Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
  Issue No. 1/2006, 3-6 January, 2006

  Editorial
  A NATION IN NEED OF GUIDANCE AWAY FROM CRISIS
  First, it was the border crisis. The restriction of the movement of transports led to the restriction of the border trade in goods and services. Prices of gas and other commodities increased while supply reduced. The road projects were also put at a standstill as the materials imported for road construction became scarce.
  The country did undergo enough stress. After the negotiation with the involvement of President Obasanjo and other leaders in the sub-region many people felt that enough lessons had been learnt on how to steer the country away from crisis.
  To the surprise of many the conflict between Senegal and Gambia was followed by an internal conflict between government and the opposition. The arrest of the opposition leaders created an internal stress that had been unknown in the history of the country.
  Following such political stress was the failure of the regime to make the necessary preparation to enable farmers to sell their crops without unnecessary difficulties. Consequently, credit buying is still a major problem.
  While this problem is being criticized the government decided to make a decision for GIA to monopolize the pilgrimage to Mecca. Crisis has also gripped this sector. Many of the pilgrims have paid D70, 000 to GIA for their transportation to Mecca. Up to the time of going to press the pilgrims had not gone.
  The Gambia is therefore entering 2006 poorer than it was in 2005. It is also facing the prospects of more alienation from the international community because of the failure to create the open society that democracy calls for. There is therefore need for national contemplation regarding the future of the country. Is Gambia the land of liberty, dignity and prosperity that had been envisaged? The answer is simple. Gambia is a highly indebted poor country with 69 % of the population living in poverty. This trend needs to change in 2006. There is need for Gambians to look beyond the failed expectations of 2005 and take charge of their destiny in 2006. There is no room for despair. Power to change all human conditions belongs to the people. 2006 shall be a year of truth and decision. This is the year for the people to make informed choices in order to build a destiny free from threats, fear, poverty and marginalization.


  INTERVIEW WITH HALIFA SALLAH
  ON THE INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT,
  NADD AND LESSONS FROM THE ARREST
  FOROYAA: Can you comment on the interview by the president on New Year’s Eve?
  Halifa: There is nothing new. NADD must take the higher ground since the Gambian people have high expectations of what an alternative government would bring.
  FOROYAA: The president referred to NADD members as clowns. He accused supporters of the opposition of threatening to demonstrate when the members of the opposition were arrested and threatened that he would be willing to kill 20, 000 people to save 1.4 million. Is the opposition secure with all these statements?
  Halifa: Psychological warfare is a part of confrontational politics. NADD does not intend to lead 20,000 people to their death but to lead them to the defeat of Yaya Jammeh at the polls. The statement of the president will intimidate a person who is not genuinely interested in working for the liberation of the Gambian people in particular and humanity at large. To be among the political figures that the 21st century needs one must combine the virtues of Malcom X, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. One must not harbour any fear, hate or spirit of revenge. To feel insecure because of the statements of a president is either a sign of cowardice or guilt. Those who wish to serve as alternative governments can never harbour cowardice or guilt.
  FOROYAA: What is your reaction to the allegation that the grass root members of NADD wanted to demonstrate?
  Halifa: Demonstration can be a means of expressing grievances to a government or a means to destabilize a government. Under a genuine democratic society civil society may organise peaceful demonstrations to enable leaders to know the grievances they are supposed to address. This is why section 25 subsection (1) paragraph (d) of the constitution states:
  “Every person shall have the right to
  freedom to assemble and demonstrate peacefully and without arms”
  The issue therefore is not rejecting all types of demonstrations. What a genuinely democratic state would kick against is violent demonstrations to destabilize government when one can genuinely go the ballot box to change the government. During our arrest the NADD leadership never doubted their willingness to go before the courts to defend their innocence for any charge of subversion. In order not to confuse the population regarding the reason for their arrest the NADD supporters were inspired not to engage in any form of violent protest. It is therefore ridiculous for anyone to claim that NADD has any objective to transform the young people whose survival and development we are to protect into human shields. In fact, the maturity displayed by he NADD leadership has confirmed that NADD is a unique agent of peace on the African continent. Once we are elected to lead the country, Gambia will be an example in the protection of human rights especially the rights of the child.
  FOROYAA: The opposition is still being accused of giving information to Senegal to destabilize The Gambia.
  Halifa: Let the government produce the facts. There are 7 registered political parties. Other than APRC and NCP, only 1 is not linked to NADD, that is, GPDP. Which party could serve as an informer? NADD is equally interested in receiving any information to confirm the allegations. We have questioned all our members and no one has acknowledged giving any information to Senegal. Gambians should disregard any allegations against the opposition until they are substantiated by evidence.
  FOROYAA: What about the claim that the Senegalese regime has been informed that the Gambian contingent to Darfur comprises Cassamance rebels?
  Halifa: I am the Rapporteur for the Pan African Parliamentary Mission to Darfur. I was in Darfur before the first Gambian contingent. The first contingent was very lucky to meet me before they were deployed in the six sectors in Darfur. I had visited all the three states of Darfur and all the sectors for the officers. I gave them a briefing of the situation. In fact, I had never told any one that the members of The Gambian contingent took the opportunity to give me money to bring to their families to the tune of 20, 000 dollars, if my memory serves me right. It would be ungenerous for me as Coordinator to be associated with any member of NADD who would give such information about The Gambian contingent in Darfur.


  Pilgrims Depart At Last
  By Surakata Danso
  At the time of going to press the fourth and final flight taking pilgrims to the pilgrimage to Mecca was preparing to depart. The pilgrims a have suffered a lot.  Their sons and daughters have spent their hard gotten money they obtained in Europe, America and elsewhere to pay for them, but they still could not tell when they suffered a great deal before they could leave.  The members of the Hajj commission either did not seem to be aware of situation leading to the delay in the departure time for the 1950 Pilgrims for the 2005 Hajj or were unwilling to reveal the truth.  This became evident when I got in touch with the secretary of the Commission and a member of the Supreme Islamic Council who deputized for the “Amirul Hajj” or President of the Commission, on Wednesday December 28th.
  When they were asked for the factors responsible of the delay they denied that it was not a problem of getting a slot on time for landing.  They also denied that they were engaged in a gimmick to cheat the Pilgrims in terms of paying less for lodging and other expenses like food and travel.
  For the information of the reader, going late means not being able to perform all the functions, whether obligatory or not, e.g the 40 prayers at Medina.  The two officers indicated that there was to be a plane on Thursday the 29th which never materialized.  Both the 1950 Pilgrims and the Muslim population of the nation remained in complete darkness with no explanation from either the Department of State for Regious Affairs, the Hajj Commission, or the GIA.  A plane landed at the Banjul International Airport for the Pilgrim was in the early hours of Saturday morning of 31st December 2005.
  It seems negotiations were taking place down in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a slot in landing time for the Plane, which was already in the Gambia.
  On Saturday 31st December, 473 Pilgrims were asked to be at the Airport by 5pm.  They departed on Monday 2nd January.  I visited the Airport on Sunday in the early hours of the morning.  On my arrival I could see some relatives bringing food.  When I contacted some pilgrims they complained of the cold harmattan wind over night and the lack of a good sleeping place.  Old women who came from the provinces told this reporter that they had never witnessed the burden they met that night.  Speaker after speaker complained that already they had missed the activities at Medina on the 1st of Jan 2006, the first day of the Tobaski month.    On the reason why the Pilgrims are still at the Airport even though there is an Aircraft on the ground to take them, an insider told this reporter that they are yet to receive any green light from Saudi Arabia.
  Needless to say, the GIA and the Department of State for Affairs need to clarify the following rumours in the interest of public accountability.
  (1)        How was it possible for the sub region to leave except for the Gambia?
  (2)        Is it prudent that the Pilgrimage be monopolized by one company?


  SENEGALO-GAMBIAN PERMANENT SECRETARIAT TO BE OPERATIONAL IN JULY

  By Bubacarr K. Sowe
  The communiqué issued at the end of the third session of the Joint consultative committee on Senegalo-Gambian Cooperation held on 28 and 29 December has revealed the Permanent Secretariat should be operational by I July 2006.
  According to the communiqué, the budget and structure of the Secretariat should be concluded by 31 March 2006, the staff of the Secretariat by 30th June 2006, the creation of a Joint Sub-committee under the aegis of the Foreign Minister of Senegal and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of The Gambian, including the Ministries or Departments of State for Finance and Justice; and that the Senegalese side has to propose a date for a meeting in Dakar for the sub-committee on the re-establishment of the Secretariat in February 2006.
  On the matter of the Trans-Gambia bridge project, the two sides agreed that the bridge is a regional project and will accordingly be placed within the framework of the Organisation of the Gambia River Basin (OMVG).
  “With regard to ownership and Management of the bridge, these should be in conformity with OMVG procedures and practices, as applied to other OMVG projects like Sambagalou and Keleta Dams in Senegal and the Republic of Guinea respectively” the communiqué noted.
  The two sides further agreed that the OMVG should play a leading role in resource mobilization for the construction of the bridge.
  It added: “The meeting also agreed that the competent Ministers or Secretaries of State should request the OMVG Chairman of Council or Secretariat to include the Trans-Gambia bridge project as an agenda item of the OMVG council of Ministers meeting to be held in Dakar in January 2006. The said OMVG Council of Ministers’ meeting should be the Minister or Secretary of State for Works and Infrastructure.”
  On the agreement on road transport, the communiqué said: “The meeting noted with satisfaction that significant progress has been made since the signature of the Agreement on Road Transport on 5th October 2004. The Joint Committee now directs the sub-committee on Road Transport to meet in Banjul not later than 31 January 2006 for the purpose of finalizing all outstanding issues for the full implementation of the said Agreement.”
  On the ferry tariffs, the Senegalese side took note of the justification for an increase in Ferry Tariffs, and the two sides agreed on the need for reasonable notice to be given whenever future decisions are taken in this regard.
  However, in regard to Economic and trade affairs, the communiqué pointed out: “The Gambia confirmed that a decision had already been taken to appoint the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the National Surety and also to set up the ‘Guarantee Fund’ in accordance with the relevant ECOWAS Protocol. In this regard, the meeting took note that The Gambia will complete the arrangements for the full implementation of the Inter-State Road Transit (ISRT) by 31 January 2006, and this was accepted by the Senegalese side.”
  It was further agreed that the sub-Committee on Economic and Trade Affairs should meet in Dakar before the end of February 2006 to deal with all outstanding matters in this sector, including the Draft Agreement on /trade between the Gambia and Senegal, within the framework of ECOWAS, Senegal-Gambia juxtaposed customs offices, trade observation and the documentation on both transit and re-export trade.
  On judicial matters, the two sides agreed on the need to re-dynamize the Agreement on Mutual Assistance in the field of Criminal Justice, which was signed in Dakar on 29 July, 1992, which came into force on 28 October, 1998. It was further agreed that the Senegalese Government should review the 1973 Judicial Agreement and accordingly informed the Gambia Government as a matter of urgency, for consideration.
  On defence and security, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to re-energize the defence and security committee, they agreed to designate and forward the list of their representatives to the other side. The said committee is expected to meet as soon as possible in one of the countries.
  “The Ministers or Secretaries of State responsible for Security and Defence shall meet before the end of February 2006, either in Dakar or Banjul with a view to identifying ways and means of developing cooperation in their respective sectors.
  The Communiqué was read by the Senegalese Foreign Minister in French and The Gambian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lamin Kabbah Bajo in English. It was signed by both the Senegalese Prime Minister, Macky Sall, and the Gambian Vice President, Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy.

  A TRADE SEASON WITHOUT CASH

  By Abdoulie Dibba & Surakata Danso
  A press release issued by the state, which was broadcast by GRTS talks of the trade starting on today, Thursday 5th January 2006instead of the 22nd December, 2005. The press release indicates that the market price indication given by ASPA is D6500 while the buying price set by government is D7500. The press release also indicated that the government will meet the difference.
  Before the issue of the press release we had conducted investigation as to what had been happening since the 22nd of December 2005 and have come up with the following information. The information we have received from different parts of the country reveal that there is credit buying in some seccos while in others buying is yet to commence. In CRD, buying has started but no cash is available at the seccos. Those who spoke to this paper said that even though their groundnuts are taken to the seccos, they are yet to receive their monies. In No Kunda in Baddibu, they have cleared the site of the secco but there is no clerk or cash for the buying of nuts. In Bansang, even though buying is said to commence, there is no cash at the secco for the payment of the nuts. Information from Taibatou in URD reveals that no buying has commenced and that no secco has been prepared. In Sarra Kunda, Sabach Sanjal, information has it that the trade season is yet to take off the ground. In Medina Sering
 Mass, Niumi, we have been informed that even though buying has commenced, no cash is available. In Farafenni, buying is yet to start, whereas in Kaur, Lower Saloum, even though buying has commenced, the people are given promissory notes instead of cash. The trend all over is credit buying or no buying at all.
  Information reaching us states that up to Friday the 30th December 2005 no cash was supplied to the 34 cooperative societies operating nation wide.
  Further information coming from Saba, Kerewan, Njaba Kunda, Salikene in the Baddibous and Kuntaya, Kerr Jarrga, Medina Serigne Mass, Baja Kunda, Dankunku, Kundang and Brikamaba have confirmed that there are very limited activities so far because of lack of cash.
  The source further indicated that seccos like Bansang had refused to buy or weigh the crop of farmers on credit basis but that other seccos nation wide have already started credit buying.
  This reporter had equally been informed that a total of five companies have been licensed to operate this year’s season. That they are as follows: - Royal Enterprise, GASTIN, INTER AFRIC, COM AFRIC and GAMCO. However there is alarming information that apart from GAMCO the companies are yet to be established because of the fear that the producer price of D7500 given is not acceptable. The source indicated that the companies are of the view that buying the g/nut for D7500 and adding cost of service would bring them around D11000 – D12000 before export. This, the source said would mean losses to them.

  JOURNALISTS AND THE RULE OF LAW  The Daily Observer editorial of Tuesday 27th December 2005 is rather unfortunate. Instead of buttressing the media fraternity, the editorial proceeded to make baseless attacks against the media fraternity. What makes the development unfortunate is that the Daily Observer is a media house and employs media practitioners. What is logical is for it to give solidarity to a fellow journalist when he or she has fallen in pursuit of freedom of _expression.
  This rejoinder will not follow the foot steps of the Daily Observer. Not at all. Rather we will simply clarify their misconceptions of our stand and their misrepresentation of facts.
  The thread that runs through the editorial is that journalists in The Gambia seem to be provoking conflict while conflicts make the position of journalists precarious. This is a total misconception of the stand of the media fraternity and is completely at variance with the reality. One thing which must be clearly noted is that we are not in a war zone yet our journalists continue to face harassment, media houses experience arson attacks and worst of all a journalist was killed in cold blood. The culprits have not been brought to book in all these cases. The principal concern of the media fraternity is that impunity still sticks out its ugly head and it must be nipped in the bud. That’s all we want. Nothing more. We cannot therefore take the death of Deyda “in the general context of the profession and the risks involved” as the Daily Observer wants us to do. The death of Deyda is very dear to us to be considered as a mere passing event. We are not in a war zone and see no reason why
 journalism should be a risky profession in The Gambia. Journalism will continue to be a risky profession in The Gambia so long as impunity is allowed to continue. So what we expect from the Daily Observer is to call on the state to redouble their efforts to put an end to impunity, not to undermine the media fraternity, which is gaining strength. This is the first point to note.
  The editorial claims “the march or demonstration organised by the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and the plan to lay wreath on the spot where Deyda died was an unfortunate incident that should never have occurred”. In the first place, no march or demonstration was organised by the GPU or any institution. Nonetheless, what is wrong in having a demonstration or a march in remembrance of a journalist who stood for freedom of _expression? In fact, what is actually wrong is the killing of Deyda Hydara, not any march or demonstration or laying of wreath in remembrance of him.
  There was a definite plan to lay a wreath at the spot where Deyda was killed. How this can provoke anybody other than the murderers of Deyda remains to be seen. The laying of a wreath is simply a mark of honour and remembrance of a loved one who has fallen, irrespective of the religion one belongs to. The family of Deyda Hydara did not object to it. All those who attended the conference did not object to this. So what is the problem? May be the Daily Observer will soon begin to advise government not to lay wreaths for fallen soldiers on Remembrance Day since most of them are Muslims.
  The editorial stated: “Gambian journalists must realise that they are not above the law and our parent organisation must not be seen to be encouraging journalists to break the law and disobey the forces of law and order”. This is a terrible distortion of reality. Which law did the media fraternity break? None whatsoever. Is the Daily Observer telling us that the law forbids us to lay a wreath in remembrance of Deyda Hydara? The conference participants, on presumption that they have not broken any law, could have proceeded to lay the wreath but they did not do so. They leaned backwards to comply with the police order in order to avoid confrontation. May we add here that the PIU O/C when asked could not give any legal defence for their action. In the end he had to acknowledge that he was simply carrying out an order. We regard this order as unlawful. So it is clear then that our actions show our interest in observing the law and ensuring peace and tranquility. In fact, we did not
 stop there. The Secretary of State for Information was consulted for her to intervene to see whether the matter could be resolved peacefully. She expressed surprise that the police had taken such an action and promised to get back to us but she never did. So we cannot be said to be less interested in peace, security and stability.
  One therefore cannot understand what the Daily Observer is getting at by stating “stability and security cannot be compromised”. Who is undermining the stability and security of The Gambia other than arsonists and murderers who pounce on lawful citizens performing their professional work? For this reason we are urging the Daily Observer to join the fight to put an end to impunity and freedom of _expression and give solidarity to the media fraternity. This is in the interest of all media houses and media practitioners who wish to do their work without fear of harassment or threat to their lives. The Daily Observer is advised to be careful of what it writes lest it is seen as a collaborator of murderers and arsonists who have no regard for the peace and stability of The Gambia.
  Needless to say, the GPU has been making effort and will continue to make effort to engage the state in dialogue. In fact, three Secretaries of State concerned with law, security and information were invited to the international conference but none of them turned up nor did they send representatives. After the conference started the Secretary of State for Information was contacted and proposal for dialogue put forward. She promised to contact us on the following day but she never did. We intend to continue with dialogue and we shall make effort to contact the state again. We don’t see the state as an enemy but as a partner in development.



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