JAMMEH HAS SPOKEN WHAT'S NEXT FOR GAMBIANS? Going by president Yahya Jammeh's statement on Deyda's death, The Gambia is no longer a safe heaven. This had always been the reality. He had now conceded to that fact of in security in the country. As i mentioned in my previous postings, it would be difficult for right thinking minded Gambians to buy his story that Deyda was murdered by trigger happy civilians. Now if that is the case as he suggested, what is stopping him and his government from probing the origins of the bullets, which killed Deyda. All guns are licensed with the police. The IGP'S office should be able to establish whether the bullets used in Deyda's murder were "service or civil bullets." Security experts knows what i am trying to put across here. Jammeh's statement that some Gambians are harbouring armed bandits is a cause for concern. It had far reaching implications on our cherished peace. Is Jammeh implying that there are rebels in The Gambia? If so, what is his irresponsible government doing to arrest the situation? How long will his government continue to indict these so called armed civilians as being responsible for these atrocities taking place in our beloved country? I doubt if Jammeh will funish us with any answers. JAMMEH HATE TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATROCITIES LINKED TO HIS GOVERNMENT Since Jammeh came to power, he had not owned up to any of the atrocities linked to his administration. When one talk about the bloody November 11 abortive coup, he will tell you, loyal forces overpowered dissident rebel army soldiers. Most of the coup suspects were summarily executed. The right to legal recourse for the coup suspects was flatly violated by his government. How about the bloody April 10 and 11 incident? Our kids and colleague Omar Barrow were murdered. Their rights to organise a peaceful demonstration was violated. Shameless Jammeh and his government denied killing the students saying unscrupulous people killed the student demonstrators. The Lartey commission dismissed the government's assertions and indicted a good number of soldiers for being responsible for the students deaths. The commission recommended for the prosecution of the student's killers. But Jammeh decided to extend amnesty, to them, since he ordered the shooting. Knowing that he was impicated, he used his rubber stamp national assembly to pass an indemnity Act to bare aggrieved families from seeking legal redress. Jammeh did not stopped at that. He also denied that his government wanted to kill human rights lawyer Ousman Sillah. He told lawyers who attended the 2004 legal year that "his soldiers are professional and cannot shoot and miss a target" This statement of Jammeh is indeed revealing. Is he telling us that his soldiers always accomplished their missions? Democratic leaders claims responsibility, when their governments are found wanting. You remember the Senegalese "Lee Jolla" boat disaster? President Abdoulie Wada publicly accepted responsibility for the boat accident. He sacked the civil servants responsible and put up a contingency plans to avoid such a tragedy. This is what we expect from our leaders. But Jammeh want to behave as if he is perfect. Well, these crimes linked to your government cannot go unpunished. You will account for your deeds one day. We have seen dictators like Saddam, Charles Taylor and others being dragged to court. Mr.President, nothing is permanent on this universe. Please take note of this. A WEAK SECURITY NET WORK IN THE GAMBIA DEYDA HYDARA TELLS NIA AGENTS In 2003, our point office was being harassed by the NIA to produce a Senegalese proclaimed Movement For Justice in Africa MOJA president. Koneh was interviewed by this writer and he said among other things, his close relations with Kukoi Samba Sanyang, the alleged master minder of the armed 1981, rebellion, which left thousands of Gambians dead. Koneh told the point that Kukoi was resident in Burkina faso at the time and he had been in contact with him. Koneh claimed that his presence in the Gambia was due to persecutions he suffered from the Wade administration of Senegal. He claimed that his life was threatened as he knew the killers of former president of the Senegalese Electoral Commission Baboucarr Saye. Shortly after we ran the story, we received couple phone calls from The NIA to help them locate Koneh. The agency said Koneh's assertions borders on National security. I and Deyda told the callers that we don't know where Koneh was residing and it was not our job to disclose addresses of our interviewees. After two weeks of unsuccessful search, one NIA agent Sidibeh showed up in our offices and said " I am looking for Pa Nderry M'Bai." I responded and said " I am Pa Nderry. Please have a seat. What can i do for you ?" Sidebeh then pulled out his official ID and said"I am an NIA agent from the president's office. I am assigned to come and meet you, so that you can help us locate Koneh. He said certain things that borders on National security and we will solicit your cooperation in this investigations. Failure to disclose where he lives, i have no option but to take you to our offices in Banjul." I retorted"Well, Mr.Sidebeh, i am sorry i cannot help you locate Koneh. I don't know where he lives and even though i happen to know i will not tell you. What you are talking about is against the ethics of our profession. I expect you to do your job." He then retorted"Look we have been searching for this man for the past two weeks. We have searched everywhere, but cannot see him. We photocopied the publication of your paper in which Koneh talked about Kukoi. Almost every staff of the agency is a having a copy of this publication. You should help us trace this man. Forget about the issue of ethics and be patriotic'' I countered by telling him" I will live and die with the ethics of our journalism profession. Nothing can make me compromised my profession. I am equally patriotic. But the issue at hand centred on ethics and not patriotism. I think i have to refer you to my boss Deyda Hydara" Myself and Sidebeh walked to Deyda's office, where he again announced his mission. Deyda was so piss off with the NIA man and this what he had to say" You people have proven that you cannot protect Gambians. Koneh has been here for about three weeks and you said you cannot find him? This is ridiculous. You come across with this man every day. Jammeh should sack the entire NIA. You are not doing your job. This is a disgrace!!! Leave Pa Nderry and the Point alone. We will not help you trace Koneh. In fact, i will write about this lapse of security in my next editorial" While in Deyda's office, a phone call came in that the wanted Koneh was at the reception looking for his news client Pa Nderry. Deyda told one of my colleagues to ask the visitor to wait for me in my office. Koneh was briefed by the local staff that he was being trailed by an NIA officer who was present in Deyda's office. Just out of the blue, he forcefully walked into Deyda's office and confronted NIA officer Sidebeh. " I learnt that you have been looking for me, for the past two weeks. Here i am. I am not a criminal. I am a decent Senegalese trying to seek sanctuary in your country. I am really disappointed. You people don't know your job. I have been in the markets, night clubs and everywhere and you said you cannot find me. Here i am. Stop harassing Pa Nderry and Deyda. They are doing their job as expected." Koneh said. The NIA officer was in a state of joy, as he could not believe that Koneh would be brave enough to surrender himself. He then remarked" Thank you Koneh. Can you join me in our Banjul offices?" Koneh retorted" Why not. Lets go. I have nothing to hide. I am a clean man." Interestingly, the NIA officer was not with a vehicle to transport Koneh. He asked Deyda if he could gave him a lift to take Koneh. This statement sounds interesting to the late journalist" You said what? lift, lift? You don't have vehicle to take Koneh to the NIA office? This is unbelievable!!! I am sorry, i cannot give you lift. Try and charter a taxi. Ok. We are busy working on our tomorrow's edition bye."said Hydara. The NIA man left. After spending about two days in custody Koneh was released unconditionally. But he came with threatening news to our office that i and Deyda were in the bad books of the NIA. You two guys ought to be very careful. The NIA are not happy with your work. They advised me to avoid talking to the Point." Deyda then thanked Koneh for informing us with such a vital news. We kept Koneh's info to ourselves and continue with our work. This writeup is just a wake up call for Gambians that they need to be vigilant. _________________________________________________________________ FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/ いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい