 50 languages. Achebe also was a forceful critic of Western literature about Africa, especially Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” standard reading for millions, but in Achebe’s opinion, a defining example of how even a great Western mind could reduce a foreign civilization to barbarism and menace.“Now, I grew up among very eloquent elders. In the village, or even in the church, which my father made sure we attended, there were eloquent speakers. So if you reduce that eloquence which I encountered to eight words ... it’s going to be very different,” Achebe, who attacked the novel in a landmark lecture and essay “An Image of Africa,” told The Associated Press in 2008. “You know that it’s going to be a battle to turn it around, to say to people, ‘That’s not the way my people respond in this situation, by unintelligible grunts, and so on; they would speak.’ And it is that speech that I knew I wanted to be written down.”
His first novel was intended as a trilogy and the author continued its story in “No Longer At Ease” and “Arrow of God.” He also wrote short stories, poems, children’s stories and a political satire, “The Anthills of Savannah,” a 1987 release that was the last full-length fiction to come out in his lifetime. Achebe, who used a wheelchair in his later years, would cite his physical problems and displacement from home as stifling to his imaginative powers.
Achebe never did win the Nobel Prize, which many believed he
deserved, but in 2007 he did receive the Man Booker International Prize,
a $120,000 honor for lifetime achievement. Achebe, paralyzed from the
waist down since a 1990 auto accident, lived for years in a cottage
built for him on the campus of Bard College, a leading liberal arts
school north of New York City where he was a faculty member. He joined
Brown in 2009 as a professor of languages and literature.
Achebe, a native of Ogidi, Nigeria, regarded his life as a bartering between conflicting cultures. He spoke of the “two types of music” running through his mind, Ibo legends and the prose of Dickens. He was also exposed to different faiths. His father worked in a local missionary and was among the first in their village to convert to Christianity. In Achebe’s memoir “There Was a Country,” he wrote that his “whole artistic career was probably sparked by this tension between the Christian religion” of his parents and the “retreating, older religion” of his ancestors. He would observe the conflicts between his father and great uncle and ponder “the essence, the meaning, the worldview of both religions.”
For much of his life, he had a sense that he was a person of special gifts who was part of a historic generation. Achebe was so avid a reader as a young man that his nickname was “Dictionary.” At Government College Umuahia, he read Shakespeare, Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson and Jonathan Swift among others. He placed his name alongside an extraordinary range of alumni — government and artistic leaders from Jaja Wachukwa, a future ambassador to the United Nations; to future Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka; Achebe’s future wife (and mother of their four children) Christine Okoli; and the poet Christopher Okigbo, a close friend of Achebe’s who was killed during the Biafra war.
After graduating from the University College of Ibadan, in 1953, Achebe was a radio producer at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corp., then moved to London and worked at the British Broadcasting Corp. He was writing stories in college and called “Things Fall Apart” an act of “atonement” for what he says was the abandonment of traditional culture. The book’s title was taken from poet William Butler Yeats’ ”The Second Coming,” which includes the widely quoted line, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.”His novel was nearly lost before ever seen by the public. When Achebe finished his manuscript, he sent it to a London typing service, which misplaced the package and left it lying in an office for months. The proposed book was received coolly by London publishers, who doubted the appeal of fiction from Africa. Finally, an educational adviser at Heinemann who had recently traveled to west Africa had a look and declared: “This is the best novel I have read since the war.”
In mockery of all the Western books about Africa, Achebe ended “Things Fall Apart” with a colonial official observing Okonkwo’s fate and imagining the book he will write: “The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.” Achebe’s novel was the opening of a long argument on his country’s behalf.
“Literature is always badly served when an author’s artistic insight yields to stereotype and malice,” Achebe said during a 1998 lecture at Harvard University that cited Joyce Cary’s “Mister Johnson” as a special offender. “And it becomes doubly offensive when such a work is arrogantly proffered to you as your story. Some people may wonder if, perhaps, we were not too touchy, if we were not oversensitive. We really were not.”
Achebe could be just as critical of his own country. The novels “A Man of the People” and “No Longer at Ease” were stories of corruption and collapse that anticipated the Nigerian civil war of 1967-70 and the years of mismanagement that followed. He not only supported Biafra’s independence, but was a government envoy and a member of a committee that was to write up the new and short-lived country’s constitution. He would flee from Nigeria and return many times and twice refused the country’s second-highest award, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, over the lawlessness in his home state of Anambra.
In 2011, Nigeria’s presidency said Achebe’s refusal “clearly flies in the face of the reality of Nigeria’s current political situation.” Achebe responded that “A small clique of renegades, openly boasting its connections in high places, seems determined to turn my homeland into a bankrupt and lawless fiefdom.”
“I had a strong belief that we would outgrow our shortcomings under leaders committed to uniting our diverse peoples,” Achebe warned.
Besides his own writing, Achebe served for years as editor of Heinemann’s “African Writer Series,” which published works by Nadine Gordimer, Stephen Biko and others. He also edited numerous anthologies of African stories, poems and essays. In “There Was a Country,” he considered the role of the modern African writer.
“What I can say is that it was clear to many of us that an indigenous African literary renaissance was overdue,” he wrote. “A major objective was to challenge stereotypes, myths, and the image of ourselves and our continent, and to recast them through stories — prose, poetry, essays, and books for our children. That was my overall goal.”
“Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond,” Chinua Achebe wrote in “Things Fall Apart.”
Achebe, the internationally celebrated Nigerian author, statesman and dissident, died at age 82 in Boston on Thursday after a brief illness. He lived through and helped define traumatic change in Nigeria, from independence to dictatorship to the disastrous war between Nigeria and the breakaway country of Biafra in the late 1960s. He knew both the prestige of serving on government commissions and the fear of being declared an enemy of the state. He spent much of his adult life in the United States but never stopped calling for democracy in Nigeria or resisting literary honors from a government he refused to accept.
In traffic today in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, hawkers sell pirated copies of his recent memoir about the Biafra war, “There Was a Country.”
“What has consistently escaped most Nigerians in this entire travesty is the fact that mediocrity destroys the very fabric of a country as surely as a war — ushering in all sorts of banality, ineptitude, corruption and debauchery,” wrote Achebe, whose death was confirmed by Brown University, where he taught.
His eminence worldwide was rivaled only by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Toni Morrison and a handful of others. Achebe was a moral and literary model for countless Africans and a profound influence on such American-based writers as Ha Jin, Junot Diaz and Morrison, who once called Achebe’s work an “education” for her and “liberating in a way nothing had been before.”
His public life began in his mid-20s, when Nigeria was still under British rule. He was a resident of London when he completed his handwritten manuscript for “Things Fall Apart,” a short novel about a Nigerian tribesman’s downfall at the hands of British colonialists.
Turned down by several publishers, the book was finally accepted by Heinemann and released in 1958 with a first printing of 2,000. Its initial review in The New York Times ran less than 500 words, but the novel soon became among the most important books of the 20th century, a universally acknowledged starting point for postcolonial, indigenous African fiction, the prophetic union of British letters and African oral culture.
“It would be impossible to say how ‘Things Fall Apart’ influenced African writing,” the African scholar Kwame Anthony Appiah once observed. “It would be like asking how Shakespeare influenced English writers or Pushkin influenced Russians. Achebe didn’t only play the game, he invented it.”
“Things Fall Apart” has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 50 languages. Achebe also was a forceful critic of Western literature about Africa, especially Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” standard reading for millions, but in Achebe’s opinion, a defining example of how even a great Western mind could reduce a foreign civilization to barbarism and menace.“Now, I grew up among very eloquent elders. In the village, or even in the church, which my father made sure we attended, there were eloquent speakers. So if you reduce that eloquence which I encountered to eight words ... it’s going to be very different,” Achebe, who attacked the novel in a landmark lecture and essay “An Image of Africa,” told The Associated Press in 2008. “You know that it’s going to be a battle to turn it around, to say to people, ‘That’s not the way my people respond in this situation, by unintelligible grunts, and so on; they would speak.’ And it is that speech that I knew I wanted to be written down.”
His first novel was intended as a trilogy and the author continued its story in “No Longer At Ease” and “Arrow of God.” He also wrote short stories, poems, children’s stories and a political satire, “The Anthills of Savannah,” a 1987 release that was the last full-length fiction to come out in his lifetime. Achebe, who used a wheelchair in his later years, would cite his physical problems and displacement from home as stifling to his imaginative powers.
Achebe, a native of Ogidi, Nigeria, regarded his life as a bartering between conflicting cultures. He spoke of the “two types of music” running through his mind, Ibo legends and the prose of Dickens. He was also exposed to different faiths. His father worked in a local missionary and was among the first in their village to convert to Christianity. In Achebe’s memoir “There Was a Country,” he wrote that his “whole artistic career was probably sparked by this tension between the Christian religion” of his parents and the “retreating, older religion” of his ancestors. He would observe the conflicts between his father and great uncle and ponder “the essence, the meaning, the worldview of both religions.”
For much of his life, he had a sense that he was a person of special gifts who was part of a historic generation. Achebe was so avid a reader as a young man that his nickname was “Dictionary.” At Government College Umuahia, he read Shakespeare, Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson and Jonathan Swift among others. He placed his name alongside an extraordinary range of alumni — government and artistic leaders from Jaja Wachukwa, a future ambassador to the United Nations; to future Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka; Achebe’s future wife (and mother of their four children) Christine Okoli; and the poet Christopher Okigbo, a close friend of Achebe’s who was killed during the Biafra war.
After graduating from the University College of Ibadan, in 1953, Achebe was a radio producer at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corp., then moved to London and worked at the British Broadcasting Corp. He was writing stories in college and called “Things Fall Apart” an act of “atonement” for what he says was the abandonment of traditional culture. The book’s title was taken from poet William Butler Yeats’ ”The Second Coming,” which includes the widely quoted line, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.”His novel was nearly lost before ever seen by the public. When Achebe finished his manuscript, he sent it to a London typing service, which misplaced the package and left it lying in an office for months. The proposed book was received coolly by London publishers, who doubted the appeal of fiction from Africa. Finally, an educational adviser at Heinemann who had recently traveled to west Africa had a look and declared: “This is the best novel I have read since the war.”
In mockery of all the Western books about Africa, Achebe ended “Things Fall Apart” with a colonial official observing Okonkwo’s fate and imagining the book he will write: “The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger.” Achebe’s novel was the opening of a long argument on his country’s behalf.
“Literature is always badly served when an author’s artistic insight yields to stereotype and malice,” Achebe said during a 1998 lecture at Harvard University that cited Joyce Cary’s “Mister Johnson” as a special offender. “And it becomes doubly offensive when such a work is arrogantly proffered to you as your story. Some people may wonder if, perhaps, we were not too touchy, if we were not oversensitive. We really were not.”
Achebe could be just as critical of his own country. The novels “A Man of the People” and “No Longer at Ease” were stories of corruption and collapse that anticipated the Nigerian civil war of 1967-70 and the years of mismanagement that followed. He not only supported Biafra’s independence, but was a government envoy and a member of a committee that was to write up the new and short-lived country’s constitution. He would flee from Nigeria and return many times and twice refused the country’s second-highest award, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, over the lawlessness in his home state of Anambra.
In 2011, Nigeria’s presidency said Achebe’s refusal “clearly flies in the face of the reality of Nigeria’s current political situation.” Achebe responded that “A small clique of renegades, openly boasting its connections in high places, seems determined to turn my homeland into a bankrupt and lawless fiefdom.”
“I had a strong belief that we would outgrow our shortcomings under leaders committed to uniting our diverse peoples,” Achebe warned.
Besides his own writing, Achebe served for years as editor of Heinemann’s “African Writer Series,” which published works by Nadine Gordimer, Stephen Biko and others. He also edited numerous anthologies of African stories, poems and essays. In “There Was a Country,” he considered the role of the modern African writer.
“What I can say is that it was clear to many of us that an indigenous African literary renaissance was overdue,” he wrote. “A major objective was to challenge stereotypes, myths, and the image of ourselves and our continent, and to recast them through stories — prose, poetry, essays, and books for our children. That was my overall goal.”
The National Training Authority (NTA) on 11 March
2013 formally accredited the GPU School of Journalism to provide journalism
education in the country, an unprecedented development in a country that has
never had a formal structure for journalism education. Under the terms and
conditions of its licence, the GPU School of Journalism is mandated to offer
journalism education up to a diploma level within the framework of the
Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in The Gambia. The NTA is
the body responsible for the regulation of TVET in The Gambia.
Poor
Training Weakens Professionalism
Because of the lack of a journalism
school, most of the working journalists in the country are either without a
formal education in journalism or professional training. The few who have the
requisite qualifications or training have been educated abroad. Newcomers to
the media have sporadic opportunities of mastering basic journalism as well as
being updated on international developments in professional methods, standards,
technologies. The upshot is that journalists in The Gambia are despised as join-the-lists, an epithet that suggests
incompetence.
The Turning Point
However, with the coming into being of
the GPU School of Journalism, Gambian journalism is now poised to redeem itself
and entrench professionalism finally. The school has its roots in a two-year Danida-funded
pilot project that ran from 2010 to 2012. Known as the Professional Reporter
Programme (PRP), the pilot project sought to raise standards of Gambian
journalism up to international level. Under the tutelage of senior Danish
journalists and local experts, 12 trainees graduated in February 2012 to
rapturous acclaim across the country and beyond. (Please visit http://www.gambiamediasupport.org/?page_id=533)
A Revolution
Unlike other training opportunities that
had been offered in the country previously, the PRP provided depth and scope,
coherence and system, innovation and creativity in its curriculum, pedagogy and
methodology, thus positioning itself as a model for journalism education in the
country. Because of its eclecticand practical nature, the PRP was lauded as “a
revolution” in journalism education in The Gambia.
A Thorough Education
The GPU School of Journalism naturally
builds on the PRP’s pedigree that follows a triple path:
teaching journalism and media specialization along with general knowledge, analytical
skills and English language skills. The education combines classroom sessions,
distance learning and actual journalism production for print and radio on
various development issues such as health, climate change, agriculture and
poverty, public policy and public administration, the law and the legal system.
Students receive a thorough education in:
·
Core reporting skills; analytic skills; journalism
training skills; English language skills; ICT skills; proactive news reporting;
interviewing techniques; research methodology; spot reportage; feature writing;
public and development communication; newsroom management, ethical journalism; journalism
and society; narrative journalism; investigative journalism; and production
skills.
·
The education applies media theories to
day-to-day practice, teaching how to meet the needs of the readers, listeners,
or viewers and to set their agenda.Students specialize in either print or
radio, but they also learn core skills in other media such as photojournalismand
online journalism.
·
Students have free access to a fully
air-conditioned state-of-the-art computer laboratory equipped with 15 personal
computers and 12 laptop computers with a WiFi facility in addition to a modern
studio for hands-on training in radio journalism.
·
Students are coached and mentored by a seasoned
and dedicated faculty comprising Mr Marcel Thomasi, BA English, MA
English(Leeds University) who is the head of the English Department; Mrs
Raphina Almeida BA, MA (SOAS, United Kingdom), head of the Academic Section.
Others include Mr Samuel Osseh Sarr BSc Hons
Mathematics and Physics,Mr Hassoum Ceesay BA, MA
History (University of The Gambia), Mr Madi Jobarteh BA Linguistics (University
of Ghana), Lars Moller, Peter Kramholf, Flemming Seiersen, and Irmelin Viegas,
Jesper Kjems, all graduates of the world-famous Danish School of Journalism.
Proof
Positive
The avalanche of applications that flooded the GPU
Secretariat for the 2013/2015 academic session is proof positive of the
relevance of this brand of journalism education. At least 100 applicants fought
fiercely for only 20 available spots. Through a three-tiered selection process
(a motivation statement, spelling out explicit arguments for attending the
course; an entrance examination comprising 100 multiple-choice questions, a
writing skills test and a analytic test; and then an oral interview), the top
20 candidates(at least eight females)were offered admission to begin their
journalism education with zest and faith. While the current students receive
full remission of tuition fees because the programme is still funded by Danida,
subsequent enrolments will attract a tuition fee to be determined by the
governing board in due course.
An
Autonomous Board
The governing board of the school is composed of
representatives of civil society, the private sector, the media, the government,
and is autonomous of The Gambia Press Union. Its chairperson is Mr Almamy
Fanding Taal, executive director of The Gambia Chamber of Commerce &
Industry who doubles as the chairperson of The Gambia Agency for Management of
Public Works. Other members include the secretary general of the UNESCO Office
in Gambia (National Commission for UNESCO); the director of Information
Services at the Ministry of Information and Communications Infrastructure; Dr
Isatou Touray, executive director of Gamcotrap, a women’s rights organisation; the
president of The Gambia Press Union, among others.
Bond markets are central to economic development
(The
Voice) - Bond markets are central to the development of an
efficient financial system by making financial markets more complete and
generating market interest rates that reflect the opportunity cost of funds at
a wide range of maturities, Amadou Colley said on Monday.
This
is essential for efficient investment and financing decision. The absence of
such market constraints investment opportunities, says Mr Colley, Governor of
Gambia’s Central Bank (CBG) during s five-day “West African training on
Developing Bond Markets (issuance and pricing strategy) and Risk Management in
Financial Service”.
“The
development of bond markets reduces dependence on bank financing and better
still spreads corporate risk,” Colley said in a statement read on his behalf by
his deputy Basirou A. Njai on March 18, 2013 at the Paradise Suites hotel.
Presided
over by the CBG and the West African Institute for Financial and Economic
Management (WAIFEM), the training is meant to strengthen participants’ capacity
in deepening of the market while highlighting essential areas that needed to
help the function of local currency bond markets.
It
will also take up longitudinal analysis of bond market development in WAIFEM
member countries, Ghana, Guniea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
“In
essence, sound macroeconomic policies, particularly prudent fiscal and monetary
policies, and a credible exchange rate regime matters profoundly,” says Colley.
“Financial sector liberalization is also key.”
Low
investment
Banks
and financial institutions in sub-regional economic bloc, ECOWAS increased
their appetite for bond in recent years due to low-investor participation and
ample liquidity in the banking system.
But
Mr Colley added that there is a lack of price transparency in the trading of
bonds in secondary markets. “This is because the majority of bonds particularly
cooperate and sub-national bonds are traded over-the-counter (OTC),” he argued.
This,
he said, has contributed to wide bid-ask spreads, making transactions
unnecessarily costly and inefficient to investors. Withholding taxes and taxes on financial
transactions remain prohibitively high for non- resident investors in some
markets.
“For
instance, in some countries, withholding taxes on interest income applicable to
non-resident investors and taxes on capital gains derived from holding of bonds
are very high, thereby discouraging foreign investor participation in the local
bond market,” Colley emphasised.
Growing
recognition
WAIFEM
Director General Prof. Akpan H. Ekpo, said there is a growing recognition all
over the world that financial development matters for economic growth. His
statement was delivered by Baba Yusuf Musa, Director of Debt Management
Department, WAIFEM.
Financial
system contributes to economic development by enabling firms, governments and
households to manage risk, avoid having to sharply compress spending in bad
times, and invest in high-return project that might otherwise remain beyond
reach, Prof Ekpo said.
“The
bond market is a key element, along with the banking system and equity and
derivative markets, of a well-developed financial system,” he added.
This,
he said, is not to say that bond market can substitute for these other
components where they are inefficient or underdeveloped. It can complement
their operation and reinforce their positive influence on economic development.
He
observed that a well-developed bond market that involves government and
corporate segments can enhance the efficiency with which the financial system
helps to allocate resources within the economy and buttress financial and
macroeconomic stability.
With
WAIFEM member countries increasingly involved in bond market particularly local
currency bond, Mr Ekpo said the common motive for this trend is the desire to
develop local capital markets to improve the flexibility and effectiveness of
sourcing funds for financing local infrastructure, medium and long term
socioeconomic development projects.
WAIFEM
was set up in 1992 by the central banks of The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria
and Sierra Leone, and joined by Guinea Conakry in 2012. It is aimed at
strengthen capacity for sound debt, macroeconomic and financial management in
these countries.
Front Page International, FPI - The Gambia government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary
Education has issued a directive for the closure of St. Augustine Senior
Secondary School in Banjul following an upheaval that broke out in the school
on 26 Feb. 2013.
 |
| "Science Friday" Recommendations (Photo credit: LollyKnit) |
In a news release aired over State TV, Gambia
Radio and Television Services, the Ministry said students of St. Augustine
school are asked to stay away from the school premises until such a time that
the school is re-opened.
Parents and guardians of students attending the school are also urged to ensure that the directive is strictly adhered to.
Parents and guardians of students attending the school are also urged to ensure that the directive is strictly adhered to.
The release has it that authorities of the basic
education ministry will be working with the school with a view to re-opening
it.
Observers say the move is meant to ensure there
is no repeat of one of the most deadly students’ riots that took place in the
tiny West Africa nation 12 years ago.
Rioters rock the school
On Tuesday, student protesters in Banjul smashed
the car of the vice principal of St. Augustine and destroy parts of the windows
and doors.
It is not clear why the student protesters went
on rampage but sources close to the school authorities said the students were
angry because they were denied the opportunity to write mock examinations,
Front Page International (FPI) reports.
Mock examination is normally the last internal
exams students preparing for the West African Secondary School Certificate
Examinations (WASSCE) take in their respective schools.
Eyewitnesses said they heard protesters chanting
slogans like: “We don’t need Father”. Father is the vice principal of the
school. There are no reported casualties. The students were finally dispersed
by security officers, according to FPI.
Another eyewitness said officials of the Ministry
of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) including the Permanent Secretary,
Baboucarr Bouye visited the school.
A source close to the Gambia Teachers’ Union
(GTU) told FPI that the union has scheduled an emergency meeting on Wednesday
to “handle the matter.”
Previous riots
In May 2012 students and staff at the President’s
International Award (PIA) staged a mass protest against the re-appointment of
their former chief executive officer, Abdoulie Bah, by the Ministry of Youth
and Sports.
The angry students, who were chanting “We don’t
want Abdoulie Bah” said they needed the help of the authorities to address the
problem at PIA.
That protest was generally peaceful but the
authorities later arraigned and charged about 22 members of staff of PIA for
“jointly conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace”.
Most deadly riot
About twelve years ago, The Gambia experienced
the most deadly students’ riot on April 10-11, 2000.
The bloody riot, presided over by The Gambia
Students Union (GAMSU), followed mass anger at the murder of student Ebrima
Barry and the alleged rape of a 13-year-old school girl.
The now defunct GAMSU, which has since been
renamed National Union of Gambian Students (NUGS), organised the protest and
requested a police permit, which they could not secure.
Reports have it that GAMSU decided to protest
anyway and thousands gathered on April 10 in their school uniforms. They
intended to nonviolently march to the city center, but they were stopped by
police, who ordered them to disperse.
When students refused, the police opened fire,
attack them with tear-gas and rubber bullets. As non-students joined the fray,
protestors attacked government buildings and set a police station on fire.
The police reacted by using live ammunition,
killing fourteen students, a Red Cross volunteer and radio journalist, and a
three-year old who was said to have been hit by a stray bullet.
Hundreds of others were injured. The next day
(April 11) students across the country protested in solidarity. The police
violently repressed the protests and arrested hundreds of protesters.
The two days of protest are now referred to
throughout The Gambia as the “Student Massacre of 2000”. The government issued
a statement blaming student leaders, and closed all schools for a number of
days. The Vice President even claimed that the students “killed themselves”
shooting each other after breaking into police armories and stealing weapons.
OJ wants Jammeh to be at peace with opposition
The Voice - The opposition leader of the Peoples Progressive
Party, Mr Omar Jallow (OJ) has called on Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh “to be
at peace with opposition and holders of divergent views”.
OJ was speaking to The Voice on a series of issues during the country’s
48th Independence anniversary of Feb. 18, 2013.
“If people called you a peace maker, charity begins at home. Jammeh
should make peace with his own country’s opposition, civil society
organizations, religions leaders, women and youths,” he said.
He said Jammeh should carve out strategies once more in uniting
Gambian as the former government used to do.
We are witnessing people been put into prisons and dismiss without due
processes, he alleges.
The former Agriculture minister of the deposed Jawara-led PPP regime
believes the Gambia is living on the wrong side of history, wherein the present
government take a dim view of dissenting views and freedom of expression.
OJ said Gambians abroad who holds divergent views on national issues
have the right to their opinion and should be able to come in and leave their
country at will.
He said The Gambia should look to West African neighbours Senegal and
Ghana, two countries that are heading on the right path to respecting and
upholding human right, democracy and good governance, freedom of the people and
the expansion of civil liberty.
He reiterated his call for the immediate release of Imam Baba Leigh,
and denounce the disappearance of Gambians.
“The Gambia cannot be turned in to a Mexico where people can be
disappeared so easily,” OJ said. “It is incumbent upon the inspector general of
police, director general of the NIA, the minister of justice and the minister
of interior to sit and make pronouncements and to regularize this type of
unfortunate pugnacious situation.”
“The constitution is specific that no Gambia should be arrested and
kept for more than 72 hours without been taken t before a court of law or be
release. Baba Leigh is now detained for over 60 days,” he added.
Finally, OJ believes a national conference of stakeholders should be
called to carve out a strategy to once more unite Gambian in order to setout a
better future for the country.
Armed Forces Beat GPA, Hamang Inspires Gamtel
The Voice - The 2009 Gambia Football Association (GFA) League
champions Gambia Armed Forces continues to ease the pressure on Head Coach
Alhagie Sey as they beat Gambia Ports Authority 2-0 on Saturday.
The “Kaki Boys” who were beaten in their first four outings have now
managed two win back-to-back fixtures following the defeat to the “Ferry Boys”
at the Serrekunda East Mini-stadium.
In the other games on Saturday, the “Academy Boys” Samger were held to
a 1-1 draw by Young African’s at the Serrekunda East Mini-stadium, while Bakau
United ensured Real de Banjul’s perfect start to the season is given a test by
holding them to a pulsating 2-2 stalemate at the Banjul KG5.
Hamang brace
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Hamang Conteh’s brace ensured victory for Gamtel
in a 2-0 win over Seaview.
This is the second time this season that the striker scored two goals
that are match deciders. His first was against FC Halem of Senegal in the
African Confederations Cup.
In other fixtures, Brikama United, the 2011 league champions defeat
Hawks 2-1 in their home ground, the Brikama Box Bar Mini-stadium, while Gamtel
defeat Seaview 2-0 with Hamang Conteh been the architect of both goals.
Interior played a scoreless draw against Bakau giants Steve Biko.
Real, Gamtel to face African opponents
tomorrow
The Voice - Real de Banjul and Gamtel will on Saturday play
their second legs of the African Champions league and Confederation Cup against
FUS Rabat and HLM of Senegal respectively.
Gamtel, the FA cup holders travel to Dakar, Senegal with the hopes of
defending a slender 2-1 advantage against FC Halem, while Real de Banjul will
be hoping to overturn a 1-0 deficit in their favor when they play host to their
Moroccan opponent FUS Rabat on the same day at the Independence Stadium in
Bakau.
The Gambia’s league champions Real de Banjul concede for the first in
the 2013 GFA league against Bakau United in a pulsating 2-2 draw last Saturday
at the Banjul KG5 Mini-stadium – having won all their first four-league games.
Gamtel on the other hand triumph 2-0 over Seaview with Hamang Conteh
once again grabbing the headlines with another fantastic display in which he
score both goals.
The telecommunication-sponsored team is hopeful of a good game against
their Senegalese opponents having been boosted by the return of striker Assan
Ceesay from injury.
Mancini plays down Scorpions loss to Mauritania
The Voice - Gambia’s head coach Luciano Mancini has
down-played his side 2-0 loss to Mauritania in a friendly played at the
Independence Stadium in Bakau on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013.
Goals from Abdullah Gueye and Isamila Diakite in the 27 and 50 minutes
were enough to secure a crucial away win for the Mourabitounes of
Mauritaniaagainst the Scorpions of The Gambia.
“The defeat will not do any damage to our preparation. It will serve
as a lesson for the upcoming game because we understand how they play and come
Saturday we will have a different approach to the game,” Mancini said.
Mancini who was looking for his first win since taking over as coach
of the scorpions, said the game against the west African rivals will only serve
as a way of testing the local-based players morale and fitness ahead of the
Ivory Coast encounter.
“As you can see my players are young players, under-17 and under-18.
So they lack maturity of playing international matches which has played a part
to the defeat,” the Italian said. “They played extremely well in term of ball
possession and they control the game perfectly.”
“The only mistake they made was at the back and that led to the two
goals we conceded, the frontline were also ruthless in front of goal,” he
added.
Relieve
“The win over the scorpions of Gambia is a source of relieve for me
and my players in general after losing 3-0 to Egypt in April, 2-1 to Iran, 3-1
to Iraqi Kurdistan and 2-0 to Palestine,” the Mauritanian head coach Patrice
Nouvou said.
The gaffer, who qualifies Guinea Conakry to the African Cup of Nations
and once Coached DR Congo, praised the fighting spirit of his players, but
believe that the scorpions home based players have good future ahead of
them.
Mancini’s scorpions
Coach Luciano Mancini has so far presided over the scorpions’ 1-1
drawn against Morocco in Banjul (world cup qualifiers), a 4-1 trashing by
Algeria in Algiers (AFCON qualifier), and a 2-1 loss to Tanzania in Daresalam
(world cup qualifier).
He also presided over The
Gambia’s 1-1 draw against Angola in Luanda (friendly).
Gambia misses out on Chelsea-funded academy for
lack of trust
The Voice - The English premier league club, Chelsea FC’s
lack of trust means The Gambia and its fledgling football misses out on the
West London Club’s proposal to fund the establishment of a football academy in
the country.
The proposal was part of three players (Ousman Jallow, Momodou Ceesay
and Ebrima Sohna) signing for Chelsea, which later pulledout of negotiations
after learning that the players were in contact with other clubs like Tottenham
Hotspurs, reveals Alhagie Omar Sey.
Because Ceeasy’s family were negotiating with Spurs, which never
materialized, Chelsea pull out and informed me they no longer trusted us, the
vice chairmen of the Gambia Football Association, GFA, said at a press conference
on Thursday when asked why Gambian players fail to make it to some of the major
leagues in Europe.
They (Chelsea) terminated everything including the proposed football
academy that they wanted to build in the country, he said of the “unfortunate” events
of 2005 shortly after the FIFA under-17 world cup in Peru.
The spokesperson of the GFA normailsation committee said: "And
they (Chelsea) were going to pay the Football Association education fees and it
was an open secret Chelsea came out wanted to set an academy in the
Gambia.
“But when that deal failed with those three players, they said we are
sorry we cannot rely on you people. I blame the players because of lack of
maturity, because of greed and the club (Wallidan) because of lack of organisation."
Greediness
Mr Sey, who spoke on the issue for the first time in eight years, said
former Wallidan FC trio Jallow, Ceesay and Sohna failed to secure deals with
the current European Champions due to greediness and lack of proper structure
of Gambia’s local clubs.
“Greediness and lack of proper structure of our clubs led to the
down-fall of some of our players like Ousman Jallow, Momodou Ceesay and Ebrima
Sohna, who were offered 300, 000 pounds contracts by Chelsea after their return
from the 2005 World U-17 Championship in Peru,” he said.
But the deals failed to
materialize due to greediness from their club and parents who demanded to get
hold of the money, he added.
“I travel with the players to England for them to conduct their trials
at Chelsea, which was successful and they were offered contracts with the
option of loaning them out to a Belgium club until they turn 18 years.
“Momodou Ceesay and Sohna were tipped by the Chelsea coach Jose
Morinho to replace Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele.
“But upon our return, rumors were everywhere that I have taken players
to England to sell them.
“For that been the case, I was contacted by Momodou Ceesay’s mum who
was in America, and told me she wanted to get hold of some of the money.
“One of his uncles in Scotland also called me and informs me that I
have to pullout of the deal because they are already looking for a club for
Ceesay,” he explained.
Gambia Host Mauritania Wednesday
The Voice - The scorpions of The Gambia are scheduled to
play two friendly matches against West African neighbours Mauritania on Feb. 27
and March 2, 2013, the country’s football governing body said.
The test matches are part of continuous preparation for the upcoming
2014 World Cup qualifier against the Elephants of Ivory Coast in Abidjan in
March, Gambia’s Football Association, GFA said during a Feb. 21 press
conference held at the football house in Kanifing.
Mauritania was in the same group with The Gambia, Ivory Coast, Morocco
and Tanzania, but withdrew due to “financial-problems”.
The Gambia’s FA will use its selected home-based players who have been
training together and playing local test matches for a few weeks now.
Both matches will be played at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
On Thursday, the FA’s Normalisation Committee Vice Chairman, O.B.
Conateh said: “The friendly against Mauritania will serve as preparation for
the upcoming qualifiers.”
He said plans are being made to play two other friendly matches
against Guinea Conakry before traveling to Ivory Coast.
Kerr Sukum Reaches First Ever Final
The Voice - Kerr Sukum United has reach their first ever
final in a football competition after defeating Mbollet Ba 5-4 in an intriguing
penalty shootout on Sunday at Medina Seriegne Mass village in the Njogu
Bah-sponsored tournament.
The match ended in a stalemate (0-0) after 90 minutes and headed
straight to penalty kicks.
Mbollet Ba were regarded the favorites ahead of the game despite
earlier losing Kerr Sukum in their group stage encounter.
The big-time footballing village could do little to break the ever
determined Kerr Sukum defence inspire by the vast experienced team captain
Cherno Omar Bah.
Despite labeled underdogs, Kerr Sukum look the more dangerous side
with a frontline full of mesmerizing skills that included Buba Sowe, Alieu Bah
and “Pato” who both came close to opening the score line in the first half.
But poor finishing from both teams ensured the first 45 minutes ended
goalless.
Mbollet Ba emerged the better
side when play resumed but failed to take the lead when “Puyol” was played
through one-on-one with the Kerr Sukum goalkeeper Musa Sowe who did well to
deny the defender from scoring.
Gimbeh on the other hand came within seconds breaking the deadlock for
Kerr Sukum in the 72nd minute after coming in as a substitute. His
shot went just inches off the post.
Kerr Sukum will play in their first final against Madina, after the
later beat Kerr Toubai 11-10 during a “long-evening” of penalty shootouts.
“We risked our
lives on July 22 to liberate Gambia”
Yaya Jammeh has said he and his colleagues risked
their lives on 22 July, 1994 to liberate The Gambia in order to build the
country and let it shine as a sovereign nation.
“We risked our lives neither to sell the country nor
betray the people to any other nation or grouping,” The Gambia’s President said
in a televised statement on the eve of the country’s 48th Independence
Anniversary.
Similarly, when we established the Civic Education
Panel in the early years of the Gambian revolution to educate the citizens of
The Gambia, the objective was clear: educate the people for nation building, he
added on Feb. 17, 2013.
Today, it is heartening to note that this crucial
development has paid dividend, Mr Jammeh said, Gambians are politically aware
and mature enough not only to know their rights, but also to stand up against
any attempt to violate such rights whenever the need arises.
Read on, the full text
In a televised statement, President Jammeh thanked the
Almighty Allah for the rich blessings showered on the people of the country and
for granting us the divine favour of celebrating the 48th anniversary of The
Gambia’s attainment of Independence from British colonial rule.
President Jammeh also dilated on the rationale behind
the theme of this year’s celebration; “National Sovereignty and Patriotism in
Nation Building.”
Below is the
full text of the President’s statement.
Fellow
Gambians
Distinguished Viewers and Listeners
We are
thankful to the Almighty Allah for the rich blessings showered on us and for
granting us the divine favor of celebrating the 48th anniversary of The
Gambia’s attainment of Independence from British colonial rule. This is a day
we look forward to, with joy and optimism, as it consciously rekindles in us
the proud feeling of being in charge of our own affairs and our destiny in ways
we consider best as a nation.
Inspired by the sense of accomplishment, hope and
elation that go with the occasion let me take time to welcome very heartily our
illustrious friends, brothers and sisters who have travelled long distances to
add their presence to the grandeur of the occasion. To each of them I say, on
behalf of my Government and the people of The Gambia: welcome to the Smiling
Coast of Africa, and thank you for coming to celebrate with us. We entreat you
to feel at home in our dear motherland.
Fellow
Gambians
It is barely two months when Gambians spontaneously
demonstrated their vehement and uncompromising opposition to conditions that
the European Union wanted to impose on the Gambian nation. The spontaneity of
the solidarity marches and the reactions that erupted, involving all categories
of society is symbolic of the significance Gambians attach to their dignified
existence as a sovereign nation and the degree of patriotism and political
maturity that marks Gambian society today. It is in sync with this wave of
developments and patriotic manifestations that the theme chosen for this year’s
celebration is “National Sovereignty and Patriotism in Nation Building.”
Fellow Gambians
Nations are defined by their citizens in relation to
the common identity, sense of direction, sets of interests and other peculiar
traits that bind them. Taking this further, holding a nationality connotes
belonging to a peculiar stock of people with a distinct way of life within a
definite geographical area, all of which define their multiple contexts. The
relevance of our existence and, therefore, our identities are inextricably
linked to those contexts. This accounts for differences in our value systems
and cultural heritages.
In simple terms, national sovereignty denotes
independence, right to self-determination and pursuit of a common destiny and
construction of socio-economic development programmes and aspirations based on
shared values, philosophies and principles. Against this backdrop, it is in the
interest of all citizens and for the sake of our progeny, that we must stand
united to defend and protect one another in accordance with this understanding.
Like the founding fathers of independent Africa, who
literally fought for their freedom and, subsequently, established the
Organisation of African Unity, which we have now transformed into the African
Union, we risked our lives on 22nd July 1994 to liberate The Gambia in order to
build it and let it shine as a sovereign nation. We risked our lives neither to
sell the country nor betray the people to any other nation or grouping.
Similarly, when we established the Civic Education Panel in the early years of
the Gambian revolution to educate the citizens of The Gambia, the objective was
clear: educate the people for nation building. Today, it is heartening to note
that this crucial development has paid dividend, and that Gambians are politically
aware and mature enough not only to know their rights, but also to stand up
against any attempt to violate such rights whenever the need arises.
Over the past eighteen years, my Government has been
consistent in ensuring that the Gambian nation enjoys a respectable and
dignified status within the global community. In view of the radical
development initiatives implemented, we can now boast of ultramodern and
appropriate infrastructure; more relevant and stronger institutions, better
distilled and robust policies and programmes, as well as more functional and
productive socio-economic structures. The result of all these are greener
opportunities and prospects for all Gambians. Nationally, we are better
organized and united, internationally, the image and status of The Gambia has
changed, as we are more active on the world stage than ever before. Such
successes have not gone unnoticed outside the shores of this Land. Thus, there
will be continual attempts to disrupt these positive trends and undermine the
fabric of our social life.
Distinguished
Viewers and Listeners
The history
of this world is blighted by incessant acts of exploitation, domination,
suppression, discrimination and, of late, conditions tied to hidden agendas;
hence, the emergence of structured resistance and revolutions that are guided
by emancipatory ideologies and radical socio-political projects. The lesson is
that all peoples must take into their hands the protection and furtherance of
their interests, resources, lives and sovereignty as they consider it fit. This
also goes for Gambians. No one else can determine our destiny for us, and no
one will come to build the Gambian nation for us without any hidden motive. In
opting for responses to external forces, we must distinguish between the honest
and genuine friends of The Gambia and those who seek to embark on expansionist
caprices. Therefore, we are thankful to the true friends and allies of The
Gambia, and wish to reassure them of our support and cooperation.
One wonders sometimes how certain myopic nations and
regional bodies think and behave. The world must know that Gambians are not
politically blind nor gullible and naive enough to swallow whatever the West
metes out to us. We will not be dictated to, and we call on all progressive and
patriotic Africans to defy all forms of foreign domination and devote their
souls and energies to the Almighty Allah and nation building.
We must not be told what laws to enact or abrogate, as
we experienced lately. In The Gambia, there is equality in all aspects:
equality before the law and in relation to opportunities. This did not exist
during colonial rule. As a matter of common sense, the descendants of former
colonial masters, slave traders and armed robbers that pillaged Africa and
other continents yesterday cannot give lessons on Governance to any African
country. Certainly not The Gambia and Gambian people would not accept such
insolence.
We subscribe to mutual respect among nations for
peaceful coexistence and preservation of the national sovereignty of each
nation. For us, our national sovereignty is exclusively about our right to
exercise political freedom and control over our priorities, policies and
programmes. As a Government, we endorse the principle that the people’s
sovereignty collectively takes precedence over any individual’s sovereignty. In
defence of the nation, we are conscious also of the fact that interference or
violations of our sovereignty can emerge from both within the nation and
without.
Therefore, as patriots living in a global community
and belonging to the human race, we extend a hand of friendship and brotherhood
to all other well-meaning and progressive nations and international bodies,
regardless of any form of distinction. But, we fervently oppose at all times
all external interference in our rights and privileges as a sovereign state,
and we demand that all external regional and sub-regional organizations focus
on genuine socio-economic agendas, and refrain from being prescriptive over and
dictate to nations that do not fall within their spheres of hegemony. This is
particularly so, where such interference seeks to condone crime and protect
criminals, encourages immoral and ungodly attitudes or behaviours like
homosexuality.
Fellow
Gambians
Just as the African continent’s progress is linked to
the freedom and unity of all African countries, so is the salvation of each
nation linked to the emancipation of their entire citizenry. As patriots, we
must undertake to reverse and dislodge what has been described as the infamous
colonial legacy of inequitable and inappropriate development structures and
plans that continue to undermine economic, political and social development in
Africa. Some of these structures have been so deeply entrenched in African
society that they tend to support neo-imperialist strategies that surface in
different forms and in deceitful ways from time to time.
Fellow
Gambians
Distinguished Viewers and Listeners
It is
fascinating that the West has preferred to be blind to the legislative reform
initiatives undertaken in The Gambia in recent years. The domestication of
international Conventions and instruments, the harmonious integration of the
Common Law and Islamic Law (Sharia), the establishment of an Alternative
Dispute Resolution Tribunal and the production of a new set of the revised Laws
of The Gambia are among genuine endeavors to institute a just and effective
judicial or legal system, which the Gambian people have endorsed, noting that
the process followed to bring about these reforms was participatory and
all-inclusive.
We know that laws, like the factors that inform them,
are socially located and distinctively contextual. Therefore, our laws are
depictive of our values, religions, traditions, customs and, generally, our
culture. Our institutions seek to speak to and preserve those elements that
instill and sustain social cohesion, stability and economic development. In the
quest for self-determination, as a sovereign nation, we are guided by these
precepts. Our religion defines our cultural values as a people and these
religious values would be defended a all times and at any cost.
In re-defining our independence and our roles and
responsibilities individually and collectively, let us submit to the collective
or national will. We the Gambians are peace-loving, tolerant and hospitable
people and we should exhibit these values towards one another and towards other
peoples as this is a clear demonstration of true Islam and Islamic values.
I appreciate the recent show of solidarity with my
Government, which, as I said earlier, symbolises the patriotic disposition of
Gambians. It signals political awareness and maturity, and a pressing desire to
protect our sovereignty. However, I re-echo my call on all Gambians (the youth,
parents, teachers, professionals, technicians and everyone else from other
walks of life) to arm themselves with the degree of spiritual, political and
social conscientiousness, commitment and dedication to the common good required
of all patriots, and act as community agents for societal progress and peace,
as well as for the preservation of the cultural integrity and dignity of the
Gambian people.
Africa’s history has been blurred by external factors
and interventions that led to conflict and backwardness. We vow not to bequeath
such a blurred legacy to the coming generations; and to do achieve this, we
must be mindful of strategies used against Africans. Colonial and
neo-imperialist strategies are not different. To dominate a people, the trick
is to divide them, weaken them, control their frameworks and apparatuses,
dissipate their resources, render their institutions dysfunctional and define
their reference points. In consequence, this is an era of resistance and
cooperation: resistance to foreign domination (be this cultural, economic or
political domination), and cooperation for global progress and peace, and for
improvement on the overall quality of life.
Unperturbed by whatever the enemies of the nation say
or do, we will continue to build this nation, pursue our vision and ensure that
the entire citizenry enjoy a higher quality of life at all times, while living
in peace and harmony as brothers and sisters. Looking into the future, my
Government will continue to strive to fight crime, ungodly behaviours and
attributes and all vices that deter progress. To those enemies of Africa in
general and The Gambia in particular, let me assure that you will always fail
by the Grace of the Almighty ALLAH. And if you make the lethal mistake of
setting your feet on Gambian soil, you will regret why you are born without
fail. We will always prevail over all evil people and their machinations INSHA
ALLAH.
The recent change of work schedules for the public
sector provides opportunities for all of us to worship ALLAH as Muslims appropriately,
as well as embark on out-of-office income-generating activities for poverty
eradication. We must find ways of creating wealth and living as independent
individuals and families and, collectively, as an independent nation. It is
only when we cultivate a true culture of patriotism, hard work and discipline
that we will be able to contribute selflessly to our collective wellbeing.
Distinguished
Viewers and Listeners
As President
of this country, I promise you better days, higher projects and a brighter
future, Insha Allah. In return, I call on you to be more vigilant, and work
closely with Government to achieve our individual and collective national
objectives and aspirations.
At this juncture, I pay solemn tribute to all the
visiting heads of state, illustrious dignitaries and other distinguished
personalities in our midst. While we remember and pray for those who are less
fortunate to join us in celebration of our National Day, I congratulate all
Gambians and thank the public servants, national and regional committees and
all those behind the successful celebrations of this year’s independence
anniversary. I also thank and pay tribute to the schoolchildren, teachers,
parents, security services, voluntary organizations and cultural groups for an
impressive turnout and for their contribution to the splendour of the day. To
all those who have come out to attend this event, we equally convey profound
appreciation and gratitude. To all of you I say, Peace and Love.
May the Almighty Allah guide us to a quick and
decisive victory over poverty, and may He help us to transpose our nation into
the prosperous entity we aspire.
Long live
The Gambia
Long live
all patriotic Gambians
Long live the Africa people
I thank you for your kind attention.
Detained journalist Abdoulie John released
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Point - Journalist Abdoulie John, who was detained by the National Intelligence Agency in Banjul since Monday has been released, The Point has reliably learnt.
John, who is the Banjul editor of JollofNews website, was detained Monday after he reported to the NIA headquarters in Banjul.
“Yes,
I was released this morning (Thursday), and asked to be reporting on
bail,” John told The Point, adding that his laptop is still with the
NIA.
He was first arrested on 9th December and released the following day on bail, and required to be reporting weekly.
His
detention was widely condemned by international bodies including his
own JollofNews website, who called for his unconditional release.
Jammeh rejects European Union demands
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
The Point - President
Yahya Jammeh has sent out a clear message to the European Union and the
outside world, declaring that he will never be blackmailed by a group
with “chicken change” to accept what is not in the interest of the
Gambian people.
President Jammeh,
who was speaking yesterday during a cabinet meeting at State House, said
Gambia “will never be colonized twice”.
His
comments were in response to a 17-point set of demands by the European
Union to be discussed with the Gambia government during a meeting slated
for Friday 11th January 2013.
Among the demands by the European Union are the
upholding of moratorium on the death penalty with immediate effect,
revision of laws on freedom of expression and media regulations within
24 months, provision of information regarding the recent executions,
including location of burial to the families.
“I
will not compromise with evil, I will not compromise with anything that
will question our independence as a country, and I will not compromise
with any institution that thinks that we are not fit to rule our
country, no matter what they have,” Jammeh declared.
Speaking
at the meeting with members of his cabinet, President Jammeh said he
will not compromise on being told by any outside force how this country
should be run, what laws should be passed, how we should deal with our
people.
“That is not their business, it is not even up for discussion!” he said.
According to the Gambian leader, no entity should tell this country what laws should prevail in this country.
He added: “They
cannot define themselves and define us. We are an independent sovereign
state; being small does not mean that we are not human. We are as human
as they are, and may be even better because we are true Muslims and
true Christians in this country.”
“So
if anybody thinks that Gambia is poor, and you dangle chicken change
and say, ‘Yahya Jammeh, dance on broken bottles and I will give you
this’, go to hell, I will not! whether it’s any institution, any bloc or
any power outside this country, because I believe in the power of the
Almighty Allah,” Jammeh stated.
“Gambia
will not be colonized twice. Colonialism can take different forms; it
may not mean direct occupation of a country as they did before, because
if anybody attempts that now, we will all die than be colonized again;
they will find this country too hot for them to handle.
“With
the Almighty Allah, anybody who attempts that will fail badly. That
being the case, if all of us are sincere to our country, we must all
work together because, in any society, there will always be a leader,”
he added.
“Let me make it very clear again.
“When
we have the so-called partners who still believe that Africa should be
colonized in one way or the other, and they hoodwink us into what they
call a partnership; partnerships are not bad. There is nothing wrong in
talking to evil people, if you believe that talking to them will make
them change and become good people. There is nothing wrong with a
partnership as long as the partnership is based on mutual respect and
respect for your independence and sovereignty.”
Still
on the demands made by the European Union, the Gambian leader further
stated that there is no need to meet with the European Union because, as
he put it, “none of their demands is subject for discussion”.
“It is unacceptable, and if that is the dialogue they are talking about, the dialogue is dead and buried!” he added.
“If
we had known that the dialogue they are talking about was not a
dialogue, but a lecture, we were not going to sign for it. Now it seems
that all the dialogue with the EU is about them telling us what we
should do; one accusation after the other. If that is the dialogue, then
it ends today because that is not a dialogue, and we will not be
lectured. After all, what are they going to give us? Are they going to
give us oxygen or prolong our lives; it is only the Almighty Allah who
decides how you live, and not the EU.”
Jammeh
further emphasized that as a sovereign state, Gambia’s laws would not
be amended because the EU wanted that to happen, further stating that
Gambia is not a colony of the European Union or any international body.
Meanwhile,
below are the demands made by the European Union, as announced during
the Cabinet meeting by President Jammeh himself:
1.
Commitment of Government of the Gambia to allow the free operation of
independent media in The Gambia within a deadline of one month;
2. Removal of restrictive barriers/monetary/regulatory to registration and licensing of the media;
3. Removal of restriction on accessing and sharing information electronically within one month;
4.
Revision of provision in the criminal code that allow for prosecution
on the charges of sedition, libel, false publication to a public servant
within 6 months,
5. Revision of laws on freedom of expression and media regulations within 24 months
6. Upholding of moratorium on death penalty with immediate effect
7. Provision of information regarding the recent executions, and including location of burial to families within one month
8. Review of the death penalty by the National Assembly within 12 months
9. Review of the death penalty by the National Assembly and to propose to introduce a de jure moratorium within 24 months
10.
Review of the provision of the death penalty in the element of the
criminal code and other laws for most serious crimes within six months
11.
That the Government signed and ratified the second optional protocol to
the international covenant on civil and political rights within 18
months
12. Conclusion of an MOU
with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to allow them
access to prison facilities on regular basis within 3 months
13. Provision of regular and timely access for diplomatic corps within one month
14. Presentation of costed proposals to improve prison detention facility condition within 12 months
15. Provision of information on the UN Convention against torture ratified on June 6th 2006 within 3 months
16. Signing of the optional protocols to the convention against torture within 6 months
17. Establishment of the Human Rights Commission proposed by the Commonwealth secretariat
VP
Njie-Saidy, Njogu Bah, Fatou Lamin Faye, Kebba Touray, Aki Bayo, Lamin
Jobarteh, Balla Garba Jahumpa, Francis Litti Mboge, Minister of
Presidential Affairs Mustapha Camara, all expressed solidarity with
Jammeh on the position he has taken in these issues.
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Daily Observer - The president of the Republic has strongly
emphasised that The Gambia’s sovereignty will not be compromised, while
expressing the need to ‘liberate ourselves and minds from mental slavery’.
His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr
Yahya Jammeh was speaking yesterday afternoon at State House in Banjul while
meeting with his Cabinet on the proposed EU Article 8 Intensified Political
Dialogue meeting.
The Gambian leader made it very clear that
his government will not accept any dialogue that dictates what his government
should do. “This so-called dialogue is death because
we are not going to meet with them,” he said, referring to the EU. “In
dialogue, you discuss as to how partnership will be mutually beneficial and not
to be told what to do,” he stressed.
President Jammeh read one of the quotation
in the document which says: “The EU has expressed its concern over what it
views as a significant deterioration in the human rights situation in The
Gambia in recent months, notably the execution of nine death row inmates, the
forced closure of independent radio stations and newspapers, the trial against
persons on the basis of their sexual orientation and the arbitrary arrest and
detention of journalists and human rights defenders.”
According to President Jammeh, Africans are
detained in Europe for no offences other than being black and so-called being
there illegally, when their hungry grandfathers ran away from starvation and
came to Africa, took young Africans to thousands of kilometers away to work for
them free of charge and were treated worse than dogs.
“The same people are telling me about the
deterioration of human rights in this country and detention of journalists. How
many journalists are being detained in The Gambia? is Julian Assange not a
journalist, if they think that we are stupid I think they better think twice
and let me make it very clear that this is the end of our dialogue on Article 8
with the EU,” he further stated.
President Jammeh said The Gambia discovered
oil before some African countries and others around the world, but vowed that
he would not give them [the West] the natural resources with Gambia taking only
5% which, he said is the reason why The Gambia’s oil is not being exploited. “I made it very clear that the same
Almighty Allah who gave it to us would give us the means to exploit it in our
own. All what they are trying to do is to create a situation of instability so
that they can get what they want or put up a puppet government that would
succumb and give the wealth of this country to them, but by the grace of
Almighty Allah all their machinations would fall on themselves, because that
would not happen in this country,” he assured.
Journalists
The Gambian leader cited countries like
Iraq where journalists are being killed, and also the death of journalists
during the bombing of Palestine Hotel were Aljazeera was based. He pointed out
that in some countries, journalists are beaten and killed and nobody is saying
anything. He said if they [the EU] think that Gambia would sacrifice the
wellbeing of the majority of the population for the interest of minority, they
are in the wrong place adding that his government can’t be blackmailed with
their chicken change. “Let them go to hell because it is not
going to happen here,” he added.
His words: “If a journalist causes an
offence, we will detain and prosecute him. They are not better than other
Gambians. They, [the detractors] know that the quickest way to destabilise a
country is to use the media and those newspapers that are being closed, we are
going to keep them closed because now that they are talking about it they will
remain closed. That is my message to them,” he said.
President Jammeh further stated that these
detractors want to destabilise the country so that they can have easy access to
materials. “Our mineral resources that we have will not go in a way that
Gambians will still be poor. We don’t want to exploit oil and my people would
be dying in the Atlantic Ocean. I am not that type of leader and I will never
succumb to that. The only authority I believe in is the Almighty Allah,” he
remarked.
He added: All this, are just there to
destabilising this country, creating chaos so that they can have access to our
mineral resources.They have eyes on our
resources and their only problem is Yahya Jammeh and I will always be their
problem. If they want to get it the same way they are getting it in other
countries, they are making a great mistake because Allah would not allow that
to happen in The Gambia. Destabilise the country and get what you want and put
up a puppet government that will serve their interest, I will not do that. I
worship only Allah the Almighty not the European Union or any other entity.”
Law offenders
According to him, those who breakthe law will be dealt with according to the
laws of the land. “Journalist or no journalist, nobody is above the law. If
they believe in this, why is Julian Assange still being held hostage in a
foreign embassy? How many Gambians and Africans are being deported in handcuffs
and how many are killed outside. If they want the welfare of Gambians and for
me to believe in that, let Gambians require no visa to go to their countries.
They came to The Gambia when they were hungry and nobody asked them fora visa,” President Jammeh said.
The executions
He continued: “We execute people because we
believe in God and after all is not only The Gambia that is executing people.
The Quran said that if you kill somebody illegally, you should face the
penalty. We didn’t evolute from pigs, we are created by the Almighty Allah and
we are descendents of Adam and Eve that were created by God the Almighty Allah.
You run your countries the way you want and you expect us to run our country
the way you want? We are not a colony. So this dialogue is off. This is
insulting and it is unacceptable.”
President Jammeh further observed in the
document that the issue of those African migrants whose boats sink in the areas
close to Europe was not mentioned in the document. According to him, these
boats only sink within their coastline and when they are sinking there is naval
fleet gate or helicopter around waiting for them.
“Why are Africans deported being
handcuffed? And why are African migrants put in concentration camps as soon as
they arrive in Europe, because they don’t have visa and are seen as illegal
migrants when they themselves require no visa to come to Africa. I am not
afraid of anything in this world. I am afraid of only the Almighty Allah and we
will not be insulted again. This so-called dialogue is death because the
Article 8 said that it should be dialogue and if that dialogue is dictating as
to what we should do to destroy our country in the name of afew criminals, then they will find me here,
not even one letter from the Laws of The Gambia would we changed,” he
concluded.
The vice president and minister for Women’s
Affairs and other cabinet ministers who spoke at the meeting assured the
Gambian leader that they are in solidarity with him and strongly support his
position.
The minister for Health and Social Welfare,
Bala Garba Jahumpa, who is also responsible for National Assembly Matters, said
President Jammeh spoke in defense of the July 22nd Revolution, saying it took
place in 1994 and was not only for the advancement and development of The
Gambia, but was also a battle of ideas and a struggle of ideas between ideas of
neocolonialism and ideas of imperialism versus ideas of liberation, freedom and
dignity for the Gambian people and the African continent.
Dr Njogu Bah, the minister of Information
and Communication Infrastructure; Abdou Kolly, minister of Finance; Fatou Lamin
Faye, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education; Lamin Jobarteh, Attorney
General and minister of Justice; Kebba Touray, minister of Trade, Regional
Integration and Employment; Francis Liti Mboge, minister of Works and
Construction and Infrastructure; Mamadou Aki Bayo and Mustapha Charles Camara,
ministers for Local Government, Traditional Rulers and Regional Administration
and Presidential affairs respectively, all expressed support for the president
and the government’s decision on the issue.
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Daily
Observer - The president of
the Republic of The Gambia has said that the execution of convicted murderers
which was one of other events in 2012 based on the provisions of the
Constitution and Laws of The Gambia were misconstrued outside the country and
hypocritically blown out of proportion unnecessarily.
In
a twelve-page address to the nation on the eve of New Year, His Excellency,
Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, said in fostering peace and stability
in The Gambia, his government will never compromise with criminals whose main
intention is to stall our progress. He said when executions were carried out,
the government acted within the confines of the national laws, and in
accordance with our commitment to the rule of law. He further denounced
violence in all its forms saying his government will always maintain zero
tolerance for violence, anarchy, murder, rape, drugs, corruption and sadistic
criminal disguised in any religion to slaughter innocent people under the name
of any cult.
Below is the full text of the president’s address
Fellow Gambians
Friends and well-wishers of The Gambia
Dear viewers
Humanity at large
Ladies and gentlemen
As
we march into the New Year 2013 with profound gratitude and praises to the
Almighty Allah for giving us this privilege, we will continue to seek His
innumerable blessings and infinite mercies for our motherland throughout the
New Year and beyond.
As
a nation we have a lot to be grateful to the Almighty Allah and should not lose
sight of the fact that only He can give us what we need to not only develop our
motherland into an economic superpower sooner rather than later but for our
daily sustenance as well.
As
we rejoice, celebrate and participate in the usual festivities that come with
this season, looking forward to the new year with strengthened hope,
enthusiasm, and optimism, we must not lose sight of the fact that this is also
a period of prayers, thanks giving and devotion to our creator and Lord of the
Worlds.
These
are also times that give us the opportunity to look back on the past twelve
months, in order to assess our performance as individuals, community, and more
importantly as a nation. This allows us to better prepare ourselves for the
next twelve months with more resolve to improve on our performances and attain
better quality of life in the New Year.
As
a nation we have achieved a lot over the past eighteen years compared to the
previous governments but we still have to work much harder with strong
patriotic zeal, honesty and more importantly with total devotion and submission
to the Supremacy of the Almighty Allah if we want to achieve the economic
superpower status on time.
Armed
with our strong faith in and fear of Allah driven by strong determination to
succeed, working together as one united family of a nation, we shall reach the
promised land of highest standards of living where poverty is relegated to the
dust bin of history and greater happiness, peace and everlasting prosperity
will be the order of the day. In essence an economic superpower that would
dwarf the current day military superpowers or economic giants.
This
will be the ultimate destination for this great nation. It will be the greatest
triumph or success but no success can really be termed great success, if it is
achieved without facing great challenges and overcoming them. Greater
challenges lie ahead of the road to our promised destination. These challenges
have to be faced collectively and overcome. The greatest successes can come
only after overcoming the greatest challenges or obstacles.
Like
any other year, the New Year will bring challenges, opportunities and
successes, but each challenge should unite and bring us closer and each success
should make us stronger and better believers in the supremacy of the Almighty
Allah. Indeed as believers who put their trust and faith in Allah, we will always
be a stronger nation and our optimism boundless. As a result, we can achieve
any goal that we set for ourselves as a nation and our this country will reach
greater heights with the coming of each New Year InShaAllah.
As
the New Year begins let me take this opportunity to not only congratulate you
all but wish all of us greater happiness and more prosperity and success in all
our noble endeavours in the New Year 2013. I also pray that all our dreams and
development plans in the New Year come true.
Fellow Gambians
Friends and well-wishers of The Gambia
Distinguish viewers
Ladies and Gentlemen
For
the better self-assessment as a nation as we are poised to enter the year 2013,
it is prudent to engage in serious reflection on the year ending. In this
context, I observe that similar to the preceding years, 2012 was an eventful
year both nationally and internationally. For illustration, I will briefly make
reference to a few remarkable events.
Globally,
the world has continued to move further towards multi-polarity and
globalization, while innovations of science and technology brews new
breathtaking breakthroughs, though Global recovery from the recent economy
meltdown is still slow, with hardships and discomfort accentuated by both
natural and man-made catastrophes lingering in many nations. World peace,
development and human progress socially, politically and economically have been
hindered as a consequence.
However,
we are thankful to the Almighty Allah that despite the turbulence in the
international economic system, during the year, our economy remained resilient
and stable. We were able to absorb all the shocks due to prudent financial and
fiscal policies implemented by government.
In
view of the important contribution of Agriculture to the economy, we appreciate
the amount of rainfall this year, and we are delighted at the positive response
of Gambians to my “back to the Land” call, which has resulted in a very good
harvest generally. Hopefully, this will ensure sustained economic growth and
increase household food security in the coming year.
This
optimism offsets the despondency resultant from the 2011 crop failure that had
terrible consequences especially for the poor and vulnerable groups in society.
It was fortunate that Government cushioned that crop failure competently with
appropriate measures that were complemented by support from the international
community. To all those who provided such support, we convey profound
gratitude.
Fellow citizens
Ladies and Gentlemen
It
is expected that the economy will grow in the New Year due to the good rainy
season and increased agricultural output. In order to promote and sustain this
growth, we shall continue to maintain and improve on the fiscal discipline and
monetary policies implemented throughout the years. Furthermore, government
will continue to work with the private sector to spur economic growth and,
thereby, create more employment opportunities, especially for the youths. To
this effect, Gambian entrepreneurs and employers are urged to continue to be
innovative and look for business opportunities in virgin areas.
ICT
cannot prosper in the absence of power. Interestingly, the energy sector had
been gripped by numerous challenges in the past, including incessant power
outages. Fortunately, the upsurge in access to electricity in the country and
the reliability of the service provided in this sector during the current year
has contributed tremendously to improving the business climate and
socio-political life in the country. Notwithstanding this success, we will not
relent in our efforts to improve the distribution network and provide power for
every community in The Gambia including the utilization of alternative sources
of energy – that is renewable energy.
One
of other events in 2012 witnessed the execution of convicted murderers based on
the provisions of the Constitution and Laws of the Land. Such necessary actions
despite being constitutional were misconstrued outside The Gambia and
hypocritically blown out of proportion unnecessarily. In fostering peace and stability
in The Gambia, my Government will never compromise with criminals whose main
intention is to stall our progress. When we carried out those executions, we
acted within the confines of our national laws, and in accordance with our
commitment to the rule of law. As a nation, we denounce violence in all its
forms, and my Government will always maintain zero tolerance for violence,
anarchy, murder, rape, drugs, corruption and sadistic criminal disguised in any
religion to slaughter innocent people under the name of any cult – I call it
cult because none of the main religions Allah’s prophets enjoined any act of
violence and mass murder in pursuit of establishing or expanding such a
religion.
Fellow Gambians
Friends of The Gambia
As
we strive to maintain a healthy nation, we will work hard to educate the
nation. Linked to this, it is worth mentioning that the education sector
continues to be a source of pride for us and a catalyst for attaining economic
superpower status we are fervently working towards. The intensification of the
Primary Teacher’s Certificate Extension Programme, introduction of the donkey
cart to enhance school access, the quality improvement initiatives relating to
teacher content knowledge, training of Mathematics and Science teachers, and
the cash transfer system are among the innovations within the sector.
At
the upper echelons of the education system, graduates from the tertiary and
higher education level have increased in critical areas that were before now
under-subscribed. Hence, this year’s convocation ceremony marked the
inauguration of the University of The Gambia (UTG) Science Park and the first
graduation ceremony of home-trained lawyers, some of whom now support the
Gambian bench in their quest to adjudicate or deliver justice. The number of
doctors graduated in 2012 is unprecedented, giving us the reassurance that the
ratio of doctors to the population will continue to improve.
In
addition, the graduation of the first batch of UTG students tutored through
distance learning is one of a number of new strategies employed to expand
access to university education. Happily also, much of the preparatory work
leading to the civil works for the UTG campus in Faraba Banta has been done,
and construction works will begin in 2013.
Fellow Gambians
Friends of The Gambia
The
Declaration of 2012 as Year of STI prompted nation-wide activities that ranged
from radio and television sensitization programmes, discussions, essay
competitions, parades and exhibitions to the organization of the First National
Science, Technology and Innovation Exhibition and Conference, which was held
recently. For the successful commemoration of the year, we thank the STI
Ministerial Committee under the chairmanship of the Minister of Higher
Education, Research, Science and Technology, supported by the STI National
Technical Committee. I have followed the celebrations in the various Regions
and Municipalities, and I thank all Mayors and Governors for their cooperation
with the Ministerial Committee. In the year ahead, all sectors should cooperate
to implement the strategies developed to harness Science, Technology and
Innovation for the rapid and sustainable development of the nation.
Fellow Gambians
Friends of The Gambia
No
year passes without trials or challenges, hence we always pray for a prosperous
future. For the coming year, therefore, let us look forward to a brighter
world, but we must work hard and pray for peace, prosperity and security to
return to the African continent in particular and to the whole world in general.
Let us resolve to coexist peacefully, and as expected, continue to strive to
explore and learn, and to grow, live well and improve our lot.
Last
year, at this time, I said it was imperative that we took charge of our destiny
by inculcating in ourselves a culture of work ethics and a strong sense of
discipline in our daily lives so that we would transform our dear nation into
the peaceful economic superpower that we set out to achieve in our Vision 2010.
Well, the year, 2020 is only seven years away! Therefore, it is incumbent on
all citizens to unite and work together in order to achieve our national
targets irrespective of our various political affiliations. To transform The
Gambia into an economic superpower requires sacrifice, hard work, patriotism
and honesty on the path of each and every one of us. There is no other route or
short cut.
Fellow Gambians
Friends of The Gambia
As
regards our social life, respect for one another is inevitable if we are to
remain knitted as one family. It is imperative that we endeavor to understand
one another and avoid inflicting discomfort or pain on anyone else. As we gear
up for the New Year, we should be ready to take advantage of the opportunities
that lie ahead for this great country. I am confident that, together, we can
surely build and transform this country into one that will be the envy of the
world.
Globally,
I reaffirm that The Gambia will uphold the banner of peace, development and
cooperation and adhere to a foreign policy of peaceful coexistence and respect
for one another’s sovereignty. Unswervingly, we will take the road of peaceful
development, and implement a strategy of mutual benefit. We will continue to
develop and strengthen friendly cooperation with all friendly nations and
participate actively in efforts by the international community to deal with
global issues. All these are geared towards building a harmonious world of
lasting peace and prosperity for all peoples.
Before
concluding, allow me to reiterate the point that since the advent of the second
republic, eighteen years ago, The Gambia has grown and prospered. The pace
continues unabated, and will continue for many more years by the grace of
Almighty Allah. In consequence, I pledge to continue to serve this nation with
all my heart and soul.
However
one person does not make a nation, which implies that I am not the nation. It
is all of us citizens of The Gambia, who constitute the nation. Therefore, my
Government will march forward with all genuine Gambians and friends of The
Gambia, convinced that we will guarantee a brighter future for all. Let us
support one another, as we journey through the future – loving, understanding
and caring for our fellow travellers on this journey.
To
each of you, I send sincere wishes for happiness in the coming year, with a
special thought to our Christian brothers and sisters with whom we are
celebrating this blessed season. To the vulnerable amongst us, whether young or
old, and to those whom the accidents of life have brought despair, I use this
opportunity to assure them that they will not be abandoned.
In
the fact of isolation and solitude, which are widespread in modern society, I
pray that 2013 becomes the year to restore meaning to the beautiful word,
“fraternity.” This being the case, I intent to build a one thousand, one
hundred and eleven beds multi-purpose hospital dedicated to treatment of HIV
and AIDS patients.
To
implement this project, I will bank on the benevolence of the Almighty first
and foremost and the kind hearted members of the human race through
fund-raising, cultural, musical and sporting events. This hospital I hope will
be inaugurated and fully operational by 2015 In Sha Allah. With this project
coming into fruition, we intend to treat ten thousand HIV/AIDS patients every
six months through natural medicine. I therefore count on the support and
understanding of all and sundry.
On
this note, may Allah the Almighty Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala take in His care our
affairs and ease for us the burden of the journey to eternal salvation and peace.
I wish you a happy New Year and thank you for your kind attention.
Gambia: Halifa Sallah Writes to President Jammeh On
Imam Baba Leigh's Detention
31 December 2012
Open letter
The Point - The rumour that are spreading regarding the personal security and
well-being of Imam Baba Leigh is raising the political temperature in the
country as anxiety and disbelief emerge from even unexpected quarters. The very
supporters of your party are outraged by rumours of torture and murder.The family of Imam Baba Leigh is powerless to dispel the rumours since they do not have any privileged information regarding his whereabouts. Despite my strong conviction that no one dares to murder Baba Leigh, I often have doubts why he is not released or at least allowed visits which is a right enjoyed by people remanded in custody to give effect to the principle of presumption of innocence.
Imam Baba Leigh is not even enjoying the right of a prisoner remanded in custody pending his or her hearing, that is, the right to be visited by family members, receive food and clothes from them and acquire the counsel of a legal practitioner. Baba Leigh is held incommunicado and many rumours are spreading that, to say the least, are unsettling to the state of mind of his loved ones.
Mr President, your government has tried to distance itself from the murder of Deyda Hydara and the disappearance of Chief Manneh by conceding to external investigation. What image does it hope to give itself by ignoring all the national and international appeals for the release of Imam Baba Leigh?
It is becoming monotonous to repeat ad infinitum that you have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution without fear or favour, affection or ill will. This oath should censor your behaviour.
Imam Baba Leigh left with his car and was led to his place of detention. You may investigate where the car is parked and find out how it got there. This case cannot be a case of disappearance. It is easy to investigate and get to the truth of Imam Baba Leigh's arrest and detention.
Since the NIA is directly under the office of the President, you should find out from them where Imam Baba Leigh's transport is parked and those who parked it there should explain to you where he is, and why he has been detained for 25 days in gross violation of Section 19 of the Constitution which gives him the inviolable and inalienable right to see a legal counsel within three hours of detention and be released or taken before a court within 72 hours of detention. This is the dictate of the Constitution. Section 19 (2) reads:
"Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any case within three hours, in a language that he or she can understands, of the reasons for his or her arrest or detention and of his or her right to consult a legal practitioner."
Furthermore, section 19(3) reads:
"Any person who is arrested or detained-
(a) For the purpose of bringing him or her before a court in execution of the order of a court, or
(b) upon reasonable suspicion of his or her having committed, or being about to commit, a criminal offence under the Laws of The Gambia, and who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court and, in any event, within seventy-two hours."
Section 17 of the constitution obliges you and your agents to uphold Section 19, among other fundamental rights and freedoms. It reads:
"The fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter shall be respected and upheld by all organs of the Executive and its agencies, the Legislature and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in The Gambia, and shall be enforceable by the Courts in accordance with this Constitution."
Mr President, it is incontrovertible that a democratic state should be a protector and not an oppressor of the citizenry. Every disregard of the dictates of the Constitution amounts to impunity. Impunity has no place in a constitutional order. It runs counter to the principles of the rule of law. It is true that the family could have gone and should go to the High Court for redress of unlawful detention beyond 72 hours without trial. The fact that they fear lengthening Imam Baba's detention if they take court action is instructive of the type of logic that impunity breeds.
To conclude, let me take this opportunity to reiterate that a government that cannot be criticised, scrutinised and restrained by its own citizens would end up ruling by coercion and oppression. Such a government would have lost its merit to be a government of a civilized and democratic people.
I, therefore, hope that you will intervene with immediacy to facilitate the release of Imam Baba Leigh and make a New Year Resolution to ensure that the government and its agents will adhere to the dictates of the Constitution and the standards of best practice in democratic governance.
While anticipating a favourable response,
I remain
Yours in the service of the nation
Halifa Sallah
Gambia: Former GRTS DG Sanyang Laid to Rest
31 December
2012
The Point - Former
Director General of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), Alhagie
Momodou Sanyang, aged 64, passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning,
after a long illness, and was in the evening laid to rest at the Bundung
Cemetery.
Thousands of mourners including members of the Cabinet led
by Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy, acting Secretary General and Head of the
Civil Service, Madi Jatta, Imam Ratib Alhagie Cherno Kah, members of the
Supreme Islamic Council, among others, earlier gathered at the family compound
at Bundung to pay their last respects.Born on 25th December 1948 in Kombo Gunjur in the West Coast Region, the late Modou Sanyang joined the Gambia Information Department at Radio Gambia in 1970 as a messenger.
After two years at the Information Department, Sanyang was on 30th June 1972 promoted to work as a Jola announcer, and subsequently promoted to the post of assistant studio operator, on 1st July 1974.
On 1st July 1976, Sanyang became a studio operator, a post he held until 1st March 1982, when he became a sound recordist at the Film Production Unit.
On 1st May 1983, he became a film editor, and subsequently a senior tape editor, on 1st April 1996, when GRTS was under Gamtel.
On 7th November 2002, he became Manager TV Programmes.
Modou Sanyang retired at the age of 55, on 25th December 2003, and was on 1st February 2004 given a two-year contract as Manager TV Programmes.
After his contract expired in 2006, the late Modou Sanyang was again hired on 1st February 2006, and on 1st March 2006 appointed as Deputy Director General of GRTS.
After serving a few months as Deputy Director General, Modou Sanyang was on 13th June 2006 appointed as the Director General of GRTS, a post he held until 14th December 2012, when he retired on health grounds.
His former colleagues described him as a very hard working and caring boss.
Christmas message 2012 from the
Catholic Mission of Banjul by MOST REV. ROBERT PATRICK ELLISON CSSp
THE CHRISTMAS STORY
1. The story of the birth of Jesus, Son
of God and Son of Mary, is almost like a fairy tale. His life on earth begins
with very simple origins in the form of a tiny, helpless infant; at the same
time, there is the promise of a reversal of fortune. ‘He will reign over the
house of Jacob and his kingdom will have no end’. There is also tragedy in the knowledge of
what will become of this child. He came unto his own, but his own would not
accept him. But for the moment, as we celebrate once again the birth of this
child, there is an unmistakable sense of hope, of joy and of excitement in the
way in which an angel of the Lord breaks the good news to shepherds who were
the first to hear what was happening: ‘I bring you news of great joy to be
shared by all people. Today, in the town of David, a savior has been born to
you; he is Christ the Lord.
Luke’s account of the actual birth of Jesus is
extremely brief and simple. He is more interested in the events that surrounded
his birth…events that actually touched the lives of Mary and Joseph far more
than the child himself, safe and warm in the womb or the arms of his mother.
2. ‘In those days, a decree went out
from Caesar Augustus that the whole world (Roman Empire) should be enrolled’ –
a census whereby each one would register in his own town of origin. Little did
he realize how responsible he would be
for the long journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem - more than
100 kms. This must have taken them several days – at the very time when Mary
was due to deliver her baby. It was a very long and uncomfortable journey for
herself as well as for Joseph. How often have we read this Gospel story at
Midnight Mass? How easy it is to pass over the consequences it involved – the
terrible hardship that Joseph and Mary endured. Could not God have ‘arranged’
that the birth of His own Son could have taken place at any time other than the
Roman census (or, vice versa)? And even more astonishing, the Prophet Micah had
foretold that the long awaited and promised Messiah would be born in Bethlehem
– the very least among the towns of Judah! If the census had not occurred, this
prophecy would not have been fulfilled.
3. But that is not all….At the end of
that long and dangerous journey, the next concern was the need for some kind of
shelter – a place that would be safe and not too cold; and above all where Mary
could have some privacy. Once again, because of the census, accommodation was
difficult to find in Bethlehem that night. This was a major worry and
responsibility for Joseph. Luke describes this episode in the last few words of
the one verse of the Christmas story in which he records the birth of the
child: ‘and she laid him (the child) in a manger because there was no room for
them in the inn’.
4. I can remember a play/drama of the
Christmas story which was performed by a group of children (about 10-12 years
old). At that moment when Joseph and Mary discovered the inn in Bethlehem (as
described in the Gospel), all was silence in the play. The silence of this
moment was broken only by the knocking of Joseph several times on the wooden
door of the inn. Finally the door opened slightly to the sound of hinges
creaking for lack of oil. Then, a woman’s head peeped out the door and said
ever so quietly – sorry, no room here tonight. Joseph pointed silently to his
wife on the donkey in the middle of the street; but the woman simply nodded her
head sideways. Joseph then got angry and poignantly pointed again to his
pregnant wife (weary and tired) and this time he began to shout at the poor
woman. But the woman said no more and just closed the door. Mary then cried out
to Joseph and begged him to understand that it probably was not the woman’s
fault!
Children have an amazing sense or feeling for what is
right or wrong. The little boy in that play who acted the part of Joseph…he didn’t
have to act. One could clearly see how he was able to put himself fully in the
shoes of Joseph in that horrible predicament.
5. Each year, we look forward to
celebrating Christmas. Sending a Christmas card to family and friends is one
way to do this – not an easy thing to do. It is a pity that some Christmas
cards have little or no reference to the birth of Christ. Others which do so
rarely contain a genuine Gospel message either in the picture portrayed or in
the words chosen. If I were an artist, I would love to be able to draw a simple
picture of the story of Joseph and Mary searching desperately for a room in the
inn; and underneath, the words: ’she laid him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn’.
It is so easy for us to criticize the innkeeper on
this occasion or the people of Bethlehem in general. First of all, it is most
likely that accommodation was very scarce. Besides, how could anybody in
Bethlehem that night have known or believed that Mary’s child was the promised
Messiah, the Word of God made flesh?
In a sense, it was Joseph and Mary who actually
suffered more than the newborn baby in the circumstances. This is just one of
the ways in which Mary had to endure a lot of discomfort and pain in her role
as Mother of Christ. This is why we (as Catholics) like to show our devotion to
Mary by honouring and venerating her for her unique contribution to the mystery
of Christ in His mission as Redeemer of mankind.
Whoever we are and wherever we are, we will always
find people in situations like Mary and Joseph on that night in Bethlehem.
What have I ever done to help in giving shelter to
such refugees or migrants in similar situations? What do I think I could do?
These are very sensitive questions. But we cannot
ignore them. They are part of the way in which we can celebrate Christmas in
spirit and in truth.
Lord, we pray:
·
That Jesus Christ will be born in our lives today,
·
That we will open our hearts and our homes to the needy,
·
That Christians will show a special concern for the homeless.
Christmas Message 2012 from the Anglican Mission by The Most. Rev. Dr. S. Tilewa Johnson, Primate And Metropolitan Archbishop Of The Church Of The Province Of West Africa And Bishop Of The Anglican Archdiocese Of Gambia
God’s Dear People of the Church of Province of West Africa (CPWA), Friends and Colleagues,
“For to us a
child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.”
(Isaiah 9: 6 and 7)
The words of the prophet Isaiah – revealing the word
of God, as he foretells the birth of the Messiah.to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.”
(Isaiah 9: 6 and 7)
At this time we celebrate the birth of the Messiah – Jesus. From these words we can see that this child is to be born to a very specific role in life. He is to be a leader. He will establish a kingdom which he will rule with justice and righteousness. In his earthly ministry, Jesus often spoke of “the kingdom”. “The Kingdom” : a place of justice and righteousness; a place of such value that it is well worth giving up everything else in order to find it and hold on to it; a place where all are welcome if they can accept the will of God; a place where each person is of infinite value; a place where the lost can be found. A wonderful place indeed.
It is also a wonderful thought to consider that we are all children of God, and have each been born as a unique person, and each for a unique purpose. After birth every person is shaped by two things – nature and nurture. There are endless debates about which is more powerful. Certainly we each inherit certain qualities from our parents and ancestors – particularly our physical characteristics. However, our family life, the culture in which we grow up and what experiences we may have produce extremely powerful forces that guide our personalities and development as people.
Throughout the world, some cultures impose far stronger guidance on the population than others. This can have the benefit of providing some security, but can also produce difficulties for those who do not conform to the norm. (Here I refer to characteristics that may not conform, but are not harmful to the wider community). These individuals have to struggle to find the pathway of life that they feel drawn to. We all have to find a path in life that allows us to reach our full potential as individuals, and so also enrich the community in which we live.
In the Bible, the picture we have of Jesus is not quite complete. From the age of twelve to thirty we know little. We have much detail of his birth. He was born to a mother of great faith and obedience to God. Joseph, whom Mary later married, took Jesus as his own child. Joseph also had great faith, and obeyed all that was asked of him by God. In his childhood, we are told that Jesus was aware of his heavenly Father, but also obedient to Mary and Joseph. We believe he continued to live with them into early adulthood, and learned the skills of a carpenter. He was also learned in the Holy Scriptures. We have great detail of the last three years of Jesus’ earthly life (from 30 to 33 years of age). We know that he sought and followed the will of his Father (God). We know that he regularly sought the presence of God, in prayer. We know that Jesus had many followers and some closer friends. We also know that Jesus remained unmarried, and led a single life until his death.
Let us consider those who chose the single life. Throughout the ages it has been the custom that, at around a certain age, a large proportion of men and women seek the married life, and most undertake this way. However, some do not. Certainly, in northern countries, this has become an acceptable way of life. In southern – and African – culture this can be less so.
All people are part of a wider community. This includes babies, children, young people, adults, elderly people, those who are married, those who are single, those who are poor in material wealth, and those who are more well-off. The wider community can even comprise those of different cultures and nationalities. Whatever position any person has in the community, we can be sure that every person has a role and that every person is of value. St. Paul found an ideal image of the Church to be that of the Body :– a body where each part is of value; where each part has a gift and a role to play; and where each part is sensitive to the joys and sorrows of the other parts. The same can be said of community. In this reflection we are particularly looking at those who follow the single life.
A single person may find themselves in this lifestyle through choice, or it may be as a result of what life has given them. Maybe their partner, or potential partner, has died. Maybe they never found the “right” person to share their life with. Maybe they prefer to serve their community as a single person, whereby they can have more time to focus on community outside the family circle. Maybe they are called to the religious life. Whatever the case may be we are obliged, by our common and shared humanity, to respect the choices of others (so long as they do not harm the community). Let us rejoice in the single people whom we live alongside, and give thanks for who they are and all they do in their community.
At this time we celebrate the birth of Jesus, who chose the single life in order to fulfil the mission for which he came. He came to live on earth among us to show us the way to our Father God. He came to establish God’s kingdom here on earth. He came to offer his life that we might live. No person can argue that this is not a life well lived.
We give thanks for the birth of the Christ child and all that he has meant to the world. May God’s gifts of peace and joy be yours this Christmas.
On behalf of the Anglican Church in The Gambia, Senegal and Cape Verde, and the Church of the Province of West Africa, which also includes Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau and Cameroon, I wish you and all your loved ones a very happy Christmas.
Your Metropolitan Archbishop and Friend,
++Tilewa
Christmas message from Gambia’s
President Yahya Jammeh
Fellow Gambians, Friends of the
Gambia, Our Christian Brothers and Sisters, Other nationals resident in the
Gambia
The wheel of time has revolved once
again to herald the blessed feast of Christmas. Therefore, we proclaim our
gratitude to the Almighty God for granting us the mercy of living to witness
this Day and for the blessing of sending Jesus Christ as a Messenger and
Saviour.
Indeed, Jesus is revered by the two
great religions, Christianity and Islam, as God’s true and indisputable
Prophet. Thus, we join our Christian brethren to give praise and thanks to the
Omnipotent God for the gift of Christmas. We are fortunate that, in The Gambia,
Christians and Muslims alike observe this feast annually in peace and
harmony.
In a spectacular fashion, Christmas
remains a special occasion globally devoted to the celebration of the birth and
life of Jesus Christ. In recollection, Christmas needs to be linked to the
mission of this distinguished Prophet, as well as to his principles and
teachings.
As servants of God, it should remind us
of how, we ought to respond to his teachings, and how his mission should shape
our daily lives and interpersonal relations. If all these underline the prayers
and activities that go with Christmas, we will be compelled to ponder over our
deeds as individuals and as a nation during the year with a view to improving
on our relationship with God and our fellow human beings.
In this way, the celebration of
Christmas will bring rich blessings and good fortune to our families and the
nation at large. It is also a period of deep reflections and retrospective self
assessment both individually, collectively and as a nation on the essence of
our existence in relation to our duty to the Almighty Allah first; and to our
fellow human beings based on the teachings of Prophet Jesus Christ PBUH.
Fellow Gambians
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
As Jesus strove to unite all peoples and
nations as servant of one God, so must we strive to care for and share with
each other, heal broken families, restore friendships, reconcile divided
communities; and reinforce our sense of belonging and respect for one another.
For those endowed with religious faith,
Jesus Christ epitomises peace and salvation and so must this be reflected in
the celebration of his birth. However, for there to be lasting peace, it must
be anchored on a solid foundation, or else, it will remain elusive or
illusionary.
Furthermore, it will be enjoyed only
momentarily, unless we value and nourish in our hearts the humane sentiments of
brotherhood and sisterhood occasioned by the common origin and the ultimate
destiny we share; The One and Only God.
The knowledge that, as the progeny of
Adam and Eve, humankind is one family created by God dispels the justification
for any inclination towards such negative tendencies as racism, greed, pride
and the instinct to subjugate others. Together with similar predispositions,
these elements trigger hate, dissension, violent wars and other acts of
atrocities.
Contingent on this, it is necessary to
overcome and dismiss evil ideas and beliefs that spur humanity to injustice,
rebellion, destruction or unwarranted use of force. The myth or misnomer of the supremacy of any
race, ethnic grouping, nation or other categorizations are serious obstacles to
the much needed integrated life of humans and nations for peaceful cohabitation.
It is necessary, therefore, to impose on ourselves the moral principles sand
discipline grounded in the divine teachings of right reason and of the true
Christian doctrine of good neighborliness, righteousness and worship of the One
and Only True God Almighty.
Further to this, enlightened and armed
with the word of God, we must allow justice to prevail for all human beings,
regardless of color, creed, religion or any other type of perceived
distinction. This will eventually defuse tension and conflict, settle disputes
peacefully, make tasks earsier, define our duties and provide just answers to
claims and counterclaims that may be made by all disputing parties.
At this point, we must call to mind the
suffering of innocent and vulnerable men, women, children and the elderly in
such conflicts areas of the world as Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, Myanmar,
Mali and D.R. Congo. These are people who suffer from the anxieties and
miseries of life, and to whom Christmas should bring a sweet ray of comfort and
hope.
These victimized people do not preclude
the sick and the infirm, who need to be recipients of devoted attention and vey
special affection. There are also those that are suffering in spirit or in
their hearts due to uncertainties of the future or of economic hardships or of
unjustifiable humiliation imposed upon them.
Those to whom this Christmas should also bring some hope and joy include
little children, known to be dear to Prophet Jesus Christ who through their
vulnerability and fragility deserve inviolable respect and attention. Another
category of people that merit our remembrance on this Day constitute the
elderly, many of whom are often gripped by moments of depression and
desperation, to the extent of feeling abandoned in some instances.
Fellow Gambians, Friends of the
Gambia, Ladies and Gentlemen
We are thankful to the Almighty God that
in The Gambia, Muslims and Christians have ever lived together as one family
based on mutual tolerance, love and respect. In contrast, history continues to
show us the horrendous consequences of religious intolerance in other parts of
the world - examples include some countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle
East.
In consequence, we in The Gambia should
not take the peace and tranquility we enjoy for granted, but undertake to
jealously and zealously nurture and safe guard the peaceful coexistence that
characterizes life in our dear motherland. In this regard, my Government will
continue to maintain zero tolerance for racism, corruption, violence,
homosexuality, drugs, rape and religious intolerance of whatever form.
As true believers in God, let us not
forget while celebrating Christmas that the life of Jesus Christ provides a
perfect example of pure worship, hard work, humility and devotion to the
service of humanity, especially service to the poor and needy. These examples should motivate us to emulate
him, repent our sins and amend if we want to have fulfilling lives. It will
serve us better to strive to lead humble lives like the chosen few by standing
for what are right, sharing with each other and together fighting against evil
and advocating justice for a better nation and a better world for
humanity.
I urged all of us to use this occasion
to rededicate ourselves and our families to the values of total devotion and
obedience to the One and Only God, and drawing strength and inspiration in
prayer and in caring and sharing with one another, particularly with less
fortune individuals and groups in our society. Celebrations such as Christmas
should induce since supplications for peace and for the restoration of morality
in our societies. Also, we should supplicate for a society free of evil and a
peaceful world for the entire human race. Likewise, we ought to strive to live
productively and within lawful means.
Of all the joys of the season, none is
more satisfying than the joy of giving, not just giving out gift that are
exchanged between family and friends, but the gift of time, love, caring and
providing to the people les fortune than us.
In principles, however, peace and
happiness are better Christmas gifts than expensive presents devoid of love and
affection. Those imbued with wisdom know, for example, that joy is easily
transmissible through kind gestures, acts of hospitality, reconciliation and
forgiving those that trespass against us.
The scriptures indicate further that
forgiveness lies at the heart of the two main religions, Islam and the
Christian faith, and it is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God, love.
Just as we are recompensed for the good we do, so does the joy we put in a
person’s heart rebound to us.
Therefore, we pray that the joy and
peace of God expressed in the birth of Jesus Christ shine forth in our lives
and in all the communities in The Gambia and beyond.
I implore you to celebrate the festive
season responsibly, in order that it continues to be a blessed, joyful,
peaceful and prayerful feast for all.
May the Almighty God shower his eternal
blessing and mercies on our families and the nation and deliver us from the
calamities that plague the beautiful earth He has created for us to inhabit in
peace and happiness. I pray also that we live to celebrate many happy returns
of the season.
In conclusion, I wish all Gambians and
residents of The Gambia, as well as friends of the Gambia, the global Christian
community, a very blessed and happy Christmas.
I thank you for your kind
attention.
Christmas Message 2012 from The Methodist
Church Of The Gambia by the Presiding Bishop of The Gambia,
and Chairperson of The Gambia Christian Council, The Most Reverend Hannah
Caroline Faal-Heim
Why Are We Celebrating Christmas?
In the Gospel of Luke, the Christmas Story gives us two answers to this
question.
The first answer is: In Jesus God gave us his most miraculous gift. The
Saviour of the World was born.
That first Christmas, now over two thousand years ago, a man called Joseph
took Mary, who was betrothed to be his wife, and they travelled from where they
lived in Nazareth to Bethlehem, the City of David. They travelled there because the government
at that time asked them to do so because a census was to be carried out. All
the people had to go back to their original ancestors’ home to be counted in
the census.
The child Jesus was born in the night when Joseph and Mary arrived in
Bethlehem. Giving birth is a normal process, yet every birth is always a
miracle, a unique event. The birth of a baby, especially the first one, is a
wonderful, new and awesome experience for people all over the world. Joseph and
Mary knew from the start that this baby was different. They knew that his birth
would be the fulfillment of prophesy. The prophet Isaiah said, "For to us
a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his
shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
Joseph and Mary knew that this baby, now lying in a manger right before
them, on a bed of straw in a stable, born to poor, working parents in a small
village, that this baby was not only their son, he was also the
Son of God. This baby, wrapped in linen
cloth and not in royal robes and not in a palace, but in a stable, was indeed
the Son of God, the promised Messiah and Saviour. Although there was no room in
the Inn (hotel) for this baby, this baby was in fact not only the Saviour of
the World, but also the King of the World, the King of kings and the Lord of
lords. He was Ruler of the World.
But what makes us celebrate the birth of Jesus every year? What makes us
celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ all over the world? Why are we celebrating
Christmas here in The Gambia in the year 2012?
This brings us to Luke’s second answer: In Jesus God enters into our
world of suffering. In Jesus God became a human being like us and lived
among us.
We are two thousand years on and we are still talking about Jesus’ birth
in Bethlehem. Why? – Because on that
night in the stable, God became a human being like us. In Bethlehem of Judea, on that night, God
began to experience what we experience.
Think about God being like us and living like us. The same God who created
the whole world took upon himself human nature and lived and suffered and died
like we do. God became human and
experienced laughter and tears, and was cared for and lonely. Christians believe that God so loves
the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him
will not die, but have eternal life (John 3:16)! God loves everyone
without limits, completely. This is indeed the greatest miracle and God’s
greatest gift. God knows how we feel and what we are going through. God has experienced what we
experience. And God has promised never
to leave us alone in our despair, he has given us his love and hope at
Christmas.
Why do we celebrate Christmas? – Two answers: First: Because in Jesus
God gave us his most miraculous gift. The Saviour of the World was born.
Second: Because in Jesus God enters into our world of suffering. In Jesus
God became a human being like us.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, let us make time to examine this
gift and find out how it can make a real difference in our lives. Let us
respond to this gift with faith, hope and love and be grateful. Let us respond
in loving God and loving our neighbours as ourselves.
Have A Happy, Blessed Christmas, everyone, May God grant us long life,
good health, peace and prosperity this Christmas.
STOP
INTIMIDATION!
…ARTICLE19, Amnesty International,
and Commonwealth Tells The Gambia Government
PUBLIC
STATEMENT
Following a new wave of arbitrary arrests and detentions, rights groups
Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19 and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
on Friday December 21 strongly urge The Gambia Government “to immediately stop
its crackdown on human rights defenders, journalists, government critics,
lawyers and anyone who dares to speak out against the government or its
policies.”
READ ON…
Since the beginning of December, at least nine cases of arbitrary arrest and illegal detention have been documented. The government continues to instil fear and use intimidation through arbitrary arrests and detention with the purpose of stifling expression and dissenting voices.
READ ON…
Since the beginning of December, at least nine cases of arbitrary arrest and illegal detention have been documented. The government continues to instil fear and use intimidation through arbitrary arrests and detention with the purpose of stifling expression and dissenting voices.
The abuse of office by those in power is also a worrying practice.
Several high profile individuals have recently been targeted and arrested
either without charge or based on questionable charges; detained for longer
than the constitutionally allowed period without being brought before a court;
or released on onerous bail conditions and ordered to report daily to the
security forces without any evidence or indication that a crime has been
committed.
Mambury Njie, a former government minister, was arrested on 31 October and held in detention until 5 November when he was released on bail. On 14 December, after reporting to the police as per his bail conditions, Mambury Njie, was taken to court and charged with economic crimes and abuse of office.
He was remanded in custody at Mile II Prison. In court, Mambury Njie did not have legal representation and he was not informed of his right to a lawyer.
Mambury Njie, a former government minister, was arrested on 31 October and held in detention until 5 November when he was released on bail. On 14 December, after reporting to the police as per his bail conditions, Mambury Njie, was taken to court and charged with economic crimes and abuse of office.
He was remanded in custody at Mile II Prison. In court, Mambury Njie did not have legal representation and he was not informed of his right to a lawyer.
The magistrate court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the case. No
further details have been made available to him or his lawyer as to the
specifics of the crime(s) he is alleged to have committed. Lawyers filed a
request for bail on 18 December and the matter will be heard in court on Monday
24 December.
Mambury Njie had previously been arrested on 31 October by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and kept for one night before he was transferred to police custody. He was kept in police custody for four days until he was released on bail.
His detention at that time exceeded the maximum 72 hours and his family was not made aware of the reason for arrest. It is reported that Mambury Njie, while serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, was opposed to orders in August to execute death row inmates.
On 23 August, the same day nine death row inmates were taken from their cells and executed shortly thereafter, Mambury Njie was transferred to the Ministry of High Education, Research, Science and Technology. Only a few days later, he was relieved from the President’s cabinet.
On 3 December two NIA officers arrested Imam Baba Leigh and no one has seen him since. He is therefore at risk of enforced disappearance as well as torture or other ill-treatment. Many believe his arrest is linked to his public condemnation of the execution of the nine inmates at Mile II prison in August.
Imam Baba Leigh called the executions “un-Islamic” and urged the government to return the bodies to the families for proper burial. His family and lawyer have made repeated attempts to visit him at the NIA headquarters in Banjul where he is believed to be held but no one has been allowed access. It has now been 18 days since Imam Baba Leigh was arrested and detained incommunicado.
Also on 3 December prominent lawyer and the former president of the Gambia Bar Association, Amie Bensouda, was arrested by the NIA. Amie Bensouda was trying to obtain previous court judgements within the last five years on land matters for a project for the World Bank called Land Governance Assessment Framework.
Amie Bensouda was held incommunicado for two days before being released. At no point during her detention was she informed of the reason for her arrest. However, it is reported that Amie Bensouda was arrested following a complaint by the former Acting Chief Justice who informed the security forces that her activities were an issue that “undermined the administration of the Gambia judiciary”.
The former Acting Chief Justice claimed that the judgements Amie Bensouda was seeking were prejudicial as they were pending cases and she had not sought his permission.
According to the family, the cases she was seeking were not pending but previous judgments from the past five years. Lawyers in the Gambia have confirmed that it is not required to seek the Chief Justice’s permission to obtain such documents.
Four court officials, Buba Jawo (Master of the High Court), Mariama Ceesay Mboob (Registrar), Modou Boye and Jerreh Manneh (both assistant registrars) were also arrested on 4 December in connection with Amie Bensouda’s case.
The officials, who were not charged, were questioned about the court documents given to Amie Bensouda. They were released on bail on 5 December but without charge. Amie Bensouda was also released without charge but had to surrender her travel documents and land deeds as condition of bail. All five must report to police headquarters on a weekly basis.
In November, Amie Bensouda represented and won the case of women’s rights activists, Dr Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang-Sissoho, respectively executive director and programme coordinator of the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children. The two women had been arrested in October 2010 charged with theft. They were acquitted and discharged in November 2012.
Ousman Saydikhan, the brother of journalist Abubacarr Saidykhan, was also arrested on 8 December for questioning by the Gambian Police. The police asked some questions in relations to his brother’s whereabouts but gave no indication as to any crime alleged to have been committed by Ousman Saydikhan.
He was released on bail on 10 December without charge, pending an investigation. He must still report to the police station every day. Abubcarr Saidykhan has been in hiding ever since receiving death threats following his attempt to protest the August executions of nine death row inmates.
Abubacarr Saidykhan was arrested on 6 September alongside fellow journalist Baboucarr Ceesay after applying to the police for a permit to protest against the August executions. Baboucarr Ceesay was charged with sedition, incitement of violence and conspiracy to commit a felony and Abubacarr Saidykhan was charged with incitement of violence and conspiracy to commit a felony. The two journalists were released on 10 September and the charges were eventually dropped, reportedly on orders of the President. However shortly after, the two journalists began receiving death threats.
Abdoulie John, a journalist, editor of the website JollofNews, was arrested on 9 December by the NIA at an event organized for the release of eight Senegalese security personnel who had been captured by the Mouvement des Forces Democratic of Casamance (MFDC), a separatist movement along the southern Senegalese and Gambian border.
A State House photographer questioned Abdoulie John’s authorization to be at the event and a verbal argument ensued. The NIA forces arrested Abdoulie John, and he was kept overnight. He was released on bail on 10 December and ordered to report to the NIA on a regular basis. No charges have been brought against him. According to Abdoulie John, he was invited to report on the release of the soldiers by the event organizers.
Under international human rights law as well as Gambian law, individuals may only be deprived of their liberty on grounds and according to procedures established by law. The Gambian 1997 Constitution Chapter IV Section 19, Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 4 of the African Charter all guarantee the right of everyone to liberty and security, including the right not to be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. The Gambia is a state party to the ICCPR and the African Charter.
The fact that these individuals could be arrested and detained often without any clear reason, explanation or evidence of a crime by the security forces is extremely worrying and a blatant violation of the basic rights enshrined in international law and in the Gambian Constitution. In some cases, the detainees themselves have not been informed of reasons for their arrest and access to legal representation has not been allowed. In most cases, if released they were subjected arbitrarily to procedures such as frequent check-in with the security forces.
Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19 and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative call on the Gambian government to stop repressing human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and government critics. They must be allowed to carry out their peaceful activities without fear of reprisals, intimidation or harassment. The Gambian authorities must respect the right of every individual to due process.
Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19 and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative call on the Gambian government to release Mambury Njie and Imam Baba Leigh and to respect the right of all Gambians to freely express their views and opinions.
BACKGROUND:
On the evening of 23 August, nine death row inmates – one woman and eight men – were taken out of their cells and by 24 August they had been executed by firing squad. The executions were carried out in secret and without informing the families, lawyers or respective governments of the prisoners before they took place.
The prisoners themselves are believed to not have been told until they were taken from their cells. These executions were the first to take place in nearly 30 years. The bodies have still not been returned to their families or their burial site made known.
Mambury Njie had previously been arrested on 31 October by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and kept for one night before he was transferred to police custody. He was kept in police custody for four days until he was released on bail.
His detention at that time exceeded the maximum 72 hours and his family was not made aware of the reason for arrest. It is reported that Mambury Njie, while serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, was opposed to orders in August to execute death row inmates.
On 23 August, the same day nine death row inmates were taken from their cells and executed shortly thereafter, Mambury Njie was transferred to the Ministry of High Education, Research, Science and Technology. Only a few days later, he was relieved from the President’s cabinet.
On 3 December two NIA officers arrested Imam Baba Leigh and no one has seen him since. He is therefore at risk of enforced disappearance as well as torture or other ill-treatment. Many believe his arrest is linked to his public condemnation of the execution of the nine inmates at Mile II prison in August.
Imam Baba Leigh called the executions “un-Islamic” and urged the government to return the bodies to the families for proper burial. His family and lawyer have made repeated attempts to visit him at the NIA headquarters in Banjul where he is believed to be held but no one has been allowed access. It has now been 18 days since Imam Baba Leigh was arrested and detained incommunicado.
Also on 3 December prominent lawyer and the former president of the Gambia Bar Association, Amie Bensouda, was arrested by the NIA. Amie Bensouda was trying to obtain previous court judgements within the last five years on land matters for a project for the World Bank called Land Governance Assessment Framework.
Amie Bensouda was held incommunicado for two days before being released. At no point during her detention was she informed of the reason for her arrest. However, it is reported that Amie Bensouda was arrested following a complaint by the former Acting Chief Justice who informed the security forces that her activities were an issue that “undermined the administration of the Gambia judiciary”.
The former Acting Chief Justice claimed that the judgements Amie Bensouda was seeking were prejudicial as they were pending cases and she had not sought his permission.
According to the family, the cases she was seeking were not pending but previous judgments from the past five years. Lawyers in the Gambia have confirmed that it is not required to seek the Chief Justice’s permission to obtain such documents.
Four court officials, Buba Jawo (Master of the High Court), Mariama Ceesay Mboob (Registrar), Modou Boye and Jerreh Manneh (both assistant registrars) were also arrested on 4 December in connection with Amie Bensouda’s case.
The officials, who were not charged, were questioned about the court documents given to Amie Bensouda. They were released on bail on 5 December but without charge. Amie Bensouda was also released without charge but had to surrender her travel documents and land deeds as condition of bail. All five must report to police headquarters on a weekly basis.
In November, Amie Bensouda represented and won the case of women’s rights activists, Dr Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang-Sissoho, respectively executive director and programme coordinator of the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children. The two women had been arrested in October 2010 charged with theft. They were acquitted and discharged in November 2012.
Ousman Saydikhan, the brother of journalist Abubacarr Saidykhan, was also arrested on 8 December for questioning by the Gambian Police. The police asked some questions in relations to his brother’s whereabouts but gave no indication as to any crime alleged to have been committed by Ousman Saydikhan.
He was released on bail on 10 December without charge, pending an investigation. He must still report to the police station every day. Abubcarr Saidykhan has been in hiding ever since receiving death threats following his attempt to protest the August executions of nine death row inmates.
Abubacarr Saidykhan was arrested on 6 September alongside fellow journalist Baboucarr Ceesay after applying to the police for a permit to protest against the August executions. Baboucarr Ceesay was charged with sedition, incitement of violence and conspiracy to commit a felony and Abubacarr Saidykhan was charged with incitement of violence and conspiracy to commit a felony. The two journalists were released on 10 September and the charges were eventually dropped, reportedly on orders of the President. However shortly after, the two journalists began receiving death threats.
Abdoulie John, a journalist, editor of the website JollofNews, was arrested on 9 December by the NIA at an event organized for the release of eight Senegalese security personnel who had been captured by the Mouvement des Forces Democratic of Casamance (MFDC), a separatist movement along the southern Senegalese and Gambian border.
A State House photographer questioned Abdoulie John’s authorization to be at the event and a verbal argument ensued. The NIA forces arrested Abdoulie John, and he was kept overnight. He was released on bail on 10 December and ordered to report to the NIA on a regular basis. No charges have been brought against him. According to Abdoulie John, he was invited to report on the release of the soldiers by the event organizers.
Under international human rights law as well as Gambian law, individuals may only be deprived of their liberty on grounds and according to procedures established by law. The Gambian 1997 Constitution Chapter IV Section 19, Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 4 of the African Charter all guarantee the right of everyone to liberty and security, including the right not to be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. The Gambia is a state party to the ICCPR and the African Charter.
The fact that these individuals could be arrested and detained often without any clear reason, explanation or evidence of a crime by the security forces is extremely worrying and a blatant violation of the basic rights enshrined in international law and in the Gambian Constitution. In some cases, the detainees themselves have not been informed of reasons for their arrest and access to legal representation has not been allowed. In most cases, if released they were subjected arbitrarily to procedures such as frequent check-in with the security forces.
Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19 and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative call on the Gambian government to stop repressing human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and government critics. They must be allowed to carry out their peaceful activities without fear of reprisals, intimidation or harassment. The Gambian authorities must respect the right of every individual to due process.
Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19 and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative call on the Gambian government to release Mambury Njie and Imam Baba Leigh and to respect the right of all Gambians to freely express their views and opinions.
BACKGROUND:
On the evening of 23 August, nine death row inmates – one woman and eight men – were taken out of their cells and by 24 August they had been executed by firing squad. The executions were carried out in secret and without informing the families, lawyers or respective governments of the prisoners before they took place.
The prisoners themselves are believed to not have been told until they were taken from their cells. These executions were the first to take place in nearly 30 years. The bodies have still not been returned to their families or their burial site made known.
ACE - Will the Broadband Bring Bread to
Africa’s Poor?
By Saikou Jammeh
The Voice - In a popular cyber café at the
heart of the Gambia’s business hub, Serrekunda, Mafuji Ceesay was staring at
the computer screen as if reading an important mail. In reality, the
29-year-old Gambian was waiting for the hour-glass dancing before his eyes to
stop. With a tinge of hopelessness, he right-clicked on the mouse for options and
refreshed the system, hoping to make a breakthrough. No improvement.
“As
you can see for yourself, I have been here for the past eight minutes unable to
view my email inbox. The whole of yesterday I could not access my email because
the network was down,” he
decried.
Mafuji was not alone in this
dilemma in the air-conditioned room of about a dozen other web surfers. In
fact, internet connectivity in Gambia can be a nightmare, especially during the
prime internet hours, from 11am to 5pm.
Introduced in Gambia in 1998 through to a
collaborative effort with UNDP, internet services has to a significant degree
improved over the years, but still leave much to be desired. Fourteen years on, while those connected are
accustomed to slow internet speed, statistics show that tens of thousands are
still waiting to be connected.
However,
the hype is that this status quo will soon change, as the country connects to a
US$700 million international submarine cable. Not only Gambia, 22 other
countries will have their telecom services transformed, courtesy of a
consortium comprising three European countries and twenty African countries.
The Africa Coast Europe consortium which goes by
the acronym ACE is led by France Telecom-Orange, currently
serving France, Portugal, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra
Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mali, Niger and
Sao Tome and Principe.
On Wednesday Dec. 19, the consortium rolled out its
submarine cable that, according to experts, extends over 17,000 km from
Brittany in France to Cape Town in South Africa, with high-capacity broadband
connectivity.
Done in grand-style here in Banjul, the
official launch was presided over by Gambia’s vice president, Isatou Njie-Saidy.
It was held at the ACE complex overlooking the bourgeois
neighbourhood, Brusubi, where hundreds of local and international delegates
gathered.
"ACE poses a gigantic leap in the development of ICT infrastructure in Africa, especially for the improvement of both connectivity broadband update,” vice president Njie-Saidy has said in her launching speech, read on behalf of Gambian president Yahya Jammeh.
"ACE poses a gigantic leap in the development of ICT infrastructure in Africa, especially for the improvement of both connectivity broadband update,” vice president Njie-Saidy has said in her launching speech, read on behalf of Gambian president Yahya Jammeh.
The optimism rooted in Isatou
Njie-Saidy’s musings has a chiming uniformity, devoid of any significant
dissent, among experts, policymakers and businesspeople. For countries such as Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Liberia,
Mauritania, Sao Tome & Principe and Sierra Leone, this will be their first
access to a submarine cable.
Lamin Camara, the deputy permanent
secretary, Gambia’s Information and Communications ministry, took the delegates
through his ministry’s struggles.
“Once upon a time, The Gambia
was among few countries in the region not directly connected to the global
network of submarine fibre cable infrastructure for broadband development…
After due consultations and reviews, the most adequate, attractive, efficient
and viable option for Gambia was to connect to the ACE.”
According to expert explanations, the
ACE system deploys wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology, which is
currently the most advanced for submarine cables, and has an overall potential
capacity of 5.12 terabytes. But how does a layman understands this?
Papa
Yusupha Njie, a prominent Gambian ICT entrepreneur, is the CEO of an
international award-winning Gambian ICT firm, Unique Solutions.
“My analogy is that we have discovered
paradise on earth,” he said. “One of my colleagues mentioned that
its like normal traffic lane, you have all cars on one traffic lane, Benz, Toyota,
etc. But with ACE, there are so many lanes that you expect that moving from A
to B will take you 30 to 40 times quicker than the current situation. Of course
we are taking in terms of internet, and for telephone we are talking of better
quality.”
But, how
would the landing of the submarine cable to provide faster internet
connectivity and better phone calls translate into socio-economic development
for ACE member countries, as being floated, when for majority of citizens of a
larger number of member countries, internet is as a luxury?
Papa Yusupha Njie, whose Unique Solutions
company is a private-sector member of ACE, was naturally not short of explanations
here.
“As
somebody who is technology enthusiast, I believe ACE can change a lot of
things…Firstly, the economic benefit. We have seen so many studies, the World
Bank, the IMF studies showing how when submarine cable lands results in direct
increase in the GDP of those countries.
So, we hope that software developers, hardware vendors spring up from
the landing of the cable to create jobs that our young people need. We are of
the opinion that you will see a proliferation of internet in Gambian schools. I
have always said there should be no difference between a Gambian child in
Sukuta and that child sitting in New York because at the end of the day, we
believe with broadband, kids will be able to use those tablets that have all
applications from math to story books…
“Of course the biggest importance is cost.
Besides, we are not going through a third party, there is another element of
security. I always like to make this point that we are truly independent now
because we have our own landing point. And what would this bring? We would
reduce internet and telephony charges. I believe broadband will open doors to
more services – data, internet, tele-medicine services, e-government, agriculture
- our farmers can access real-time information. I have seen how submarine cables
have transformed countries.”
Nonetheless, joining the consortium came
at huge cost for the resource-poor tiny west African country, digging deep into
its national purse, as even acknowledged by the director of budget at the
finance ministry, Momodou Sabally.
Although Gambia’s US$25M contribution was paid
through a World Bank grant, 51 percent of which was pre-financed for the
private sector, to be paid within six years, yet could ACE not be a misplaced
priority giving that 63 percent of the population lives below poverty line,
some lacking needs as basic as water?
Justifying his government investment, however,
Permanent Secretary Camara is unapologetically defensive.
“I don’t think it’s a misplaced priority,”
he said, “because we are not intervening in ICT and forgetting others. There
are concurrent projects, there even is a new water project recently signed. Lots
of development is going alongside, in agriculture, fisheries, and so on.
And Papa Yusupha Njie seems to be engulfed
with an unshakable certainty that ACE has the
potential to, and will catalyze the terribly-needed socio-economic development,
not just growth, for Africa and “do more for getting us out of poverty
than anything else.”
“The development community now sees access
to communication - internet, video, voice - as a human rights. I understand the
difficulty of choosing between a bag of rice and cyber café, but I am telling
parents out there that for us to get out of generations of slavery, poverty,
this is the way out. I believe if we equip our children with ICT skills, they
can go anywhere in the world and survive…So I am very passionate about this
question.
“I do not want us to choose between a bowl
of rice, glass of water and bandwidth because I believe having access to
bandwidth, having skills on how to repair computers, build applications, is a
way of getting us that bowl of rice on the table, that pipe borne water because
these people will now have the economic independence to bring these to their towns
and villages. The reality on the ground we all know, but this is not a short-term
investment, its an investment that is here to stay. And above all else, its an
investment that will benefit our people.”
Yes, after four years of talking the
walk as well as walking the talk, hopes and misgivings, the cable has finally come
to life. But how the US$700 million investment would be optimally utilised to
benefit ordinary citizens remains to be seen. This, in a free-market system
like Gambia’s, is a mammoth task primarily placed on the relative not-too-broad
shoulders of Papa Yusupha Njie and Co.
Currently freelancing for
international news agency, such as IPS and RFI, the author Saikou Jammeh is the
editor of proscribed Daily News
A close-up look at an M15 anti-tank mine (Photo/ U.S.
Department of Defense
Gambia,
Others Added To Landmine-Free List
Friday, 07 December 2012 21:48
(AFP) – The Gambia and five more countries have been added to
the list of nations that have eliminated "the scourge of landmines",
organisers of a conference on the deadly weapons said Friday.
Congo, Denmark, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan and Uganda have declared all
mined areas in their territories cleared, said organisers at the end of a
five-day meeting aimed at evaluating progress since the signing of the 1997
Ottawa Convention.
Gambia had been added to the list as late as Friday, after a country
representative unexpectedly announced its mine-free status to the gathering,
Laila Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Geneva event, told AFP.
As for the perhaps most surprising name on the list of countries not considered
landmine-free until this year, Denmark in July finished clearing minefields
left over from World War II, when Nazis put about 1.4 million landmines along
the Jutland peninsula to ward off an allied invasion.
Following the new additions, 36 signatory countries to the Mine Ban Treaty are
still in the process of clearing mines, organisers said.
"Fifteen years after the opening of the
Mine Ban treaty, we still see a high level of commitment. . . aimed at ending
for all time the scourge of landmines," said Stephen Goose, chair of the
International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which oversees the
implementation of the 1997 treaty.
Poland's announcement during the conference of its imminent ratification of the
treaty was also grounds for celebration, ICBL said, pointing out that Polish
participation will mean that all EU member states will be part of the pact as
the 161st signatory country.
That will leave the United States as the only NATO member that has yet to
ratify the treaty.
A US delegation nonetheless took part in the Geneva conference and announced
that a domestic landmine policy review launched in 2009 would "soon"
be complete, which could potentially open the way for a US ratification.
The Palestinians, who attended the conference for the first time, had meanwhile
told the gathering they wanted to take advantage of the upgraded United Nations
status they gained late last month to join the Mine Ban Treaty.
Conference organisers lamented that three signatory countries -- Belarus,
Greece and Ukraine -- were still in violation of the treaty since they had
missed deadlines for destroying their stockpiles.
The ICBL says that almost 4,300 people were killed by landmines worldwide last
year -- or nearly 12 deaths a day, compared with 32 in 2001.
It says the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad was the only government
in the world to lay new landmines in 2012.
One of the Gambia’s oldest newspapers is reported to
be on the brink of being bankrupt.
Sources within the corridors of The Point intimated
that the paper is so far in arrears of three months staff salaries. This dire
situation has left reporters hassling for workshop coverage where they expect
to line up their pockets to make ends meet.
“Life has become unbearable for us, especially as
the holy month of Ramadan ends,” a desperate reporter said. With an empty
pocket, these reporters are not expecting to enjoy the feast of Koriteh [Eid
prayer].
The recent resignation of the paper’s two reporters,
Sainey MK Marenah and Mbemba Taal, was exacerbated by the management’s failure
to address salary arrears. “General Manager Philip Kotey threatened to dismiss
any staff who inquires about salary affairs,” said a reporter. “Sainey and
Mbemba were asked by Mr. Kotey to resign or risk dismissal.”
Mr. Marenah, the paper’s judicial correspondent,
mumbled reasons behind his resignation. Failing to provide details, Marenah
told JollofNews,“I was treated unfairly by my management, which I did not
expect from them. I was treated very badly and I tendered by resignation last
Monday.”
The Point staff accused Mr. Kotey of taking over the
functions of the company’s accountant Musa Casa Taal. “Mr. Taal is a
rubberstamping accountant who has no control over his functions. Taal watched
helplessly whiles his son [Mbemba Taal] lost his job. This precarious situation
cannot obviously continue.”
Kibaaro News has made frantic efforts to contact The
Point officials without success. Both co-proprietor Pap Saine and Musa Casa
Taal could not be reached on phone at the time of going to press.
There have been reports of financial crisis
bedeviling the Gambia’s private media, despite coping with the government’s
high level of mistreatment. Ironically, the Gambian media would not swallow its
pride to admit their problems. Media executives would not only keep away this
reality from their energetic and hardworking reporters but also turn their
daggers on anyone who questions them on the issue.
Just few months back, the management of Foroyaa
newspaper has bones to pick with JollofNews over the latter’s publication of a
similar story. The result was a bitter exchange of words.
This entry was posted on August 17, 2012 at 23:14 on
KIBARO NEWS
 |
| Sall and Jammeh |
- Monday, April 16, 2012(Daily Observer) The decades-long civil unrest that has plagued the southern Senegalese region of Casamance since 1982 topped the agenda of the discussions of a day's working visit to the Gambia Sunday by the new Senegalese President Macky Sall, who was making his maiden overseas trip as head of state.
Sall, who arrived to a tumultuous welcome, arrived The Gambia a little over 1500 hours in what was seen as a fulfillment of his earlier promise to make his maiden overseas trip to The Gambia, and especially in engaging it to help in resolving the upheaval in the southern part of his country.At a news conference at the Coco Ocean Resort & Spa shortly after a three-hour closed-door discussion, President Sall hastened to stress that the Casamance crisis has been on for more than three decades, while underscoring the importance of dialogue in solving the impasse.To this end, he enjoined his Gambian counterpart, President Jammeh to help in finding a solution to the crisis, saying that the peace in that region is in the interest of the two nations."I know that this is something that cannot be solved only through military ways and I know that over the years war did not bring any solution," Sall said, and added: "We need peace in Casamance to have peace in The Gambia and the Senegambia region. Without peace there is no development – so the priority is to bring peace so that we can bring about development . I know that for peace to come to Casamance you [President Jammeh] is the key and this is why I told you during our discussion that even though I am your elder, you have been in this position as president for many years. So you can help me."President Sall, while noting that he has trust in the Gambian leader in finding a lasting solution to the crisis, assured him of Dakar's commitment to make peace and friendship with Banjul."I have told you that by God willing we are going to tie the bond to make peace between the two nations because we were both elected democratically and I assure you that we will not allow anything that will distabilise The Gambia," he stated.Historical tiesThe Senegalese president said he is grateful to God for enabling him fulfill his wish of making his first official overseas trip to The Gambia as promised during the race to the presidency."Why made this visit to The Gambia is because in historical point of view, The Gambia and Senegal are the same people. During the tete-a-tete, you [President Jammeh] pointed out to me that there is no language spoken in The Gambia that is not spoken in Senegal; and I added that there is no ethnic group in Senegal that is not in The Gambia. We are united by a common destiny, we have no other obligation but to be together and stand together in friendship and cordiality," he underscored.Trans-Gambia BridgePresident Macky Sall also told the news conference that their discussion also touched on the bridge over River Gambia at Bambatenda-Yellitenda crossing point. Sall said his country has the problem of connecting the northern part to the southern part, saying "we need the continuity of the country which goes through The Gambia because it is a straight line.""We have other possibilities to go through Tamba Kunda but it is not a straight way," he stated.The Senegalese president, while noting that they are all Pan-Africans, eulogized the Gambian leader's commitment to the construction of African unity."Today more than ever before we have reciprocal trust in our relationship," he concluded.Also addressing the news conference, President Yahya Jammeh who gave a detailed background about his country's efforts to bring lasting peace to Casamance before a change of government in 2000 that hindered the process, assured Sall of his commitment to bring an end to the crisis."I want to assure you since you are the first president of Senegal to make The Gambia his first official visit, I will stand with you all the way to make sure that the problem of Casamance becomes history," he stated.The Gambian leader opined that the problem of Casamance would have been history by now if Abdou Diouf had won the elections in 2000 given the agreement at the time, but noted with dismay that the agreement was never respected by then Wade-led new government, which asked The Gambia to distance itself from the crisis."At that time we had agreed and have a comprehensive agreement with the MFDC - they wanted to transform MFDC into a political party and the others will be reintegrated into the Senegalese armed forces; and we went further to involve the European Union - they were supposed to finance the demining of Casamance, the training of the combatants into useful people and to see how some of them can be reintegrated into the Senegalese armed forces. All these were signed and it was endorsed by the United Nations and the European Union and the commission was inaugurated in Ziguinchor before the election. In fact a Gambian was appointed to be the chairman of the commission but unfortunately after President Wade won the elections, he said that it is an internal matter and Gambia has no role in it," the Gambian leader asserted.He however assured President Sall of his assistance to bring peace in that region, while appealing to him to select a honest and trustworthy committee that can work with him to bring the crisis to an end.While assuring that The Gambia will not play host to any anti-Senegalese dissident, President Jammeh also stressed that Senegal must not also be a host to Gambian dissidents that are against his government.Shifting his comment to the bilateral ties that bind the two countries, the Gambian leader hailed his Senegalese counterpart for making history in view of the fact that he is the first Senegalese president to make his first overseas visit to The Gambia.His words: "This has never happened in the history of the two countries and this symbolizes the importance you have attached to the bilateral relations between the two countries. This is the sort of relationship that we have always yearned for between the two. The Gambia's interest is to make sure that there is an excellent relationship between the two [Gambia and Senegal] because we are one people divided by colonialism and this is why 16 years ago I stated that The Gambia and Senegal can become a model for African integration but unfortunately, our wish was not reciprocated. But now that you are at the helm of affairs, every Gambian hopes that we will turn a new page of excellent relationship where the two citizens will feel at home in either country."BridgeAlso commenting on the River Gambia bridge, President Jammeh said: "With regards to the bridge, we have the money - if we had wanted we would have started the tenders about three months ago but we didn't do it for obvious reasons."CommuniqueMeanwhile, the Foreign Affairs ministers of the two countries, Dr Mamadou Tangara and Alioune Badara Cisse respectively earlier read the Joint Communique that was produced at the end of the day's working visit.In a three-page communique, President Jammeh described Sall's visit as a clear testimony and manifestation of the common historical and cultural values, as well as a reflection of the exemplary and cordial ties between the two nations and their peoples.President Sall, according to the communique, also pointed out that his first working visit which he undertook since accession to power manifests the high priority that he attaches to the promotion of the fraternal and friendly relations within the Senegambia family."In discussing common issues of concern in the sub-region especially on the developments in Mali and Guinea Bissau, and also on the African continent, the two heads of state stressed their conviction that there can be no internal stability without regional peace, and therefore undertook to fight all forms of threat to peace, security, and progress in the sub-region and the African continent," it concluded.President Macky Sall Visits Gambia Signs a Joint Communique with President Jammeh(FOROYAA) - The president of the neighbouring Republic of Senegal Macky Sall has visited the Gambia on a one day working visit in what appears to be a fulfillment of his election promise that Gambia would be the first country he would visit after victory. He had argued that the resolution of the Casamance conflict is possible only through the involvement of the Gambia and Guinea Bissau.
The Senegalese head of state arrived in the Gambia and was met by the Gambian head of state and cabinet at the Banjul International Airport in yesterday afternoon. He was seen handed a bowl of cola nuts by the Gambian host. President Sall received a rousing welcome from Gambians who were eager to have a glimpse the newly elected president lined up in the streets as he drove through the streets from the airport.
According to information, the Senegalese head of state was accompanied by his Foreign Affairs and Senegalese abroad minister, Mr. Alioune Badara Cisse, the Infrastructure minister, Mr. Mor Ngom, and a Parliamentarian Moustapha Cisse Lo.
After the closed door meeting and signing of the communiqué, the two heads of states spoke to the press broadcast by the state run GRTS.
The first to speak was the Gambian head of state who said they have discussed many issues among them the Casamance problem and the Trans-Gambia Bridge. “I assure you that since you are the first Senegalese president who makes the Gambia your first foreign visit, I will want to make sure that the Casamance problem becomes history,” said President Jammeh to Macky Sall.
President Macky Sall on the other hand opined that the two countries are united by a common destiny; that they have no other obligation but to stand together. He said the Casamance problem is more than 50 years and opined that it cannot be solved through military means. He said the first function is to safeguard the territorial integrity of Senegal. He also said what they need is peace in Gambia and peace in Senegal and asserted that it’s the promises they make to their people that would bring peace and development.
The newly elected president of the neighboring Republic of Senegal speaking in French and translated by an interpreter expressed among other things that the prerequisite is to bring peace in Casamance.
“I know for peace to be brought in Casamance you are the key to the problem,” said Macky Sall, president of the Republic of Senegal, referring to president Jammeh.Gambia: Govt, Taiwan Resolve to Reinforce Cooperation As President Ma Wraps-Up Visit
(Daily Observer) The governments of the Republics of The Gambia and China on Taiwan have reaffirmed their strong resolve to reinforce the existing bilateral ties that exist between them for the mutual interest of the two nations, while pledging to work closely in the future to promote world peace and prosperity.
This development, which emanated from the discussions held by the two leaders during the four-day state visit to the country by President Ma Ying-Jeou was contained in a Joint Communiqué signed by the two leaders Saturday at State House in Banjul shortly after an hour tête-à -tête.
In a three-page communiqué read on behalf of the two leaders by their Foreign Affairs ministers, Dr Mamadou Tangara and Timothy C.T Yang respectively, the two heads of state expressed their satisfaction with the ties of friendship and cooperation that exist between the two countries.
"The presidents agreed that all nations should, based on the principles of sovereignty and equality, work to resolve international disputes through dialogue, negotiation and other peaceful means, and that the two countries would work closely in the future to promote world peace and prosperity," read the Communiqué.
While the Gambian leader commended his Taiwanese counterpart for his remarkable achievements in pursuing viable diplomacy, which has greatly reduced tensions across the Taiwan Strait, according to the communiqué, President Ma praised his Gambian counterpart's efforts in developing The Gambia.
He also seized the opportunity to thank The Gambia for its "staunch support" for Taiwan.
"President Jammeh expressed his appreciation for the assistance extended by Taiwan to The Gambia in agriculture, health, education, human resources, infrastructure and other areas of national development. President Jammeh also reaffirmed his support for the bid that Taiwan is making to participate in the specialised agencies of the United Nations and other international organisations," added the communiqué.
President Ma expressed his gratitude to President Jammeh for the courtesies and warm welcome accorded to him by the government and people of The Gambia during his stay, the communiqué concluded.
The signing ceremony, which was later wrapped-up by the presentation of gifts to each other by the two leaders, was witnessed by Cabinet ministers and senior government officials of the two countries in the presence of local and international press corps.Benin Gets AU Presidency as Jammeh Pulls out for Home Troubles
Monday, January 30, 2012Benin’s president Boni Yayi has been elected as president of the African Union Assembly on Sunday 29 Jan. 2012 at the general assembly of AU heads of state, which wraps up today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The AU Assembly is the continent’s most important decision-making body made up heads of state from all 54 members of the organisation. The chairmanship is a rotating one-year term.
Replacing outgoing AU president, Equatorial Guinea’s Theodoro Obiang, Mr Boni, who got re-elected in March last year was pitted against Gambia’s president Yahya Jammeh, who as well got re-elected in November last year.
But in a rather surprise move, president Jammeh pulled out of the race for AU leadership, leaving Benin’s Yayi to go unopposed.
“The president took the decision to withdraw his candidacy,” The Gambia’s foreign affairs minister, Mamadou Tangara disclosed Thursday after a closed-door meeting of foreign ministers from the Economic Community for West African States (Ecowas).
“He [Jammeh] wants to devote the first year of his election to satisfy and meet the needs and aspirations of The Gambian people.”
Minister Tangara said Gambia, AU host in 2006, had withdrawn in favour of Benin while Ecowas had reached a consensus on Yayi’s candidacy.
He told RFI that following Jammeh’s re-election in November for a fourth term of office “Yahya Jammeh felt it better to concentrate on domestic politics”.
However, a diplomatic source in neighbouring Senegal is quoted as saying that president Jammeh was unlikely to win due to The Gambia’s poor human rights records. The unnamed diplomat source also pointed to Gambia’s ejection of diplomats.
And prior to the withdrawal, a largely foreign based coalition of Gambian civil society organisations have petitioned against the endorsement of Jammeh’s candidature to the AU commission leadership.
Meanwhile, this year’s summit also sees another leadership contest in the chairmanship of the AU Commission. This pits Gabonese-born incumbent AU chairman Jean Ping against South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.GPU Lifts Ban on Journalist M.E Njie
Monday, January 30, 2012
The Gambia Press Union Thursday 26 January lifted the ban and indefinite suspension imposed on journalist Mamadou Edrissa Njie of The Gambia News & Report magazine, The Daily News can report.
Mr Njie was barred entry into the Union’s secretariat and forbidden from taking part in any GPU related activity – a punishment he received from Gambia’s umbrella media body for an alleged attempted assault on GPU’s executive director Mr Aloa Ahmed Alota in September last year at the GPU secretariat in Bakau.
About five months after the suspension, a letter signed by GPU secretary general, Jibairu Janneh made available to the Daily News confirms the annulment of journalist Njie’s ban.
“This decision came in the wake of a critical review of the circumstance surrounding your suspension by the executive board of the Gambia Press Union,” the letter reads.
Mr Njie is urged to demonstrate the good character required of a journalist and adhere to the Union’s code of conduct.
Commenting on the move, Mr Njie said he welcomed the lifting of the ban imposed on him. He however said he will forward a recommendation to the Union, but refuses to give details.
Yousou N’Dour Dances, But to the Tune of ‘Dirty’ Politics
Monday, January 30, 2012For 25- plus solid years, the undisputed king of Mbalax has been signing songs that appeal to the world. That was thought to be his destiny. He even refused his father’s wish to pursue a university degree. Today, he is one of world greatest singers. He earns support beyond his country of birth. But in a rather shock move, he changed his gears, plunging into domestic politics. He’d accused President Wade of ‘hearing only in mono, not stereo’, but little did he realise that the instruments that produce appealing tunes in politics are different from the ones he was used to. Now that he is disqualified to run for the presidency, Kissy Kissy Mansa writes that the super star is, but dancing to the songs of other authors…
When Mbalax super star Yousou N’Dour puts his successful music career on hold in response to what he calls a “supreme patriotic duty,” at first, it all sounded like a ‘big joke’.
For Yousou N’Dour had always maintained: “I want to use my music to deliver a political message… but I don’t want to be a politician.”
On January 3, Senegal’s most known person sent shock waves when he declared that he wants to become a force for change rather than just a voice of change.
Certainly, the pull factor was too heavy for him to resist. He entered. His justification: “For a long time, men and women have demonstrated their optimism, dreaming of a new Senegal.
“They have in various ways called for my candidacy in the February presidential race. I listened. I heard. And I responded favorably.”
Even after that declaration, there were misgivings. But those who think that the musician had no political ambition are not better informed. N’Dour was very much involved in politics. He’d campaigned for the release of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and performed at concerts for Amnesty International. In 2006, he was the only black actor in Amazing Grace, Michael Apted’s film about slavery. As a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, he has focused on African issues such as the Darfur crisis, broadening internet access and the famine in Somalia. That is political.
And those who think that Yousou N’Dour’s plunge into electoral politics is an unusual move for an African entertainment celebrity, are equally not well informed. Infact, since the end of European colonialism, musicians have often served as voices of conscience and protest in independent African nations, criticising corruption and dictatorship.
The best-known example was Fela Kuti of Nigeria, the main creator of the Afropop style in the 1970s and a ferocious opponent of military rule in his country. Like Yousou, Fela announced planned to seek Nigeria’s top position in 1979 and 1983, but was disqualified both times.
In some other developing countries, especially those in Latin America and the Caribbean, that kind of crossover is more common and accepted, however.
The current president of Haiti, Michel Martelly, was a singer. He was elected last year in a race in which the rapper Wyclef Jean, a friend to Yousou, also threw his hat in the ring, only to be disqualified because he did not meet presidency requirements.
But Africa is a different continent. N’Dour is the undisputed king of Senegalese music, and arguably the most important figure in world music.
He is famous for much more than being famous: the embodiment of the self-made man, he is feted at home as an entrepreneur and job-creator, owning two recording studios, a micro-finance company and a stake in a leading nightclub. He is a media mogul with television and radio stations and the widely read L’Observateur newspaper.
That aside, N’Dour is a member of that country’s most powerful Sufi brotherhood, which would boost his election chances.
But the hurly-burly of domestic politics, is something else. Liberia’s super star George Weah, the former world footballer of the year tried in 2005 to translate fame into votes, but failed.
“But I’m not George Weah…” alerted Yousou N’Dure responded to that comparison. He’d hoped his celebrity brings greater success than it did for George Weah and Fela Kuti.
But the spine-tingling singer, composer, occasional actor, entrepreneur, and political activist could not have realised that he needed more than fame and money.
For the past 25 years, this undisputed king of Mbalax has been signing songs that appeal to the world. Music was thought to be his destiny. Born in Medina in Dakar, Senegal to a car mechanic, Youssou even refused his father’s wish to pursue a degree in law or medicine.
Today, he is one of world greatest singers. He is feted home, earns support beyond his country of birth, Senegal.
However, in a rather shock move, especially to the music world, he changed his gears, plunging into domestic politics.
He’d accused president Wade of ‘hearing only in mono, not stereo’ but little did he realise that the instruments that produce appealing songs in politics are different from musical instruments – the ones he was used to.
He needed political knowledge beyond understanding the requirement of standing as a candidate, but N’Dour does not even have a school certificate. And he does not have a political organisation. He may be a giant in music, but compared to his opponents in the political race, he is a dwarf. Yet, he is determined.
“It’s true that I haven’t pursued higher education,” he had admitted in reaction to his critics. “I have proved my competence, commitment, rigour and efficiency time and time again. I have studied at the school of the world.”
Perhaps Yousou never thought that his innocent intension of emerging as the savior for his chaos stricken Senegal would be crushed the way the Constitutional Council did it on Friday January 26.
Shocked to his throat, he helplessly stared at President Wade appointed strange-looking five people who were to decide on his eligibility. Disqualified, he was declared. Qualified was the man the entire nation did not want. And shattered were Yousou’s dreams.
“I am a candidate and I will remain a candidate,” Ndour however said after the Constitutional Council’s decision.
“Abdoulaye Wade should not even have presented his candidacy as the basic law says he does not have the right to do so.”
He continued: “This is going to create tension. The opposition in its great majority does not support any fiddling with the constitution.”
“We have exposed ourselves to tensions, to electoral problems from the beginning. The die has been cast. From now on, we don’t control anything.”Controversy Over Wade’s presidential bid
Editorial : FOROYAA VERSUS DAILY NEWS Modou C Nyang should have spoken to Madi Ceesay first and be honest to link caption to findings By Publisher on 25-01-12 (204 reads)
president Wade facing resistance at homeMonday, January 30, 2012
As Senegalese voters prepare to head to polls on February 26, a major controversy is surrounding the incumbent president, 86-year-old Abdoulaye Wade. Wade is now seeking a third term in office, against the country’s constitution.
One year after Wade took power in 2000, he amended the country’s constitution to impose a two-term limit for the presidency. He also reduced the presidential term to five years from seven, following the completion of his first term in 2007.
After his re-election in 2007, President Wade promised to abide with the constitution and stick to the two-term limit, meaning he would not stand for election in the 2012 poll.
However, Wade surprised the nation - or at least his opposition - when he announced plans to stand for a third term, saying the two-term limit did not apply to him because he was first elected in 2000, before the constitution officially took effect.
To top it all off, Wade also attempted to amend the constitution again, this time for his own good, by lowering the votes required to win the presidential election from 50 to 25 per cent. He later backed down from the amendment, after thousands of young people took to the streets in protest.
Those demonstrations helped trigger a movement known as Y’En A Marre - French for “Fed Up!” - headed by a group of rappers and journalists, who have been mobilise and organise protests against Wade’s presidency.
Wade’s candidacy for a third term has now been approved by the country’s constitutional court - the most sniro judicial body in the country. Wade’s candidacy was formally submitted on January 24 by his campaign manager, Souleymane Ndene Ndiaye, also the country’s prime minister.
However, the credibility of the court has been questioned, as each of its judges and justices were named by the president. Many people believe that the court is under Wade’s influence, and that has prompted it to rule in his favour. The court, among other things, has the mandate to ensure that the presidential candidate is a Senegalese citizen, literate and at least 35 years old.
Violent protests erupted in Dakar after Wade’s name was released as one of 14 eligible candidates for the presidency.
Before the announcement, Lamine Souare, an analyst, said there would be issues regardless of which way the court ruled. “If the constitutional council should announce that the he [Wade] is qualified as a candidate for the presidential election there will be problem - because the opposition and the youth are already saying that he is not qualified, and his candidacy is not valid,” said Souare.
“If they should announce that Wade is not qualified, then there will be problem as well - because his party militants may protest against that decision.
“And this problem could have been avoided long before the election if the council published the list earlier ... but now the release of the list of eligible presidential candidate is very close to the election, so any protest or chaos could undermine the whole election process.”
Who is expected to win the election?
There are more than 150 opposition parties in Senegal, but fewer than 20 parties are active - and those are the ones that will challenge Wade in the upcoming elections. The main opposition parties are the Rewmi Party led by Idrissa Seck, the Alliance for the Republic led by Macky Sall, the Socialists’ Party led by Tanor Dieng and the Alliance of Progress Forces led by Mustapha Niasse. Each of these party leaders have been prime ministers under Abdoulaye Wade’s regime, but broke away and formed their own political parties.
Most of the other parties are marginal and little more than platforms for their leaders.
However, several Senegalese opposition parties had, for the past two years, tried to come up with a single candidate to challenge Wade in the election - but their talks were fruitless, unable to reach a unanimous decision, and thus reducing their chances of beating Wade with their individual parties.
Despite the divided field, the opposition’s best hope is that Wade’s votes will not reach the 50 per cent threshold in the first round and thereby force a second - in which it would be possible for activists to unite around a single opposition candidate and defeat the incumbent.
The ultimate outcome of the first round will also depend partly on the integrity of the vote, of course; some fear that a rigged or partly rigged election will give Wade more than 50 per cent in the first round, rendering moot the question of how well the various opposition candidates perform.
Wade also came to power with the support of opposition parties in 2000. In that election, Wade took second place in the first round, having received 31 per cent of the votes, and for the first time, Abdou Diouf, the incumbent president, did not win a first round majority - consequently a second round was held. Wade won this round with 58.49 per cent of the vote, having received the support of candidates from the first round, including third place Moustapha Niasse - now one of his key opponents.
In the 2007 presidential election, Wade won in the first round with 55.9 per cent of the vote - far ahead of his nearest opponents: The Rewmi’s Idrissa Seck garnered about 15 per cent and Socialist leader Ousmane Tanor Dieng won 13.6 per cent. The opposition parties did not accept the result.
However, as of now, many analysts believe that if Wade, whose presidency has been marred by allegations of corruption and nepotism, is to stand for this election he will win in the first round, as he has the finances to campaign. Recently, he is said to have dished out millions of francs, and plots of land, to hundreds of his key party leaders.
However, when Wade’s campaign convoy is expected to be interrupted by frequent youth protests, they often complain that when he took office, the prices of basic goods started (and have continued) to skyrocket, while the earning power remains stagnant or depreciating.
He has widely been criticised for excessive spending on what have been described as “prestige projects”. This includes commissioning a 50m bronze statue (the African Renaissance Monument), for which Wade claims 35 per cent of all tourist revenues - because of his “intellectual property” in conceiving the idea.
In his New Year’s address, Wade said that he envisaged a government of national unity if he won next month.
Of the 12.4 million Senegalese populations, more than five million are said to have registered to vote in the February 26 elections, up from the 4.88 million voters in the 2007 poll. There is also expected to be a higher voter turnout than the 70 per cent reached in 2007, as many civil society organisations in the country have been offering intensive voter education. The past elections of the country were all termed “free and fair”.
Lamin Jahateh is a Gambian journalist and the editor and publisher of Gambia News Online.Modou C. Nyang asked whether the Gambia Press Union (GPU) is sleeping when he knew very well that the President of the Gambia Press Union had said at a meeting where he Modou C. Nyang was present that they would intervene when one Foroyaa reporter told the meeting that he had not been coming to work while some of his other colleagues are working and was unsure of the reaction of the Foroyaa Management, if he were to return. What motive does Modou C Nyang have in accusing the President of the Press Union of doing nothing about the Foroyaa reporters and attributed this to his link to Foroyaa, when Emil Touray, the President of the Union, had told him at the meeting that no official complaint had been lodged by a Foroyaa reporter and since one had made a verbal request for them to intervene on his behalf and go further to find out whether Management has anything to say about the discussions on the matter. May we add that two Foroyaa reporters are in fact members of the Union Executive and have every right to move from the family affair principle and publish their concerns or approach the union to intervene. The fact that Modou C Nyang knew all these things but still proceeded to ask whether the Gambia Press Union is sleeping confirms that he has ulterior motive. This paper would like to convey to the readers that two officials of the Gambia Press Union did pay a visit to the Managing Editor to find out whether the staff concerned could come back and what is being done regarding recommendations made by staff. The Managing Editor did welcome them and told them that they were kept out of the discussion because of the claim by the staff that their relation with management was a family affair.Re-Is The Gambia Press Union Sleeping?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012DailyNews - I am taken aback by the criticisms levelled against The Gambia Press Union by Mr. Modou C. Nyang in the Monday, 23 January 2012 edition of The Daily News.
This is largely owing to the fact that Modou C. Nyang has not been attending GPU meetings regularly over the last three years and is not in a position to have accurate information about what is unfolding at the Union.
Prior to the GPU Congress in June, he had attended only one GPU general body meeting and that was the one held on Saturday, 21 January 2012 at the Union Secretariat in Bakau.
He said, “An online newspaper has published an article on the working conditions of the reporters of Foroyaa newspaper. The report indicates that Foroyaa reporters have tried to involve the management on several occasions claiming improvements on the poor conditions in the paper. Some of the reporters in that very paper are still classified as freelance not yet staff after serving that very paper for many years now. Talk less of paying social security taxes for those hard working young people in that institution. The reporters have even threatened management that they will go on strike. The meetings were held in the month of December and yet, no improvement.
Where is The Gambia Press Union? What is your position here? How come something so major, involving fifteen reporters, most of whom are members of the Union and the Union is silent? Is it that the president of the Union is working for Foroyaa, and on the side of the management, not with his fellow journalists that the whole leadership of the Union does not want to do?”
We don’t like quibbling over trivial issues on the pages of newspapers and that is why the GPU leadership has not responded to Modou C. Nyang; but I wish to seize this opportunity to enlighten this young man who has not been attending our meetings, yet chose to concoct a story with a view to casting aspersions on our integrity.
I am not a spokesperson for either the president of The Gambia Press Union or the Foroyaa newspaper, therefore I will not speak for them; but I wish to make it clear that I am an executive member of the Union, who will not sit idly by and allow lazy minds to smear our image.
Modou C. Nyang was at the last general body meeting and he heard what one of the Foroyaa journalists said at that gathering. The Foroyaa reporter said he proposed to his colleagues at a meeting held at Foroyaa that they should ask the GPU to intervene and solve the matter, but his colleagues told him that they wanted the issue to be shrouded in secrecy. Therefore to suggest that The Gambia Press Union refused to intervene in this matter is a distortion of facts.
Assuming without conceding that this article was sent to The Daily News for publication before the general body meeting held on Saturday, 21 January 2012. This means that Modou C. Nyang was bent on concocting a cock and bull story with a view to misleading the readers of The Daily News in the country and around the world. It is in line with ethical and responsible journalism that a media practitioner should get facts right at all times. Modou C Nyang got it all wrong when he said that the GPU refused to intervene in the standoff involving the Foroyaa management and some of its reporters. We were not privy to the facts at the beginning of the standoff and only knew about the matter when it was published by Jollof News; this is because the aggrieved journalists wanted this issue to be a family affair.
Modou C Nyang said, “on Friday, 6 January 2012, Momodou S Jallow of The Daily News was arrested and later charged with sedition.”
Is Mr Modou C. Nyan writing fantasy or facts? As far as I know, The Daily News reporter is not charged with sedition, but criminal libel. This misrepresentation is yet another indication that Mr Modou C. Nyan is not au fait with developments in the media. That he does not know the difference between sedition and criminal defamation is indeed worrying and shows that he is unfit to be a media practitioner in the country.
He would be well advised to turn to something else to do. If he continues on with his embarrassing ignorance of the basics of the law, he is going to write himself into big trouble very soon. I am an executive member of The Gambia Press Union and an editorial member of The Daily News; therefore I am familiar with the case of The Daily News reporter.
He further stated, “His employer, The Daily News and other local newspapers have published reactions and statements of other media organisations condemning the act and calling for charges against him to be dropped. GPU is yet to be heard, what are you waiting for? Do you wait until it is too late? When the matter reaches the court? Or are you waiting for a plea for intervention from the reporter or the newspaper? That should not be the case. The Union should respond to its members on time regardless of any factor or difference. The boy was doing a noble job and at this point in time, he needs the strong backing of the Union.”
I agree with Modou C Nyang that the “boy” needs the strong backing of the Union. Once again, let me make it abundantly clear that the leadership of the Union is in touch with the reporter and is doing its utmost to resolve this matter. Furthermore, the GPU has been assisting members and non- members of the Union. Dodou Sanneh (a non- member of the GPU) was supported by The Gambia Press Union throughout his ordeal. The Gambia Press Union provided lawyers for both Dodou Sanneh and Nanama Keita. Therefore it is absurd for Modou C. Nyang to state that the GPU is not standing by its members including The Daily News reporter. I wish to bring to the attention of readers that even though Modou C. Nyang is yet to be a member of the Union, we are morally obliged to support him. It is a travesty of truth for Modou C Nyang to state in his commentary that The Daily News reporter is a member of the Union. We (the president and some of the executive members) are constantly in touch with The Daily News reporter.
The GPU started talking about Chief Manneh shortly after the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Marie Saine Firdaus, responded to a question posed to her in 2009 by the Minority Leader, Momodou Sanneh. Therefore it is absurd to suggest that the GPU was at all times calling for the release of Chief Ebrima Manneh.
We have written a letter to the honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice asking him to grant audience so that we can brainstorm on ways of hammering out an amicable solution in the best interest of the Manneh family. Given that you are a habitual absentee to GPU general body meetings you are not aware of this development.
Nyang added, “Previous leaders before you were attacked and called names. Madi was called an opposition politician. Ndey Tapha was labeled too and even saw the creation of The Gambia Media Association (and where on earth is this anyway) as she was seen as a candidate of the GPU old guard. I am too young to remember the tenure of D.A, Deyda and others, but I am certain they had their fair share of blame, accusations and counter accusations.
What I know of the last two is that by the end of their three-year tenure, they both left us a Union, stronger (financially, visibly, focused) than they inherited. I hope we can expect the same from this leadership.”
This is a hit-and-run smear campaign orchestrated to break down the solidarity of the GPU, creating them-versus-us mentality, which is obnoxious. In as long as he has the right to express himself, therefore his expression should be base on fact. Who is Modou C. Nyang to cast aspersions on the integrity of the Gambia Press Union? He is not a serious so-called youth activist.
Our records show that Mr Modou C. Nyan is not even a paid-up member of the Union. Since after the June 2011 Congress, he has been defaulting in paying his dues. He therefore lacks the moral authority to comment on the affairs of the GPU. If Mr Modou C.Nyan is allowing himself to be used as a willing tool to further certain damnable ambition and desperation, he has come out badly bruised. Let him retreat to his sanctuary with his tail between his legs to lick his wounds.
I rest my case.Author: Saikou CeesayForoyaa vs. Jollofnews Halifa Sallah gets Halake’s vote!!!
Daily News - Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Dear Editor,
I normally vote with the majority to ensure that my vote is not wasted. But in the current war between my good friends at Jollofnews (Jollof’s Kemo Cham and Abdoulie John were promoted to editors by me at the Daily Observer) I must, as facts dictate, cast my vote for Halifa Sallah. I have previously criticised Halifa for using 100 words when 10 would do, so I will keep it brief (my small signature is also dwarfed by Halifa’s gargantuan flamboyant flourish of the pen!):
The whole thing about Halifa saying “don’t come to my funeral and un-name the child you named in my honour” is taken completely out of context. Halifa was simply using those phrases to underline his strong feelings about a petition trying to banish him from Foroyaa. Infact, one could even argue that Halifa’s fault was in being too nice and too democratic in attending that meeting with the journalists. Those who know me would know that Halake would have given that petition short-shrift: by throwing it in the bin. Halifa went to the trouble of having the meeting with the petitioners and put
ting his position before them at length
(too long in my view!). He should be applauded for that.
Secondly, when I first got to know Gambians I was surprised at how people quarrelled at the top of their voices, on many occasions shouting with anger “I will kill you! I will kill you!” Now, a British policeman passing by would make an arrested and charge the individual with threats to kill. Period. A Gambian policeman, by contrast, will calm the fighters down, and in five minutes all three will be sitting there smiling and sharing ‘attaya’ (which is the real reason why the policeman even bothered to stop in the first place!). Halifa’s meeting statements must similarly be put in that cultural context.
Thirdly, even though I was an “enemy” of Foroyaa’s while at the Daily Observer, Foroyaa gave my unlawful detention excellent coverage (next to Fatou Jaw Manneh’s) and Sam Sarr kindly came to see me in detention. In other words, whatever I may thing of Halifa’s Sallah’s “polemics and pomposity” (as Jollofnews puts it) one cannot deny Halifa Sallah’s and Foroyaa’s commitment to the welfare of those they serve – including JollofNews’ co-proprietor Yaya Dampha.
Finally, it appears to me that Yaya Dampha and JollofNews (like Halifa Sallah and Sam Sarr) too spoke/wrote in the “heat of the moment”. I know Abdoulie John as a sincere but at times passionate man: I remember him being very passionate, rightly, about me being betrayed at the Daily Observer when I was boss – but I waved him away with the grand gesture of a Caesar striding the narrow Gambia like a colossus!. I have no doubt that all concerned will, in true Gambian tradition, forget this little “storm in a tea-cup” very soon.
I promised to be brief, so I will stop here and wish you all a Happy 2012 – although in the light of the fact that President Jammeh has won a 2011 Gambian land-slide and is going for the Presidency of the WHOLE of Africa in 2012, I cannot resist provoking Halifa by saying goodbye thus: Chi Jammeh”Author: Dida Jallow-Halake, London, UK.Three Young Journalists Attend Fellowship in Dakar
Monday, January 23, 2012(DailyNews) Three young Gambian journalists recently left The Gambia for Dakar, Senegal, to attend a two-week intensive mentoring fellowship programme.
Isatou Bittaye, Lamin Jahateh, and Haddija Jawara were selected to undergo the fellowship in order to expose them to a more sophisticated media environment.
The fellowship is part of a year-long capacity building programme supported by the 9th European Development Fund for Non-State Actors Strengthening Programme in The Gambia.
It is aimed at strengthen the capacity of Gambia media practitioners and deepen their understanding of freedom of expression standards and enhance their ability to contribute to democratic and economic governance in The Gambia.
The three were selected based on their triumph performance at both the two trainings organised by The Gambia Press Union in collaboration with Article 19.
The first stage of the training was on International Standards on Freedom of Expression and the three were part of the twenty (20) selected out of a total applicants of about fifty (50) journalists. At the end of the weeklong training, twelve (12) participants were selected after a short examination.
The twelve were the ones who undergo the second stage of the training which was on safety and security for journalists. In a short examination at the end of the training, Isatou Bittaye, Lamin Jahateh, and Haddija Jawara emerged first, second, and third position respectively.
“We are pleased to formally inform you that given your outstanding performance during the two trainings on freedom of expression standards (October 2011) and on safety and security for journalists (December 2011), you have been selected to participate in a two weeks mentoring fellowship in a media house in Dakar, Senegal,” a letter from the organisers of the above trainings states while formally informing the three of their selection for the fellowship.
In Dakar, the three are attached to different media houses. Isatou Bittaye is attached to Le Quotidien, one of the leading newspapers in Senegal. Lamin Jahateh is attached to African Press Agency (APA), continental news agency with head office in Senegal, while Haddija Jawara is attached to Ouestaf.com, one of the leading online publications in Senegal.Is The Gambia Press Union Sleeping???
Monday, January 23, 2012(DailyNews) Freedom of expression and free press is corner stone in any democratic developing country where The Gambia is not an exception. For the realisation of this, there are series of factors associated and must be addressed accordingly. Advocating for this should be a priority of The Gambia Press Union comes and if not, they should be called to focus if they losing track.
Of recent there are many issues affecting journalists in The Gambia that needs the Union to be proactive. I will like to approach the issues case by case, starting with the latest.
An online newspaper has published an article on the poor working conditions of the reporters of Foroyaa Newspaper. The report indicates that the reporters have tried to involve the management on several occasions claiming improvements on the poor working conditions in the paper. Some of the reporters in that very paper are still classified as freelance not yet staff after serving that paper for many years now. Talk less of paying social security taxes for those hard working young people in that institution. The reporters have even threatened management that they will go on strike. Two meetings were held in the month of December and yet, no improvement.
Where is The Gambia Press Union? What is your position here? How come something so major, involving over fifteen reporters, most of whom are members of the Union and the Union is silent?
Is it that the president of the GPU is working for Foroyaa and, on the side of the management, not with his fellow journalists that the whole leadership of the Union does not want to act?
Why was the Union not monitoring the working conditions of its members? Are you only focusing on workshops and two days journalism training sessions? This brings to mind, forms that were sent by the GPU to media houses at least two years ago on working conditions were filled and sent back by some of us, of what use was that if the Union could not use that to gauge the situation and offer some recommendations?
I remember in his interview with the Standard the GPU president saying they were conducting a tour of media houses, the former executive too, of which he was a part did so; we want action, not going around in circles.
As a member of the union is my concern to see the union wake up and address this issue in the soonest time.
To the management of Foroyaa, the claims of the protesters are valid and needs immediate action and now! It would have been in the best interest of the Foroyaa management to see such a case flying in the front pages of Foroyaa if the matter involves another media house and not Foroyaa.
Where are the educative editorials on Good Governance, Management, Human Rights, Transparency and Accountability? The protesters have all the right to claim for improvement of their working conditions. The matter should be addressed in consultation with the Union. The Union should take the bold step and represent its members and not the media chiefs.
On Friday January 6, 2012, Momodou S. Jallow of The Daily Newspaper was arrested and later charged with sedition. His employer, The Daily Newspaper and other local newspapers have published reactions and statements of media organisations condemning the act and calling for charges against him to be dropped. GPU is yet to be heard, what are you waiting for? Do you wait until it is too late? When the matter reaches the court? Or are you waiting for a plea for intervention from the reporter or the newspaper? That should not be the case? The union should respond to its members on time regardless of any factor or difference. The boy was doing a noble job and at this point in time he needs the strong backing of the union.
Similarly, July 6, 2011, the anniversary of the disappearance of Chief Manneh came and passed no word from the GPU. Following this, in 2011 Edu Gomez, the minister of Justice told the Daily Newspaper that Chief Manneh is alive. Given that the issue of the whereabouts of Chief Manneh, until the recent past has been at the forefront of the Union’s advocacy issues, we ask, what has the Union done so far about the revealing statements of the Justice Minister?
If the minister can say that Chief is alive, it means he knows where Chief is. If that is the case, and the State has on numerous occasions said they do not have him in their custody, did the Union ask the Minister the whereabouts of Chief? This is only natural given that from 2006 to recently, they have been asking this question? Did the Union remember to ask the Minister about the status of Chief’s health? His living conditions? And last but not the least, how we, his colleagues, friends and family, can access him?
If attempts to find out have been made by the Union, so far, the Union is to give feedback to its members. What is the Union leadership waiting for? If they are still sleeping, we are not and as the members that elects them, we will not rest until our demands are addressed.
Is the burden too heavy? Or upon assuming office, are you now realising its not only about titles? It’s a risky job, a demanding one, and one that is indeed thankless too. What the Union has never had, in its existence is a sleeping executive. Meager resources, resources, partners, and no partners the GPU has always stood up for its members. At this crucial moment, when the biggest enemy of the state is freedom of expression, when journalists, including officials of the Union are questioned by police and the Union is hiding it, in some instances even denying it; when journalists are charged with sedition and left by the Union to fend for themselves; when media owners are acting like slave drivers and the Union cannot speak. Guys lets speak it’s time to take stock. The truth the Union has never been so silent in its history. GPU Executive speaks up!
We, the ordinary members are scared to be led to obscurity, to have a leadership that is silent on our bread and butter issues, a leadership that turns a blind eye when the state is seeking to suppress us. We are willing to come on board and support in whatever way we can, when the executive are not up to the task, just to get a union that is more proactive and service oriented.
And let I be accused of being manipulated and controlled by outside forces, as I hear this is the latest defence of the Union leadership, I say do your job and we all live in peace. Stop the character assassinations, mud-slinging, isolation tactics as it will not stick.
Previous leaders before you were attacked and were called names. Madi was called an opposition politician. Ndey Tapha was labeled too and even saw the creation of The Gambia Media Association (and where on earth is that anyway) as, she was seen to be a candidate of the GPU old guard. I am too young to remember the tenure’s of the D.A, Deyda and others but I’m certain they had their fair share of blame, accusations and counter accusations.
What I know of the last two, is that by the end of their three year tenure, they both left us a Union, stronger (financially, visibly, focus) than they inherited. I hope we can expect the same from this leadership.
As journalists, we hold others accountable. We must learn to accept to be held accountable and to be scrutinised as holders of office.
Editor’s Note: For your information Modou Nyang, some of the issues raised by you were issues that have already been taken care of by the union. Furthermore, the executive members of the union at the last Saturday monthly meeting promised to double up and work towards meeting the numerous demands of its members.
On the Foroyaa and its journalist’s case, the union has asked the affected journalists to formally write to the union, detailing what their complaints are against Foroyaa which they promised to do before the union could take any step into the matter.
On The Daily News reporters’ case, the union is doing it best for the matter not to reach the corridor of the courts.
For Chief Manneh, efforts are underway to see how best the Minister of Justice would be meet and the issue of Manneh would be table before him.Author: Modou C. Nyang
Editorial : Foroyaa vs JOLLOF NEWS Informer Journalism A threat to the Journalist Profession In the Gambia By Publisher on 16-01-12 (848 reads) News by the same authorSome time ago one of the editorial advisers of Foroyaa read an article in one of the local Newspapers and called the reporter to tell him that his story was incorrect. He asked him for his source and he said that he would not reveal it. The adviser told him that he is present at the deliberations and what is mentioned as fact is fiction. He insists that somebody at the meeting informed him. The adviser told him that the police do have informants but they only utilise such information as raw material to do further investigation. He was told that a Journalist may also have an informant but should utilise that information to do further investigation to know the truth. He was told that a journalist who publishes the raw information of an informant without investigation is no journalist but an informant. The Journalist became trapped. To get off the hook he said that the proper thing to do should have been to write a rejoinder. The Foroyaa adviser wrote a rejoinder. To this day it was never published. When the Adviser asked the journalist why he did not published the rejoinder he laughed and said that it would have been very damaging to his reputation. The Foroyaa adviser decided to leave barking dogs to lie since our intention is not to damage even those who see us as their enemies. Now, Mr Abdoulie John is supposed to be a descent, ethical, trained and seasoned Journalist. We are told that he reports for AP. It is this seasoned Journalists who called Sam Sarr to tell him that he has heard that the Foroyaa Journalists were going to go on strike on the 15th and wanted his opinion.
Foroyaa has five reporters who are part of its staff. These are Abdoulie Dibba, Sarjo Camara, Amie Sanneh, Fabakary Ceesay and Musa Barrow. They were all taken on the basis of merit and gender consideration. The rest are free lance Journalists who are given cards to enable them to do coverage. In actual fact they could sell their news to any buyer. However, since some have shown interest in working with the paper they have been informed of the new developments that were in the pipe line which will put the Abdoulie Johns’ to eternal shame.
Sam knew that we are going on publication on the 16th January. He knew that a number of reporters who according to John are supposed to go on strike had already submitted their reports and others had already accepted assignments. Why would he answer to a pinprick like Abdoulie John who was engaged on a fishing expedition?
Instead of abandoning his mischievous designs John proceeded to try to throw Foroyaa to the sharks of cyber space. Foroyaa is out as normal. Now we want Yusupha Cham, Kemo Cham and Yahya Dampha to ask their colleague where he got his information. The answer to us is simple. This is what the seasoned journalist wrote in his article.
"If these above recommendations are not given due and urgent consideration by 15th January, 2012, we will embark on a sit-down strike," the disgruntled pen pushers said in a petition letter which was clandestinely obtained by JollofNews.”
Every body knows that intentions of today may be diametrically opposed to intentions of yesterday. Hence a paper that is written today may have outlived its use.
John said that the paper was clandestinely obtained. This is the characteristics of the informer Journalist. Their common trade is to go about and record private conversations or snatch people’s documents and put them in public space without their authority. In this way they are wrecking people’s lives.
We want the IFJ, THE CPJ, FAJ and WAJA to come to the aid of young Gambian Journalists. The earnings of newspapers in this country is very small and is consumed mainly by cost of production. The income of staff journalists could be improved and their training opportunities enhanced. However the lives of those who work freelance would always be in limbo and are likely to fall prey to informer journalists like Abdoulie John who may send them to record the private conversation of people or snatch their documents just to feed the people they hate to the sharks of cyber space who can no longer distinguish who are the friends or enemies of their society and people and are armed with the doctrine of publishing information for its sake. The likes of John could keep these young people hopeful that they could be helped to be reporters of AP or other International media establishments so that they could carry out his clandestine projects for him. These young people cannot damage us but they could damage themselves. If they continue this clandestine recording of private conversations which in most cases are alloyed with baseless personal opinions people will come to see journalists as dangerous liars and every gossip will make the headlines on online papers.
Finally, only the idle mind would sit down and imagine a separation between Foroyaa and its founders. Edward Francis Small could rightly be called the pioneer of Gambian politics, trade Unionism and Journalism. There has never been a renown leader in this world who did not use his or her pen to educate. We are therefore proud to have founded an organ of a political party which could metamorphose to be a newspaper that its reporters would want to take over as their own not because they belong to a political party but because of its incontestable integrity as the mouthpiece of all those who want truth and justice.
If Sankara, a soldier could say that a soldier without political education is a virtual criminal we also dare say that a journalist without political education is a heartless careerist who would sell truth, good faith, public interest and conscience for money.
The time has come for us to wage a determined battle against informer journalism.
We want the public to know that JollofNews is not credible since it relies on clandestine means of getting information. It is also important to point out to the world that Abdoulie John and Kemo Cham were Daily Observer top brass personnel, a paper which sang praise to The President and APRC while trying to damage PDOIS leaders. They were kicked out in an internal struggle. What is surprising is that Kemo is seeking asylum outside but John is comfortably hanging inside. He has not hidden his hostility to Foroyaa and every thing associated with it. Dampha was a free lance reporter for Foroyaa after he left the army and had plans to stand for PDOIS in elections. We do not know how he became a bedfellow of these other fellows. We are proposing to him to look for another avenue to serve his country. The people he is associating with are just not credible. This is why they would not hesitate to do the dirty work of clandestine reporting. Dampha knows the case he left with us. FOROYAA journalists know how secure they are when they work with us. In fact, Halifa Sallah accepted to be arrested by the NIA during the trial of the journalists just so that the author of the article in the Foroyaa paper would not fall in the hands of the security forces. The pioneers are here to protect the integrity and values of the paper. All those who pass through Foroyaa know that the value of truth, good faith and the public interest constitute the basis of its operation and no journalist had ever been influenced to depart from this in favour of any personality or partisan interest. None has ever been persuaded to give political support. In passing, may we also add that the online papers who are bent on nagging about journalism and politics should abandon their double standards. How many media houses often declare open support for political parties in the west and else where? Matthew Jallow President, of GPU USA should not lecture us about separation of journalism from politics. What should be said is that just as a lawyer, professor, Medical Doctor or any body could go and perform a duty and still be a political representative a person could manage a paper and still allow journalists to do their work without any political interference of biasness.
To conclude let us make it clear that Foroyaa is an asset to Gambian journalists. It is not in competition with any other paper. Its style is unique. It is based on two pillars of journalism that is, advocacy and Knowledge base Journalism. We do not only publish information we work to solve the problems of complainants. In fact, we solve more problems than we publish. The Foroyaa office is a citizen’s advisory bureau. People engage the services of very mature advisers 12 hours a day. They write letters, do research on the law, make telephone calls, arrange home visits and alert authorities to potential miscarriage of justice to prevent abuse or ensure redress. Many of the people who have worked with or are working with Foroyaa came to Foroyaa to seek one form of advice or another or seek refuge. The Managing Editor of Foroyaa is a Mathematician and Physicists by earlier training. He has been offered the position of Principal in many schools with accommodation and other facilities. We invite the whole country to come and see where he has lived all his life up to the point of being a grandfather. One child is in the US, another is an electronic technician and the girl is a married nurse. Now he and his wife provides support to the children of other people in the provinces or peri urban area to enable them to come closer to their schools.
We want to tell Mr John of Jollof News that we have reached self actualization. Our credibility is already established.
We do not wish to engage in any polemics with any newspaper that would undermine the integrity of its editors or reporters. Foroyaa has always come to the support of every Gambian in distress no matter what shade of opinion. Foroyaa is a place of refuge for any Gambian who wants a hand to lean on. Foroyaa has not bought a private car or private mansion to its proprietors even though they have the legal right to take ownership of the money.
Foroyaa was meant to be a paper of volunteers and those who came to support it were expected to move on. It was during the first tussle which was reported in the online papers that it became clear that we were no longer having volunteers but people with vested interest. This is why Foroyaa moved to its new headquarters which has fans that are left on even when reporters are going home, flat screened TV, free access to the Internet that the pioneers in their days considered luxury. This has of course resulted in huge increase in overhead cost. If this is what Jollof News call poor working condition then Jollof news does not know the history of Foroyaa. The editorial adviser will provide that history in the next issue to show how they had given their whole life to the paper just to have anything that came from it went back to the people instead of enriching themselves.
This is why the paper is registered as a company. The newspaper return to be submitted before the end of this month should incorporate the changed administration and structures of Foroyaa while retaining its core values of advocacy and knowledge based journalism and the motto of truth, good faith public interest.National News : Jollof News Versus Foroyaa By Publisher on 18-01-12 (124 reads) News by the same authorPart 2
HOW JOLLOF NEWS SEES IT
Gambian Journalist, Fabakary B. Ceesay Resigns From Foroyaa
Tuesday, 17 January 2012 01:12
Ceesay Laments Poor Working Conditions
(JollofNews) - Following our lead story last Friday on allegation that reporters at the local Foroyaa Newspaper were disgruntled over poor wages and lamentable working conditions, Fabakary B Ceesay, one of the newspaper's journalist has resign with immediate effect.In an exclusive interview with JollofNews' Abdoulie John this evening, Mr. Ceesay described the working conditions at Foroyaa Newspaper as incompatible with the aspiration of its staff.
''Yes, it is true I have tendered my resignation on Sunday 12 January 2012. The reason for my resignation is that the working environment is not conducive at Foroyaa and I cannot work under such environment,'' Ceesay told JollofNews.
Commenting on the recommendations they outlined in their petition, Mr. Ceesay reveals: ''You know these recommendations are not individual, they are collective and that is why I cannot speak on behalf of the group. From Sunday, I am no more a staff of Foroyaa Newspaper.''
Curiously, what we at JollofNews found interesting is that the Foroyaa editors angrily reacted to our lead story in a manner that can be described as a storm in a tea cup.
That Mr. Sam Sarr is a noble Gambian with sterling academic credentials is a foregone conclusion and why our friends at Foroyaa chose to remind us of this is really baffling.
Unlike Foroyaa, we at JollofNews have always hold the Foroyaa editorial board in high esteem and why a newspaper report base on factual evidence by a season reporter in the caliber of Mr. Abdoulie John will cause all this noise.
Finally and more importantly we want to make it absolutely clear that we at JollofNews have the highest respect for Mr. Sam Sarr and his editorial team and we will not allow anyone to intimidate us.
We are just performing our task of reporting the news without fair or favor, affection or ill-will.EDITOR’S NOTE
HOW FOROYAA SEES IT
One could see how unprofessional Jollof news is. When they had information acquired clandestinely John consulted Sam Sarr who honored his fishing expedition with the utter disregard it deserved. Now that they have a genuine story of the resignation of Fabakary Ceesay on the 17th January he had not even bothered to talk to the Managing editor of Foroyaa to confirm the story from the Foroyaa end and what the managing editor had to say. This is the first point.
Secondly, Jollof News has not responded to the allegation that clandestine means of acquiring news is not the approach professional organs utilise to publish information.
Thirdly, Fabakary Ceesay spoke about recommendations which are the raw material for the development of any institution while Jollof News spoke about ultimatums which occur only in institutions which harbour antagonistic contradictions. The relation in Foroyaa is not one of employer and employee. It has been a family relation. Staff come to work and go as they please without a boss watching over them. They travel all over the world and receive no restriction. Recently Fabakary was away for over four months without any permission and came back and assumed his position without any difficulty. He returned just few days before the Presidential elections.
He told the Managing Editor that the environment was not friendly for him to operate as before. That is his opinion and it is respected. Attitude does motivate or de-motivate people in working place. We must be honest to say after Fabakary expresses his opinion; it is not business as usual at Foroyaa. We all need to change our attitudes from Management, editors and other staff in general. People are free to stay or leave but no reporter would ever say that he or she has been dismissed, reduce in rank, terminated , suppressed because of his or her views, political affiliation or beliefs or for taking a stand in defense of their interest. Nobody can be comfortable in Foroyaa by protesting to be besieged by the Gambian people who want change. Those who cannot accommodate the people may well look for other sanctuaries to work.
We thank Jollof News for expressing their respect for the Managing editor of Foroyaa. We only wish that a paper that has no office in the Gambia, does not carry any over head cost of electricity, water supply and IT , shoulder the burden of maintaining an accounting staff, a technical staff, a cleansing staff, a security staff would be sensitive to the plight of the fledgling media houses in the Gambia rather than giving the impression that it is pioneering the plight of oppressed media workers against privileged media chiefs. This is why we decided to call the attention of the world to the ways of life of the Managing Editor.
Fabakary has been a hard working reporter and was specializing in human Rights issues. We wish him well but would wish to advice him to come to Sam Sarr to discuss the issue of resignation. It deprives him of many benefits. We can arrange something that allows him to follow his designs without losing benefits. We would want to assure him that Foroyaa would move on. We used to publish Foroyaa without any outside help. Foroyaa will never sleep until the pioneers are in their graves. However no good thing should remain the same. This is why the new Foroyaa is in the making. In fact, we will do what no corporate body would do by putting the blue print of the new Foroyaa in the public space so that others would share their views with us. Fabakary is free to join us whenever he considers the environment to be more suitable.The Gambia's elections leave little hope
for changeYahya Jammeh has been president for 17 years, presiding over a major increase in poverty.The Gambia's presidential election has past but the country's political climate has yet to fully settle, even though the president will continue to hold the position he has been occupying for the past 17 years.
President Yahya Jammeh, whose tenure has been renewed with an overwhelming 72 per cent of the total votes cast, now has a fresh five-year mandate; he is undoubtedly delighted with the results of the November 24 elections.
Shortly after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) declared him winner, Jammeh convened a victory party in the capital city, Banjul, where he promised thousands of his party supporters that he would undertake a rapid development programme. He then promised to throw a "victory party" in every region of the country, starting with the region that had the highest vote percentage for his party, and staged a three-day extravaganza party at his hometown, where money was spent lavishly while more than half of the country's population continues to wallow in destitution.
Critics say the misappropriation of money on unnecessary parties could have been better utilised on the implementation of the projects he promised. It could also have been used to create more job opportunities, especially in a country teeming with unemployed youths.
- Empty promises?
President Jammeh promised that his government will implement a new project every three months. He failed to reveal any particulars about these projects, including where the necessary funding would come from. It will be very interesting to see how these projects commence and how they are financed as Gambia's debt burden continues to increase both domestically and internationally.
He also pledged to steer the country in the next five years to a rapid development process that will match or better those set in motion in the United Arab Emirates. Realistically, it is clear that these pledges will remain an unachievable dream come 2016.
Poverty is on the increase since Yahya Jammeh took over the country through a coup d'état in 1994. The amount of people living below the poverty line has increased from 30 per cent in 1992 to 58 per cent in 2003. The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) report of 2006, published by the National Planning Commission of the Gambia, says that 74 per cent of Gambians are below the national poverty level."The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper report of 2006, published by the National Planning Commission of the Gambia, says that 74 per cent of Gambians are below the national poverty level."
Although the president continues to shell out money randomly, the majority of Gambians are finding it very difficult to keep their heads above water as the prices of basic food commodities continue to go up, transport fares increase and electricity prices skyrocket.
- A one-man rule
Just less than a month after winning the election, Jammeh has also resorted to his usual strategy of sacking top officials. This week, the secretary general and head of the civil service, Ousman Jammeh, was sacked. The president - as always - failed to provide a motive for these new set of changes.
And while Ousman Jammeh will be replaced by the former head of the Ministry of Works Construction and Infrastructure (MOWCI), Dr Njogu Bah, the MOWCI will now fall under the jurisdiction of the president's office. Currently, many ministerial positions are under the Office of the President, including Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Agriculture after he sacked the previous ministers; a number of other government institutions are likewise under his domain.
The Gambia now gears up for the election of the National Assembly Members scheduled for March 2012. Having declared winners in all the constituencies in the country, Jammeh's ruling party - Alliance for Patriot Reorientation and Construction (APRC) - is expected to win all the seats in the parliament.
If this happens, many are fearful that more laws will be amended in favour of the incumbent regardless of the possible ramifications it could have on the people. Even now, only five of the 53 seats in parliament are held by the opposition. They can't make any meaningful impact as the Parliamentarians of the ruling party continue to rubber-stamp almost every bill brought to the National Assembly by the government, while the president continues to appoint and fire speakers of the National Assembly at will.
- Unfair elections?
The sub-regional bloc, Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), boycotted this year's presidential election on the grounds that the country does not have a political environment conducive for free, fair and transparent presidential elections. The sub-regional grouping said its fact-finding mission sent to the country prior to the election found "an intimidated electorate, cowed opposition and an unacceptable level of electronic media controlled by the ruling party".
A few days before the polls, the Gambia parliamentarians in one of their sessions demanded the resignation of the president of ECOWAS Commission, James Victor Gbeho, whom they alleged of taking the decision to boycott the elections "unilaterally".
However, other local and international observers of the election generally agreed that the polls were peaceful and technically sound, but not without fundamental irregularities.
In its report at the end of the election, the African Union noted that President Jammeh benefited from a "strong media bias and greater financial resources" than his rivals to secure a new five-year term in elections.
"Although a provision was made for equal access of all political parties and candidates to the public media, the actual coverage of the public media was strongly weighted in favour of the candidate of the ruling party", the same observers said.
Before and throughout the campaign period, the portraits of the opposing candidates were hardly displayed in public. Very few people were seen wearing their T-shirts or displaying any of their party stuff. On the contrary, Yahya Jammeh's portraits, pictures and other campaign stuff could be seen everywhere, even on public buildings and government vehicles.
Again, Beakanyang, a youth led community-based organisation that monitored the polls, reported that its observers saw a National Assembly member stationed at a polling station in one of the polling stations in the Upper River Region, directing people to places where they should vote. According to the country's electoral code, no one is allowed to loiter around the polling stations at the time of voting.
Mr Famara Jawneh, secretary general and head of Beakayang's observer team, also noted that though most polling stations closed on time, ballot boxes were late to be transported to counting centres.
In retrospect, it seems that ECOWAS' statement may have grounds for justification
- What the opposition says
The United Front, which got only 11 per cent of the total votes cast, was formed by a merger of four political parties for the sole purpose of unseating the incumbent. None of them accept nor reject the election results, but they say there is a need for lessons to be drawn from the results of the elections.
For one, the country should institute a constitutional reform to restore the second round of voting in presidential elections, which President Jammeh, through the National Assembly, eliminated by amending the country's constitution. The new simple majority on which Gambian elections rely clearly favours his party."The United Democratic Party 'vehemently and unconditionally' rejected the results of elections, calling it bogus, fraudulent and a capricious usurpation of the will of the people."
According to Hamat Bah, the flag-bearer of the United Front, "Another fundamental lesson is that the 11 days allocated by the Electoral Commission as campaign period has grossly disadvantaged the opposition parties after being deprived of access to the media for a period of four years prior to the campaign period."
Earlier, the United Democratic Party "vehemently and unconditionally" rejected the results of elections, calling it bogus, fraudulent and a capricious usurpation of the will of the people. Ousainou Darboe, the United Democratic Party's flag-bearer, said that the party will take necessary action, but nothing has been done so far. They were the only party to issue a detailed statement, outlining evidences of election malpractices.
Some people said the Gambia is now at a crossroad between the past and the future. The past can never be restored, and the present cannot be sustained. The future is uncertain as the president vowed to continue ruling the country for "one billion years if Allah says so".
But even though he has won the elections, the people might not continue to accept policies he continues to impose on them. Therefore, the future of the country will be influenced by people who are poor and face the prospect of five more years under the regime of Yahya Jammeh.
Wednesday 30th November 2011(AFP) - International Criminal Court member countries on Wednesdayagreed to nominate Fatou Bensouda of Gambia as the chief prosecutorfor the main war crimes tribunal, diplomatic sources said.An official announcement of the nomination to replace Luis Moreno-Ocampo,chief prosecutor for the past nine years, is to be made in New York on Thursday.Bensouda is currently Moreno-Ocampo's deputy.Top officials from the nearly 120 countries which have signed up to the court'sgoverning treaty met in New York on Wednesday in a bid to whittle down the finaltwo candidates.Bensouda had been in competition with Mohamed Chande Othman, chief justiceof Tanzania after candidates from Britain and Canada withdrew from the finalgroup of four."The meeting wanted consensus and it was reached behind Ms Bensouda,she will be nominated," said one diplomat. The decision was confirmed byother officials. All spoke on condition of anonymity as no official decision hasbeen announced.Bensouda, a former justice minister in Gambia, had been one of 52 candidatesfor the high profile post which is based in The Hague.Moreno-Ocampo has issued arrest warrants for Sudan's President Omar al-Bashirfor genocide and has been negotiating with Libyan authorities after the detentionof Moamer Kadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam, who is also wanted by the ICC.Africa had been pressing to get the position as the overwhelming majorityof the court's investigations involve the continent.The official election for the post will be held on December 12 at the annualmeeting of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute which governsthe ICC. The prosecutor can only serve one nine-year term. Moreno-Ocampoofficially stands down next June.
NHRJ Alert: UDP/GMC rejects, paint gloomy pictures on Gambia's electionLeaders of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) and Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) alliance have issued a statement rejecting the recently conducted Presidential elections in The Gambia, in which the incumbent took 72 percent of the vote cast.
In a statement issued at a press briefing held at UDP leader Ousainou Darboe’s residence at Kairaba Avenue, the UDP-GMC alliance said the processes leading the election were not free and fair, and that “the results of such a fundamentally flawed process cannot receive our endorsement.”
Below the full text of the UDP-GMC statement dispatch to the press: This Statement is a sequel to the Preliminary Statement issued by theUDP/GMC United Alliance in which we categorically rejected the results of the just concluded Presidential Election as announced by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commissions.
We strongly reiterate our stand that the results of the said elections were bogus and fraudulent, and constitute a naked theft of the will of the people through the back door. It shall not stand!!
The UDP/GMC United Alliance insists that the electoral and electioneering processes, including the campaigning dynamics have been intentionally skewedin favour of the APRC to the gross disadvantage of the Alliance. These include theten-day campaign limitation period imposed by the IEC without any basis in lawor in fact. The Elections Act makes no provision for limiting a campaign periodto ten days. In previous presidential elections, although limited, the campaignperiod was way more than what was permitted this time. Any sincere electioncommission committed to the holding of a free and fair election would ratherexpand the campaign period than reduce it.
This unjustifiably crippling limitation was resisted by the Alliance at the materialtime before the conduct of the elections, but our concerns were rejected by theIEC without any justifications. Having been denied access to state media suchas radio and television for the past five years, and having regard to the oppressiveconditions under which the private media had to endure, the opposition was hardlyheard during the pre-election period. In effect our stand is that the processesleading towards the elections were not free and fair. Therefore the results ofsuch a fundamentally flawed process cannot receive our endorsement.
The ubiquitous presence of armed security, senior local government officialssuch as regional governors, district chiefs and Alkalolu and remorseless useof state resources cast enormous doubt and imposed a pernicious influenceon the election. Threats were made, and intimidating messages were spreadwhich had the pervasive effect of frightening voters. This was preceded by threatsmade by APRC Campaign Manager and Minister responsible for NationalAssembly Affairs that the ballot boxes and the biometric voter registrationsystem were fitted with means of identifying those who voted against theAPRC. Voters were warned during the campaign of consequences of votingagainst the APRC.The elections itself on poling day was severely marred by fundamental irregularities.In many polling stations, our polling agents were refused by IEC and securityofficials from accompanying the ballot boxes to the various counting centers.In the entire URR constituting seven constituencies, this denial was applied inall counting centers at the URR. The act of denying our agents to accompanyballot boxes was intended to commit foul play by tampering with the boxes infavour of the APRC, without the possibility of detection in transit. For instancein Jedda Two and Marakisa in the Kombo Central Constituency, voting cardswere actually found in ballot boxes, which indicate how insecure they were.To insert a voter’s card in a ballot box, one has to remove the cap itself, becausethe card cannot fit through the marble hole provided. This is proof positive thatit was very easy to lift open the ballot boxes without tampering with the sealsprovided.Extra voting marbles were found strewn all over some counting centers, and weare in possession of some of those marbles picked up randomly by third partiestwo days after elections. Voting marbles were all supposed to be collected,placed back into ballot boxes and secured. This was not the case at manycounting centers.Our agents reported a pattern of simultaneous multiple token counting conductedat many counting centers across the country. In those instances, our agents wereoutnumbered and this made it possible for election officials in collusion withthe APRC to compromise the integrity of the counting and collation processes.Tokens were removed from boxes in many of those centers, counted without theopportunity of verification accorded to our agents and certified by joint IEC/APRCcounters.In many of the counting centers, there were no proper lighting provided. In the caseof St. Peter’s at Lamin, ballot boxes were indiscriminately scattered about inthe court yard without adequate security, while the place itself was massivelylittered with APRC supporters and militants, and persons donned in securityuniforms.There has been widespread voting nationwide by uniformed persons, atpolling stations where they were not registered. In Bakau Constituency, army officersled non-uniformed recruits who were not on any elections assignments to voteat polling centers across that constituency, even though they were not registered asvoters in that particular constituency. The UDP led Alliance Candidate himselfintervened and reported the matter to the Returning Officer for KanifingMunicipality who dismissively asserted that he was under instructions toallow them to vote. The Chairman of the IEC was personally informed but beforethe situation could be arrested, most of these personnel were already permittedby to vote, although they had no right to vote at those polling centers. This patternwas seriously repeated nation wide.We are informed that police and military uniforms were indiscriminately givento persons who were not serving members of any security establishment andthese persons participated in securing and conveying of ballot boxes, and wereactive at polling and counting centers nationwide.There has been a mass influx of non-Gambian voters from outside The Gambiawho were camped at various sites by the APRC at such places as the oldMedical & Health Department in Banjul, Garba Jahumpa Upper Basic Schoolin Banjul, Wadner Beach Hotel, the Brikama Community Center, the NYSSpremises in Bakau, and other places within the West Coast Region andKanifing Municipality. Gambian citizens would not be camped in such places,isolated from the rest of the public because every true Gambian citizen wouldhave voted and returned to their family homes. Some of these places weredisclosed to international observers, who went and verified for themselves.The irregularities are fundamental and numerous. We are still in the processof evaluating more information and evidence from across the country.Units of law enforcement personnel publicly displayed preference and biasfor the ruling party during the campaigns. Credible information reaching ustoday lends veracity to this. Soldiers based at Lamin Koto conducted aso-called election victory celebrations at Jarumeh Koto, while contingentsof the Police Intervention Unit went on a victory celebrationsat Kerr Ousman Boye, threatening local residents for supporting theUDP-led Alliance.Traditionally, election security and crowd control have been conducted bythe Police Force in this country. But this time around, Gambians have beenseverely intimidated by the inexplicably heavy presence of the heavily armedsoldiers in our streets, as if The Gambia was in a state of war. This had theintended effect of spreading and consolidating fear among the polity whichspecifically inured to the benefit of the incumbent against the Alliance. Theflagrant violation of the principle of neutrality by the security forces is additionalaffirmation of the lack of a level playing field and a fundamentally flawed electoralprocess.The radio and television coverage provided by GRTS to the UDP/GMCAlliance was heavily censored, edited, watered down to produce the lowestpossible effect, while half of our campaign rallies across the country were not evenfeatured or broadcasted. Commentaries on GRTS were largely derogatoryof our progress, while the APRC was accorded in extremely favourable light.The UDP/GMC United Alliance is proud of the patriotism demonstratedby Gambians across the country. The Alliance is very appreciative of the legendaryhospitality accorded to it by Gambians along the campaign trail; those whohosted the Campaign, shared their resources with us, and gave us the bestaccommodation they could provide.To Gambian voters, we thank you for voting in your strong numbers forthe UDP/GMC United Alliance. We assure you that your votes shall notgo in vain. Together we shall vigorously defend the people’s will, and togetherwe shall not relent in this effort.The UDP/GMC United Alliance is equally appreciative of the tremendouscontributions of Gambians in diaspora, particularly those who have materiallycontributed towards the efforts in the campaigns. For the indomitable onlineGambian press such as Maafanta.com, Freedom Newspaper, The Gambia Echo,Gainako Online Newspaper, Hello Gambia, Jollof News and others, we are proudof you, and your Nation is proud of you. Thank you for providing a veritablemedium of expression for Gambians in such a manner denied to them in theirown country. We assure you that we shall never give up on you, and we areconfident that you shall not give up on us. Together, let us consolidate thepartnership in the effort to enthrone genuine democratic plurality in our country,expand the democratic space, build a culture of tolerance and defeat those forcesof oppression. Let us together continue to work harder to liberate our country.The struggle has just begun, and we must use every successive stage a newbeginning in the overall struggle for comprehensive political change in our nationalgovernance infrastructure.Long Live the Republic of The Gambia!! Long Live the UDP/GMC United Alliance!
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT BY THE INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND HIS UNITED FRONT BACKERS
25th NOVEMBER 2011On Friday 25th November 2011, the Independent Electoral Commission declared the final results of the 2011 Presidential Elections. The Independent Candidate has 73.060 votes.A meeting was scheduled after the declaration of the results to review the figures and issue a statement but the meeting had to be delayed because of the late arrival of Honourable Henry Gomez who later explained that he boarded a taxi to come to the meeting only to have the movement of the vehicle blocked by another transport with Gambia Revenue Authority inscribed on the door. Four persons came to indicate to him that he was under arrest and compelled him to join their vehicle. They refused to reveal their identity but later proposed for him to talk to their boss who also did not reveal his identity. The boss apologised and rationalised that it was a case of mistaken identity.This incident which took place just before the meeting to determine whether or not to accept the results of 2011 Presidential Elections is rather instructive. The United Front strongly condemns this threat to the security of the leader of a member party and will approach the Inspector General of Police to provide security to both Hon Bah and Hon Gomez.The United Front has seen the need for lessons to be drawn from the results of the elections.The existence of the front is a reflection of the absence of the second round of voting which enables all parties to participate in the first round to check their political weight. The Front therefore strongly recommends for constitutional reform to be instituted to restore the second round of voting in presidential elections.Another fundamental lesson is that the 11 days allocated by the IEC as campaign period has grossly disadvantaged the opposition parties after being deprived of access to the media for a period of four years prior to thecampaign period. The opposition parties do not have access to state resources. We could not thoroughly cover any constituency and could not mobilise sufficient resources within the limited time frame to conduct a proper campaign.Secondly, the APRC has been given an edge by the support it receives from the business community and public enterprises to ensure the provision of T shirts, bill boards and other accessories that serve as campaign materials. The involvement of APRC mobilisers in community sensitisation meetings conducted by public enterprises helps to sustain the grass-roots organisations of the party. Suffice it to say that the utilization of the material resources of the state, especially vehicles and the involvement of chiefs who are heads of district tribunals, Governors and other public servants or members of the security forces do not provide a level ground for holding free and fair elections.In this light, it is the candid view of the Independent candidate and members of the United Front that we should propose the holding of a National Conference on the electoral system so that reforms could be initiated to ensure that there is level ground to hold genuine multi party contest and free and fair elections.A final statement will be issued after debriefing the regional coordinators.…………………………. ……………………….Honourable Henry Gomez Hon Hamat BahGPDP Presidential candidate…………………………….. ………………………….Sidia Jatta Halifa SallahPDOISNADD
Gambia Condemns ECOWAS Observers For Poll Boycott
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
(AFP) – Gambia's foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned a decision by the West African regional bloc to boycott its presidential polls because it believed they would not be free and fair.
A ministry statement said the government "is utterly dismayed by, and condemns in the strongest unequivocal terms' the decision not to send an observer mission to Gambia for November 24 elections.
On the eve of the polls which returned long-serving ruler Yahya Jammeh to office, the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said his control of the media and intimidation of voters meant the election could not be free, fair and transparent.
A fact-finding mission had reported "an unacceptable level of control of the electronic media by the party in power ... and an opposition and electorate cowed by repression and intimidation."
Other observer missions said while polling went peacefully there was a significant lack of a level playing field.
The Commonwealth team said "the ruling party's use of the state machinery during the campaign period amounted to a serious abuse of incumbency."
The African Union said media coverage was strongly weighted in favour of Jammeh and noted a "gross imbalance in the financial and material capability of the candidates."
Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 coup, won a fourth term in the elections with 72 percent of the vote in Africa's smallest mainland nation, where he is often criticised for human rights abuses and the muzzling of journalists.
He retains support for overseeing strong economic growth and construction of roads, schools and hospitals, but he has in the past isolated communities who do not vote for him.
22 November 2011 [Abuja - Nigeria]ECOWAS STATEMENT ON THE 24 NOVEMBER 2011PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THE GAMBIAThe ECOWAS Commission has informed the President of the Gambia about its decision
not to dispatch an ECOWAS Observer Mission to the PresidentialElection scheduled to take place in the country on 24 November 2011, because thepreparations and political environment for the said election are adjudged by the Commissionnot to be conducive for the conduct of free, fair and transparent polls.In keeping with the pertinent provisions of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol onDemocracy and Good Governance, the President of the Commission dispatched a fact-findingmission to the Gambia, during which the mission interacted with a wide range of stakeholdersto assess the state of preparedness of the country for the election.The Commission has also been conducting a regular monitoring of the political situation andpreparations in the lead-up to the election through the ECOWAS Early Warning System.Unfortunately, the reports of the fact-finding mission and the Early WarningSystem paint a picture of intimidation, an unacceptable level of control of the electronicmedia by the party in power, the lack of neutrality of state and para-statal institutions, andan opposition and electorate cowed by repression and intimidation.In the circumstance, the ECOWAS Commission is of the view that the conditions prevailing inthe country do not meet the minimum standards set under the Protocol on Democracy andGood Governance for the conduct of elections and has, therefore, decided to exercise thediscretionary powers conferred on the Commission’s President under the Protocol to standdown the ECOWAS Observer Mission.While regretting the decision forced upon it by the circumstances, the ECOWASCommission will remain seized with the situation in the Gambia, and expresses itsreadiness to engage the Government and other stakeholders in the Gambian polity,with a view to accompanying them in their endeavour to create a level playing field for futureelections.His Excellency James Victor GbehoPresident of the Commission
THE GAMBIA IS GEARING UP FOR THE NOVEMBER 24 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
By Publisher on 11-11-11
(Foroyaa) The 2011 presidential election is entering its final phase with the nomination of the candidates on 10 November 2011. The speculations have now come to rest. The UDP has gone through its nomination process. Mr Ousainou Darboe has had his nomination papers accepted.The GRTS also engaged in a lot of speculation regarding Mr Hamat Bah’s candidature.
He is reported to have abandoned his party to stand alone. They even emphasised that he has no link to the United Front. Eventually, Mr Bah came along with representatives from GPDP, NADD, NRP and PDOIS, who endorsed his candidature. There was a lot of publicity in the online papers that Mr Bah could not stand as an Independent Candidate. Now the speculations could be laid to rest. Mr Bah’s nomination has been approved.
The third candidate to submit his nomination papers is the incumbent President Jammeh.
His nomination has been approved.
It is therefore clear that a three way contest is going to characterise the 2011 Presidential.
It is now left to the Gambian people to determine their destiny. As a media house Foroyaa will give balanced reporting on what the different candidates have to offer and facilitate the right of the people to an informed choice.
We hope the GRTS and the online papers would also abandoned their bias reporting and give equal coverage to all Presidential candidates.
Countdown to November 24
Friday, November 11, 2011(The Daily News) The nomination of candidates to contest for the forthcoming presidential elections has finally been conducted.
Accordingly three candidates backed by their respective political parties have been nominated.
The opposition heavyweight the United Democratic Party has as usual nominated its three times flag bearer- ANM lawyer Ousainou Darboe.
In what could be described as a tactical move, Hamat NK Bah, a day prior to the nominations resigned from the party he twice lead to polls to be nominated as an independent candidate. His nomination is backed by the NRP, PDOIS and GPDP. And the APRC nominated incumbent president Yahya Jammeh.
The fundamental question that must be asked is who or which party would earn the approval of Gambians to lead the affairs of the country? The country for the past seventeen years has been under the firm grip of the APRC yet the APRC government cannot negotiate the problem of poverty, unemployment, corruption.
Human rights violations, repression of independent media and a host of other social ills have also been a feature of the APRC government.
Prior to the start of the electoral process, the opposition were busy in talks for the formation of an alliance, of course one which will defer in form and character from the NADD experience.
However after weeks of closed door talks, it became clear that the expected could not be celebrated. Even though some of the parties agreed to the formation of a United Front, the failure of the opposition to bring its heavyweight, the UNP to accepting the ideology and principles of the United Front has left much to be desired.
Many wonder whether a fragmented opposition challenging the APRC from two camps can really bring about a change of leadership and governance in the country come November 24th.
The APRC has wealth and resources and determined to capitalize on the incumbency to sustain their dominance over the country.
The opposition should henceforth be aware of this and realise that the have a huge challenge ahead.
Their failure to provide the electorate with a single candidate has so far become a source of frustration and disgruntlement for many Gambians who envisaged change and a new sense of purpose and direction.
Turning that frustration and disgruntlement to renewed hope and aspiration requires sound and solid strategies, good programs and a clear vision for the future of the country. Without these, it will be hard to believe that Gambians would wake up a day after November 24th under a new leadership.
Those who make the fulfillment of the needs and aspirations of the people the primary business of their lives are always at the service of the people.
Another journey has just begun, the verdict of the people would determine what the future holds for The Gambia.
It is election time the country is in serious business. Those who value their citizenship and wanted the creation of a national sovereignty are aware that the task ahead is the most significant of their lives.
Gambian should put behind them the culture of voter apathy and turn out in large numbers to give the country to the candidate and party who they deem fit and capable to not only develop the country but transform our lives so that we become citizens with dignity and entitlements. We can do it, and the time is now.
- GRTS Should Correct its Way
- Friday, November 04, 2011(The Daily News) sadly, it has become a norm, rather than an exception in The Gambia that opposition parties access our publicly funded media outlets only during the electoral commission’s declared campaign period of elections.
For instance, the last time some opposition leaders appeared on state-owned television was during 2006 presidential elections.
Thus, when the Independent Electoral Commission infamously reduced the election campaign period from over two weeks in 2006 presidential elections to just eleven days this year, the opposition parties decried about it and requested for a review of that decision of IEC.
The allocated campaign period is grossly inadequate. If anything, it should have been increased because the number of registered voters have increased by nearly two hundred thousand. This means, political parties would have to reach out to more voters in this year’s election than they did in 2006. This therefore requires more time and more resources.
However, IEC refused to grant their request even when it is clear to the electoral commission that the political equilibrium is very unbalanced and it is unacceptably swinging in favour of the ruling party, who uses and abuses the state media even when opposition parties are denied access.
It is however worth mentioning here that although the campaign period remains as scheduled, GRTS has started covering the activities of some opposition parties.
The radio section of GRTS recently paid host to opposition leaders. The television section has also covered the political rally of opposition-UDP in Bakau on Saturday. One might be tempted to consider these moves by GRTS as a milestone, but the reality is that GRTS does not deserve to be commended here.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding among four political parties for a united opposition front is as well of utmost importance to the tax payers of this country, but there was no coverage by the publicly funded media outlets. Not even the election of the presidential candidate for the united opposition front.
Even the way the television presented the activities of opposition-UDP’s Bakau rally leaves much to be desired. The substance of the meeting has been left out. It is basic in good news coverage to give fair play to all sides of the event. When one cannot have the sound bite, as in the case of the unlettered people, one can judge from the video footages.
It is however ridiculous to hear the reporter saying that the party leader was given a fitting welcome when the video shows empty seats, apparently taken before the heat of the meeting.
It is one thing to provide coverage of an event, but another thing to present balanced and unbiased story. This point should be brought up and dealt with now before the campaign period.
The tax payers of this country should be aided, by publicly funded media outlets in particular, to have benefits of what living in an information society entails. They, more than anybody else have every right to know about the alternative policies and programmes of opposition parties.
This will make it possible for them to make informed decisions on matters of national importance such as electing their representatives. Gambians have been unequivocal about the absence of divergent views and dissenting opinions over the public media.
We are a multi party society. Our organs of mass communication should be rooted in that reality and should exploit the situation to the benefit of the people. It therefore amounts to a gross violation of constitution to ignore the provisions on the use of public media no matter what the circumstances are.
While it might be expedient in terms of survival in the system to carry on as if only one political party matters and portraying other parties as skeletons, it is legally and professionally suicidal to do so.
- Baba Jobe Meets His Maker He Looked To After Parting with His Master
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
(The Daily News) After
he was handed-down a nine-year eight month jail sentence back in April 2004 for
economic crimes, former ruling-APRC strongman, Baba Jobe’s advice to his sobbing
sympathisers was “Al
Dankeneya" (have faith in God).
Eight
years after this mysterious split with his Gambian master, president Yahya
Jammeh, Baba Kajali Jobe, 52, on Saturday meets his maker, God, he had asked
his distressed sympathisers to look to, after a non-Gambian-born judge, who
fled after his credentials were disputed, refused to tamper justice with mercy on
him.
“Al Dankeneya" however did not soothe
his shocked relatives and sympathisers on that scotching Friday afternoon of April
2.
On
Saturday morning, familiar distraught faces, save his mother who passed away a
month ago, flocked to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul as news of Baba Jobe’s death spread
like wildfire.
But even
if Baba Jobe’s relatives have committed Baba’s “Al Dankeneya" to memory, they seem too upset to stomach it. Not when
‘Jarra Mansa’ is dead.
“We want to see our son,” an old-woman in
tears cried-out in agony as she waited impatiently at the outskirts of the hospital
where Baba Jobe has been admitted since last week Sunday.
They
sobbed and grumbled when they receive instructions to leave – ‘Baba Jobe’s body
will be handed over’ to them on Monday for burial.
This,
according to a family source, will take place at the home village of the former
majority leader of the National Assembly, Jarra Karantaba in the rural-Lower
River region of The Gambia.
Baba
Kajali Jobe, 52, furthered his studies in oil rich North African country, Libya, where he
is said to have built close ties with deposed and killed Libyan leader, Al
Qhathafi, who has been alleged to be the main patron of his immense wealth.
In
2001, United Nations handed down a travel ban on him for his alleged deal in arms
trafficking, gun-running and blood diamonds.
In spite of the travel ban, however, Mr Jobe continued
to receive strong backing of Gambia
government.
He wielded and exercised enormous unwritten powers,
but Gambia
government appeared to be indifferent as if it was part of the ‘gentlemen’s
agreement,’ Baba claimed to have had with the country’s chief executive.
But
as a former close ally to Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, Mr Jobe has helped
greatly in strengthening and solidifying support for ruling APRC through
material inducement from his immense wealth and alleged physical threats and
torture.
His
eventual fall from grace to grass, as hosts of others, before and after him in this
second republic, came as a surprise to many and the regime has been accused in
some quarters, of betraying the man, who drummed up enormous following for the
party, especially in his area, which used to be an opposition stronghold.
Survived
by seven children and a wife, Mr Jobe should have benefited from an early
release earlier this year, but he remained kept in jail. He collapsed at Mile
Two Central Prisons last weekend following which he was rushed to the country’s
main referral hospital in Banjul,
RVTH.
His
collapse is attributed to the reported hunger strike by in-mates at the
country’s central prisons over poor prison conditions. The Gambia’s interior ministry however
denied that there has been a hunger strike at the prisons.
Meanwhile, Mr Jobe’s death
came a few days after the controversial death at Mile Two of a Dutch national,
who was suspected of dealing in illicit drugs. Reports said, the Netherlands government has sent a delegation to Gambia to get
further explanation from Gambian authorities for the death of the man, whose
alleged partners where sentenced to 50 years in jail.
Gambia Born ICC Deputy Prosecutor receives 2011 World Peace through Law Award
Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Shout-Africa.com – Gambian-born Fatou Bom Bensouda has been awarded the 2011 World Peace
through Law Award by the Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute in
Washington, United States.
The award,
which comes barely eight months after she was ranked as the 4th most
influential African personality by Jeune Afrique, a French weekly
magazine, is bestowed upon an individual who, by his or her work and
writings, has considerably advanced the rule of law and, thereby,
contributed to world peace.
Established
in 2006, the Award recognizes individuals who have achieved great
distinction in the field of international law and international
relations.
“This year’s laureate,
International Criminal Court Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, has
dedicated her career to the pursuit of justice and the rule of law. This
Award acknowledges her extraordinary work in the field of international
criminal justice and her many achievements as an ardent champion of
human rights,” a report by the award committee said.
The
report added that in her role as the Deputy Prosecutor for the
International Criminal Court, and before that as a Senior Legal Advisor
at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Bensouda “has brought
commitment and professionalism to the task of ending impunity for the
perpetrators of atrocities and crimes, and bringing justice to millions
of victims worldwide”.
Born on 31
January 1961, Fatou received a bachelor-in-law degree from OAU
University in Nigeria and a barrister in-law degree from the Nigeria Law
School.
In addition, she holds a
master’s degree in International Maritime Law and the Law of the Sea,
which makes her the first international maritime law expert of The
Gambia.
Bensouda was elected Deputy
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court by the Assembly of States
Parties in 2004 and since then has headed and overseen the Prosecution
Division of the Office of the Prosecutor.
Prior
to her election, Bensouda served as Senior Legal Advisor and Head of
the Legal Advisory Unit at the International Criminal Tribunal for
Rwanda.
In 2009, she received the
International Jurists Award for her contributions to national and
international criminal law. Before joining the ICTR, she was the General
Manager of a leading commercial bank in the country. Between 1987 and
2000, she was successively Senior State Counsel, Principal State
Counsel, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Solicitor General and
Legal Secretary of the Republic of The Gambia, then Attorney General and
Minister of Justice, in which capacity she served as Chief Legal
Advisor to the President and Cabinet.
Mrs
Bensouda also took part in negotiations on the treaty of the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Parliament
and the ECOWAS Tribunal.
She has been
a delegate at United Nations’ conferences on crime prevention, the
Organization of African Unity’s Ministerial Meetings on Human Rights,
and the delegate of the Gambia to the meetings of the Preparatory
Commission for the International Criminal Court.
GPU Suspends News & Report’s Mamadou Edrisa Njie
 |
| Mamadou Edrisa Njie |
Thursday, September 15, 2011
(Daily News) The Gambia’s umbrella journalist body Tuesday handed down an indefinite suspension on Mr Mamadou Edrissa Njie of The Gambia News & Report weekly magazine, The Daily News can report.
The suspension came following Mr Njie’s alleged attempted assault on Mr Aloa Ahmed Alota, the executive director of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) last week Wednesday at the GPU secretariat in Bakau.
Njie, who spent a night behind bars at Bakau police on Friday - two days after the incident - has been also barred from entering the Union’s secretariat.
He will not take part in any GPU related activity, including the Article 19 sponsored training programme.
A commotion erupted at the GPU secretariat on Wednesday when Mr Njie confronted Mr Alota for allegedly insulting his mother. Mr Njie, who was allegedly armed with a knife, was released on bail on Saturday after spending Friday night at Bakau police.
Sources said, the problem started when Mr Alota emailed Mr Njie to inform him about the success of his application for an upcoming journalism training programme to be held in The Gambia jointly sponsored by Article 19 and EU.
Then, Mr Njie, who is said to have earlier complained about Mr Alota’s using of personal email address for official communications, instead of official GPU email address, replied Mr Alota via cell message informing him he had told him not to write to him using his personal email.
Meanwhile, GPU secretary general, who handed over the suspension letter to Mr Njie, has confirmed the suspension, which could be the first of its kind in the history of GPU.
GPU First VP Calls On State to Investigate Chief Manneh’s Disappearance
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| Baboucarr Ceesay (L) Chief Ebrima Manneh (R) |
Friday, July 08, 2011
It is five years since journalist Ebrima Chief Manneh disappeared from the midst of his colleagues, family and loved ones.
He was whisked away by plain clothed security officers from his office at The Daily Observer Newspaper on July 7, 2006.
Chief Manneh was working with the pro-government Daily Observer Newspaper and since his arrest in 2006 his whereabouts remains unknown.
The state has disassociated itself from Manneh’s disappearance and told the nation that the missing journalist is not under their custody.
“The state should not waste any more time to investigate the disappearance of Chief Manneh, as there are reports that they vowed to do so along with the assassination of the slain journalist Deyda Hydara,” the first vice president of The Gambia Press Union (GPU), told The Daily News in an exclusive interview.
Excerpts
Five years on, Chief Manneh’s disappearance remained an unresolved matter, in spite of the vigorous advocacy for his release by both the Gambian media fraternity and international media organisations around the world. What workable solution do you think should be the next step to journalist Manneh’s long disappearance?
It is rather unfortunate to have a journalist gone missing in a country where his umbilical cord is buried from birth. The state should not waste any more time to investigate the disappearance of Chief, as there are reports that they vowed to do so along with the assassination of the slain journalist Deyda Hydara. And if he is under the custody of the state they should release him immediately and compensate him as ordered by the ECOWAS Court.
I also subscribe to the idea of a former GPU president who said at the congress that we can use investigative journalism to probe into the matter of the disappearance of our colleague. That does not mean that the state should not do their part. The investigation of journalist Manneh’s matter should be a must for the state. Chief came from a family with aging parents who like any other parent love to see the progress of their beloved child contributing his quota to the development of his family and the nation. His parents are desperate, not knowing his whereabouts for five solid years. His family, colleagues, friends and loved ones are still in a dilemma.
What is your reaction to the statement that Chief Ebrima may have gone through the back way to Europe for greener pasture?
What an unthinkable statement! How can someone who has not successfully investigated the matter claim that the missing journalist have gone through such perilous journey to Europe. The protection and the welfare of all Gambian citizens and all those resident in The Gambia is constitutionally the business of the state. The statement against him is definitely very unfair when he need the intervention of the state through investigation and bringing the culprits to justice accordingly.
The ECOWAS Court in Abuja, Nigeria has ruled in favour of Chief Ebrima and ordered for his immediate release and compensation with US$100,000, but yet to be heeded to by the state. Won’t this attitude of the state not create doubts whether Manneh is still alive?
That is the million dollar question. It is only the state that can clearly explain why they have not done anything about his compensation and immediate release. Though the lack of thorough investigation has bred clouds of doubts, but there is still no reliable report on his death. It is rational to perceive that he is still alive in the absence of an outcome of successful investigations to prove claims of his death. The case of Chief Ebrima Manneh, like the killing of Deyda Hydara cannot be forgotten. It will remain an ever pursued matter until justice is done. There is no ulterior motive, but to ensure that all and sundry live in a just society free from intimidation, arbitrary arrests, detentions without trial, killings and disappearances.
You are now the 1st vice president of GPU, what effort is the Union making to create a conducive media environment for journalists operating in the country so that there will be assurance that no ‘Chief Manneh’ or ‘Deyda Hydara’ scenario will reoccur in The Gambia?
That is a task that the Union cannot do in a vacuum or alone. We can only do that in collaboration with the government. This is why the government should wholeheartedly consider us as partners and not foes. The media is a very important instrument in development. This is clear to every leader and government. Problems always arise when the media wants to execute their constitutional mandate of holding the leadership accountable. In creating a conducive media environment, both the media and government are stakeholders, hence the need for greater partnership, instead of working in solitude and suspicion. The media is really ready to partner with the government for the progress of this country. A case in point is the meeting between the media chiefs and the head of state at State House. The media barons spoke out their minds. One of them reminded the state of the importance of section 207 of the Constitution of The Gambia that outlined the role of the media and another made a recommendation of the reviewing and repealing of the laws of sedition, defamation and libel which are media offences decriminalized by many democracies in the world today.
Is the media a threat to the state?
Absolutely no. The state should not have any phobia towards the media. The media has been universally recognised as the ‘Forth Estate’, it is next to the three arms of government – the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. This is an indication that the media is generally recognised as a partner to the state. If the primary drafter of the American Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson can write that he would prefer newspapers without a government than a government without newspapers in 1787, then why should a 21st century man hesitate to appreciate, tolerate and empower the media.
Some people are with the belief that journalists are also the creator of the environment in which they operate. What is your opinion about that?
Journalists are members of society existing as social beings like any other person. We have social responsibilities as well. What should be accepted here is that Gambian journalists are doing very well. Regardless of the unfriendly environment we operate, more young people are inspired to take up journalism as a career. I also believe that there is no irresponsible journalism in this country that can lead to anything like the Rwandan genocide. Because many people use Rwandan genocide as an epitome of what bad journalism can give rise to. Such situations should be used to gag freedom of expression and that of the press in another country. To stick to the ethics of journalism as our guiding principle is the daily singsong at the GPU and in all independent media houses in the country. I worked for five media houses in this country. There is no media house that works with a detrimental agenda.
Thank you for sparing your valuable time for the interview.
It’s a pleasure. Thank you for the engagement.
He was whisked away by plain clothed security officers from his office at The Daily Observer Newspaper on July 7, 2006.
Chief Manneh was working with the pro-government Daily Observer Newspaper and since his arrest in 2006 his whereabouts remains unknown.
The state has disassociated itself from Manneh’s disappearance and told the nation that the missing journalist is not under their custody.
“The state should not waste any more time to investigate the disappearance of Chief Manneh, as there are reports that they vowed to do so along with the assassination of the slain journalist Deyda Hydara,” the first vice president of The Gambia Press Union (GPU), told The Daily News in an exclusive interview.
Excerpts
Five years on, Chief Manneh’s disappearance remained an unresolved matter, in spite of the vigorous advocacy for his release by both the Gambian media fraternity and international media organisations around the world. What workable solution do you think should be the next step to journalist Manneh’s long disappearance?
It is rather unfortunate to have a journalist gone missing in a country where his umbilical cord is buried from birth. The state should not waste any more time to investigate the disappearance of Chief, as there are reports that they vowed to do so along with the assassination of the slain journalist Deyda Hydara. And if he is under the custody of the state they should release him immediately and compensate him as ordered by the ECOWAS Court.
I also subscribe to the idea of a former GPU president who said at the congress that we can use investigative journalism to probe into the matter of the disappearance of our colleague. That does not mean that the state should not do their part. The investigation of journalist Manneh’s matter should be a must for the state. Chief came from a family with aging parents who like any other parent love to see the progress of their beloved child contributing his quota to the development of his family and the nation. His parents are desperate, not knowing his whereabouts for five solid years. His family, colleagues, friends and loved ones are still in a dilemma.
What is your reaction to the statement that Chief Ebrima may have gone through the back way to Europe for greener pasture?
What an unthinkable statement! How can someone who has not successfully investigated the matter claim that the missing journalist have gone through such perilous journey to Europe. The protection and the welfare of all Gambian citizens and all those resident in The Gambia is constitutionally the business of the state. The statement against him is definitely very unfair when he need the intervention of the state through investigation and bringing the culprits to justice accordingly.
The ECOWAS Court in Abuja, Nigeria has ruled in favour of Chief Ebrima and ordered for his immediate release and compensation with US$100,000, but yet to be heeded to by the state. Won’t this attitude of the state not create doubts whether Manneh is still alive?
That is the million dollar question. It is only the state that can clearly explain why they have not done anything about his compensation and immediate release. Though the lack of thorough investigation has bred clouds of doubts, but there is still no reliable report on his death. It is rational to perceive that he is still alive in the absence of an outcome of successful investigations to prove claims of his death. The case of Chief Ebrima Manneh, like the killing of Deyda Hydara cannot be forgotten. It will remain an ever pursued matter until justice is done. There is no ulterior motive, but to ensure that all and sundry live in a just society free from intimidation, arbitrary arrests, detentions without trial, killings and disappearances.
You are now the 1st vice president of GPU, what effort is the Union making to create a conducive media environment for journalists operating in the country so that there will be assurance that no ‘Chief Manneh’ or ‘Deyda Hydara’ scenario will reoccur in The Gambia?
That is a task that the Union cannot do in a vacuum or alone. We can only do that in collaboration with the government. This is why the government should wholeheartedly consider us as partners and not foes. The media is a very important instrument in development. This is clear to every leader and government. Problems always arise when the media wants to execute their constitutional mandate of holding the leadership accountable. In creating a conducive media environment, both the media and government are stakeholders, hence the need for greater partnership, instead of working in solitude and suspicion. The media is really ready to partner with the government for the progress of this country. A case in point is the meeting between the media chiefs and the head of state at State House. The media barons spoke out their minds. One of them reminded the state of the importance of section 207 of the Constitution of The Gambia that outlined the role of the media and another made a recommendation of the reviewing and repealing of the laws of sedition, defamation and libel which are media offences decriminalized by many democracies in the world today.
Is the media a threat to the state?
Absolutely no. The state should not have any phobia towards the media. The media has been universally recognised as the ‘Forth Estate’, it is next to the three arms of government – the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. This is an indication that the media is generally recognised as a partner to the state. If the primary drafter of the American Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson can write that he would prefer newspapers without a government than a government without newspapers in 1787, then why should a 21st century man hesitate to appreciate, tolerate and empower the media.
Some people are with the belief that journalists are also the creator of the environment in which they operate. What is your opinion about that?
Journalists are members of society existing as social beings like any other person. We have social responsibilities as well. What should be accepted here is that Gambian journalists are doing very well. Regardless of the unfriendly environment we operate, more young people are inspired to take up journalism as a career. I also believe that there is no irresponsible journalism in this country that can lead to anything like the Rwandan genocide. Because many people use Rwandan genocide as an epitome of what bad journalism can give rise to. Such situations should be used to gag freedom of expression and that of the press in another country. To stick to the ethics of journalism as our guiding principle is the daily singsong at the GPU and in all independent media houses in the country. I worked for five media houses in this country. There is no media house that works with a detrimental agenda.
Thank you for sparing your valuable time for the interview.
It’s a pleasure. Thank you for the engagement.
Source: Daily News
The Gambia UPDATE: Detained sports editor granted bail
July 8, 2011
Nanama Keita, the dismissed sports editor of pro-government the Daily Observer newspaper, who was detained on accusation of “giving false information to a public officer” was on July 5, 2011 granted bail after being detained overnight at the Police Headquarters in Banjul.
Keita has been charged with the offence and will soon be processed for court. He was released after posting a bail bond of D100, 000 (about US$3500).
The former sports editor had alleged in a petition to President Yahya Jammeh about malpractices and corruption at the government-controlled privately-owned newspaper. Source: MFWA
The Gambia ALERT: Dismissed sports editor detained
July 5, 2011
Nanama Keita, a dismissed sports editor of pro-government Daily Observer newspaper is being held at the Police headquarters in Banjul after being invited to the station on the morning of July 4, 2011 for allegedly “giving false information to a public officer.”
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s sources reported that Keita had in the petition alleged malpractices in the government-controlled privately-owned newspaper.
The sources said three Gambian Press Union (GPU) officials who went to procure his release were told that Keita could not be granted bail today and that they should come the following day.
This is the second time this year that a journalist has been arrested and charged with “giving false information to a public officer.”
Dodou Sanneh, another dismissed reporter of government-controlled, state-owned Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) was on March 16, 2011 arrested and detained by the Gambian police over his petition to President Jammeh about his (Sanneh) wrongful dismissal.
His case is still pending before the Banjul Magistrates' Court. Source: MFWA
The Gambia ALERT: Police arrests another Press Union Executive
July 4, 2011
Madi S. Njie, the newly-elected first Secretary-General of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) was arrested at the office of The Standard, a privately-owned Banjul-based newspaper in the morning of July 1, 2011.
The Gambia ALERT: Press Union Executive detained overnight
June 29, 2011
Ahmed Alota, Executive Director of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) was on June 27, 2011 arrested and detained overnight at the headquarters of the Police Intervention Unit in Serrenkunda, the largest town in the country.
Details of the arrest and subsequent detention of the GPU executive are sketchy as Alota who seemed to be traumatized by his ordeal has refused to comment publicly on the matter. He is reported to have left town and his whereabouts as of now remain unknown, according to the sources.
Characteristically, the Gambian authorities are also silent on the matter.
Alota is a prolific writer who recently co-authored a biography of slain veteran journalist, Deyda Hydara, whose murder in 2004 is yet to be properly investigated, and action brought against the perpetrators.
GRTS’s Kebba Dibba Testifies in Dodou Sanneh’s Trial
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| Kebba Dibba, GRTS Anchor |
Mr. Kebba Dibba, the Director of Programs at The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), on Monday 13 June, appeared before Magistrate Manyima Bojang of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court and gave his testimony in the false information trial of Dodou Sanneh, also a former reporter of the state owned GRTS, who is standing trial for giving false information to a public officer.In his testimony, Mr. Dibba said he is a journalist working at GRTS. He said he knows the accused person and he (Dibba), was at one point the immediate boss of the accused person at GRTS. He told the Court on 17 March 2011, that he received a phone call from one Inspector Baldeh who told him that the Police needed evidence from him concerning an investigation into a wrongful dismissal. He indicated that he gave a statement and the said statement was tendered as an exhibit.
Mr. Dibba pointed out that the accused person claimed that he (Dibba) personally called him and withdrew him from covering the 2006 UDP presidential campaign. He added that the accused person also claimed that he (the accused) gave him (Dibba) an amount of D3600 being the money paid to him as night allowance for the coverage of the campaign. Dibba added that the accused, Sanneh told him that the whole amount was D4000, but he had already spent D400 and returned the rest to him (Dibba), the witness. He told the Court that that statement is untrue as no amount of money was given to him by the accused person. Dibba adduced that there are rules and procedures as to the payment and receipt of allowances and he was not the authority handling such matters. He added that there is no iota of truth in the claims of the accused person.
The Director of Programs at The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) stated that he could vividly recall during the 2006 presidential campaign that concerns were raised at the management level that the reports filed by the accused person were exaggerated in terms of the numbers of people that attended the campaign meetings of UDP. He said he was personally cautioned by the Director General on several occasions concerning the reports of the accused person. He indicated that he called the accused person on several occasions and asked him to file accurate and balanced reports and let him stop quantifying numbers as he has no way to measure numbers. Dibba asserted that sometime in September 2006, the accused person’s service was terminated as a result of his exaggerative reporting, but was reinstated days later.
During cross examination by the accused person, who is defending himself, Dibba said all GRTS reporters going on trek are paid night allowances and phone credits are also allocated during campaigns to help facilitate their reporting. Mr. Dibba said giving allowance is determined at certain level and not him.
During cross examination, Dodou Sanneh the accused asked: “On 7 September 2006, you were not at work, but instead at your home in Busumbala preparing your wedding ceremony”.
Dibba said, “I cannot recall whether I was at work or not on that day, but it is natural for me at Busumbala because there is my home.”
Dodou asked: “What do you think would have happened when you are given allowance for coverage and it did not materialise?”
Dibba said: “You have to return the money from where you signed it.”
Dodou asked: “You said I used to quantify my reports, is it not correct that television news goes with pictures?”
Dibba said: “Naturally it is like that.”
Dodou asked: “You said my service was terminated and I was reinstated, what do you think caused that?”
Dibba said: “I am not the authority who terminated your service.”
Dodou asked: “It is true that you were part of the management?”
Dibba said: “Of course I was.”
Dodou asked: “Who was your witness when you said you cautioned me?”
Dibba said: “I was head of the department, so I did not need a witness to attest to that.” Dodou Asked: “Why is it that all these cautions that you talk about was not put in writing before it was raised by the management?”
Dibba said: “There are various stages of cautioning including verbal and that was what I did.”
At this stage, the case was adjourned till 20 June, for more witnesses to testify.
Mr. Dodou Sanneh, the former reporter of the state owned Gambia Radio and Television Services is attending trial for giving false information to a public servant contrary to section 114 of the Criminal Code. Source: Foroyaa
EX MINISTER DR. JANNEH, 3 OTHERS CHARGED WITH TREASON & SEDITION
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| Dr Janneh |
Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, Michael C. Ucheh Thomas, Modou Keita and Ebrima Jallow were on Monday 13th June jointly charged With Conspiracy to commit treason and seditious intent contrary to the Laws of The Gambia.
They were arraigned before acting Principal Magistrate Alagbe Taiwo Ade of the Banjul Magistrates’ court on the above date.
Dr. Janneh faces another charge of treason contrary to section 35 (1) (c) of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Volume III Laws of The Gambia 2009.
The trial Magistrate indicated that upon the review of the charge sheet, the court holds with firm views that it lacks jurisdiction to try the case as the matter involves treason and in accordance with section 5 subsection (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) excludes his court from hearing case of treason.
The Magistrate indicated that the accused persons shall be remanded in custody at Mile Two Central prison pending the proper arraignment of the accused persons at the High Court in Banjul. The matter is then transferred to the said court as the subordinate court lacks the jurisdiction to handle the matter.
The accused persons are yet to take their plea on the said charges.
Officer Commanding Kinteh represented the Inspector General of Police.
Below are the full charges preferred against the accused persons.
COUNT I
STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
Conspiracy to commit Felony to wit Treason, Contrary to section 35(1)(g) of the Criminal Code cap 10:01 Vol. III Laws of The Gambia 2009.
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, Michael C. Ucheh Thomas, Modou Keita and Ebrima Jallow on or about the month of May 2011 in the Kairaba Avenue and diverse places in the Republic of the Gambia, you conspired among yourselves to carry out an enterprise with force with the intent to usurp the executive powers of the state thereby committing an offence.
COUNT II
STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
Treason Contrary to Section 35(1)(c) of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Vol. III Laws of The Gambia 2009
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh on or about the month of May 2011 at Kairaba Avenue and diverse places in the Republic of The Gambia, you distributed T-Shirts bearing Coalition for change The Gambia, End to Dictatorship Now with intent to usurp the executive powers of the state thereby committed an offence.
COUNT III
STATEMENT OF OFFENCE
Seditious intent contrary to section 51(1)(a) of the criminal code cap 10:01 Vol. III Laws of The Gambia 2009.
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh, Michael C. Ucheh Thomas, Modou Keita and Ebrima Jallow on or about the month of May 2011 at the Kairaba Avenue and diverse places in the republic of the Gambia, you distributed T. Shirts bearing ‘Coalition for change The Gambia’, ‘End to Dictatorship Now’ with intent to incite the inhabitants of the Gambia to attempt to procure alteration or otherwise by lawful means thereby committed an offence.
Editor’s Note
Dr Amadou Janneh was arrested by plain-clothes security agents on June 7, 2011 at his office in Kotu The Gambia. The former Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology was picked up at about 10 hours GMT by plain clothes security agents who, asked his staff members out without explanation, sealed off his offices, and drove him away in the direction of Banjul, the capital. The Constitution makes it Mandatory for a person who is arrested to be taken before a court within 72 hours or be released. From 7th June to 12 June Foroyaa had contacted many offices and persons to try to trace Dr Janneh but to no avail. Now he has appeared in court charged with Treason and Sedition.
Janneh was removed by President Yahya Jammeh as Minister on July 6, 2005 after serving as a Minister from April 4, 2004. He then set up a communication and information technology enterprise, Commit Company Limited, of which he is the Chief Executive Officer. Source: Foroyaa
Gambia Agrees to Investigate Deyda’s Murder, Manneh’s Disappearance
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The Gambia government is reported to have informally agreed to calls for independent investigations into the killing of a veteran Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara and disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh, The Daily News has reliably gathered.
Co-founder of The Point, a leading Gambian independent newspaper, Deyda Hydara was assassinated in 2004. His killers are not known and yet the government remained reluctant to allow independent investigations in his murder.
Chief Ebrima Manneh, a senior reporter at pro-government Daily Observer newspaper has been allegedly arrested by state security agents since 2007.
“We are pleased that the Gambia government acquiesced to our repeated calls and they have now committed to request international support to facilitate investigations into the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh and murder of Deyda Hydara.
“We wait a formal request from the Gambian side, and once received, we will facilitate contact for international support for investigations into both cases through the United Nations and Commonwealth”, the UK Foreign Office told Glasgow based Campaign for Human Rights in Gambia UK (CHRG)
The Foreign Office made this revelation recently while addressing concerns made by Arthur West Chairman Campaign for Human Rights in The Gambia UK on the critical human rights situation in The Gambia.
The Scottish based Gambian rights group has since inception been working closely with the Foreign Office, senior politicians, pro-democracy group and human rights organisations to address right violations in The Gambia.
In July 2010 CHRG-UK through its Campaign Officer Alieu Badara Ceesay secured British and Scottish Parliaments’ opposition to the abuse of human rights in The Gambia through a parliamentary motion in both houses with cross party support.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said at the meeting on April 12 attended by six Gambian ministers, the EU delegation also reiterated calls for the Gambia government to consider repealing certain provisions in the Criminal Code.
The letter stated that for now the FCO will continue to press The Gambia government to act on the agreed commitments they have made during the Article 8 discussions.
EU budget support to The Gambia has been suspended since April 2010 and will be reviewed at the end of 2011, The Daily News sources at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.
Despite calls from The Gambia government to resume this budget support, if progress on the overall political and accountability environment is not evident the EU will not lift this suspension, our sources said.
Commenting on the development, Mr Alieu Badara Ceesay, an exile Gambian journalist, who is the campaign officer applauded the Foreign Office for standing up for fundamental human rights in The Gambia and working hand in glove with CHRG in addressing the human rights situation in The Gambia. SOURCE: The Dailynews
Co-founder of The Point, a leading Gambian independent newspaper, Deyda Hydara was assassinated in 2004. His killers are not known and yet the government remained reluctant to allow independent investigations in his murder.
Chief Ebrima Manneh, a senior reporter at pro-government Daily Observer newspaper has been allegedly arrested by state security agents since 2007.
“We are pleased that the Gambia government acquiesced to our repeated calls and they have now committed to request international support to facilitate investigations into the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh and murder of Deyda Hydara.
“We wait a formal request from the Gambian side, and once received, we will facilitate contact for international support for investigations into both cases through the United Nations and Commonwealth”, the UK Foreign Office told Glasgow based Campaign for Human Rights in Gambia UK (CHRG)
The Foreign Office made this revelation recently while addressing concerns made by Arthur West Chairman Campaign for Human Rights in The Gambia UK on the critical human rights situation in The Gambia.
The Scottish based Gambian rights group has since inception been working closely with the Foreign Office, senior politicians, pro-democracy group and human rights organisations to address right violations in The Gambia.
In July 2010 CHRG-UK through its Campaign Officer Alieu Badara Ceesay secured British and Scottish Parliaments’ opposition to the abuse of human rights in The Gambia through a parliamentary motion in both houses with cross party support.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said at the meeting on April 12 attended by six Gambian ministers, the EU delegation also reiterated calls for the Gambia government to consider repealing certain provisions in the Criminal Code.
The letter stated that for now the FCO will continue to press The Gambia government to act on the agreed commitments they have made during the Article 8 discussions.
EU budget support to The Gambia has been suspended since April 2010 and will be reviewed at the end of 2011, The Daily News sources at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.
Despite calls from The Gambia government to resume this budget support, if progress on the overall political and accountability environment is not evident the EU will not lift this suspension, our sources said.
Commenting on the development, Mr Alieu Badara Ceesay, an exile Gambian journalist, who is the campaign officer applauded the Foreign Office for standing up for fundamental human rights in The Gambia and working hand in glove with CHRG in addressing the human rights situation in The Gambia. SOURCE: The Dailynews
Ex-Communications minister Amadou Scatred Janneh reported "missing"
Monday, June 13, 2011
Former communications minister Dr Amadou Scatred Janneh has reportedly gone missing nearly a week after he was picked up at his office in Kotu by some people in plain clothes.
According to family sources and close relatives, Janneh, 48, went "missing" since last Tuesday morning after he was picked up at his IT Company, Commit, by some plain clothes officers, who reportedly asked all staff to leave while they closed the office and went away with him.
Family members in Gunjur in the Kombo South district of the West Coast Region told this paper yesterday that Janneh has not been seen since last Tuesday, and that nothing about his whereabouts is known to them, and this was up to the time of going to press.
"We are really worried and terrified about his disappearance," a family member said to be an uncle to Janneh declared.
When contacted, both the public relations officers of the Gambia Police Force and the National Drug Enforcement Agency, ASP Yerro Mballow and ASP Abdoulie Ceesay respectively, denied their institutions have Janneh in their custody.
Having worked with the US embassy in Banjul as political assistant, Janneh served as minister of communications between April 2004 and July 2005.
While his whereabouts remain unclear to family members and close relatives, almost a week after he went "missing", it is expected that if Janneh is in the custody of any of the state security agencies, he will be brought to court without further delay, since the Gambian constitution clearly forbids detention without charge and trial beyond seventy-two hours. SOURCE: The Point
US, UK funds new printing press for Gambian media
Monday, June 13, 2011
The US Embassy in collaboration with the British High Commission in Banjul Friday handed over a new printing press to the Gambia Press Union at a ceremony held at The Standard newspaper office in Bakau.
The new printing press, funded by the US embassy and the British High Commission, is meant for use by all print media houses in The Gambia.
The idea of the printing press, according to the British and American officials, was conceived by former US Ambassador to the Gambia, Barry L Wells, and former British High Commissioner Philip Sinkinson.
Speaking at the handing-over ceremony, Pamela Ann White, US ambassador to The Gambia, commended Gambian journalists for their continued professionalism, noting that the news is getting more and more objective.
"This is a big day, and a dream come true in many ways, as it will make a difference in how the press operates in The Gambia," Ambassador White declared.
"We are getting close to the election month and journalists play credible roles in reporting what is important to the people and Gambians in particular," she said, adding that in any country around the world, it needs courage to be a journalist because people often don't like to hear what others have to say, and that is the job of journalists all over the world.
Herself a journalist, White could not hide her admiration for Gambian journalists, noting that the coming of the new printing press will help all media houses in the country and the print media in particular.
Speaking earlier, Luntang Jaiteh, Alkalo of Bakau Town, commended journalists for their job, noting that many people tend to perceive journalists as enemies when that should not be the case.
Jaiteh urged journalists to extend their reporting to the rural areas, so as to enable people to know more about the farming community and what people in the rural areas are doing.
"Above all, journalists have to be sincere, honest and not be biased in reporting," he told the gathering.
Ahmed Alota, Executive Director of the Gambia Press Union, gave a brief statement at the ceremony, hailing the efforts of the US embassy and British High Commission in their drive to help the Gambian media.
He underscored the numerous projects the GPU has embarked on in collaboration with partners to build the capacity of local journalists through training.
He noted that the new printing press will go a long way in helping the print media to overcome the challenge of printing.
Sheriff Bojang, managing editor and publisher of The Standard newspaper, which is housing the new printing press, applauded the joint American-British gesture, describing it as timely considering the challenges some media houses face in printing newspapers.
"The non-availability of a printing press has been one of the biggest problems for Gambian journalists," Bojang stated.
Sheriff noted that though The Standard newspaper is housing the machine, it is meant for use by all print media houses in The Gambia. SOURCE: The Point
11th June 2011
The retreat brought together top government officials and their technocrats to review the progress made in attaining government's most ambitious programmes as well as their challenges. It was officially opened by President Jammeh on Wednesday, 8th June 2011, ushering in a 3-day intensive deliberation that only ended on a positive note on Saturday, 11th June. The convergence was informed by the need to galvanize efforts in keeping with time to maintain the right attitude and measures in achieving the set goals of the globally accepted Millennium Development Goals. The UN Millennium project is also set to run in parallel with related
national objectives well suited to our needs. The PRSP, the Vision 2020 as well as the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE), which will soon unveil government's newest envelope for the citizenry, document positive socio-economic programmes earmarked to enhance growth and development.
VP Njie-Saidy said:
SG and Head of the Civil Service Ousman Jammeh:
- The Executive Ends a Retreat in the President's Birth Place of Kanilai
11th June 2011
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| President Jammeh and Cabinet on deliberations at the retreat (pix-statehouse.gm) |
national objectives well suited to our needs. The PRSP, the Vision 2020 as well as the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE), which will soon unveil government's newest envelope for the citizenry, document positive socio-economic programmes earmarked to enhance growth and development.
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| President Jammeh presides over the 3rd govt. retreat (pix-statehouse.gm) |
President Jammeh said at the opening:
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He picked on the specifics of the issue of expenditure, calling for the wise use of existing resources, while maintaining that Agriculture and Infrastructural Development will continue to be prioritized in view of their importance.
At the closing the Gambian leader said:
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The Vice President, H.E. Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, who is well placed to providing that motherly advice, called for greater output from all sectors in order to sustain the 16-year record of President Jammeh's Government.
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| The 3-day govt. retreat ends with a call to tighten belts and work in unity |
VP Njie-Saidy said:
"Really we have a lot on our plates. Let us look at specific activities within our own Ministries and implement them well.... let us look at those programmes with multiply effects". |
SG and Head of the Civil Service Ousman Jammeh:
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A new portrait of the Gambian leader was also unveiled during the formal opening ceremony, replacing the old one on the walls of public and private offices. In the end it went beyond the routine of official deliberations, for there emerged from that room within the four houses in Kanilai, an established family with the required mind set, ready to bolster the 16-year record of President Jammeh's Government. Courtesy of Abdou Njie, GRTS
Gov’t reviews progress, challenges As it begins three-day retreat in Kanilai
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| President Jammeh (Pix by Daily Observer) |
The government of The Gambia Wednesday evening began a three-day official retreat in Kanilai designed among other things to review the progress it has registered in the various socio-economic development blueprints, as well as the challenges in meeting the goals and targets.
The retreat, third of its kind to be held in Kanilai, was presided over by the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh. The interface brought together top government officials, including the vice president, Cabinet ministers, the secretary general and head of the Civil Service, permanent secretaries as well as other technocrats in the government machinery. Convened at a time when the country has just nine years to achieve its long-term development blueprint, the Vision 2020, and with just four years to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); the retreat will provide the platform for the highest decision-makers to build on the synergies, focus on the gains registered by the various sectors of the government, address the challenges and map out the way forward. It will also provide the opportunity for the officials to present and deliberate on the PAGE [Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment].
Declaring the event open, the Gambian leader acknowledged that there have been marked improvements from the last retreat to date, while stressing that all have a stake in the socio-economic development of the country. He however reminded the officials that they as the leaders have the greatest stake in this regard. President Jammeh said the mere fact that the government has made significant achievements in the area of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Vision 2020, should not entice them to sit on their laurels and be complacent, thus stressing the need for more efforts.
He said: “We have only four years to achieve the MDGs; if you think four years is a long period, time is not on our side. Therefore, we should be able to tighten our belts.” He told the gathering that if the country wants to achieve the MDGs, and the Vision 2020, there is the need to depend 90 percent on ‘our resources’, stressing the need for them to make use of the available resources and prioritise their development agenda. “The MDGs have clearly spelt out what they are; the Vision 2020 has clearly spelt out where we want to be by the year 2020. We cannot bank 100 percent on the benevolence of others for us to achieve these two important blueprints [MDGs and Vision 2020]. So for us to be able to achieve all these, we have to really look inward and look at the cloth we have and really cut it according to our coat,” the Gambian leader underpinned.
Agriculture
The president spoke on the importance of prioritising agriculture, which he added should be the largest employer of Gambian youths. He reiterated that The Gambia did not feel the impact of the global food crisis much as others thanks to the country’s agricultural output. “Going back to the land is what will make you and I independent and dignified. Without agriculture, the peace and stability of this country also cannot be guaranteed. Hunger is something people cannot bear,” he stated.
Agriculture
The president spoke on the importance of prioritising agriculture, which he added should be the largest employer of Gambian youths. He reiterated that The Gambia did not feel the impact of the global food crisis much as others thanks to the country’s agricultural output. “Going back to the land is what will make you and I independent and dignified. Without agriculture, the peace and stability of this country also cannot be guaranteed. Hunger is something people cannot bear,” he stated.
He further stated that if the country is to count or bank on imports for its daily sustenance, it is making a great mistake. He therefore underpinned that agriculture would play an indispensable role in the country’s march towards attaining Vision 2020. The Gambian leader said he sees no reason why The Gambia should not only achieve food self-sufficiency but also export food. He urged for attitudinal change for this to be achievable. He vowed that his Ministry [Agriculture] will make changes in ensuring that systems that have never worked from 1965 to date are being revolutionised to ensure ‘a mass participation system of agriculture’.
“We have seen how many projects we have in agriculture from independence to date. What happened? Each time the funding is gone, the projects die. If we are going round the same thing, we will be stagnant,” he stated. The Gambian leader, while commending the womenfolk for their outstanding participation in not only the agricultural projects in the country, but also other socio-economic development sectors, decried the inactive role of the youths in poverty reduction strides. He observed that self-inflicted poverty is rampant in the country, while calling on the citizenry, particularly the youths to take charge of the opportunities created by the government in its quest for poverty eradication.
The Gambian leader concluded that if the government is to attain the Vision 2020 and the MDGs, there should be more belt tightening; more prioritisation of development agendas or programmes, as well as attitudinal change.
Speaking earlier, the vice president and minister of Women’s Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, hailed the Gambian leader for providing the enabling environment for the retreat. She said: “This is a very important occasion and we thank you [the president] for thinking about it in the first place. You thought that as a government it is not for us to only work in our ministries; cabinet but indeed leave those premises and come away from it and work with out technicians and look at our plans that we have with regards to our development blueprints.”
Like the president, the VP also observed that the country has done very well in terms of meeting its MDGs despite the global economic situation and other factors beyond their control. While thanking the leadership for these strides, the vice president said the retreat was looking forward to the presentation of the PAGE.
Like the president, the VP also observed that the country has done very well in terms of meeting its MDGs despite the global economic situation and other factors beyond their control. While thanking the leadership for these strides, the vice president said the retreat was looking forward to the presentation of the PAGE.
The secretary general and head of the Civil Service, Ousman Jammeh, for his part, said consultative forums like the retreat have become very important pillars in government machinery thanks to the visionary leadership of the president. The retreat, according to the SG fundamentally serve as a platform for building synergies at the macro level, focus on gains registered, challenges faced by various sectors of the government and the way forward.
“The formulation of strategic plan for all sectors as directed by His Excellency the president is essential to the achievement of our development objectives. Indeed without a clear strategy, it is unimaginable how sectors could efficiently achieve the intended results as required. I believe all sectors now have in place vibrant strategic plans. These are important and require regular reviews to ensure alignment with government’s development agenda,” he underscored.
SG Jammeh noted that the analyses of the Gambia’s development indicators show a remarkable improvement in many spheres of life especially as it relates to the MDGs in education, healthcare delivery, women empowerment and access to clean water. While stressing the need to maintain the gains, the Civil Service boss urged the officials to strive harder to ensure the achievements of the rest of the goals to combating poverty and hunger. SOURCE: Daily Observer
- Banjul, Nouakchott Joint Communique
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| President Jammeh (R), Abdel Aziz (L) - pix: statehouse.gm |
A product of the Mauritanian President's state visit was a comprehensive joint communiqué issued by the two heads of state, President Jammeh and President Ould Abdel Aziz.
Below is the full text of the communiqué.
Desirous of strengthening the brotherly ties between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Republic of The Gambia, and responding to the invitation of His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Yahya A.J.J amah, President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz paid a state visit to The Gambia during the period 30th May to 2nd June 2011. His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was accompanied by a high level delegation comprising the Minister of State for National Education, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health, Fisheries and Marine Economy, Trade Industry and Tourism, Rural Development, Secretary to Cabinet, Director General of the Autonomous Port of Nouakchott and other Senior Government officials.
The visit of H.E. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz provided the opportunity to build upon the long historical ties, review the bilateral relations between the two countries and to consider ways of strengthening those relations for mutual benefit.
The two Presidents held a tête-à -tête meeting during which they discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional, continental and global issues. They engaged in fruitful discussions and considered the existing and potential areas of mutually beneficial cooperation including trade, energy, water resources, food and agriculture, health, defense, mining, telecommunications and maritime and air transportation.
They agreed that existing joint agreements in the areas of Trade, Industry, Investment, Energy, Education, Tourism, Social, Cultural, Agriculture and Water Resources and Security Sectors could be further strengthened.
The Presidents agreed to strengthen the Joint Ministerial Commission in order to consolidate and foster cooperation in all fields. They resolved to maintain regular contacts and consultations in order to implement the agreements concluded during this visit and previous ones, as well as continue coordination and cooperation in regional and international fora.
The Two Presidents underlined the urgent need to implement all provisions of the Agreements signed under the Joint Commissions that took place in January 1993 in Nouakchott; September 1996 in Banjul, May 2001 in Nouakchott, and in February 2008 in Banjul.
The two Presidents expressed satisfaction with the prevailing peace and spirit of the good will between the two countries and renewed their commitment to harness the energies and resources of their Governments in ensuring the wellbeing of their peoples. They registered with satisfaction the dynamic, exemplary comportment, level of organization and excellent integration of the Mauritanian and Gambian communities in each of the States, and the quality of their cordial relations with the authorities of the host countries.
They emphasized that education and skills training, particularly among the Youth, constitute an effective vector for the advancement of their peoples. They reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in Higher Education and Research and to give priority to skills development for growth, job creation and youth empowerment.
Recognizing that energy, food security and climate change are interlinked and that eliminating poverty and ensuring sustainable development are amongst the most significant needs of the two countries, the two leaders pledged to enhance coop eration in investment and small and medium enterprises.
In view of recent upheavals in the Arab countries the two Presidents expressed their profound preoccupation concerning the tragic events happening in Libya and wish for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the best interest of the Libyan people's aspirations for freedom, peace and security. They also expressed their concern on the serious threat of this crisis to the security of their two countries particularly its potential impact on trans border crimes, illegal trafficking in small arms and light weapons, human trafficking and money laundering and terrorism. They directed the Heads of the Security Services of the two countries to convene as a matter of urgency to examine all aspects of cooperation including military training and intelligence.
At the Regional level, the leaders discussed political and socio-economic developments within the West African sub-region particularly within the context of the global economic and financial crisis. They emphasized the need for the countries of the region to forge stronger linkages by promoting more vigorous inter-state trade and economic activities to further advance regional integration. The two Presidents expressed satisfaction with the return to Constitutional Rule in Ivory Coast and Niger, the successful Referendum which will lead to the creation of a new State in Southern Sudan.
At the level of the African Union, the two Heads of State noted the significant developments taking place within Africa and appealed to Africa's development partners to intensify meaningful, predictable and timely support to enhance progressive implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and other continental initiatives such as the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP), and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). They also called for the acceleration of Africa's integration agenda, including the rationalization and harmonization of the Regional Economic Commissions (RECs).
The two Presidents welcomed recent developments at the level of the United Nations bringing Women Empowerment to the forefront of global priority agenda in view of women contribution to national and global prosperity, peace and security.
On the Millennium Development Goals, they share a conviction that more needs to be done to address unnecessary suffering caused by hunger, diseases and illiteracy.
The two leaders however reiterated the need for reform at the UN Security Council and UN System to reflect global realities and expressed their conviction that the African continent should be adequately represented in global governance.
His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz visited the Gambia Ports Authority, Tanji Fishing Project, Kafuta Agricultural Project, and Kanilai President Jammeh's home village, where the visiting President was taken on a conducted tour of various Parks and Gardens. He expressed his admiration and appreciation for the progress achieved and the efforts made towards economic development in The Gambia.
At the end of his State Visit, His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz expressed his appreciation and profound gratitude to His Excellency Sheikh Professor, Dr. Alhaji Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, to the Government and people of The Gambia for the warm and fraternal reception as well as the special and generous hospitality accorded to him and his delegation during their stay in The Gambia.
President Ould Abdel Aziz extended an invitation to his brother President Sheikh Professor, Alhaji Dr Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh to visit the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The invitation was accepted with great pleasure, the date of which will be fixed through diplomatic channels.
Done in Banjul this day, 2nd June 2011 in the two languages of English and Arabic, both texts being equally authentic - Source: statehouse.gm
GAMBIA
PRESS UNION
NO. 5 GARBA JAHUMPA ROAD BAKAU NEWTOWN
P. O. Box 1440, Banjul, The Gambia
email: gpu@qanet.gm url: www.gambiapressunion.org
Press Release
Thursday, March 11th 2009
GPU
REACTION TO PRESIDENT JAMMEH’S STATEMENT ON DEYDA HYDARA, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The
Gambia Press Union wishes to express its shock and disappointment over the
inappropriateness of the provocative statement of the head of state, President
Jammeh, on GRTS, Tuesday night in relation to the death of veteran Gambian
journalist, the late Deyda Hydara.
It
is rather unfortunate and the Union is indeed
saddened that the second time the head of state has so chosen to discuss the
death of Deyda Hydara; he again, has dwelt on the issue of character
assassination and ridicule.
We
find it most unfortunate that the champion for the promotion of Gambian and
African culture, traditional norms and values, and someone, who claims to have
total respect for religion in particular, Islam, President Jammeh finds it
appropriate to ridicule and to speak ill of the dead. Such behavior and countenance is most
unreligious, un-cultural and certainly discredits traditional African norms and
values!
The Union need not remind President Jammeh that it is difficult to
presume that the Gambia Government is concerned over the death of Deyda Hydara
unless and until the Gambia Government and its relevant security institutions
are seen to be determined and resolved to seriously commit themselves in a
professional manner to embark on investigating the events that led to the death
of our dear colleague and brother.
We also wish to bring to the attention of the head of state that
the Government of The Gambia and its relevant Security
Apparatus’ have the primary responsibility to ensure the protection of each and
every Gambian life and therefore the murder of any Gambian should be an issue
of paramount concern and curbing such a menace a priority. Mere statements
and or speculations and ridicule re: the events leading to the death of Deyda
Hydara cannot and will not be accepted as exoneration of the Gambia Government,
neither by the Union, international journalist associations, the Hydara family
or other interested parties. The death
of any Gambian, more so one who was most vocal on issues of human rights,
freedom of expression and the development of the country in general, even if it
meant clashing with the powers that be, can only be deemed suspicious until
such a time that the state can logically, reasonably, factually and
forensically, and within the shortest possible period prove otherwise.
We demand an investigation of fact and forensics spearheaded by
the Gambia Government. Should the
relevant government institutions not have the resources or wherewithal to carry
on with the investigations, we at the Gambia Press Union think it is time that
you publicly admit that and invite other states and international policing and
security institutions such as Interpol, who already have a desk at the Police
Headquarters to take over the investigations.
It is almost certain that the trail has gone cold in the past Four
and a half years but the main pieces of the puzzle being the bullets which were
or should have been retrieved during post mortem and the post mortem report
will certainly go a long way in aiding the continuation and or recommencement
of the investigations. Motives and
related issues can wait for a later date!
Right now our preoccupation is that the perpetrators of this murder most
foul be brought to book.
Mr. President the venom with which you spoke about the websites
with a picture of the slain journalist and the slogan “Who Killed Deyda Hydara”
is alarming. We are very much aware that
the issue be kept alive and until such a time that his killers are brought to
book, this slogan and its accompanying image will remain on the website of the
Union and that even then, we will coin a statement fitting to forever haunt the
perpetrators of this heinous crime!
The killing of Deyda Hydara, if nothing else, has only
strengthened the resolve of true journalists to remain steadfast, truthful and
committed to speaking in defense of the weak and the vulnerable.
On a second note, we are quite surprised that you claim there is
Freedom of Expression in The Gambia. Mr.
President, we beg to differ, the legal environment in particular the Newspaper
Amendment Act 2004, the Criminal Code Amendment Act 2004, the Newspaper
Registration Act and the recently passed Communications Bill 2009 make it
practically impossible to practice efficiently as a journalist and yet remain
within the ambits of the law.
The laws notwithstanding, the disappearance of Chief Ebrima
Manneh, the continued prolonging of unnecessary court cases of journalists and
media practitioners, arbitrary arrests and detention, harassment of Gambian
journalists especially the episodes of 2006 leave a lot to be desired re: the
state of freedom of expression in The Gambia.
We therefore call on the Gambia Government to respect, promote and
defend the rights of journalists, notably by bringing an immediate end to the
unnecessary and continued embarrassment and harassment of journalists; to
create the enabling environment for the development and full participation of
the independent media, the fourth estate, by repealing the current media laws which
criminalize media offences amongst a host of other detrimental issues and to pass
new and progressive media related laws such as Freedom of Information and
Access to Information Acts which amongst other provisions guarantee freedom of
the media as stipulated in the regional and international treaties such as
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 9 of the
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which your Government is
signatory.
We also propose, in good faith that your Government seriously look
at strategies geared towards engaging and collaborating with the independent
media to enhance and strengthen independent media participation and to enable
the expansion of the space for divergent views and healthy debate.
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