Can anyone (especially those in Banjul) confirm reports that women suspected for engaging in prostitution have been attacked by vigilantes and that several establishments suspected for catering for these women have also been attacked and vandalized. If these reports are true, I must say that it shows a very disturbing trend. I abhor prostitution, but the intolerance shown by these vandals should be condemned in no uncertain terms. Where were the patrons of these establishments? Where the men that frequent these bars attacked? Here is also another example of the total breakdown of law and order in The Gambia. I wonder where these vandals were when a more despicable crime was being committed against their children on April 10 and 11. Do they want to tell us that they dislike prostitution more than they dislike the massacre of their children. If the vandals really want to do something about prostitution, they should attack the men that go to these places of ill repute. While they are on their vandalism spree, they should pay a visit to some of the leaders who have been known to frequent such establishments before they used the celebrity of their offices to get wives. Talk about hypocrites. Who are these people pretending to be holier than thou? They should be apprehended and dealt with severely. No one is trying to blame religious leaders, but I must point out that some of their rhetoric encourages such criminal behavior. They come out and vehemently condemn the women involved in prostitution, but keep quite when Yaya orders the murder of their children and loot government coffers. Religious leaders should come out and condemn these vandals and discourage their followers from taking the law into their own hands in situations like this one. It is legitimate to protest against prostitution, but it is wrong to attack defenseless women and burn down private property. There are laws against the activities of these prostitutes. The police should be forced to apply those laws. Citizens should not take the law into their own hands. Again, we would appreciate confirmation from Banjul. Am having problems getting through by phone. KB _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------