FOROYAA NEWSPAPER

Issue No.36, 3-5 May 2004

Editorial

On GAMSU’s Response To Fabakary Ceesay

No Need For Personal Attacks

Leaders should never question what the members who are dissatisfied with the
leadership are doing. Instead they should take criticism as a challenge. The
more a leadership can address all legitimate concerns of the membership of
its organisation the more it defends its integrity and builds up the
confidence the membership has in it. The GAMSU leadership has a right to
respond but the best would have been to acknowledge Ceesay’s criticism,
clarify what is deemed to be misconceived and offer promises to handle what
is accepted as a shortcoming. This is the way to promote critical membership
and a tolerant, sensitive and responsive leadership. This is the era of
democracy. Mature freedom of expression is what enables us to tell each
other the truth in good faith to promote our common interest on the basis of
respect and common understanding. This is the way forward for the student
movement. Lamin is concerned that GAMSU should not speak for those who are
aggrieved. GAMSU leadership should have explained that diplomacy led them to
declare forgiveness but should have added that they cannot give forgiveness
on behalf of the aggrieved; that it is left to the state to develop a
credible mechanism to ensure that justice is done and is seen to be done.
There is need for unity in solidarity with those who are still suffering
because of the April 10th and 11th murders, injuries and traumatic
experiences. No one should play politics with this.



Coalition or No Coalition
Further Clarification by Halifa Sallah

Some people came to my office after reading the last issue to enquire
whether there are difficulties in the talks to establish a coalition, which
warranted the issue of words of caution.

As the person selected by consensus to coordinate consultation on the
subject I am bound by the conventions that govern such negotiations not to
indicate anything that is not mandated by consensus.

What is however evident is that the basis for a principled coalition exists?
In short, the fundamental principle prescribed in the preamble of the
constitution to put an end to self-perpetuating rule has not been achieved.
Today people hardly see any distinction between the National Assembly and
executive as required by the principle of the separation of powers. The
power of the people to elect Chiefs and Alkalos has been handed over to the
President and the Secretary of State for Local Government. The second round
of voting has been nullified. National Assembly members are threatened with
expulsion if they show any dissent. The call for one operation or another is
received as a decree. It is very dangerous for a country to leave so much
power in the hands of one person. Hence a coalition should be a transitional
mechanism to a higher-grade democratic society surpassing South Africa where
the power of executive will be limited. In this way, no National Assembly
would be dictated to make bad laws because of party loyalty and fear of the
implication of dissent.

In 2006 Gambians must have the aim to end self-perpetuating rule in the
country and make all leaders answerable to the electorate. No new president
should emerge who has the absolute power the current president enjoys. The
leadership of such a president must be restricted to one term or even less
so that the person will take pride in presiding over the building of
intimidation, injustice and fear, free Gambia.

If all political parties posing to be alternatives to the APRC want such a
Gambia they would agree to create it and then contest in an intimidation and
inducement free election to receive undiluted mandate from the people.

In the past, people used to say that democracy should be suspended to enable
the government to feed empty stomachs. Now there is self-perpetuating rule
and empty stomachs. If President Jammeh was truly committed to end
self-perpetuating rule he would have worked for a term limit to the
presidency which exists for mayors, chairpersons of councils and councillors
instead of amending the constitution to eradicate the second round of voting
to make it less difficult for him to remain in office.

The Gambian people should therefore concentrate on demanding for their
political leaders to accept a transitional agenda to have a provisional
democratic government which will carry out a rectification programme that is
agreed by all and then agree not to stand for a second term to put an end to
self perpetuating rule and leave the Gambian people to choose leadership on
the basis of clearly emphasized policies and programmes.

A coalition is possible and is the only transitional way forward for saving
The Gambia from the overwhelming monarchical power of the executive
presidency and give real power to the people.



BEHEADED BODY OF INFANT GIRL FOUND
On Friday morning the people of Manjai / Bakoteh discovered the beheaded
body of an infant girl, aged about 5 years in an empty plot covered with
grass. It was a terrible scene. The beheaded body is believed to be that of
Mariama Fofana alias Sibo who disappeared when she was playing with her
peers. This paper was informed and a reporter was immediately dispatched to
the scene. Upon arrival, our reporter found that the police had removed the
body and head.

According to Mariama’s brother, Buba Sonko, Mariama was playing with some
other children outside their compound at about 5PM on Thursday 29th April
2004 when her disappearance was noticed among the children. Buba said when
the children were asked of her whereabouts they intimated that Mariama   was
called by a tall man, fair in complexion, who picked her up and went with
her.

Buba said that since that time her family and their neighbours conducted an
intensive search for her but up to the late hours she could not be found;
that on the 30th of April 2004 at about 6.00 a.m. the family received
information of the dead body of a young girl behind the Total Filling
Station alongside the stream.

When asked how the body was found, an eyewitness indicated that some
children who were playing close to the area, found the decapitated body of
an infant girl in the empty plot while they were about to climb over the low
fence to get to the next compound to pick mangoes. He said they then raised
the alarm.

According an eyewitness, Mariama’s grandmother son arrived at the scene to
identify her corpse. Buba asserted that at the scene they found the corpse
covered with a jacket without her head. Our reporter saw a blue jacket at
the scene. She was later informed that the police took it away.

Buba said as relatives moved around the area in search for the head, they
found her head buried. When it was examined they found that part of her left
ear out. He said the matter was then reported to the police.

Our reporter saw two bloodstains on the fence near where the corpse was
found but there was no indication of any splash of blood.

Mariama Fofana was born to Bala Fofana and Olimatou Jarjue.



Ousman Sabally’s Case
Competent sources have informed this paper that outspoken human rights
lawyer, Hawa Sisay Sabally, has taken the bull by the horn by writing a
letter to the Chief Justice demanding that she want a date to be set aside
for the hearing of acrimonious civil suit involving her client, Ousman
Sabally and the state.

Sources informed this paper that Sisay Sabally had earlier written two
letters to the former Chief Justice, Mohamed Arif demanding the same thing,
but nothing was done to that effect, the matter was before Justice Timothy
Kabalata.

Following the end of his tour of duty, the case was assigned to one of the
judges at the High Court, who returned it to the former Chief Justice,
Mohamed Arif. Justice Arif later assigned the matter to Justice Tahirr who
is said to be studying the case for the past one year.

Recently, the director of civil litigation, Olulana, informed the Daily
Observer Newspaper that the court has delivered judgment in favour of the
state, but his claim was recanted by Sisay Sabally. However, Olulana still
maintain that Ousman Sabally has lost the case.

Ousman Sabally is claiming five hundred thousand Dalasis (D500, 000) and 5%
cost from the state for alleged inhumane treatment meted out to him by state
security agents during the April 10th, 2000 student demonstration.



DR. PALMER’S PROPOSAL
A veteran doctor and former nominated member of parliament, Dr. J. S. Palmer
has proposed that the public donate to The Independent management so that
they can buy another printing machine to replace the one burnt by arsonists.
He stated that this can be done openly or anonymously.

It is his conviction that in this way, “We shall show the world our strong
conviction that we believe in the role of our newspapers in our young
democratic state.”

He said in his letter of proposal sent to the press that he had discussed
the matter with the management of The Independent.

Charbell Elhajj & Batch Faye Court Cases

Justice Paul Returns

The high profile economic crime case involving prominent businessman,
Charbell Elhajj and the state set for mentioning last week Wednesday has
been deferred due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Paul.

Justice Paul travelled to Nigeria shortly after he convicted and sentenced
bereft APRC majority leader Baba Jobe to nine years and right months.

Following his departure to Nigeria, rumours wafted in town that he have
absconded. However, Justice Paul, the Director f Public Prosecution (DPP)
Akimoyae Agim and other members of the judiciary returned from Nigeria on
Wednesday.

The murder trial of Batch Samba Faye, which was set for hearing on Thursday,
was also deferred till further date due to the absence of Justice Paul. The
latter arrived on Wednesday, however he was not in court on Thursday. Batch
Samba Faye was escorted to court on Thursday by prison wardens.

SECURITY MAN FOUND DEAD

One Muhammed Ceesay a native of Kerewan Samba Sira in CRD a security officer
at Uncle Sam Security Company was found dead at Fajara where he was on duty.
It happened on the 1st of May 2004.

According to sources, Muhammed had lost parents. He is at a youthful age.
According to family sources the body of Muhammed Ceesay was found lying on
the ground at his work place. According to reliable sources nothing was
removed from the premises he was guarding. According to the Police PRO, Mr.
Aziz Bojang, investigation is still on and there isn’t much the police could
say at this stage.

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