Thanks Fatou.
It is a paper that educates and informs our people and I was just sharing.
Jabou
-----Original Message-----
From: Fatoumata <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 2:51 am
Subject: Re: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning/THANKING GUNJUR
PLEASE JOIN ME TO THANK GUNJUR FOR BEING PROVIDING FOROYAA NEWS TO US ONLINE
PRIOR TO THE NEWSPAPER COMING ONLINE.
BRAVO GUNJUR AND MAY ALLAH REWARD YOU!!!!
FATOU
On 11/11/2007, [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
> Issue No. 132/2007, 9 - 11 November, 2007
> Editorial
>
> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
> SHOULD ADVISE THE PRESIDENT
> Chief Manneh's case will again be brought up before the ECOWAS Court. The
> government should examine what it had gained by detaining Rambo for over
> a
> year. The danger of long detention without trial is the possibility of
> sickness
> and even death while in detention. Such developments become tragic. Human
> right Law protects both state and person. A State which respects human
> rights is
> protected form having a record of maltreating its people with impunity.
> In short, if a police officer abides by the constitutional provisions and
> inform a suspect of the cause of his or her detention within three hours
> and
> enable the person to gain access to a legal counsel, no person will
> disappear
> or be tortured. The role of a Republic is to protect the sovereignty of
> the
> people .This requires leaders who consider themselves as servants of the
> people; Section 72 of the Constitution states that ''The Attorney General
> shall be
> the principal legal adviser of the state''
> We therefore hope that the person in charge will be afforded all the
> support
> necessary to fulfill the terms of her oath to perform her duties without
> fear or favour, affection or ill will.
>
> Former SoS's Wife Convicted
> By Fabakary B. Ceesay
> Mrs Ndey Njie, the wife of the former Secretary of State for Youth Sports
> and Religious Affairs, was on Wednesday 7 November convicted by Principal
> Magistrate B.Y Camara of Banjul Magistrate Court.
> Delivering the judgment, Magistrate B.Y Camara pointed out that the
> accused
> person, Mrs. Ndey Njie, was charged with common assault contrary to
> section
> 227 of the Criminal Code, Cap 10. He stated before the court that Mrs.
> Ndey
> Njie,on the 14 May,at the police headquarters unlawfully assaulted one
> Mrs.
> Nyarra Adams by slapping her on the face. Magistrate Camara said the
> prosecution
> had a task to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Magistrate Camara
> indicated that the prosecution had called five witnesses to prove its
> case. He
> noted that the witnesses included the complainant, Nyarra Adams, her
> husband
> Saikou Lamin Adams, Sergeant Lamin Cham, Police Commissioner Essa Badjie,
> alias
> "Jesus," and Assistant Superintendent, Malanin Ceesay; that their
> evidences
> before the court corroborated each other; that the accused person indeed
> assaulted the complainant. He said most of the witnesses produced by the
> prosecution are all senior security officers who testified that they
> witness the
> case before the court. Magistrate Camara said that on the side of the
> defence
> they have called only two witnesses to defend their case; that Mr.
> Abdoulie
> Faal and Mr. Musa Njie all testified that they heard the complainant
> using foul
> words towards the accused person's father; that there was a quarrel, but
> no
> assault has taken place. Magistrate Camara ruled that it is the
> conclusion of
> the court that the prosecution has proved their case and therefore
> convicted
> the accused as charged.
> Mitigating on behalf of the accused person, Counsel Haddy Dandeh Njie
> pleaded that the accused is 30 years old and is currently taking care of a
> twelve-year-old girl. She said the accused has never had a tussle with the
> law.
> Counsel Njie added that the accused regrets and expresses embarrassment to
> the
> fact that she was standing trial at a court.
> Magistrate Camara said the behaviour of the accused was stupid for her to
> act in such a manner at such a place, like the police headquarters. He
> noted
> that it was lack of discipline for one to behave in that way knowing that
> one's
> husband is a high-ranking government official. He therefore sentenced her
> to
> a fine of D7,000 dalasis and another D5,000 dalasis to compensate Nyarra
> Adams for causing embarrassment to her in front of the police officers
> and in
> default to serve 12 months in prison.
>
> Stakeholders Comparative
> Studies On Jetty Project Validated
> By Modou Jonga & Amie Sanneh
> A one-day consultative workshop to validate the comparative studies of
> the
> fisheries Jetty landing fees and fuel under the Gambian Artisanal
> fisheries
> Development Project was on Thursday 8 November held at the Corinthia
> Atlantic
> Hotel in Banjul.
> In his welcoming remarks, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of
> State
> for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly matters, Mr. Lamin
> Nyabally said the essence of the Gambia Artisanal Fisheries Development
> Project
> (GAFDP) is to improve fisheries facilities and infrastructure. Mr.
> Nyabally
> expressed hope that the discussion on the GAFDP comparative studies will
> be
> meaningful.
> The Director of Fisheries Mr. Adiatou E. Njai said the main objectives
> of
> the project are in five components, namely, the improvement of fisheries
> and
> infrastructures, strengthening of fisheries Department, strengthening
> monitoring, control and surveillance, credit program, and project
> management.
> Speaking further, the Fisheries Director noted that the fisheries Jetty
> will
> be managed by The Gambia Ports Authority on behalf of the Fisheries
> Department based on a management Agreement that spells out the terms and
> conditions
> of management.Mr Njie said the GPA signed this management agreement in
> 2001.
> On the study report of GPA, the Fisheries Director said the objective of
> the
> consultancy on the comparative studies, was to conduct comparative
> analysis
> of the fisheries port landing fees, fuel price tariffs and incentive in
> The
> Gambia and Senegal in order to recommend to Gambia Government the right
> levels
> to apply to ensure the competitive and profitability of the new Banjul
> fisheries Jetty. Mr. Njai revealed that the consultant, Mr. Abdou Njie
> of Sahel
> Management International, has successfully completed the study
> after exhaustive
> investigation and analysis of the data collected in Senegal and
> The Gambia.
> He concluded that the one day consultative meeting is a testimony of the
> success of the comparative studies of the fisheries Jetty project.
> In his opening statement, the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Water
> Resources and National Assembly Matters, Yankuba Touray, noted the
> significance of
> the fisheries sector in the national development efforts. SoS Touray
> underscored his Department's resolve in achieving a significant reduction
> in poverty
> through increased food security, employment opportunities and Foreign
> Exchange earning by means of sustainable management, exploitation and
> utilization of
> fisheries resources. He said the construction of the Banjul Fisheries
> Jetty
> would cater for landing and cold storage facilities among other things;
> that
> the fisheries Jetty Project will create a window of opportunities for
> private
> sector investment. The SoS called for the application of appropriate and
> competitive prices in order to optimize the number of vessels using the
> Jetty
> thus making it profitable and expressed hope for the efficient
> operationslization of the new Banjul Jetty.
>
> BEACH BOYS COMPLAIN OF MALTREATMENT BY SOLDIERS AND GTA
> By Isatou Bittaye
> The boys at the beach, commonly called "Bumpsters", have raised their
> dissatisfaction over the manner they are treated by the soldiers and
> staff of the
> Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) at the beach. Speaking to this reporter,
> Ebrima Darboe, a beach boy, said they depend on the beach to earn their
> living,
> but that they are being denied the freedom to do so by the GTA and
> soldiers at
> the beach. He said that he has a Bar where he sells soft drinks and beer
> and
> that he does not hustle or rob the tourists, but the soldiers treat him
> like
> a "bumpster". He said they always disturb him at the beach. Ebrima
> complained that the GTA set rules for them, which according to him are
> not reasonable,
> citing the GTA identity card as an example. He said that being at the
> beach
> could sometimes bring opportunities for them, as they can be fortunate to
> have a sponsor.
> Ebrima added that they are not "bumpsters" who harass or rob tourists,
> but
> are there to help tourist's in order to get something from them for their
> living. He said that he is a bar-keeper and some of his friends are
> fishermen
> and juice pressers, that the only solution to their problem is for the
> soldiers
> and the GTA to leave them to have their freedom at the beach. He added
> that
> they are also urging the government to establish factories such as
> fishing
> companies, etc as an alternative where they can be employed to enable
> them to
> contribute to the development of the Gambia.
> He called on the Hotel Managers to employ them in their hotels as
> entertainers. Sheriff Ceesay, another beach boy told Foroyaa that their
> main problem is
> the soldiers.
> He explained that they depend on the beach to make ends meet, but the
> soldiers always disturb them. He said the soldiers sometimes arrest
> and detain them
> at their camps for 72 hours, punished them by forcing them to do hard
> work
> or even beat and torture them to stop going to the beach. He said
> this cannot
> stop them from going to the beach..
> Sheriff said they sometimes have good opportunities at the beach, but
> these
> opportunities sometimes slip away due to the treatment meted out to them
> by
> the soldiers. He also called on the government to create employment for
> young
> people and for society to also change their perception that youths do no
> want
> to work, but rather prefer to sit at street corners drinking green tea
> (attaya). Sheriff challenged that everybody wants to leave a happy life
> and
> develop his family and the nation. He said that people should have
> sympathy and
> respect for each other. He agreed that there is occasionally one or two
> bad boys
> who cause trouble but that this is not a general problem that should be
> used
> as a pretext to deny them the beach.
> Mr. Amadou Ceesay, the Director of Human Resources at the GTA, told this
> reporter that the tourism industry needs to be regulated in order
> to achieve the
> desired objectives. He said that the GTA understands that
> the frustrations
> of the boys are as a result of poverty, but they will not allow them to
> wreck
> the industry.
> Mr. Ceesay said the GTA introduced the identity card to make sure that
> only
> people with bona fide businesses are allowed to go to the beach. He said
> before the ID card is issued to anybody, the person must register with
> GTA. He
> added that they have established the Tourism Security Unit (TSU) for the
> safety
> and well being of the tourists and they operate within all areas
> frequented
> by tourists. Mr. Ceesay said the GTA understands that the "bumpster"
> problem
> is a social problem and decided to tackle it in two approaches. He said
> the
> GTA has created employment schemes such as the official tourist guide
> scheme,
> which was introduced in 1997, that the scheme is a poverty alleviation
> scheme that trains and employs "bumpsters" as guides. He said they also
> conduct
> sensitisation programmes on the TV and radio and also go to schools to
> sensitise people on the negative effects of bumpsters and try to
> introduce people to
> ways they can contribute positively to the nation. He said that
> the reality
> is that everybody cannot be employed in the tourism industry and
> the beach
> boys "bumpst negatively"'. He said some juice presser's method
> of operation
> at the beach is unhygienic and can cause health problems to the tourists.
> He
> said they don't allow juice pressers to operate in an area where there is
> no
> tap. He said they have allocated places where they should operate but
> some
> boys do scatter along the beach.
> He added that he received e-mail from a tourist that some boys were
> trying
> to harass her at the beach, which he said could drive tourist from the
> Gambia
> and that will be a great loss to the economy.
> On his part, Lt. Ousman Bah, the head of the Tourism Security Unit, (TSU)
> said the unit is mandated with the responsibility of clearing the
> industry with
> all forms of illegal acts such as hustling, robbing, prostitution,
> bumpsting, drug dealing and other criminal acts under the Gambia
> Tourism Offences Act.
> Lt. Bah said they are trained professionally to deal with people, either
> Gambians or non-Gambians, and are to make sure that nobody harass or rob
> tourists. He denied the allegation that they arrest and beat or torture
> people, but
> noted that they arrest people they found hustling tourists and detain them
> for 72 hours.
> He said during the 72 hours of detention, they normally ask the arrestees
> to
> perform cleansing exercises because they committed offences and that is
> their form of punishment and they feed them with three daily meals, which
> is
> sponsored by GTA. He said some boys did not have the valid documents
> to be at the
> beach and the TSU now has a drug squad and immigration unit and
> they monitor
> drug dealers and people without valid documents. Lt. Bah noted that they
> have rules governing them to provide a safe and secure environment for
> people
> doing business in the tourism development area. He said they operate from
> Atlantic Hotel to Sanyang on a daily basis to protect tourist, which is
> their
> responsibility, and the national interest is paramount since tourism
> contributes
> a lot to the country. He said some boys do not want their presence at the
> beach but they use dialogue to enlighten them on the importance of
> tourism.
> Lt. Bah said they are trying to introduce a plan whereby anybody arrested
> will be taken to GTA to be recruited in their cleansing team. He said
> they know
> they are dealing with their own brothers but it is their responsibility.
> He
> said they are trying to build and foster civil-military relations and
> people
> should understand that it is their mandate to control and secure the
> beach.
>
> Lawyer Tambedou Defends Omar Ndow
> By Fabakary B. Ceesay
> The economic crime trial involving the former Managing Director of
> Gamtel,
> Mr. Omar Ndow could not proceed on Wednesday 7 November at the Banjul
> Magistrates Court. The prosecution was supposed to reply to the "no case
> to answer"
> submission by the defence on the last sitting date. Holding brief for ASP
> Momodou Bojang was Corporal 1831 Sanyang, who informed the court that ASP
> Bojang
> was involved in another case at Kanifing Magistrates Court. Corporal
> Sanyang
> told the court that it is impossible for ASP Bojang to make it to the
> Banjul
> Court. He applied for and adjournment to enable ASP Bojang to be
> available.
> The defense counsel, Sheriff M. Tambedou, argued that if the prosecution
> has
> no reply to his submission, he would urged the court to deliver a ruling
> on
> the matter. Counsel Tambedou added that the prosecution did not advance
> any
> genuine reasons for their absence. Mr. Tambedou said instead of appearing
> before a Principal Magistrate, he went to attend a case before a first
> class
> magistrate. Principal Magistrate B.Y. Camara ruled that the case is a
> sensitive
> matter and for the cause of justice to be served, he would adjourn the
> matter
> to a short date. He noted that the reason advanced by the prosecution is
> not
> reasonable enough.
>
> TRIBUTE TO THE LATE BABOUCARR GAYE
> A MENTOR, FRIEND, COLLEAGUE AND FATHER
> Baboucarr Gaye, one of the titans of the Gambian Media, was a courageous,
> honest, and very principled journalist who had contributed enormously
> towards
> the growth of the media in the country your untimely death has sent shock
> waves through many in The Gambia and beyond.
> We have lost a hero, a champion, a fighter for freedom of expression and
> human rights. Baboucarr you are gone but your deeds will remain with us.
> You
> will always be remembered by the old, young and the interested
> readership.
>
> Though once a time he was a gem
> A man of manly manners made
> A king and a champion all in one
> Of fresh and newly blood and bones
>
> Here before us lies the past
> Now stripped of any presence kept
> A history stripped and only left
> With memories lit in faded colors
>
> Though of an era past and distant
> He was a thing dearly desired
> More than gems and diamonds too
> No price ever could match his worth
>
> Here before us indifference lies
> In a static state and stagnant
> In this world, lifeless and listless
> Lethargic, languid and torpid
>
> Once in him was greatly action
> Ambition, toughness and talent
> In many ways inspiring and funny
> He loved to fly, though now he lies
>
> Here before us lies the fresh
> Yet we think and talk of greatness
> Could he then be gone and done
> By just an end to the flesh he wore
>
>
> Baboucarr rest in eternal peace. Till we meet again
>
> From your daughter, and colleague
> Agi cox - Bah
>
> FOCUS ON POLITICS
> IN THE 1988 KUKOI SCARE,
> ACCUSED PERSONS ALLEGED SEVERE
> TORTURE UNDER DURESS
> We have been focusing on politics in this column and this compels us to
> follow the narration of political events from the Pre-colonial period to
> the
> Post-Independence era. We have successfully covered the narration of
> events up to
> the year 1988.
> In the last issue, we have stopped where we said Mr. Sisoho expressed his
> concern, among other things, that for Foroyaa to associate Mr Tombong
> Saidy and
> Amadou Kabir to MOJA may make things difficult for them.
> Let us continue from where we stopped
> The treason trials concerning one Musa Sanneh, Amadou Badjie,
> Adrian Sambou
> and Ousman Sanneh continued. The concern of the PDOIS supporters at
> the time
> was the alleged link that was being portrayed in court by the prosecution
> appearing to link Kukoi to PDOIS.
> However, the trial revealed glaring allegations of torture by the accused
> persons. The allegations made were so serious as to attract the attention
> of
> the international media. For example, by about 9 May, the BBC attended
> the
> trial and reported on the allegations of torture by the accused persons.
> According to the BBC report, all the accused persons alleged that their
> statements
> were obtained under severe torture on several occasions. The prosecution
> objected to the allegation, which led to a trial within a trial to
> determine
> whether the accused persons were indeed tortured.
> In his testimony in court, Amadou Badjie ,one of the accused persons,
> told
> the court in minute details how he was tortured by Deputy Commander
> Sainey
> Mbye and six other officers, all of whom he pointed out in court, one
> after the
> other. Badjie said Mbye ordered him to be stripped to his under-pants,
> which
> was done. He also said a Jola officer was chosen (since he was a Jola) to
> tie
> his hands together at the wrists. Badjie said Mbye then ordered the same
> officer to push an iron rod between his knees and elbow joints, saying
> the
> officer does not need to worry whether Badjie was hurt or not in
> the process.
> Badjie alleged that after the rod had been forcefully inserted through
> his
> knees, each of the two ends was placed on a chair with him thus trussed
> up
> and dangling above the two chairs. He said that whilst in this position,
> Sainey
> Mbye had a small blue machine brought and placed on a nearby table.
> Justice
> Ayoola who presided over the trial within a trial did not give a ruling
> on
> the case at the time.
> In the case of Musa Sanneh, who also alleged the same torture, Ayoola
> dismissed his statement and upheld that of the statement of the police.
> The police
> demanded for the examination a private medical doctor to establish
> whether
> Badjie was indeed tortured or not. Interestingly enough, the period
> coincided
> with the Second Conference on Human and People's Rights organized by its
> Secretariat and was to be held in the Gambia to consider the progress
> made since
> it was adopted by the many African heads of State that attended it. That
> conference was preceded by a demonstration involving Mr. Jabel Sallah,
> who at the
> time had just won the Banjul South Seat in the 1987 general elections.
> Mr.
> Jabel Sallah during this conference boldly appealed to participants to
> have
> due regard for human rights and to stop the practice of persecution of
> those
> with opinions different from that of the ruling parties and governments,
> freedom of the press, human rights and the means of survival.
> By April 1988, reports of an agreement between the United States
> of America
> and The Gambia Government reached the news stands that
> Banjul International
> Airport was to be used as an emergency landing site for the US space
> shuttle.
> This not only infuriates some Gambians but also frightened many and
> became a
> subject of intense debate.
> Observers had also noticed that just within a short time after the
> agreement, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Security arrived in
> Banjul on an
> official mission. Some believed that the two events were related. They
> expressed suspicion that the Americans were concerned about their own
> security and
> global strategy. They further suspected that the whole thing might have
> been
> part of the East/ West struggle for global domination, which could
> entangle
> small Gambia in that imbroglio. They asked what guarantees did the Gambia
> had
> that the Americans would not utilize the facilities as a military
> surveillance,
> and listening centre and whether such a centre would not become a
> military
> target by the Russians or any other belligerents in times of conflict.
> Many questions were equally raised as to what Gambia could benefit from
> such
> a facility, apart from, maybe a few dollars for rentage and possibly
> putting
> our regime in the good books of the US government.
> Critics of the Agreement said Gambia purports to be a non-aligned state
> and
> as such, we should keep clear of all super power rivalries. According to
> the
> Nation, the Gambia had the trend to lean on the West on certain
> fundamental
> issues when it had been clearly established that the West's stance was
> purely
> on political rather than moral grounds. They cited some cases when the
> Gambia voted at the UN and other international forums condemning the
> Soviet Union'
> s invasion of Afghanistan whilst Gambia never publicly condemned the
> American
> invasion of Grenada or Libya or their aggressive policies in other parts
> of
> the world.
> The rumour of Kukoi coupled with the treason trials of the four men
> linked
> to Kukoi made many observers to feel that the threat made by Kukoi could
> indeed be true. The Nation Newspaper reported several incidents in
> Banjul, which
> stunned many people. According to them, just in the span of a week,
> people
> they described as desperadoes had ransacked the Anglican Church in
> Serrekunda
> and got away with silverware as well as goods in some Mauritanian shops
> in
> Banjul. They also succeeded in robbing many shops of hundreds of
> thousands of
> Dalasis as well as carjacking a land rover headed for the National
> Library and
> fired on the door of its store. This pattern of crime, which was said to
> be
> repeated throughout the city of Banjul and the environs, was said to have
> been
> extended, albeit, slowly to the rural areas, thus introducing a new
> phenomenon.
> The Nation observed that this was a situation that was very reminiscent
> of
> the crimes and violent deaths just few months before the coup d'etat of
> 1981.
> The Government was said to have appeared to be indifferent to this
> situation
> because of the fact that they want to assure world, donors and tourists
> that
> The Gambia was a peaceful country where nothing of the sort, like violent
> crime, happened. The incident at the library meant a lot of challenges to
> the
> security forces, the Nation newspaper warned.
> The issue of Foroyaa, the organ of the (PDOIS) which was refused entry to
> the State House after the last interview that Sam Sarr had with
> president
> Jawara, compelled the Nation to make an assessment of its performance
> and thus
> concluding that the paper was barely a year old but it seems to have made
> a
> tremendous impact on the regime's attitude towards the press. Its
> appearance,
> the Nation wrote, had resulted in the regime adopting a somewhat defensive
> posture towards the local press in general and the Foroyaa in particular.
> As a
> result of such a defensive posture assumed by the regime, certain things
> that
> everyone took for granted had either been stopped or undergone some
> changes.
> For example, it had been customary for the president to call a press
> conference whenever he returned from an overseas trip involving all local
> journalists
> and to discuss not necessarily everything but issues pertaining to the
> trip
> in question. But this, the Nation stated, has even changed.
> According to the Nation, they have also observed that whether it is as a
> consequence of the appearance of Foroyaa or a mere co-incidence, but the
> president seemed to have abandoned the idea of calling press conferences
> every time
> he returns from overseas, and when he does, questions are restricted to
> the
> trip in question. It also appeared that they want to exclude Foroyaa
> reporters from all press conferences organized by the State. The Nation
> also cited
> another circumstantial victim of the Foroyaa syndrome appeared to have
> been the
> popular radio Gambia programme "press Review" in which they used to
> broadcast a sampling of editorial comments of the various local papers
> and some
> international publication. This programme was stopped shortly after the
> appearance of Foroyaa, apparently because they did not want to quote an
> opposition
> paper like the Foroyaa on the air. The Nation opined that they would have
> been
> comfortable if they had continued the programme and excluded Foroyaa from
> the
> review but that they thought the easiest way to solve their problem was
> to
> discontinue the programme altogether. As regards the president's press
> conferences, there appeared to be a conspiracy to bar Foroyaa reporters
> from
> attending. The Nation recalled that the last time a Foroyaa reporter
> attended such a
> press conference, the president seemed to have been personally offended
> by
> his style of questioning and at one stage, he even requested an apology
> from
> the reporter for a remark he had made.
> Since that day The Nation observed there appeared to be an orchestrated
> campaign to exclude Foroyaa reporters from all press conferences. It
> was reported
> that during a press conference organised by Dr. Asamoah, the Ghanaian
> Foreign Secretary, during his recent visit to Banjul, the Foroyaa reporter
> was
> refused entry to state house to attend the press conference. When the
> press
> attaché at the president's office was approached, he said it was the
> minister of
> External Affairs who organised the press conference and he, could not do
> anything about that.
> When the president called his last press conference and invited all
> accredited journalists the Foroyaa reporters, Mr. Sam Sarr and Halifa
> Sallah were
> again refused entry to state house. There was no reason given for
> refusing them
> entry, despite the fact that both reporters were accredited journalists.
> This
> was the time when the PPP used to complain why the PDOIS was putting on
> both
> the political and journalist caps.
>
> AS LEGISLATORS GIVE POWERS
> TO PRESIDENT JAMMEH
> Aspiring Council Candidate Changes Course
> By Musa Jobateh
> An aspiring disabled candidate for the Local Government election slated
> for
> February 2008, for Latrikunda Ward, Saineyba Saho, on Monday announced
> his
> decision to discontinue his aspiration as a candidate due to the new
> local
> government law passed by the NAMs in the parliament on Wednesday,
> November 1st.
> In an interview with Foroyaa at his Latrikunda resident, Saineyba Saho
> who
> was confident that he was the choice of the people in his ward, disclosed
> that
> with the existence of the new local government law, his candidature will
> be
> useless. Mr. Saho said he did not want to fail the confidence bestowed on
> him
> by his people. He asserted that it is of no significance to be given
> power
> by people and not have a room to demonstrate it, only because it will be
> "
> seized" by an individual.
> "It is very undemocratic for the president to be given such absolute
> powers
> to dismiss or dissolve any councillor elected by people, because he (the
> president) was elected by people, that's why he is occupying his office
> as the
> head of state," said Mr. Saho. He continued "I have all the skills and
> potentials to develop my ward to modern estate, but it is still useless
> as I will
> not be given the chance to work according to my own will."
> Saineyba Saho who strongly believes that disables can also deliver
> positively and contribute equally to national development. He said "In
> fact this is
> one factor that motivates me to aspire to contest for the local
> government
> election, to show the whole world that home is not the only place for the
> disabled."
> Mr. Saho finally thanked all those who were supporting him and called on
> them not to be discouraged. He said his doors are open for them any time
> they
> want to exchange views, as he is part and parcel of them.
>
> Protection From Violence, Exploitation
> And Abuse Of Children
>
> (Courtesy of unicef)
> In this edition of children's corner, we still continue on the 2006
> unicef
> children's report. This time around is the protection from violence,
> abuse and
> exploitation of children, which still remains an obstacle in the lives of
> children worldwide.
> Disasters, emergencies and trauma were no strangers to children in 2006.
> Armed conflict disrupted children's tranquility from Afghanistan to Sri
> Lanka to
> Sudan and beyond. Natural disasters ripped apart children's lives in
> Ethiopia, India, Nepal Pakistan, Peru and the Philippines. Famine and
> floods crept
> across the Horn of Africa. And displaced persons languished in camps in
> such
> countries as Chad, Romania and Somalia. Young people toiled in the worst
> forms
> of labour, young women suffered the indignities of sexual harassment and
> discrimination, and girls and women endured the horrors of rape and
> sexual
> assault in nearly every corner of the globe. The UN Secretary-General's
> Study on
> Violence against Children released in 2006 documents the atrocities
> children
> experience on a daily basis.
>
> Through it all, when disaster strikes, UNICEF is on the ground to provide
> basic services and attempt to transform crises into opportunities.
> Life-saving supplies were brought to families living in Chad after
> fleeing
> the slaughter in Darfur (Sudan). Safe water, soap, blankets, vaccinations
> and
> high-protein biscuits will stave off disease and death until the
> displaced
> can return to their homeland. Some 2.1 million people displaced within
> Darfur
> received essential health-care services, and 1.2 million
> children received
> polio vaccinations and vitamin A supplements. While basic supplies
> and services
> continue to sustain life in the camps, the children of southern
> Sudan have
> reached a crossroads. With three quarters of an estimated 8 million
> people in
> the area unable to read or write, the UNICEF-sponsored 'Go to School'
> campaign in 2006 beckoned children into classrooms so they can 'rise from
> the ashes'
> after two decades of war.
> In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it is believed that
> between
> 8,000 and 11,000 children continue to be associated with armed forces and
> groups, UNICEF responded within 48 hours to violence that erupted in July
> in the
> eastern part of the country.
> A convoy of trucks, escorted by armed UN peacekeepers, delivered
> biscuits,
> salt, beans, wheat, cooking utensils and plastic sheeting for shelter.
> Throughout 2006, UNICEF helped demobilize and reintegrate children used
> by armed
> groups and forces by providing education, recreation and counselling to
> former
> fighters, and counselling, medical care and vocational skills to girls
> and
> women who had been sexually exploited.
> Within 24 hours after Java (Indonesia) was rattled by an earthquake,
> UNICEF
> was there to provide devastated communities with safe water, sanitation
> and
> hygiene kits. Within three days, children were playing and receiving
> psychosocial support in child protection centres, and less than two weeks
> later,
> students were being schooled in UNICEF-supplied tents.
> At the beginning of the conflict in southern Lebanon in July 2006, UNICEF
> collaborated with the Lebanese Red Cross to deliver crucial assistance to
> displaced children and families in hard-to-reach areas. Later on, UNICEF
> aided
> non-governmental organizations' mobile primary, health and immunization
> clinics,
> and child-friendly recreation and psychosocial programmes. UNICEF also
> supported a major Back-to-School' drive and mine-risk education
> initiatives.
> Turning catastrophe into triumph has been the goal of UNICEF's rebuilding
> process in countries ravaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Throughout
> India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, communities have
> 'built back
> better'. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India, for example,
> doctors,
> nurses and anganwadi (childcare) workers, were trained in the Integrated
> Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses strategies. UNICEF also
> helped
> establish a Sick Newborn Care Unit to provide tertiary care to infants.
> In
> Malaysia, trauma recovery work is conducted with children and adolescents
> through
> arts and leadership workshops.
> In 2006, UNICEF appealed for $1.2 billion to ensure the protection of
> women
> and children in 53 emergencies. Not quite half that sum was raised by
> November, leaving UNICEF to respond only to the most urgent needs of
> children and
> women in crisis. With a commitment to humanitarian relief reform UNICEF
> has set
> out to better predict and respond to emergencies. Along with other
> agencies,
> UNICEF has implemented the 'cluster approach', a collaboration between
> service providers, in Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the
> Congo,
> Indonesia, Lebanon, Liberia, Somalia and Uganda. As long time leader of
> the global
> cluster of UN agencies for nutrition, water and sanitation, and for
> common
> data services and now as a partner in developing a global education
> cluster,
> UNICEF will continue to strengthen its humanitarian response and follow
> its Core
> Commitments For Children in Emergencies.
>
> MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
> THE WIFE BATTERER
> Part 3
> The Terrorist
> Dave saw the complimentary card that was given to Rama. He burst into
> 'flames
> '. He went straight to Rama to enquire. "Who gave you this card?" Dave
> questioned Rama. As she tried to explain he turned her into a punching
> bag. Dave
> gave Rama the beat of her life. She ran into her room and locked it. Dave
> ran after her. He drummed the door and shouted from the outside. "Open
> the door
> you harlot! That's why I refuse for you to practice your profession. How
> many more complimentary cards would you have received by now. I swear
> I'll kill
> you!" Daved paced up and down the inner corridor. Rama shook like a leaf
> in
> her bedroom. She cried herself to sleep.
>
> A Nervous Wreck
> In the morning, all her body ached. She drank some medicine and applied
> hot
> rob all over her body. She was ill.
>
> The Gate Man, Abdou
> Abdou, the gateman is a great gossiper. The driver, Gibril reported for
> work. He dragged him aside and told him about the crisis. "Gibs! Boss
> is wicked
> oh! He turns madam into a punching bag. He gave her the beating of
> her life.
> Boss have no respect for his wife. Poor woman E so nice! No
> problem". Gibril
> asked. "Did you try to separate them?" "Separate them! Do you want me to
> loss my job? Ah once tried it but Ah received a nasty slap for it. Boss
> threatened to sack me if ah interfere in eh life". Gibril bit his lower
> lip. "I'll
> interfere if I am around. I'll not watch him maim his wife. He does not
> deserve her. She is such a beautiful lady". Abdou agreed. "You na
> graduate. You
> deh just pass time. As soon as you see another thing you go leave. But for
> me na
> poor man with two village wives and fifteen children. Me papa, mama dey na
> village. They all look up to me". "Where is boss?" "EH don left now, now,
> in
> a hurry". "What about Madam?" "Madam day na room". "Okay! Let me go for
> keys".
>
> Gibril Knocks At The Door
> Gibril knocked at the front door. Rama came to open it with a plastic
> smile.
> "Are you okay madam?" Gibril asked. "I am a bit feverish but I'll take
> care of it. Its okay! Thank you". She brought in the keys. Gibril took
> them and
> thanked her. "Feek free! You can trust me. I'll always help you". Gibril
> announced. "Okay!" Rama locked the front door and went back to the house.
> Gibril went on some errands for his boss before reporting back to the
> office.
>
> Shut Herself In Her Room
> Rama shut herself in her room incommunicado. She drank her tranquillisers
> and mend her bruises. Her face and body were all swollen.
>
> Dave At Work
> Dawda was at work. He suffered from guilty conscience. He thought very
> hard.
> As usual, he displayed his brutish tendencies before coming to work. He
> knew
> his wife was hurt. He called for Gibril. "Rama is not feeling well. Take
> this money buy her some groceries and ask her to see our family doctor".
> Gibril
> went in a jiffy.
>
> Gibril Delivers Message
> Gibril delivered Dave's message to his wife. He gave her the groceries
> and
> cash. "He asked me to tell you to see your family doctor". "Thanks!" Rama
> aid. Gibril left for the office.
>
> Rama Not Seen
> Dave came back to an empty house. He called her name over and over again
> but
> Rama was nowhere to be seen". She must have left for that witch's house,
> Kate! Catherine interferes too much in my marital affairs". He headed for
> Katty'
> s house.
>
> At Kate's House
> Dave drummed the Gate and shouted Katty's name. The Gateman, Paul decided
> to
> ignore him. But he persisted. Paul protested and came to him. "What is it
> man? Can I help you?" he became sulky and rude. "No! You cannot help
> me. Go
> and get your boss. I want to speak to her". Paul went to call Katty.
>
> Katty And Ron
> Kate and Ron came out to meet Dave. "What is it? Can I help you? Why do
> you
> drum my gate to annoy me?" Catherine asked. "Where is my wife? Why do you
> want to break my marriage, Kate? What have I done to you?" Dave
> protested. "Am
> I your wife's keeper? Who told you she is with me? Are you man enough to
> hold a wife?" They quarreled bitterly, hauling tirades against each
> other.
> Ronald intervened. He spoke first to Katty. "It okay! There is no need to
> quarrel
> with him". "But he accused me. How is he so sure that his wife is with
> me?
> Am I his wife's keeper? He have no respect for woman. He does not deserve
> a
> woman not to talk about a wife. I am sorry Rone but I have to handle this
> useless chauvinist". Dave raised his hand to hit Katty. "Wife batterer!
> Violent
> saddist! Hit me! That will be your end. You will rot in jail and end your
> miserable life there". Ronald spoke directly to Dave. "Boyfriend! You
> have to
> take it easy with these women. It is not manly to beat your wife. You are
> use
> to it. Look a your action just now. You want to hit a liberated woman?
> You
> would have land yourself into serious trouble". But you are
> not restraining her.
> You watch Katty insulted my person". Dave protested. "I don't own Katty.
> She owns herself. We are equal human beings in a positive relationship.
> We
> respect each other's position. I can only try to convince not to force
> her".
> David appealed directly to Katty. "Please! Can you tell my wife to see
> me? I
> want us discuss family matters". "That's better approach. I'll go and
> tell her
> your message".
>
> Continuation of interview with Halifa Sallah
>
> Part 9
> You and Sidia have been the focal points of PDOIS. Recently you stood as
> a
> presidential candidate and some people have been commenting on your
> relation.
> Can you throw light on this?
> My first mission up country as a Social welfare officer in 1978 was in
> Wuli.
> I went to deal with a fire incident at Medina. I proceeded with Sainey
> Snghateh who was the MP for the constituency at the time to his village,
> Foday
> Kunda where I had the most remarkable experience of my life. I met an old
> man by
> the name of Pa Foday. He spoke broken English. I noted everything he said
> in
> my diary. As Amilcar Cabral had argued the African intellectual could not
> truly serve his people until he/she returns to the source, until he /she
> commits class suicide. I made it a principle to take sociological data of
> every
> village I visited. I took note of the social structure; some historical
> facts;
> the level of awareness of the population; the land tenure system and the
> social amenities available such as schools, health centres, the number of
> wells
> and other infrastructure. Pa Foday gave me his account as a slave and how
> he
> was sent to Burma because of his physical strength. He explained his
> heroic
> deeds and how their European commanders admired them because of their
> valour. To
> cut matters short in order to get to the point Pa Foday was promised the
> heaven and the earth by his commanders for his bravery only to be
> returned to
> Foday Kunda to continue to be a slave. I was also amazed by the sense of
> organisation of the youth led by Hamme if my memory served me right: They
> had
> organised themselves into groups with village youth ministers who carried
> out
> their different responsibilities and took their roles very seriously. I
> developed
> friendship with the Youngman until he went abroad. I visited the school
> at
> Sutu koba where I met the late Mamadi Jabai who eventually became a PDOIS
> candidate. My notes were burnt by an innocent loved one when we were
> arrested in
> 1983 thinking that it could implicate me. A whole sociological library
> regarding the Gambian country side was reduced to ashes. When I started
> the Maggi
> elek programme on radio and was approached by Lalo Samateh to do it in
> Mandinka I had to get a member of our staff from Wuli, Mondo Singhateh to
> help me
> with the translation.This is why the Mandika I speak is of Wuli origin.
> At that
> time I did not know Sidia. When consultation began to establish PDOIS and
> Sam told me that he had consulted with him I became very inspired that
> somebody
> from that neglected part of the country had accepted to be a pioneer of a
> struggle to liberate the poorest of the poor. When Sidia accepted to
> resign
> from the Civil service I personally felt that PDOIS would find in Sidia
> an Ideal
> Presidential candidate who would know what deprivation of a people really
> meant. Fortunately we all saw eye to eye and Sidia was elected to preside
> over
> the affairs of the Central committee while I was elected to look after
> the
> day to day affairs of the party. We wanted to announce the development
> regarding the composition of the executive but Sidia counselled that we
> should not do
> that since each of us would have to test ourselves to know whether we
> could
> be equal to the task or not. More over each was expected to fight
> shortcomings so that the people will find us to be credible when they
> found out who
> constituted the party leaders. This is why we ended up transforming party
> offices
> into an internal matter which led some members of the previous regime to
> accuse PDOIS of not having leaders.
>
> Is that why Sidia continued to be PDOIS'Presidential Candidate?
> There is more to it than that. Any member of the Party could present
> himself
> as a Candidate. People often do not consider matters in a sequence. Prior
> to
> the coup Sidia stood as a presidential candidate only once, in 1992 to be
> precise. The results were not unexpected because of the work
> of liberating
> minds we had to shoulder. We had little resources and no
> Political patrons. We
> were opposed to cheque book politics and had to move from village
> to village to
> convince people. We knew that the work will be slow but sure. It is
> important to narrate what gave us confidence that we were changing the
> face of
> Gambian politics with tremendous resistance from those who did not want
> change.
> Every attempt we made to clarify issues they would come to distort and
> disfigure
> our programmes. When we had succeeded in gaining foot hole in Wuli and had
> intention to move in the same way in other areas the coup occurred. Many
> of the
> strong youths who supported us and were keen in establishing party
> branches
> thought that revolution had come and that we were going to join the band
> wagon. They abandoned us and supported the coup. When they discovered
> that we had
> rejected the ministerial posts offered by the coup makers. We therefore
> had
> to start from scratch again in 1996 under totally
> different circumstances.
>
> Would you clarify why Gambian intellectuals are not promoting PDOIS?
> This is a matter of opinion. Many also were in readiness to sacrifice.
> First
> and foremost it is important to tell you the type of people we started
> with.
> In the first Parliamentary election in 1987 we put up five Candidates
> Sidia
> Jatta, Sam Sarr, Dr. Baboucarr Gaye, Abas Manneh and Halifa Sallah.
>
> To be continued
>
> Sheriff Minteh's Murder Trial Adjourned
> As Defence Lawyer Fails To Appear
> By Musa Barrow
> Magistrate Buba Jawo of Bundung Magistrates Court yesterday adjourned the
> criminal case involving the state and Dodou Janneh (alias Dodou Boy) till
> Tuesday 13 November 2007. The adjournment of the case was due to
> the absence of
> the defense lawyers, namely Sherrif Tambedou, Lamin Jobarteh and Lamin
> Camara..
> Speaking before the court, the police prosecutor, Samateh urged the
> Magistrate to call on the defence counsels to take the case with a degree
> of urgency.
> Samateh asked why none of the three defence lawyers fail to appear in
> court.
> He further added that he had brought a witness who was due to give
> evidence.
> When Magistrate Buba Jawo asked the accused Dudou Janneh his opinion, he
> responded by saying that he could not proceed in the absence of
> his defence
> lawyers. As a result, Magistrate Jawo adjourned the case until next week.
> Readers
> would recall that this case has suffered two adjournments in a row.
>
> Brikama Area Council Management
> Committee Inaugurated
> By Modou Jonga
> A twelve-member interim management committee of the Brikama Area Council
> selected in conformity with the Amendment of the Local Government Act was
> on
> Wednesday 7 November 2007 inaugurated at a ceremony held at the council
> ground.
> The twelve-member interim management committee, are in the persons of Mr.
> Abdou FM Badjie, Governor of Western Region as Chairman., Mr. Landing
> Sanyang,
> Mr. Henry Jammeh, Mrs. Aja Ndey Jatta, Alhagie Babou Sarr, Mr. Yuba
> Jarju,
> Mrs. Nato Camara, Mr. Yaya Tamba, Mr. Damba Kujabi, Mr. Ebrima Beyai, Mr.
> Karamo
> Bojang and Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara.
> In his inaugural speech, the chairman of the interim management committee
> and Governor of the Western Region, Mr. FM Badjie commended the president
> for
> the trust and confidence bestowed on them. Governor Badjie noted the
> resolve
> of the members of his committee in steering the affairs of the Brikama
> Area
> Council with commitment and dedication. He called for the cooperation of
> all
> stakeholders to enable them to realize their aspirations.
> Other speakers at the inaugural ceremony included the Chief Executive of
> the
> Brikama Area Council, Mr. Momodou Jallow, the BAC outgoing Chairman Mr.
> Ousman Gaye, amongst others. Mr. Seringe Modou Joof, Public Relations
> Officer of
> the Brikama Area Council, chaired the ceremony.
>
> GACEM Case Suffers Setback
> By Saikou Ceesay
> The theft case involving the seven employees of Gacem Company Ltd and the
> State resumed at the Kanifing Magistrates Court before Senior Magistrate
> Abdoulie Mbacke on Tuesday 6 November. The Gacem employees are accused of
> stealing
> forty six bags of cement. Police Prosecutor, 870 Touray applied for an
> adjournment on the basis that the first prosecution witness is absent. He
> said PW1'
> s absence coincides with his busy time to prepare some document. The case
> is
> to resume on 15 November for PW1 to be cross examined by the
> defence counsel.
>
> Basse and Kerewan Area Councils Form
> Interim Management Committees
> By Lamin Fatty & Sarjo Camara-Singhateh
> The Interim Management Committees set up by the president of the Republic
> of
> The Gambia President Yahya Jammeh in accordance with the new amendment of
> the local government act , was inaugurated on the 6 of November 2007 at
> the
> Basse Area Council chambers. The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of
> the
> Interim Committee Alhagie Omar Khan the Governor. The out going Chairman
> of the
> Basse Area Council Kanimang Sanneh, the CEO of the Basse Area Council
> Foday
> Darboe as well as other members of the council and the general public
> attended. The new management committee is as follows: Assan Jawo a native
> of Jawo
> Kunda, Alhagie Sanyang (Jum) of Kusun in Kantora, Muhammed Drammeh of
> Sanunding, Mariama Drammeh of Pirai, Yerro Baldeh Mballow of Sare Bojo,
> Ansumana
> Drammeh of Diabugu Batapa, Kassum Jallow of Farato, Muhammed Tunkara of
> Alungharr,
> Mbackeh Darboe (Malamin) of Brifu and the Governor of URR Omar Khan
> acting
> as the Chairman of the committee.
> Addressing the members of the new committee, the governor of URR, Omar
> Khan
> highlighted that the interim management committee is charged with the
> responsibility of managing the affairs of the Basse Area Council, such as
> to prepare
> the council for a better and more efficient administration during the
> period
> leading to the forth coming local Government elections scheduled for
> January
> 2008. He urged them to take their appointment as a challenge and live up
> to
> expectations.
> In another development, the North Bank Region also inaugurated their
> interim
> management team as selected by the president to run the Area Council in
> Kerewan until after the council elections. They are: Sainey Dibba PRO
> AFPRC
> Hospital, Farafenni, Batch Cham Ngain Sanjal, Amie Jallow Taliya, Kemo
> Kinteh of
> Kinteh Kunda, Samba (Batch) Cham of Chamen, Nianija ,Karamo of Manneh
> Buniadu, Chief Queen Janneh Sitanunku and Edward Seckan Governor of NBR
> as the
> Chairperson.
>
> Gamstar and Kanifing Go Headlong at SK West
> By Modou Nyang
> The Serrekunda West Nawettan league final between Gamstar Giants and
> Kanifing United will be replayed tomorrow. The first match between the
> two last
> Sunday ended in a stalemate as there was no winner at the end of the
> match.
> Last years winners Kanifing United are hoping to defend their crown
> whilst
> Bakoteh based Gamstar Giants want to register their name on the league
> winners
> list.
>
> SK East: Bantaba Claim Knockout Cup
> By Isatou Bittaye & Sulayman Bah
> Bantaba FC clinched the Serrekunda East Nawettan Knockout trophy in a
> dramatic 1-0 victory against Maccassa FC on Sunday.
> The match kicked-off to great expectation from both sides, cheered by
> enthusiastic supporters. Maccassa's much feared attacker Omar Jassey
> alias
> Waterman, attempted to steal the show in the 1st minute after Bantaba
> took the
> kickoff, by seizing the ball and cut through the defence but the
> goalkeeper denied
> him
> Bantaba were on alert and knew what was to follow if they give away the
> ball
> so easily. And they responded quickly to the task in hand when Augustus
> Nyouki scored in the 10th minute to put them ahead. Maccassa fought back
> very
> hard to level the score and Waterman was on it again in the 24th minute
> but his
> effort was blocked by the Bantaba defence.
> Maccassa took to the field in the second period with more determination
> to
> get back into the game and they had their destiny on their own hands in
> the
> 60th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Star player Lamin Saho went
> forward for the spot kick but his effort went out wide adding to
> his team's
> frustration.
> At the end Bantaba were handed a cash amount of D7, 000 together with a
> trophy and Maccassa went home with D5, 000. Bantaba's lively goalkeeper
> Modou
> Jauju was voted the most valuable player of the match and was presented
> with
> D500 provided by the 1st Vice President of the Gambia
> Football Association,
> Brigadier General Lang Tombong Tamba.
> For the final of the league competition on Sunday, AC Milan and Maccassa
> will battle it out for the bigger prize for the Serrekunda East 2007
> Nawettan
> zone.
>
>
>
>
>
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