Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 015/2007, 7-8 February, 2007
Editorial
DOES HIV/AIDS HAVE A CURE?
THE CONTROVERSY LOOMS
Gambia has now become the focus of world public opinion because of the
current claim that HIV/AIDS patients are being treated by President Jammeh.
Diseases are enemies to human kind. Every effort must be made to wipe them
from the face of the earth. What is important is for a scientific approach to
be taken to come to a definite conclusion as to whether HIV/AIDS can be cured
or not.
First and foremost, a laboratory test is necessary to confirm that a patient
is infected with HIV/AIDS.
Since the Gambia is now the focus of world public opinion The Gambian
authorities should now involve the MRC and the WHO in the whole process of
identifying those infected with HIV/AIDS, monitor their blood samples as they acquire
treatment and inform the world if the blood samples no longer indicate any
infection after treatment.
The integrity of the programmes of the National AIDS Secretariat is at
stake. The whole world is also observing the situation. Scientific methods should
be utilised to study, validate or invalidate claims of HIV/AIDS cure.
This is a very urgent enterprise. Foroyaa will keep the Nation informed of
all attempts to reach a conclusion on the debate.
We hope that the World Health Community will put an end to the speculation
and create a programme that will enable them to assess all the claims and
state the facts as they are.
Is President Jammeh helping HIV/AIDS patients to live better as patients or
is he curing them? The world needs an answer. The World Health Organisation
needs to give the world an answer.
HALIFA SALLAH ON KEMESENG’S RETURN TO THE UDP, HIS ELECTION RESULTS AND THE
WAY FORWARD FOR NADD
Foroyaa: In the debate between the Clerk of the National Assembly and the
IEC Chairman on who should have revealed that Kemeseng had written a
resignation letter to the Executive Committee of NADD, it was mentioned that the NADD
executive was better placed to inform the National Assembly. What is your view
on this?
Halifa: Kemeseng was facing an election. We had indicated that we would not
do anything to undermine his chances of victory. We were not legally obliged
to reveal the content of his letter to any authority. To have done anything
that would have brought controversy at the time would have put NADD in a
negative light. There was nothing to be gained by publicising Kemeseng’s
resignation. This is why we remained mute about it.
Foroyaa: What were the implications?
Halifa: Kemeseng must have sought legal advice to write his resignation
letter. It is now elementary knowledge that once a person ceases to be a member
of the party of which one was a member one equally ceases to be a member of
the National Assembly. I guess Kemeseng waited until the last minute to resign
from NADD and rejoin the UDP so as to have a smooth transition after the
National Assembly election.
Foroyaa: It is claimed by SoS Yankuba Touray that he attended a meeting of
the ECOWAS parliament after his resignation from NADD?
Halifa: Kemeseng and the clerk of the National Assembly are in a better
position to explain such matters. NADD does not want to be dragged in this
controversy.
Foroyaa: Serrekunda Central was seen as a secure seat for NADD, what
happened?
Halifa: The drama during election eve when every Gambian should have been
sleeping confirms the anxiety of the APRC regime. Never in my life could anyone
have convinced me that there are Gambians, elderly women, who will leave
their children at midnight to build sand mounds in the street and raise their
clothes to expose their nakedness for the sake of an election. I underestimated
the level that the APRC was willing to go to take the seat. When I heard
that the youths were being dragged into a football tournament I felt that once
they came to the voting booth they would decide wisely. I did not contemplate
that they would not even appear to vote at all. If I did my homework well, I
could have rescued the youths from their political malaise. I was misled by
the emphasis of the youth and the reports of how tormented the APRC campaign
team was during the campaign period. My supporters promised me a land slide
victory. Well, the result is different. Many did not vote. Some tell me that the
cards were bought. I do not want to use this as an excuse. In my view
anybody who allows his/her card to be bought is not a sovereign Gambian who can be
relied on by any political force as a supporter. I accept the result as I see
it but I am still concerned that I have a strong political base in
Serrekunda Central. The general reaction of shock after the results is a clear
testimony that the outcome should not be interpreted as a rejection by the people.
Foroyaa: Some claim that the UDP and APRC conspired to get rid of you?
Halifa: Quite frankly, the UDP candidate was not visible throughout the
campaign. My supporters assured me that he would not get his deposit. This proved
to be true. He never posed as a threat. Infact, the UDP vote was split into
four. Some voted for him. Some abstained, some voted for me and those who
were really hungry for my down fall voted for Sainey. The facts on the ground
however revealed that I did not get more votes because many Gambians prefer to
vote by mouth than by ballot tokens. Praises every where but little action to
back words with deeds.
Foroyaa: What do you mean?
Halifa: Just consider the statistics! The voter role for Serrekunda Central
is 30,805 persons. Only 12,230 persons cast their votes. 6,386 persons voted
for the APRC candidate and 4,302 persons voted for me, 1,548 persons voted
for the UDP candidate. Over 18,000 people did not vote. This is the reason why
there is no much uproar but bitterness because many of these people have now
woken from their slumber and are now voting by mouth after the fact. They
just cannot believe what has happened.
Foroyaa: So you are not blaming the UDP for your results?
Halifa: The spirit of multi party politics is that each party has a right to
put up a candidate where it thinks it can win. May be the results of the
presidential election gave the UDP the notion that it can win in a National
Assembly election. It is not for me to judge the UDP. It is for the UDP members
to decide whether their leaders had made the right decision to put up a
candidate in Serrekunda Central or not. I am sure the results will provide lessons
for all of us to learn from. The NADD leadership made the wise decision not
to put up candidates or campaign against Kemeseng or Hamat Bah. In Niani, one
of the candidates gave way to an independent candidate. In Sami, the NADD
activists supported Lamin Ceesay, a former PDOIS supporter and in Niamina East
Jokadu and Kombo South they supporter the Independent candidates.
Foroyaa: What about the claim that Juwara supported the APRC candidate in
Niamina Dankunku?
Halifa: Lamin initially called for a tactical alliance so that he could
stand as a candidate in Dankunku. However, when it became clear that the NRP
would put up a candidate he gave up. I am not sure what role he has played in the
constituency. He is in a better place to explain. I am sure he will accept
to be engaged by the press to clear the air. The NADD executive will meet soon
and will issue a press release on developments.
Foroyaa: What is the way forward for NADD?
Halifa: We will decide in the near future. I have already prepared my report
on the way forward. Once it is discussed it will be published accordingly.
It will address all the burning issues of the day regarding NADD.
The End
BAIL APPLICATION FOR UDP CANDIDATE
Lawyer Ousainou Darboe has informed this paper that a bail application for
the release of the defeated UDP candidate in Lower Baddibou, Kebba F.
Singhateh and seven others will be heard by the High Court.
Mr. Darboe said the application was filed on Tuesday. The arrest of
Singhateh and his relatives came in the wake of a brawl involving UDP and APRC
sympathizers. Suku Singhateh, the Member of Parliament for the aforesaid
constituency was accused of spearheading the arrests of Singhateh and others. But this
claim was dismissed by Suku. The latter said he was not aware of the problem.
MEDIA NGO ESTABLISHED
By Bubacarr Sowe
Media Agenda, a Non-Governmental Organization aimed at strengthening and
promoting the welfare of the media has been established recently.
Haddy Sillah-Ceesay, deputy directress of Media Agenda told reporters at a
press conference on Tuesday that the principal objective of the organization
is building the capacity of Media practitioners and institutions in the Gambia
and within the sub region. Mrs. Ceesay said Media Agenda will facilitate the
training of journalists, lobby lawmakers and politicians in the formulation
of media laws and to develop the prestige and enhance the social role of
journalists thus maintaining the standard of the profession. She also said that
Media Agenda is a non- political and non-profit making body, and is
principally concerned with the development of the media.
Ceesay went on to say that the organization will help build the capacity of
media organizations in Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Liberia, Sierra Leone as
well as in the Gambia.
The organization’s Director, Madi Ceesay who also doubled as the president
of the Gambia Press Union said training for Journalists will commence in June.
He added that about 275 journalists will receive training in various fields
within the next 24 months. The main fields of study includes basic
journalism, economic and financial reporting, investigative journalism, sports among
others
Asked who the financial backers of the organization are, Mr. Ceesay answered.
That all the efforts are solely being done by himself.
POLICE COMMISSIONER TESTIFIES IN
OLD YUNDUM COURT CASE
By Modou Jonga
The Police Commissioner of Western region, Mr. Mamud Jobe, on Tuesday 6th
February, 2007 testified at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court.
The Police Commissioner was testifying in a criminal case involving
seventeen accused persons said to be residents of Old Yundum village in Kombo North.
The accused persons who pleaded not guilty are arraigned for acting without
legal authority in a manner that is calculated to lead to incitement of
violence, destruction or damage to property.
In his testimony, the fourth prosecution witness, Mr. Jobe said on Friday
1st December last year, he led a security team comprising officers of the
Police Intervention Unit (PIU) to old Yundum football field. Upon reaching the
said field, the witness stated, he instructed the removal of the goal posts
erected there. The reason behind this order, as he said, was that the football
field was to be used as a market. After the removal of the goal posts on his
instructions, the fourth witness said, he and his security team further went
to a temporal site which was used as a market by the women of Old Yundum.
According to the fourth witness, upon arrival he found women selling in the
said market; that he then identified himself as a Police officer and informed
the women that the market is not an approved site for a market.
At this Juncture, continued the witness, he saw the first accused (Mustapha
Jadama) coming to the site and started telling the women to stay and sell
come what may.
Speaking further, the witness said he ordered for the arrest of the first
accused as the latter’s intervention was troublesome. The said accused, stated
the witness was there and then arrested and put on board the Police vehicle
to Yundum Police Station where he (the first accused) was cautioned, charged
and detained. While at the Yundum Police Station in the afternoon of the same
date, said the witness, he received information that the accused persons
standing trial have removed the goal posts of the approved football field. And
that those responsible are marching towards Wellingara.
According to the witness, he and his security team then departed to the Old
Yundum football field where he confirmed that the goal posts were removed:
that from there he and his team proceeded to Wellingara where they found the
accused persons chanting that they were fighting for their rights: that the
traffic was, as a result, obstructed: that this prompted him to give orders for
the arrest of the sixteen accused persons; that the accused persons were
further charged at Yundum Police Station for incitement of violence.
Testifying further, the Police Commissioner at Western region said, as a
result of a limited detention facility at Yundum Police Station, some of the
accused persons were detained at different stations on Friday. The witness said
that they were then arraigned in court on Monday 4th December last year.
The case was adjourned to Wednesday 21st February, 2007 for the accused
persons to enter their defence.
WHERE IS THE MUSIC GONE?
In our last issue Ousman Sillah started an interview with Oko Drammeh, the
renowned Gambian International Music Promoter. The Foroyaa has been cruising
with Oko through the times and exploring such areas of interest as his
professional background and the history of music in The Gambia. We stopped at where
Oko Drammeh indicated that the music from The Gambia, at the time, was so
popular and had reached every where which gave so much pride to Gambians.
However, this maestro in the art of music promotion added that notwithstanding this
appreciation of Super Eagles music by the throng of fans both at home and
abroad, the musicians themselves felt unaccomplished and unfulfilled by virtue
of the fact that they were playing imitation music. This sudden realization
of their inadequacy in terms of originality, said Oko, was what had led to the
formation of Ifang Bondi which marked a complete beginning for the band with
a new cultural orientation.
Join us to continue Ousman Sillah’s interview with Momodou Oko Drammeh who
was so open, passionate and full of verve in this encounter.
Foroyaa: You mean the Super Eagles musicians were hurt by their music?
Oko Darmmeh: Yeah, Because Super Eagles at that time thought they were
playing imitation music and this is not justice to themselves, this is the first
point. Secondly, they’ll never make any money because they are copying other
people’s texts. So they did a review of themselves.
This was how it transformed into Ifang Bondi whose mission was to undertake
a cultural renaissance by playing music through our own languages.
Infact with this rebirth, many Gambians felt offended by the fact that the
Ifang Bondi is playing music in Mandinka, Fula, Jola, etc. Haha….. But well
arranged music just like the way the Rolling stones and the Beatles arranged
theirs.
For me, I was a Disc Jockey (DJ) at the time. And as a DJ I hear Ifang Bondi
playing a better music than the ones I play in the Night Club. Being a DJ I
was able to have my own independent income, so I could stay in the Arts. I
also did not come from a struggling family, as my mother was running a well to
do programme for our social, educational and sporting life. This had enabled
me to channel myself into the Art and my mother approved of it.
I became the first Gambian to have Rasta hair on my head and you know this
was a tough thing to carry at the time giving the social stigma associated
with the appearance. I didn’t drink alcohol or do any thing, but I was kind of a
social reject. But I was able to have a strong economic life to be able to
support other projects, for example, managing the Ifang Bondi, becoming a DJ
and a contributor to newspapers. So I became a strong force to say: “Ifang
Bondi I can manage you and your concept and I can take it international”.
Foroyaa: So having said all these, seeing the glory days of Gambian music
enjoying international appreciation, what is your impression of Gambian music
today compared to yesterday? This impetus is no more, it is almost dead. So
what is wrong with Gambian music?
Oko Drammeh: I will support you. You say it with your own mouth and I
support what you say. It is dead. I asked myself “Where is the Music gone?”
Because, the sub-region, from Nigeria to Gambia, we taught them music, basically
speaking. We, as Ifang Bondi, taught the sub-region how to tune guitars, how to
tune drums and how to choose effects which we learnt from England. Because
Gambians were very fanatical and advanced in effects and when we go to Senegal
we press our effects and they have to watch. We have been prescribing for
bands like Bembeya Jazz, which was among the top in Africa, about P.A system
and how to set-up the speakers.
As for Gambian musicians of today, I appreciate one thing that is they are
still continuing the art of singing and dancing but at the end of the day it’s
a copy of what Gambians are doing now. I would not blame them for it because
the Radio and the Television have to set the tone. What the Radio and TV
play are what the night clubs play.
See next issue for continuation.
POETRY CORNER
Dr. Waaru
A rear ilk of his kinds’ time
Dresses in a garment of superstitious pride
Graduate from imaginary institution
Outstanding in faculty of impossibility sciences
Majored in psychological acrobacy
Producer of thoughtless thoughts
Self-righteously gifted leader
Announced his doubtful alarming ability
As curer of the incurable
Leaving murmuring and gossips
In homes, streets and ghettos
Hospitals availed with his secret herbs
Administered on desperate patients
Doctors’ sham medical niceties
Is all to aid him
Write his own history
By playing Kata-Kata
With precious lives
Building a mountain
Out of an anthill
Let credible Doctors answer
The medical questions
Of the nation
OPINION
A Post-mortem of the National Assembly Elections
(Part II)
The National Assembly elections are now history, the victors are celebrating
while the vanquished and their supporters are leaking their wounds.
Leaking their wounds indeed, as there have been reports from various parts
of the country that several opposition candidates and their supporters are
being subjected to arbitrary arrests and detentions by the police, most of the
time for very flimsy reasons, and in certain instances subjected to
intimidation and harassment by APRC supporters. This is yet another indication of the
type of democracy operating in this country, where it seems to be an offence
to even sympathise with the opposition, let alone manifest one’s opposition to
the regime.
The APRC has won with a “landslide” while the opposition has been
humiliated, no doubt due to several factors, including the unprecedented low voter
turn-out.
Therefore, what is now left is for the political leadership to sit down and
reflect on the situation. While the APRC may be basking in glory for their “
landslide” victory, but they also need to reflect on the cause of the
ever-increasing voter apathy. It is certainly a symptom of something, which should be
of concern to all Gambians, no matter on which side of the political
spectrum one may be.
However, the biggest reflection should come from the opposition, which has
been humiliated twice within three months. It is therefore time that they sat
down to evaluate themselves if they still want to remain relevant in the
Gambian political terrain.
Indeed, there appears to be a general consensus that the problems of the
opposition are mainly self-imposed, even though the political playing field in
this country is far from ideal. The very fact that President Jammeh has
assumed the power to hire and fire members of the Independent Electoral Commission
and the police can still arrest opposition candidates duly nominated to
contest elections, sometimes for very flimsy reasons, is an indication that the
opposition have a formidable task to make an impact in the country. It is
indeed hard for anyone to imagine that it is only the opposition candidates and
their supporters who cause problems and the APRC candidates and their
supporters, despite all the power and influence behind them, are angels who are always
law abiding. The reality on the ground is of course a different matter
altogether and a good manifestation of the type of democracy operating in this
country.
While the problems of the opposition started since the assumption of power
by this regime, especially when President Jammeh seems to regard everyone who
opposes his policies as “unpatriotic” and an enemy of the state, but the
opposition’s down-ward slide actually began in 2006 when the National Alliance
for Democracy and Development (NADD) collapsed, as a result of the decision by
Ousainou Darboe and Hamat Bah to pull out their parties from the alliance,
thus effectively dashing any hopes of a united opposition to fight the APRC
hegemony.
It is indeed still hard to comprehend the justification given by these two
former political heavyweights to unceremoniously quit the alliance. While it
is possible that they had genuine grievances for taking the move that they
took, but there is a general consensus that it was quite an unwise move to split
the alliance at that crucial period when the presidential elections were
just around the corner.
While at the time the two politicians were beaming with confidence that as
the leaders of the two biggest blocs, they have dealt a death blow to the
alliance, but they seem to have failed to realise that through their action, they
had also destroyed any chances the opposition ever had against the APRC.
There is no doubt that before the split, the alliance had a good chance of
dislodging the APRC either in the presidential elections or at the National
Assembly elections. This was even manifested by the low turn-out in both polls, a
majority of whom no doubt were opposition supporters who became disillusioned
with the split and decided not to come out to vote. It is therefore very
likely that if NADD had not split, a great majority of those people would have
voted for the opposition and in that case, the outcome of the election would
have been very different.
However, to show their over-confidence, the UDP and the NRP were making
claims that as the two biggest blocs of the NADD alliance, they were capable of
going it on their own; referring in particular to their combined votes in the
last presidential elections in 2001. Hamat Bah was even quoted as saying that
all that they needed was an additional five per cent on top of whatever they
had in the 2001, as if that figure was already securely tugged somewhere for
them to collect.
Therefore, even after they were humiliated during the presidential
elections, they did not seem to have learnt any lessons and they instead again
rebuffed any calls for a tactical alliance in the National Assembly elections.
Instead, they even went on to duplicate efforts by putting up candidates where
NADD had already got candidates. In the end, the results were not only worse,
but in the case of the NRP, it seems to have been completely annihilated. It is
quite hard to see how it can resuscitate itself after its failure to capture
even a single seat, after spending no less than D40, 000 in the payment of
deposits alone.
Indeed, there are already calls for the present opposition leadership to
call it quits and give way to a new breed of leadership. It is quite obvious
that the leadership has lost all credibility in the eyes of the Gambian public
and no matter what other strategy they may employ, it is hard to see how they
can regain the people’s confidence. Therefore, the only answer is for them to
step down and hand over the mantle to a more determined crop of leadership.
By Demba Jawo
8 YEAR OLD GIRL NEEDS PLASTIC SURGERY
By Musa Barrow
Fatoumata Jaiteh, the mother of one Jabounding Jawara, an eight year old
girl with severe burns has appealed to all to help her daughter to receive
overseas medical treatment.
According to the young mother who resides in Brikama-Jamisa, little
Jabounding, a student at Jamisa Lower Basic School, got burnt in a fire accident
almost eight months ago. It was caused by fire from a Kerosene lamp she was
handling which resulted in severe burns that disfigured the young girl.
Mrs. Jaiteh further told this reporter that immediately after her little
daughter underwent this agonizing experience, she was rushed to the Royal
Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) where she received medical attention.
However, a medical report recently issued by RVTH on the eight year old girl’
s condition states that, “the above named patient suffered from burns 18%
eight months ago. As a result of the burns healing, she developed contracture
all over the wounded area and now she is not able to straighten her right hand.
”
The report further indicated that, “Jabounding Jawara needs to undergo
plastic surgery and this kind of treatment is not available in The Gambia at the
moment, and is therefore recommended for overseas treatment.”
Fatoumata Jaiteh further implored all to come to the rescue of her daughter.
She said the plastic surgery prescribed by doctors is an absolute necessity
for her little daughter to recover, both physically and psychologically. As
she puts it “If the scars on Jabounding’s body are not treated it might
continue to hurt her throughout her life.”
Anyone interested in extending a helping hand to the young girl whose
condition needs urgent attention can either call 4485029 or 9884486 for more
information.
THE “TREATMENT” OF AIDS PATIENTS BY THE PRESIDENT
Dear Editor
Please help me clear my confused state of mind. The issue surrounding the
treatment of Aids by the President of the Gambia is gaining popularity.
The following points are my headache regarding the issue.
1. Is it prudent to declare a cure for AIDS without scientific people?
2. Is it medically ethical to expose the victims of the disease?
3. Is the success of the treatment measured by the CD4 count or by the
individual’s status as zero-negative or zero-positive as par diagnose stage?
4. Is it correct that an AIDS patient can gain 7-10 kg of weight within a
period of 10-14 days after being sick for over 10 years with one cardinal sign
which is weight loss of up to 20% of body weight? And how correct is the
rapid shooting up of the CD4 count on someone whose immune system has been
compromised for a long period?
5. In malaria and other diseases like TB, one is declared cured when there
is no parasite seen in the blood film sample or no AFB seen in the spectrum
spear. Does the same apply in the cure of AIDS?
I would have thought that our medical personnel would have given advice to
the president or any other person involved in such a situation as to how to
deal with a sensitive issue of this global nature, when the Reinhard Bunke
scenario has taught us lessons. I do hope the same will not happen here.
I would have expected the SoS and any other medical personnel involved to
act responsibly by conducting the treatment as a trial with the involvement of
line agencies and organisations like the W.H.O which is responsible for all
global health issues, especially AIDS and terminal diseases. I am not a
scientist but in the case of AIDS I would hope that there should be trials and
curative treatment which makes it mandatory to act sensitively.
These patients treated with those concoctions should be closely monitored
and followed up for a long time. This should involve blood sample collection
and analysis under ELISA at a reputable institution.
It will be good for every Gambian to achieve treatment for AIDS, especially
when it is discovered from the small Gambia but the organisation of the whole
process to me seems manipulated. It should have taken a better form.
Waiting for your response to the above mentioned request made.
Thank you
Yerro
Serrekunda
EDITOR: Mr. Yerro, Foroyaa will make effort to talk to the medical
personnel, AIDS workers and the Secretary of State to shed light on these issues you
have raised.
SK CENTRAL, A GLOOMY FUTURE AHEAD
The just concluded National Assembly Election has been a sad moment for the
people within the constituency of Serrekunda Central. The cause of this
sadness has shocked everyone in The Gambia, especially we, students. Halifa is a
man who loves his country and also has concern for The Gambia, in particular
and Africa, in general. He is a man who has contributed a lot to national
development because he has initiated a computer training school where Gambians
are freely trained in computer studies and created a trust fund from which many
people have benefited in terms of scholarship, micro-finance scheme to
empower them, especially women and so on. He established a centre, called the
People’s Centre, which has served as a social clinic where numerous aggrieved
people have had their problems addressed through his personal intervention, to
mention but a few.
In the five years, in the National Assembly, Halifa has scrutinised bills
word for word and clause by clause to expose their weaknesses; this is how an
MP should perform his duties. To be an MP requires a high level of knowledge
skills. An MP should not be a dummy. He or she should talk and give out his
frank opinions. When people are electing their representatives in the National
Assembly all the communities in that district should meet and choose a
competent person who can protect their interest but they should not select a person
whose educational career has stopped at the primary or secondary level; or
whose motive is to enrich himself/herself or serve another individual.
The majority of the MPs tend to serve an individual’s interest and their own
selfish interest, but not the interest of the country. We have seen
situations in the National Assembly where some MPs in the ruling party condemned
Bills during the Debate but voted for them in the end. Is that not double
standard? Are they afraid of being driven from the party? Such people demonstrate in
practice their lack of faith. What they should understand is that all the
selfish things they are doing, they are going to be accounted for in this world
and the Day of Judgment. Halifa always speaks the truth and raises the
consciousness of the people about their rights, responsibilities and progress.
A concerned citizen.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN NIAMINA EAST
MR. EBRIMA MARENAH
Foroyaa: Mr. Marenah you have been aspiring to be the National Assembly
member for the Niamina East Constituency, but unfortunately the I.E.C has
declared Foday Jallow as the winner. What do you have to say about the outcome of
the election?
Marenah: Well the I.E.C has declared Foday Jallow the winner that is one
thing. But whether he has won or not is another. Because winning an election
should be base on a lot of things particularly the level playing field during
the period of the election.
Foroyaa: Are you trying to say that the election was not free and fair?
Marenah: Frankly as far as I am concern, the election was not the least free
and fair.
Foroyaa: Why do you think so?
Marenah: Because there were lot of intimidation that the A.P.R.C Party was
involved in for example the A.P.R.C campaign team in Niamina East headed by
the chief, Alhagie Kebba Touray and one Fofana, an NIA Officer at Jareng Police
Station, did not only stopped at campaigning for the A.P.R.C, but were going
round intimidating people within my constituency. Even myself, I was
intimidated at one point when some of my supporters were arrested and taken to the
Jareng Police Station threatening them that if I should win they will be in
problem.
Foroyaa: So you are trying to give the impression that because of
intimidation that is why you were defeated?
Marenah: Exactly so. Because for instance the area called Jokni and also 30
mile which are one of my strongest bases, the people there have been
intimidated and seriously harassed. That is why when the results were announced, I
have the conviction that because of these intimidation there was going to be a
low voter turn out in those places.
Foroyaa: Where do you think most of your votes came from within your
constituency and why?
Marenah: The entire Niamina has already shown their support for me because
over 2401 people left all what they were doing, just to go and vote for me.
Definitely those people need to be commended. And these are the people who know
their civic and political rights as far as national development, in general,
and the development of Niamina East, in particular, are concered. This is
why they have the believe that the person identified by the A.P.R.C is not
capable to be a National Assembly Member.
Foroyaa: But do you think if he is not capable as you are saying, he would
not have defeated you in the elections?
Marenah: This election as I said was between Ebrima L.S Marenah and not
Foday but the A.P.R.C machinery as a whole. An example is that on the Monday of
15th January I was supposed to have a meeting at Jareng in accordance with my
campaign schedule itinerary but to my surprise when I went there I met SoS
Yankuba Touray and Ismaila Sambou and others holding a big political rally
there. So in order to avoid any possible confrontation, I adviced my campaign
team to move to another place.
Foroyaa: But why don’t you channel it through the I.E.C.
Marenah: Because I was so disappointed as such types of people should not
violate the electoral codes of conduct.
Foroyaa: Back to the election, how did you feel at that instance when Foday
was declared the winner?
Marenah: I did not feel bad because I know how much support my people have
given me, but I must emphasise it again that the playing field was not level.
I remembered an instance when the chief of Niamina East, Alagie Kebba Touray,
and the former P.P.P candidate for Niamina, Waa Sisay came up to my house in
Kndang trying to induce me and offered me a bribe of D150,000 to withdraw my
candidature. I told them it is not the issue of money but how to contribute
towards national development, liberation and of course the development of the
Niaminas. So in any case if you see such situations know that the A.P.R.C is
terribly desperate.
So when they failed in all their strategies, they went to arrest my
supporters, detained them at Jareng Police. When I went to enquire about their arrest
and detention, I myself was arrested and put in cell for almost 24hours.
They said I have no right to be there. I told them that these are my people, if
they are detained at your station; I have the right to be there. And they
said they are taking me to court for that.
Foroyaa: Do your people lose support in you?
Marenah: I can tell you that people are more ready today than ever. Because
after the declaration of the results I went round to the whole of my
constituency thanking and commending them for a job well done and the response I
received from them is more than positive.
Foroyaa: Is this going to be the end of your political career?
Marenah: Infact this is the beginning of my career as a politician since I
was not very much prepared but now that I have realized my potentials and the
support of my people, the sky is going to be the limit.
Foroyaa: What do you have for your constituency even though you have not won
the election?
Marenah: First and fore most I will try to create reconciliation in my
constituency which has already started. I am also in the process of forming a
Community Based Organisation (C.B.O) in my constituency as an effort to
contribute towards national development.
Foroyaa: Finally you said you have not accepted your defeat, where does your
fate lie now? Are you going to channel it through the courts?
Marenah: Well it still depends on the circumstances because it is too
premature to comment on that. But I am still in the process of gathering
information, and doing necessary consultations with my lawyers because I was seriously
intimidated and harassed when they put me and my people behind bars for our
political and constitutional rights.
Foroyaa: Are you married?
Marenah: Yes I am married with one wife and three children.
Foroyaa: Are you a happy man?
Marenah: Yes I am happy because I have a strong woman behind me. And my wife
is so caring.
Foroyaa: Thank you Marenah for your time.
Marenah: It’s a pleasure, thank you.
MAN ARRAIGNED FOR GIVING FALSE INFORMATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
By Modou Jonga
A man residing at New Yundum village in the Western region, Momodou Alieu
Jallow, was on Tuesday arraigned in court for giving false information to a
public officer contrary to Section 114 of the criminal code. The case was
presided over by Magistrate E.F M’bai of the Brikama Magistrates Court.
The alleged false information according to the statement of the said
offence, was on or about the month of September and October 2006 at New Yundum, that
the accused gave the information to the office of the president that his
daughter (Fatoumata Jallow) was hit by the presidential convoy and died which at
the time of the making of the said information was false.
In narrating the facts of the alleged dissemination of the false
information, the Police prosecutor 413 Sanyang said that it was on the 12 September last
year when the head of state was returning from his provincial tour (meet the
people tour). As a result, said the prosecutor, people were out to cheer him
up including also the accused and his family outside their compound in New
Yundum village. The prosecutor said that an Ambulance numbered GG4278 coming
from the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) in Banjul to Brikama driven
by one Momodou Camara hit the accused’s daughter (Fatoumata Jallow) who died.
The matter stated the prosecutor was reported to Yundum Police station and
the Police came to the scene of the accident. According to the prosecutor, all
the necessary steps on the matter were taken by the Police.
Speaking further, the prosecutor said that the accused being the father of
the deceased wrote to the Police for the withdrawal of the case against the
driver (Momodou Camara) and said that the accident was caused by the will of
God.
A copy of the withdrawal letter by the accused was tendered in court and
admitted as evidence. An affidavit signed by the accused stating not to conduct a
post-mortem on the deceased was also tendered and marked as evidence.
According to the prosecutor, sometime between September and October last
year, the president of the republic was on a survey tour on the highway between
Westfield and New Yundum when the accused was present with other people; that
it was then when the accused explained to one of the Protocol officers that
his daughter (now deceased) was knocked by a vehicle among the presidential
convoy when the latter was coming from a provincial tour. The accused, said
the prosecutor, was thus advised to write a letter to the president’s office
and which the he did.
According to the prosecutor, the letter by the accused stated that the
accused’s daughter (Fatoumata Jallow) now deceased who was about seven years was
hit by a vehicle among the presidential convoy; that upon the receipt of the
said letter, at the president’s office an investigation was mounted to verify
the claim; that the investigation’s findings revealed that an accident
occurred at New Yundum in which a girl was knocked by an ambulance; that the
investigation concluded that the accused gave false information as stated in his
letter addressed to the president’s office and it thus recommended that the
accused be charged for giving false information.
The accused, when asked by the presiding magistrate whether the facts
narrated by the prosecutor are correct, said the facts are incorrect. At this
juncture, a plea of not guilty was entered by the court for the accused. The case
was thus adjourned to Wednesday 14th February, 2007.
TRIBUTE TO COMRADE EBOU MADI SILLAH
Monday 5th February, 2007 marked the first year after the eternal departure
of Ebou Madi Sillah, aka Comrade, from our midst. Comrade Sillah is gone but
his legacy will live on for eternity. Physically, he has left monumental
landmarks in the form of statues at diverse major road intersections or junctions
and public places in the Greater Banjul area and also some cultural works
and relics in historical Juffureh. The late Comrade Sillah had been a source of
inspiration to many young people in his native Banjul as well as students in
academia by helping them cherish the pursuit of knowledge. In the Arts
fraternity, Comrade was also a leading light and mentor for many young Artists
who, through him, had came to fully appreciate the depth of arts and developed
their talents to become professionals. The flow of tributes that came through
the newspapers and radio from friends colleagues and relatives in the wake of
Ebou Madi Sillah’s death are adequate testimony that Comrade led a life of
substance. At the social front, he was attested to be a benefactor to many
people. I, for one, as the youngest of his brothers and many others through our
interaction with Comrade, had been able to develop a critical outlook of the
world. The foundations of my political orientation and desire to pursue and
share knowledge started with him.
For the information of the general public, the friends and family of the
late Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah are planning to commemorate this great Gambian
Artist and Thinker and celebrate his works of arts with an exhibition, and the
date of which will be announced in due course.
Ousman Sillah
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