Ansumana,

Your opinion is respected. We don't argue with opinions that are not
substantiated. We take them into consideration. I will take you on certain
points to show you that we are a different breed and we know exactly what we
are doing and how to do it. You are occupied by a personality. We are
occupied by a Gambian people, in particular, African people, in general and
humanity, at large.


For your information, the Commission of Inquiry is now gazetted. The content
goes as follows:

"COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE PUBLIC DISTURBANCES OF 10TH AND 11TH APRIL
2000.

"IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred on the President by section 200 of the
Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia 1997, this Commission is hereby
issued.

"1. The Commission shall consist of-

"(a) Justice Felix Michael Lartey, who shall be the Chairperson of the
Commission;
"(b) Mr Joseph Henry Joof;
"(c) Reverend Titus Pratt;
"(d) Mr Bai Ndongo Faal;
"(e) Mr Momodou Ousman Njie;
"(f) Alhajie Ousman Jah;
"(g) Mr james M.B. Abraham;
"(h) Mr Kebba Sarr; and
"(i) Mrs Ndey Kumba Sosseh.

"(2) The Commissioners shall, from among themselves, elect a Vice
Chairperson.

2. The Commission is authorised to inquire into the causes of the breakdown
of public order on 10th and 11th April 2000 and to-

"(a) determine the extent to which any individual or group of individuals
directly or indirectly contributed to it;
"(b) assess and quantify the material loss occasioned by the breakdown of
public order on 10th and 11th April 2000; and
"(c) make recommendations as to how a recurrence of such a breakdown of
public order can be avoided.

"3. (1) The Commission shall -
"(a) make a fully and impartial investigation into the causes of the
breakdown of public order on 10th and 11th April 2000; and
"(b) furnish in writing a report on the results of the inquiry, including a
statement of the reasons leading to the conclusions of the Commission.

(2) The Commission shall have all the powers, rights and privileges of a
judge of the High Court at a trial in respect of-

"(a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath,
affirmation or otherwise;
"(b) compelling the production of documents;
"(c) issuing a commission or request for the examination of witnesses
abroad; and
"(d) making of interim orders.

"4. The Secretary-General shall appoint a Secretary to the Commission.

"5 (1) The Chairperson shall preside at sessions of the Commission and in
the Chairperson's absence, the Vice Chairperson shall preside and in the
absence of both, the members present shall appoint one of their number to
preside.

"(2) The quorum for a session of the Commission is five commissioners.

"6. (1) The Commission is not bound by the rules of evidence applicable to a
court of law and may receive in evidence any material evidence it may deem
necessary for arriving at a decision.

"(2) The Commission shall prescribe its own procedure.

"7. In the conduct of its inquiry the Commission shall be independent and
shall not act under the direction or control of any authority.

8. (1) A Commissioner shall not be liable to any action or suit in respect
of any matter or thing bona fide or omitted to be done in the performance of
his or her functions as a Commissioner.
"(2) A witness before the Commission shall be entitled to the same to the
immunities and privileges as if he or she were a witness in proceedings
before the High Court.

"9. The Commission shall be assisted by Counsel appointed by the Attorney
General, and such other investigating officers as it may from time to time
require.

"10. The Inspector General of Police shall assign such police officers to
attend upon the Commissioners of the Commission, to preserve order, serve
summonses on witnesses and perform such other functions relating to the
Commission as the Commission may direct.

"11. (1) The Commission shall complete its inquiry within five weeks of its
first sitting-
provided that if in the opinion of the Commission it is necessary to
continue its inquiry beyond five weeks then it may request the President for
an extension of time to do so.
"(2) The Commission shall cease to exist on the date that the Commission
submits its report to the President.

"DATED THIS 22ND DAY OF MAY, 2000.

"YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH.
"President of the Republic of The Gambia."

----- Original Message -----
From: Ansumana Kujabi <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 8:32 AM
Subject: THE CORONER'S INQUEST AND COMMISSION OF INQUIRY


> I must say that Mr. Ebou Colly and Mr. Dampha are prudent intellectuals
who
> have not only accurately pin-pointed the major weaknesses in the writings
of
> Foroyaa, but also vividly exposed the disorganized nature and dishonesty
of
> the writings in talking about the Coroner's Inquest and the so-called
> Commission of Inquiry. Colly put it best: "Sometimes when they want to
talk
> about a spot in the moon, they would first take you on a ride at different
> spots in the surrounding stars until you sometimes end up being totally
lost
> in the galaxy." This description of Halifa Sallah's writing is a fair
> characterization. Halifa Sallah is a very "dry Intellectual" who is
> sometimes dishonest in presenting his views on a particular issue; and
this
> kind of approach tends to throw readers off. Ever since I was in high in
the
> 1980s, when Foroyaa was at its highest point in shaping the political
debate
> in the country at the time, I could hardly consolidate or even understand
> what they were highlighting about the Jawara Administration. Foroyaa's
> writings sometimes resembles a day-dreamer's dream, which is solely based
on
> images cultivating in the mind and not realities.
>
> His(Halifa Sallah) writings are absolutely weird, with a weird name hair
and
> look and personality, no wonder his organization and arrangements of ideas
> are also weird. And in writing about the Coroners Inquest and the
so-called
> Commission of Inquiry, Halifa took a may-we-go-round before coming to the
> central question. What I don't understand is the weirdness in the writings
> of an intellectual like Halifa, someone whom to my judgement is also fit
to
> run for the highest Office of the Land; but yet, judging by his recent
> writings, it seems as if he is indirectly campaigning for the monster
child
> murderer President. Is Halifa being paid by the child murderer, or is he
> just advancing his honest ideas? That should be a course of concern for
all
> Intellectuals in the Country. Or should we put forward the question that
> there is vacancy for prudent and seasoned Intellectuals in the Country? I
> don't so. We only happened to have the "Dry Intellectuals" like Halifa who
> only gives us empty bones in their writings, instead of giving us meat. I
> think, taking into account the prevailing precarious circumstances in our
> beautiful country, The Gambia, we humbly deserve honest, well-thoughtful,
> well-organized and seasoned intellectual contributions, and not a sheer
dry,
> pathetic and bizarre writings. In conclusion, I do however commend every
> body, including Halifa for their valuable contributions. Keep Hope Alive.
>
> Ansumana Kujabi
> Concerned citizen
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
>
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