Hi Suntou!
Thanks again for your time and efforts. I think you misunderstand me.
I would never ask you to be my personal investigator. I simply asked
you to share the comments that made you change your mind regarding
Halifa's motives and intentions. If you cannot or will not, I
understand and respect that. If the "political under tone in "being a
sacrificial lamb"" is what qualifies Halifa's words and actions as
deceitful, we definitely have "different view points". To put the
"sacrificial lamb" issue in its proper perspective, here is part of
the
Foroyaa article where it was mentioned:
"Halifa Sallah, former NADD presidential candidate and Foroyaa
Editorial Board member, told supporters and sympathisers at the
Brikama
Magistrates Court, that he is willing to become a sacrificial lamb to
ensure the liberty and dignity of the people. He made this remark at
the close of his first appearance in court since he was arrested on
Sunday 8 March, 2009.
"I am ready to suffer for others not to suffer, but what is going on
must come to a stop,? he told his audience. He told them that there is
no need for them to despair. He asked them to go home, but they need
not worry that he could not possibly meet the conditions of the bail
granted. He indicated that he was looking for their strength and not
their weakness. He stressed to them that they needed to be strong.
These words evidently touched the audience and the grim faces soon
became bright.
Shortly after the adjournment of the case he was whisked to the Remand
Wing of Mile Two Prison."
I wonder how you would view the following statements:
Malcolm X: "It is a time for martyrs now, and if I am to be one, it
will be for the cause of brotherhood" or "This is why I say it?s the
ballot or the bullet. It?s liberty or it?s death."
Nelson Mandela: "There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many
of
us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again
and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires."
Patrice Lumumba: "No brutality, mistreatment, or torture has ever
forced me to ask for grace, for I prefer to die with my head high, my
faith steadfast, and my confidence profound in the destiny of my
country, rather than to live in submission and scorn of sacred
principles"
These statements portray a willingness to die for one's principles. I
don't think they are different from Halifa's statement that he is
ready
to die for the cause of the Gambian people. Would you think that the
people quoted from were trying to score political points just because
they indicated a willingness to die for their beliefs? If not, why
should Halifa's indicate such?
Regarding taking the authorities to court and gaining compensation for
the victims, are you sure this is why Halifa started his
investigations? Did you read anywhere that he was embarking on the
investigations to get compensation for anyone? What I read from
Foroyaa
before Halifa was arrested stated:
"Following several reports of the activities of so-called witchcraft
hunters accompanied by armed uniformed men and so-called green boys
and
girls, Halifa decided to visit the affected villages to find out what
had happened. He went to Makumbaya on Saturday and was able to get the
testimonies of the victims of the so-called witchcraft hunters. Halifa
told this reporter that the matter was serious and indicated that he
was going to write to the President about the matter and to get Human
Rights and other concerned organisations to go to these villages and
see things for themselves. The victims complained of being forced to
drink concoctions and to make ?confessions?. They also complained of
all sorts of ailments after taking the concoction and having been
subjected to beatings.
The former member of the Pan African Parliament and Minority Leader of
the National Assembly is also a member of the Editorial Board of
Foroyaa. "
I believe the question you should be asking following Halifa's
investigation is whether he succeeded in getting the attention of both
the President and the human rights and other concerned organisations
as
he stated those as his goals. Expecting him to get compensation for
victims when he did not state that among his goals is imposing your
goal on him. Is that fair?
Another point regarding Halifa suing the authorities to get
compensation for the victims has already been made by Demba. Why would
you want Halifa to engage in a futile endeavour and waste his time
taking the authorities to court when you noted that "Halifa made noise
about the remote control Gambian constitution loud enough.
He defended his action by quoting various sections of the Gambian
constitution, a document he knows about inside out. Halifa knows too
well
also that document is serving one man and one man only, Yahya Jammeh
the
current Gambian head of state. Since many Gambians know for a fact that
document is not protecting their human rights for a number reasons one
wonders if there was any need for Halifa to labour over
constitutionality
this fragrant government encounter with innocent citizens." You note
that the Constitution serves only Yaya Jammeh and you want Halifa to
take him to court based on the document that serves only him? Do you
see the futility of taking the authorities to court according to your
reasoning?
Suntou, like Malcolm stated:
? if you have no critics you'll likely have no success".
I hope the criticism you level against Halifa will help him grow and
be successful. I however hope that it will be genuine criticism based
on what he did wrong. I leave you with quotes from the UDP press
release after Halifa was arrested and the solidarity they showed
without insinuating ulterior motives. Thank you and have a good night.
Buharry.
"The arrest of Mr. Halifa Sallah, spokesperson for the National
Alliance for Democracy and Development and a member of the Editorial
Board of Foroyaa newspaper, and his subsequent arraignment before a
magistrates' court in Brikama, are a naked misuse of power to arrest
and bring the criminal to justice.
The United Democratic Party condemns in no uncertain terms Mr.
Sallah's
arrest for the reasons revealed to us in the media. His arrest is
nothing but an affront to democracy and the right of every Gambian to
receive information on the ordeal, if any, the victims of the
witchcraft hunters went through.
The United Democratic Party is concerned that Mr. Sallah has been
indirectly denied bail because the conditions of bail imposed by the
court are so onerous that it amounts to a complete denial of bail. It
is regrettable however, that the administration of criminal justice in
The Gambia is being exposed to ridicule and suspicion by the
imposition
of bail conditions such as the surety being the rank of a retired
Inspector General or Brigadier General.
The United Democratic Party, with other individuals and organizations
that firmly believe in the free and unimpeded flow of information,
stand in solidarity with Mr. Sallah in this trying times for justice
and rule of law.
The United Democratic Party does not only call for Mr. Sallah's bail
conditions to be reviewed, but replaced with conditions that will
augur
well for his fair trial."
----Original Message----
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: 2009-04-16 23:19
To: "Momodou Buharry Gassama"<[log in to unmask]>
Subj: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?
Brother Buharry,
It is your duty to embark on a personal analysis of all of Halifa's
speech. With respect, i cannot serve as your personal investigator. If
you disagree with the issues raised, I am more than happy to see that
as two brothers having different view points. I did mention the
political under tone in "being a sacrificial lamb" convey, that alone
is highly political. Again, you fail to touched on the fact that, i as
an ordinary Gambian expected Halifa a career politician to make good
vantage point with the facts he gathered. and also to tell the public
what he intend to do next with the hope that, the sacrificial lamb
phrase will be utilise to the max.
Now, Buharry, I know that, the case against halifa still stands. The
expectation is that, the facts he gathered if any should be utilise
appropriately in gaining compensation for the victims. You would have
notice that, some commentators pick up on that and start saying, i
expected their man to do all the dangerous job.
Is there any thing wrong is asking what next after the imprisonment?
The way i show and understand Halifa's views may not necessarily be
the
same way you Buharry will understand it. So as matter of fact, i will
not tell which comment or comments in general made me change my mind,
since i acknowledge that his action was brave, then the question
followed, why? It is for you to make up your mind, i cannot assist you
on that journey am afraid. On a personal note: I have watch Halifa on
some occasions whilst at the Pan-African parliament in an African TV
station (BEN) regularly. I have listen to him in person and also on
tape. I am not ignorant of Halifa or his political ideas.
thanks
suntou
--- On Thu, 16/4/09, Momodou Buharry Gassama <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
From: Momodou Buharry Gassama <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, 16 April, 2009, 9:42 PM
Hi Suntou!
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my enquiry. From what you
wrote, your praise of Halifa was based on initial reports of his
arrest. You then changed your position after "evaluating all his
comments pre and post his release". If it is not too much trouble, can
you share the comments that you base your change of heart on? I ask
for
such because despite the material therein contained, you do not seem
convinced that Halifa did sacrifice his freedom and wellbeing for
selfish reasons driven by ulterior motives. I base this assessment on
your statement that you "have no doubt that, there is a likelihood of
political point scoring." If you were certain that he was doing that,
you would have written that you have no doubt that there was political
point scoring. Your uncertainty was emphasised by your use of the word
"likelihood".
You wrote:
"the fact that he utilise the media more than the other leaders
doesn't
make him the only opposition leader to have spoken on the subject or
even did personal enquiry of the people affected."
Did anyone say that he is the only leader to have spoken on the
subject? If the other opposition leaders made enquiries and visited
the
affected and kept quiet about it, how do we know what they did?
Suntou,
I think you fail to realise that Halifa is not only a politician but a
journalist, scholar (sociologist) etc. When he reported on and
investigated the issue of the witches, he was acting not only in his
capacity as a politician but also as a journalist and sociologist. OJ
spoke about the witch hunt. The UDP issued a press release about the
issue. As political institutions and leaders, those who spoke out did
so because of their responsibility to the people. The UDP and OJ do
not
own newspapers but went out to other news outlets. How come you did
not
say that Darboe was trying to score political points by the UDP's
press
release? How come you didn't say that OJ was trying to score political
points by talking about the issue on Freedom Newspaper? How come of
all
the people and parties who spoke out, Halifa is the only one trying to
score political points?
You wrote:
"Halifa as a politician knows how to use the media to his advantage,
thus feeding the frenzy and hysteria that always surrounds him from
the
few key drum beat party followers that feed on his every word."
The UDP issued a press release on this and other issues. OJ did and
does the same. Hamat does the same. Henry and others do the same. Are
they using the media to their disadvantage? Don't you think that they
know the benefits of going to the media about the issues they want to
highlight? How come there is a hidden motive when Halifa does it? If
the advantages of going to the media are so great for Halifa,
how come as you wrote in a piece that he could not even win his
constituency?
You continued:
"This is not bad in itself, but on serious matters like this,
political
point scoring are not what is appropriate."
You stated earlier that there is a "likelihood" of political point
scoring denoting uncertainty. Here you wrote that "on serious matters
like this, political point scoring are not what is appropriate"
denoting certainty that Halifa is indeed engaging in what you accuse
him of. Which one is it?
Suntou, I don't think any of the PDOIS sympathisers including myself,
who have commented on your piece have tried to forbid you or in any
tried to censor your right to analyse Halifa's words and actions. As a
politician and public figure, Halifa knows that he is going to be
analysed and criticised. That is not the issue here. The issue is the
fallacious conclusions you jumped to stating that Halifa is engaging
in
deceit. That is the problem people have. Unless you are privy to
material other people on the list are not to, I find it very difficult
to understand how you can conclude from what you read of the public
statements and newspaper articles Halifa wrote that he was trying to
score political points. I hope you understand Suntou that no one is
trying to curtail your right to put to task Halifa, who is a
politician
aiming to run your country. I hope you also understand that people are
exercising their right to put you to task when you insinuate
dishonesty
and deceit regarding Halifa. You wrote that "leaving politicians and
their comments go unchecked is dangerous". This means that people have
a right and responsibility to scrutinise the actions of their leaders.
You scrutinise the words and actions of Halifa. Do you think Muhammad
Drammeh has a right or duty to question Darboe's actions? Should he
jump to conclusions regarding those actions just as you have jumped to
conclusions regarding Halifa?
You wrote: "I did not write the piece Buharry to make any one wary of
Halifa" but if Halifa puts his life and freedom on the line for the
interests of the Gambian people and you insinuate that he was
deceitful
in doing so, that his actions were a calculated move to score
political
points and boost his image, I find it very difficult to see how you
are
not trying to make people become wary of him. If you feed and shelter
a
poor and homeless orphan and I go around and say that you are doing so
just so people can say you are a good person, am I not asking people
to
be wary of your motives and actions? Thanks and have a good night.
Buharry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----Original Message----
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: 2009-04-16 17:49
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subj: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?
Buharry, Thanks for the enquiry. As you rightly said, i did mention
that He stood up to bully. But you have to remember, that statement
was
based on the initial news stories conveying the manners of his arrest.
After evaluating all his comments pre and post his release, I have no
doubt that, there is a likelihood of political point scoring.
Again. if you read my comments properly, you would identify my giving
credit to the man for some issues and hoping that, the noise that his
arrest generated wasn't going to die down with the soundbites.
I have seen few postings in praise of the bravery and gallantry of
Halifa, i did not dispute all of that. But the fact that he utilise
the
media more than the other leaders doesn't make him the only opposition
leader to have spoken on the subject or even did personal enquiry of
the people affected.
Halifa as a politician knows how to use the media to his advantage,
thus feeding the frenzy and hysteria that always surrounds him from
the
few key drum beat party followers that feed on his every word. This is
not bad in itself, but on serious matters like this, political point
scoring are not what is appropriate.
I did not write the piece Buharry to make any one wary of Halifa, but
leaving politicians and their comments go unchecked is dangerous. Yes,
i know also, some will use every corner to try twist the message in my
piece in an attempt to discredit the analysis, but again, that is
expected in political dialogue. I am questioning Halifa the politician
Buharry, i hope you see it from that angle, just like the politicians
in Sweden and England are question for their motives. I know the usual
suspects will continue to come out until they feel, they have
exonerate
the man. But the fact remains, Halifa will always be scrutinise just
like other politicians.
Thanks
suntou
--- On Thu, 16/4/09, Momodou Buharry Gassama <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
From: Momodou Buharry Gassama <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, 16 April, 2009, 12:18 AM
Hi Suntou!
I remember you praising Halifa for "standing up to the bully" after
concurring with Modou Mboge in an earlier post that "the community
leaders, the women leaders, political leaders etc are all mute but a
few. The silence is killing." You even went further stating: "Modou,
you asked a legitimate question, but what about the hundreds of
Gambians reading you here in the Gambia L forum? If the elders back
home are mute, one can argue that, may be they are afraid to offend
the
system IE Yahya. But what about the capable brothers and sisters in
the
G-L and G-Post? If they can be quiet in matters likes this, what do
you
think will happen when they go to the Gambia?" That is why I have
trouble reconciling those positions with your latest position on
Halifa's stance insinuating that he had ulterior motives in "standing
up to the bully" after all but a few of the leaders and Diasporans
kept
quiet. Do you see the contradictions? First, all but few of the
leaders
and others who should speak out against what was going on kept quiet
and thus failed in their responsibilities. Then Halifa spoke and took
a
move that landed him at Mile Two and you praised him for "standing up
to the bully". Now you claim that he had ulterior motives for
"standing
up to the bully". Can you please help me understand how you came to
your conclusion? What do you base your insinuations on? I want to keep
an open mind and maybe even re-evaluate my position on Halifa should
you be able to throw some light on your claim that he had ulterior
motives for doing what he did. Thanks.
Buharry.
P.S.
Please find the posts I quoted from below.
D.S.
------------------
From: SUNTOU TOURAY [[log in to unmask]]
Date: 2009-03-11 23:18
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Cc:
Subject: Re: Halifa charged
DESPERADO. The end is here. Bravo Halifa for standing up to the bully.
Suntou
-------------------------------------------------------
From: SUNTOU TOURAY [[log in to unmask]]
Date: 2009-03-10 16:42
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Cc:
Subject: Re: Halifa Sallah Arrested By Sam Sarr on 09-03-09
Modou, an intersting statement: "Where are the elders of the country,
the religious leaders, the community leaders, the women leaders,
political leaders etc are all mute but a few. The silence is killing."
M Mboge.
Modou, you asked a legitimate question, but what about the hundreds of
Gambians reading you here in the Gambia L forum? If the elders back
home are mute, one can argue that, may be they are afraid to offend
the
system IE Yahya. But what about the capable brothers and sisters in
the
G-L and G-Post? If they can be quiet in matters likes this, what do
you
think will happen when they go to the Gambia? they will simply be
quiet
also. reverse psychology.
Some may hide behind 'I don't time and what have you'. It is bogus,
we
all make time for things that matters to us. and in this freedom news
paper and Gambia echo era, many of us read the news. how do we do
that?
on the net. Modou you are right, the silence is killing. and for sure,
Yahya marvel at the fact only a few write about his crimes. this is a
moral boost for him.
In U.K alone, i heard that more than 15 to 20 ex-military officers
claimed asylum here. among this folks are former lieutenants and
captains. They knew what is wrong with our army and how yaya use the
army to get his way around. Apart from Alhagi kanteh and Binneh
Minteh,
which one do hear say anything? Lets us pray, But God/Allah require us
to speak against injustice and suppression. We are the elders
tomorrow,
the elders now are quiet and many among us are quiet today even those
whose immediate families have been harmed. Is this how the western
society works? be silent over bad happenings, they speak out, even
against children rights, women's rights, rapes, theft, murders, let
alone politics. many speak but have no interest in holding political
positions. let decency dictate.
suntou
---------------------------------------
----Original Message----
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: 2009-04-15 23:41
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subj: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?
Jabou, not to bore anyone, i see Halifa as a politician, if you see
him
as something else, that is up to you. I cannot control your thought
processes neither can't you control mine.
So please, cut the deceit talk. this is political discussion, if
anyone
let it boil his/her blood, then you need to start seriously thinking
about future topics on Halifa as a politician.
This is no deceit folks, this is an opinion. it doesn't matter if
anyone insult, that is expected in political exchanges.
Deceit, that is a game of politicians especially those that have been
in it for twenty year plus. As you said, "Gambians are waking up" we
all hope so. You said some good things in our last exchanges, and some
erroneous postings, i analyse them on face value. If i am the usual
suspect in the Halifa questioning, then you guys are the usual
defenders of the man. I see the usual names coming forward, what does
that tell us?
What is Halifa's future plans IE in politics? he did mentioned that,
if
he loose his Serrekunda seat, he was going to venture in Academia, i
feel that, he can do both. thus allowing us to analyse his political
career from Magi Eleg to Voice of the future and presently foroyaa,
PDOIS and the defunct NADD. It is good opportunity to know the work of
politicians. Obama too is coming under scrutiny, that is the spirit.
Haruna has maintain his stance all along, that is defend what should
be
defended and question what need questioning. If that means, ENVY AND
JEALOUSY, Jealousy of what?
suntou
--- On Wed, 15/4/09, Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wednesday, 15 April, 2009, 4:27 PM
Haruna,
I know you and those of like mind are proving yourselves to be masters
in the art to twisting good intentions into bad ones, or at least you
are giving it all you can, but let me re-iterate that what i found
amazing is your warped view regarding Halifa's intentiones and nothing
else.You know you cannot and will never be allowed to put words into
my mouth, especially disingenous ones.
Away with malicious deceit, especially when it is intended for those
who do not deserve it and you know I am all for justice and fairness.
I have called Suntou out before on his mission of deciet and malice
against Halifa that he thinks he can disguise as civil discourse and
he
flatly denied it but here we go again.
Jabou Joh
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 8:30 am
Subject: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?
Evian,
You're a beautiful man. Thank you also for copying what Jabou had
shared about my notes. I will take the opportunity to address that for
Laye and Jabou here.
Date: Tuesday, 14 April, 2009, 7:50 PM
Jabou shared:
[Haruna wrote:"It was when the onerous exercise threatened PDOIS
electoral fortunes that Halifa engaged in fact-finding, the numerous
rep orts and eye-witness accounts of it not-withstanding." Wow!. Truly
amazing.]
Jabou Joh.
Jabou, I'm glad you appreciate the above fact as "Truly amazing".
The
response was as onerous as the original crime. This world is full of
mirages. In Halifa's case there is a confluence of mirages: One of
conscience and the other of interest-peddling. The conscience part
however triumphs over the interest-peddling part.
[In a message dated 4/15/2009 8:15:38 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Jabou, Please excuse my grand dad for when the Tiger is in the Woods,]
Evian I want you to know Tiger had already gone home when Suntou
shared
his Oped and the vultures began to descend on him. For no friggin
reason. Trying to shut the man up.
[he loses some of his reasoning faculties.] Evian.
Do you really think yours truly skips a beat Evian? You jettison your
own Grand-dad for PDOISard bantanbilly? Mbeemi, Achu! Atay watiladeh?
Dang-Kutoo le bentehma. bahna!
[Moreover, grand dad just cannot bring himself to give any due credit
to Halifa.] Evian.
Do y ou ever read or understand my notes on Halifa?? They are always
chock-full of praise for Halifa's selfless efforts and circumspect and
sobriety for the clueless PDOISdrones. They want to sweep us all up in
their cluelessness. I am not a witch.
[Why? Am yet to fully comprehend.] Evian.
I gathered as much. You, like most other PDOISards will never be
satisfied until I begin to worship Halifa for nought. It's in your
bloods. Its not your fault that's why I never get upset with a
PDOISard. E-bukay Taw. Alla La kaybaaroo Lom wolbayti.
Ekoloobaliyaata,
Ebuka-keybaa bunyaa! Ila Makkamol fanang mang Timma. Na Fitiyaye deng
fitiyaye so. Na Lebintiman dem. Ndasimma Nke Nta Hayinni!!!
[Bailo]
How are you getting along in your new home? I hope great. Look forward
to hearing you more often. You know your former employer is
international should you not decide to change careers. Personally I
think you are exceptionally well suited for that line of work. It
screams out from your notes here and we are all proud of you.
Haruna.
--- On Tue, 14/4/09, Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Tuesday, 14 April, 2009, 7:50 PM
Haruna wrote:
"It was when the onerous exercise threatened PDOIS electoral fortunes
that Halifa engaged in fact-finding, the numerous reports and eye-
witness accounts of it not-withstanding."
Wow!. Truely amazing.
Jabou Joh
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 9:21 am
Subject: Re: The Halifa Factor, what next?
Laye, Good to hear you again.
Allow me to chime in for a minute.
I totally understand your sentiments vis-a-vis Halifa Sallah and I
share some of those sentiments. I also understand Suntou's oped and I
share some of his views. I am of equal opportunity grace. What I see
is
that we risk taking this conversation to the sentimental and
ecumenical
realm as is usually the case when we speak about Halifa, a man who
aspires to lead Gambia through the political party PDOIS. I advise
that
we bear on sobriety.
I take Suntou's oped as a fact-finding query given the fact that
Gambians have a cynical view of politic king. Perhaps Suntou can yield
greater perspective on politics in this query. He is not to be
dismissed for sentimental reasons however. It is natural for a
PDOISard
to be up in arms when=2 0their party leader is questioned but consider
that with the requisite temerity and discernments, the questioning,
even if disdainful, can strengthen the leader as well as improve our
lot as a people.
I commend Halifa for embarking on a fact-finding mission into the
witch-
hunting saga as a human being. Witch-hunting is the veritable insult
to
our collective consciences and acumen, especially one sanctioned by
Yahya, whose faculties are not readily discernible. You have posited,
and appropriately, that the onus of fact-finding in such egregious
matter is not the reserve of Halifa alone; to wit: "Halifa Sallah is
not and should not be the only person of dignified conscience amongst
the leaders or those who claim to be opposition leaders in Gambia.
What
he has done and gone through demonstrates to all and sundry that you,
I
and every human Gambian must not stand aside and look while your
fellow
Gambian and human is being humiliated in the most degrading manner."
Laye, you will therefore agree with Suntou that all Gambians have been
equally incensed by the saga, but that Halifa being the leader of
PDOIS
had wished to capitalize on common disdain to yield PDOIS greater
fortune. I am reminded that there are others in PDOIS like Sam, Sidia,
Amadou, Samba, Suleyman, who could have embarked on the same fact-
finding, but were they to have been arrested, they do not stand an
equal chance of relief as Halifa had. To whom much is given, much more
is expected. ;You will see that Halifa himself has shared in his
defense of the erroneous charges levelled against him by an uncouth
and
clueless prosecutor, that he derived his rights from our common
constitution and the fact that he is a leader of a political party.
Any
journalist can embark on the fact-finding mission and by dint
of Halifa's association with the PDOIS party organ Foroyaa, he has
added umph! These are some of the reasons you feel comfortable in
comparing
Halifa to Gambia's other politicians who in your own words and
disdainfully "claim to be opposition leaders in Gambia." You know
what
happens to journalists who embark on fact-finding missions including
Foroyaa journalists. Politics therefore was a major factor in both
enabling Halifa to embark on a fact-finding mission. Were he not
leader
of PDOIS, proprietor of Foroyaa, a respectable contributor to the pan-
African parliament, he may have or may not have entertained the risks
associated with fact-finding in Gambia.
The broader picture therefore is that even though many Gambians are
incensed with the witch-hunting grafignette, our political leaders,
opposition or incumbent, are the ones most empowered to prosecute our
collective disdains and anxieties. This means that politics is our
legislative life. Whether Halifa engaged with ulterior=2 0political
motives or not, is therefore immaterial to me. However, ordinary
citizens are free to query his motives as much as they are free to
express repulsion at Yahya's motives and pantomime. It is in the
explanation and general disposition of PDOIS and Halifa that will
yield
attenuated fortunes.
It is unwise to compare Halifa to our other opposition political
leaders from both a human standpoint and from a colegial view. That I
think will be the height of conceit and an insult to our collective
intelligence. And it unfortunately furthers the strictly political
motive of Halifa and PDOIS. You will realize that we did not get to
the
point of Yahya embarking on repulsive witch-hunting exercises in a
vacuum. Life is ever so dynamic. Yahya was enabled somehow and I
suppose that has escaped us. That is the schematics of politics that
erodes most future and "pure" goodwill.
What Suntou is trying to figure out, is whether there is salvage value
in the preliminary steps taken by Halifa and whether Halifa can be
instrumental in yielding that salvage value for commoner good. I
submit
that the best way to achieve that is by all of us enabling our other
political leaders in APRC, UDP/NRP (NDP), PPP, GPP, and GDP to
coordinate the prosecution of our legislative life as Gambians. The
days of bunker politics are waning and there are signs everywhere for
the astute. We did not see any amalgam of forces by our political
leaders when20Taf-Taf Yahya bereft of Gardens stole Brufut Lands and
dispossessed Brufutians, nor did we see the same when Halfdiens were
unscrupulously dispossessed of their homes in the name of port
expansion.=2 0Witch-hunting and circumstance is tantalizing and a
gross
violation of human rights. But so are the myriad precursor trespasses
that enabled it. You will realize that Halifa is not easily amenable to
coordination of effort with other opposition parties. Glaring. The
witch-hunting fact-finding could yield more tangible results if it
were
actively coordinated. But PDOIS is on a mission that does not seem to
be common relief. It was when the onerous exercise threatened PDOIS
electoral fortunes that Halifa engaged in fact-finding, the numerous
reports and eye-witness accounts of it not-withstanding. Halifa's
initial statements on the saga betrays ignorance to warrant a fact-
finding.
That is all for now. - Haruna. Allez-y!!
In a message dated 4/14/2009 3:43:39 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Suntu:
Halifa Sallah is not and should not be the only person of dignified
conscience amongst the leaders or those who claim to be opposition
leaders in Gambia. What20he has done and gone through demonstrates to
all and sundry that you, I and every human Gambian must not stand
aside and look while your fellow Gambian and human is being humiliated
in the most degrading manner.=2 0We should be thankful that we know in
Halifa, ONE Gambian that will stand up to the brutalities of the
regime and would rather die or languish in jail than to sit and see
his fellow beings dehumanized in broad day light. To insinuate that
Halifa was looking for personal or political gain in the exercise of
liberating his conscience and dignifying the value of human life,
smirks of debilitating ignorance and an insult to his and our
conscience...God forbid!
-Laye
On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 4:08 AM, <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> An interesting oped to ponder Suntou. Discerner-in-Chief!!! I think
Yahya
> shot himself in the foot. And I'm worried about our two bad left-
eyes. New
> Kambians!!!! Haruna. You pamplemousse!!!
>
> In a message dated 4/13/2009 6:29:40 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> Monday, 13 April 2009
>
> Halifa Factor In Gambia's Witch Hunt debacle
>
> By Suntou Touray
> With the dust almost settled even though facts about the Gambiaââ?¬â
?¢s witch
> hunting episode may all not be known, there=2 0is occasion to
reflect
over the
> whole encounter. Men dressed in red raided settlements in search of
witches.
> They captured people of decent background and made them consume
lethal
> concoctions in the name of ridding them off witch craft spirits.
Some
of the
> captives died. Large numbers still remain in biting pains, mostly
deep in
> their stomach.
> Former Serrekunda East parliamentary member and sociologist Halifa
Sallah
> was last month arrested and detained at mile 2 prisons for over a
week. This
> was due to his decision to visit two villages over a witch hunting
> incidence. Halifa after his release commented that he went on a fact
finding
> mission to the two villages. More accurately put he tried to proof
whether
> the witch hunting story was actually true or false.
> Halifa was arrested afterward because the government felt that, he
as
an
> ordinary citizen of the Gambia who seeking to impersonate the work
of
the
> police or state security agents.
> No doubt Halifa by all regards played brave by what he did. Why he
did so
> remains a question on wet lips.
> Some people considered it a genuine move by Halifa to prove what
others
> thought a mere rumour. To others Halifa was in a publicity campaign
for
> himself and certainly scored political points whether he preferred
using
> that or not.
> From what came out of the encounter Halifa made us all to know th at
the
> witch hunting story is real and the actions are sanctioned by Gambia
> government.
> What next after knowing the true story still a valid question for
curious
> onlookers. Will there be any lawsuit against the government for the
unlawful
> conduct o f humiliating and harassing innocent Gambians?
> The witch hunting episode ended up projecting Halifa�s
political profile at
> higher levels. He was a victim of arbitrary arrest but that by itself
> arrested the tormenting witch hunt at least until matters settled
over
> Halifa�s own arrest and brief detention. The whole saga
eventually shifted
> from the witch hunting focusing on Halifa. That earned him a high
profile
> victim of the unjust government crime of witch hunting.
> Halifa made noise about the remote control Gambian constitution loud
enough.
> He defended his action by quoting various sections of the Gambian
> constitution, a document he knows about inside out. Halifa knows too
well
> also that document is serving one man and one man only, Yahya Jammeh
the
> current Gambian head of state. Since many Gambians know for a fact
that
> document is not protecting their human rights for a number reasons
one
> wonders if there was any need for Halifa to labour over
constitutionality
> this fragrant government encounter with innocent citizens.
> The gains of Halifa�s intervention can double20if he was to
help the victims
> pursue claims of damage resulting from such inhuman treatment. The
victims
> deserve good compensation.
> The good efforts of Halifa placed him beyond the single position of
flag
> bearer PDOIS /NADD to the lofty point of standing tall for Gambian
people in
>20times of need. This is enough wakeup call for Gambians over length
and
> breadth of the country to resist the advances of witch hunters.
Halifa can
> draft a comprehensive law suit against the government as seen truly
standing
> up for the people. The point of departure would be the constitution,
a book
> fully in Halifa�s firm grips. Impeachment proceedings against
the president
> can be initiated, thus demonstrating severity human rights
violations.
> The law suits may not bear quicker results but to make the
government
pay
> victims. Through that citizens will go long way in exposing the
severity of
> state organized crimes.
> We await Halifa�s future actions concerning the witch hunting
debacle.
> Halifa�s political profile is undoubtedly boosted. Other
gains
exceed
> individual political scores. Yahya should not have arrested Halifa
in
the
> first place. The only reason one would think he ordered his arrest
was to
> cause wider divide among the ranks of the opposition.
> Halifa�s followers have a talking point- our only saviour
they
would say.20He
> emerged hero of the hour. His arrest has potential to change
something.
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