"One Yaye Rose Camara of London Corner was brought before Principal
Magistrate Moses Richards of Kanifing Magistrates Court on Friday 25 May. 
She
was
charged with unlawful assembly in a manner that can cause civil unrest. She  
was
not represented by a lawyer. When the charge was read she pleaded guilty. At
the same time she denied that she and others assembled to march towards the
Police Station to burn it. She told the court that they were only showing 
their
anger and emotions in the way Sheriff Minteh lost his life. She was 
convicted
on  her plea of guilty and sentenced to a fine of D2, 500 (two thousand five
hundred  dalasis) or in default to imprisonment for a term of six  months."

Foroyaa Newspaper


I am definately sure that if we do our best and find out how to contact this 
Sister and  assist an assist with the payment of the fine,She will very much 
appreciate it and knowing that She is not alone in this struggle will no 
doubt be a wonderfull feeling.

For Freedom
Saiks



>From: [log in to unmask]
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list              
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Fwd: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue No. 6 1/2007, 28 – 29 May 
>2007
>Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 22:17:59 EDT
>
>Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
>Issue No.  61/2007, 28 – 29 May 2007
>
>Editorial
>AFRICAN LIBERATION  DAY
>The Sovereignty of the people is in view
>May 25 has been set aside by  the liberation committee of the OAU as 
>African
>Liberation Day. By the end of  1960 only 17 countries on the African 
>continent
>were independent. Today only the  SAHRAWI DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC on the
>continent is under the colonial domination of  Morocco. Needless to say all 
>countries
>in Africa in particular and the world in  general should take concerted 
>action
>to put an end to the last bastion of  colonialism on the continent and
>complete the first phase of the decolonisation  process. This should be one 
>of the
>fundamental resolutions of the AU Summit in  Accra, Ghana in June 2007.
>
>50 years after Nkrumah declared that the  independence of Ghana was
>meaningless unless it was linked to the TOTAL  liberation of the whole 
>continent Africa
>can claim to have succeeded in its  decolonisation agenda. The second phase
>of national liberation which should  witness the total economic, social,
>political and cultural emancipation of the  African people is at hand.
>
>Hence, as the leaders meet in Ghana to  promote the unification of the
>continent they should mutually remind each other  that this is 
>inconceivable without
>the establishment of a government in each  country which recognises and
>respects the sovereignty of the people. The heads  of state should 
>therefore go to
>Ghana to set standards of best practice in  democratic governance and
>transparency and accountability in economic management  of states which 
>should be
>adhered to by any government which aims to be  incorporated in the new 
>union.
>Those who refuse to adhere to such standards  should be isolated by both 
>the
>people and governments of the continent and the  international community at 
>large.
>This is the only way an Africa of the people  and for the people can be a
>reality in our life time. History is again in the  making. The progressive 
>leaders
>will adhere to the standards while the  reactionary ones will continue to
>oppress the people and would eventually serve  as the last obstacles to the 
>total
>emancipation of the people like the apartheid  regime. All countries and
>governments can have a new start. If they fail to take  opportunity of the 
>new
>situation they will surely end up in the dustbin of  history.
>
>Re - Groundnut Trade Plummets
>An article in Issue No.  60/2007 of FOROYAA entitled “Groundnut Trade 
>Plummets
>” has attracted the  following response from the Gambia Groundnut 
>Corporation
>(GGC):
>
>We  refer to the article captioned “Groundnut Trade Plummets” in the 
>Foroyaa
>Issue  No. 60/2007 of 25 — 27 May 2007. In the said article, your 
>reporter,
>Mr. Yaya  Dampha stated and we quote “In the season that has just ended 
>that
>is, 2006/2007  according to the Managing Director of GGC, his institution 
>bought
>only one  hundred and fifteen (115) metric tonnes of groundnuts. He said 
>this
>was the  total purchases but he did not say the amount of money 
>involved,”
>end of  quote.
>
>We wish to state quite clearly that Mr. Dampha did not  request for a 
>formal
>interview with the General Manager of Gambia Groundnut  Corporation Ltd 
>(GGC)
>as such. He (Mr. Dampha) came to GGC and wanted to see the  General 
>Manager,
>the title by which the Chief Executive of GGC is known.  Thinking that he 
>was
>following up on payments for advertisements, he was  referred to the 
>Finance
>Manager. Mr. Dampha returned to say that he was asked to  see General 
>Manager
>for the information he needed and was consequently ushered  into the 
>General
>Manager’s office. In the presence of a visitor, the only  question Mr. 
>(Dampha)
>asked the General Manager was, “How many tonnes did GGC  buy this 
>year?” He
>was told that GGC purchased 7,015 (seven thousand and  fifteen) tonnes. 
>There
>were no follow-up questions and he just walked out of the  office. At the 
>time
>Mr. Dampha walked into the General Manager’s office, he was  carrying 
>neither a
>pen nor a notebook and consequently did not record what he  was told. One
>would have thought that if Mr. Dampha intended to publish the  information 
>given
>to him or anything on the groundnut marketing, he should have  carried out
>proper research into the issue by conducting interviews  professionally 
>with the
>relevant stakeholders in the groundnut  industry.
>
>We are definitely disappointed with this deliberate  attempt to misinform 
>the
>public by quoting GGC as having provided some of the  figures. We therefore
>request for this rejoinder to be published in the same  front page as the
>original article.
>It is very disheartening to read through  the said article. None of the
>figures stated therein is correct and we wonder  where Mr. Dampha obtained 
>them
>from. Are they the imagination and fabrication of  Mr. Dampha for reasons 
>known
>to him alone.
>
>We take this opportunity  to refer Foroyaa. Mr. Dampha and readers who wish
>to know more about the 2006/07  groundnut-marketing season to an interview
>professionally conducted and  published in The Gambia Daily Volume 1 No. 17 
>of
>16th May  2007.
>Administrative Officer
>GGC
>Editor’s Comment
>We will not  follow the administrative secretary in the polemics of what
>constitutes a  professionally produced and published article. That would 
>lead us
>to focus so  much on the forest as to lose sight of the individual tree 
>which
>is the subject  of concern in HIS rejoinder. The basic point he wishes to
>clarify is that the  GGC bought 7015 tones of groundnuts during the last 
>season
>instead of the 115  tones as claimed by Mr. Dampha.  When Mr. Dampha was 
>asked to
>comment on  the GGC letter he said the following:
>
>When I went to GGC the  administrator was not present.   When I gave the
>notice to his  Secretary indicating that I wanted to interview him on the 
>number
>of tonnes they  bought this past season the Secretary came to tell me that 
>the
>Managing Director  said that I should get in touch with one Mr. Njai. When 
>I
>got to Mr. Njai and  asked him my question he said he had to get a green 
>light
>from the General  Manager himself before he talks to me.
>
>I decided to go back to (Mr.  Colley) the General Manager and gave him that
>message since Mr. Njai was  reluctant to contact him. The General Manager 
>asked
>what my questions were: I  told him we just wanted to know how many tonnes 
>of
>groundnuts his institution  bought in the past season. According to what I
>could recall he  replied   that the GGC bought 115 tonnes only and not 
>7,015
>tonnes as  mentioned in the rejoinder. If the figure is wrong the 
>administrator
>should  clarify issues without making other allegations. I am of the view 
>that
>neither  the General Manager nor my humble self had any interest in 
>distorting
>the  facts.
>
>Our editorial policy is that reporters do not have the last  word. Every
>report submitted by a reporter and published is amenable to a  validation 
>exercise
>by readers. Foroyaa is committed to the principle of  publishing the truth 
>in
>good faith, in the public interest. The basic challenge  of the paper is 
>how
>to maintain the current concept of granting reporters the  latitude of 
>having
>their articles published with little interference without  sacrificing
>credibility and quality. It is through feedbacks like yours,  especially if 
>they are
>done to help us to improve our performance, which enables  us to separate 
>the
>wheat from the chaff. The golden rule of the paper is that it  is the duty 
>of
>reporters to inform the public and to misinform those same people  amounts 
>to
>gross irresponsibility. We however find consolation in the  willingness to
>subject the paper and its reporters to the same scrutiny and  criticism as 
>it
>subjects others. Please accept the assurance of our renewed  commitment to
>publish the truth without fear or favour, affection or ill will in  
>accordance with
>the best dictates of conscience and the public  interest.
>
>SHERIFF MINTEH’S DEATH RIOTER CONVICTED
>By Fabakary B.  Ceesay
>One Yaye Rose Camara of London Corner was brought before Principal
>Magistrate Moses Richards of Kanifing Magistrates Court on Friday 25 May. 
>She  was
>charged with unlawful assembly in a manner that can cause civil unrest. She 
>  was
>not represented by a lawyer. When the charge was read she pleaded guilty. 
>At
>the same time she denied that she and others assembled to march towards the
>Police Station to burn it. She told the court that they were only showing 
>their
>anger and emotions in the way Sheriff Minteh lost his life. She was 
>convicted
>on  her plea of guilty and sentenced to a fine of D2, 500 (two thousand 
>five
>hundred  dalasis) or in default to imprisonment for a term of six  months.
>
>According to the police prosecutor 1748 First Class  Constable Mballow, in
>the early hours of 9 May at Serrekunda London Corner, a  group of people
>assembled themselves to attack the Serrekunda Police Station  with intent 
>to burn it.
>He said that the incident was provoked by the alleged  killing of Sheriff
>Minteh by a police volunteer during a pursuit by the police  task force in
>Serrekunda. He noted that the police urged the crowd to disperse  so that 
>they could
>do their investigation into the matter.
>
>Mballow  indicated that between 7:00am and 9:00am on the following day, the
>people  regrouped and marched towards the Serrekunda Police Station with 
>fire
>and  wearing red head bands. He narrated that some who were arrested 
>confessed
>to the  police that it was the accused (Yaye Camara) who bought the red 
>cloth
>for them  to use as bands and asked them to march towards the police 
>station.
>
>Prosecutor Mballow noted that the accused person remained at large  even
>though the police were looking for her since 9 May. He said that she was  
>arrested
>on 21 May, but that she was not allowed police bail up to that day.  
>Mballow
>said a cautionary statement and a voluntary statement were obtained from  
>her.
>They were tendered in court and admitted in evidence as Exhibits A and B.  
>In
>her plea of mitigation she pleaded to the court to temper justice with 
>mercy
>on her. She said that her act was unlawful and she would never repeat  it.
>
>When delivering the judgment, Magistrate Richards said  that her act is not
>only inimical to the breach of peace in the society but in  the whole 
>country.
>He said that she pleaded guilty without wasting the court’s  time and 
>based on
>that he would not send her to jail but fine her. He therefore  fined her 
>the
>sum of D2,500 in default to serve six months in prison. He added  that the
>punishment is a punitive one to deter others from doing the same  act.
>
>GAMBIAN GROUNDNUT REJECTED AT WORLD MARKET
>By Bubacarr K.  Sowe
>The presence of aflo-toxin in The Gambian groundnut has resulted to its
>rejection at the world market, said Mr. Lamin Dampha, of the Department of 
>State
>for Trade, Industry and Employment.
>
>Mr. Dampha made this revelation  on Thursday, May 24, at the Baobab Holiday
>Resort while presenting a paper at a  workshop organised by the National 
>Youth
>Association for Food Security (NAYAFS)  on the Economic Partnership 
>Agreements
>(EPAs) of the European Union and the  Africa, Caribbean, Pacific (EU/ACP)
>countries. Aflo-toxin is a harmful substance  that affects the liver and 
>causes
>liver cancer known as Hepatitis B.
>
>Dampha said that the processing of groundnuts from the field to  the store
>needs to be looked at. He added that the period of keeping nuts at the  
>depots
>has trippled, and the level of aflo-toxin has not been  controlled.
>
>Dampha emphasized that a lot of effort to control it is  needed, adding 
>that
>a close collaboration with the Department of State for  Agriculture is 
>looking
>at the issue. Answering a question from a participant at  the gathering on
>the impact of the rejected groundnut on the Gambian economy,  Dampha said 
>that,
>that needs to be studied, noting that the problem surrounding  the 
>groundnut
>trade is having a serious impact on the economies of the rural  dwellers.
>
>An agriculturalist present at the forum said the mixing  of late and early
>varieties of nuts by cultivators results in the harvesting of  unripe nuts 
>which
>are moist, and later on become mouldy thus attracting  aflo-toxin.
>
>IFJ CONGRESS IN MOSCOW
>The Sixteenth Congress of the  International Federation of Journalists will
>take place in Moscow from May 28 to  June 2, 2007. This Congress, the 
>Largest
>representative gathering of journalists  in the world, is held every three
>years.
>The theme for this year’s event is  “Making News for Democracy: 
>Building
>Trust in Quality Journalism”, and will  include a core programme of 
>events
>including sessions  on
>
>•            Journalism and Inter-Cultural Dialogue in the Face of 
>Terrorism
>and  Intolerance
>•            Global Media and the fight for decent  work
>•           What  Future for Journalism?
>
>In addition, to the above a special one-day  conference prior to the 
>opening
>of the Congress, will be held on May 28, 2007  Challenging Impunity: the
>Global Campaign for Justice in Journalism when, an  International 
>Commission of
>Inquiry into Impunity in the Killing of Journalists  in Russia will be 
>launched.
>
>The total attendance will be around  1,000, including delegates, invited
>guests and observers, and participants from  Russia and the CIS countries. 
>There
>will be numerous side events and cultural  activities which have a daily 
>theme
>attached to each region-Latin America,  Africa, Asia, the Middle East.
>
>In addition, the Russian Union of  Journalists is offering all delegates 
>and
>guests a three-day river trip to the  Old Russian city of Nizhniy Novgorod.
>This would involve a full cultural  programme.
>
>The Gambia Press Union as a member of the IFJ is  represented by its
>president, Madi M.K. Ceesay.
>
>YOUTH O/AU MARKS  AFRICA LIBERATION DAY
>
>By Baboucarr Ceesay
>As part of the events  marking Africa Liberation Day, Youth O/AU - Gambia
>Chapter organised a symposium  at the Alliance Franco-Gambienne on Friday 
>25, May
>2007. The central theme of  the day was “How liberated is Africa after 
>two
>hundred years of the abolition of  slave trade.”
>
>In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Daniel Cardos, the  chairperson of the 
>ceremony
>said Africa Liberation Day is a very significant day  for Africa and its
>citizens. He said among other things that, that is why they  were very 
>selective
>as far as the panelists are concerned, whom he said are  erudite 
>intellectuals
>to give the audience food for thought.
>
>Mr.  Momodou Max Jallow, the Chairperson of the Organising Committee called
>on young  people to be patriotic to their country and continent, Africa.
>
>Dr,  Siga Jagne of the Pro-Poor Advocacy Group and a gender activist dwelt 
>on
>the  need to promote and nurture our good African values as a people if
>liberation is  to have a meaning.
>
>She questioned how many of us read, write or  even speak our native 
>languages
>today. She said these are crucial factors which  need to be critically 
>looked
>at as part of our identity as Africans. She said  colonialism has not gone,
>it is still here. Dr. Jagne said that these are some  of the realities that 
>are
>keeping us from not being  liberated.
>
>However, she said, despite all what happened, Africans  are still a happy
>people.
>
>She reminded the audience of times when  our country, The Gambia, was
>producing most of the food stuff like rice which we  are importing today. 
>She went
>further to ask; why The Gambia is still not an  exporting country. But was 
>quick
>to add that though our leaders are doing their  best, may be their hands 
>are
>still tied.
>
>Mme Victoria Blackey  (Ndella), Administrative Assistant, University of The
>Gambia, emphasised that it  is Africans who can liberate themselves and no 
>one
>else.
>
>Dr. Saja  Taal, Managing Director, Daily Observer, in his remarks indicated
>that ideology  is seen as a disgrace and many people are scared of 
>ideology.
>He said he sees  himself as a universal being; first a human being, then an
>African and then a  Gambian. He opined that there should be a self
>consciousness of seeing oneself  as a universal being. He added that 
>freedom lies in the
>human mind and not the  mentality of being black African because there are
>white Africans. He further  mentioned that it is the minds that ought to be 
>free,
>because minds can be in  chains – locked. “We must not compromise 
>ourselves,”
>Dr. Taal  said.
>
>After mentioning Nelson Mandela, Nkrumah and other heroes and  their
>contributions to the lives of the African people as well as happenings in  
>parts of
>the African continent, he asked: “What about our youths in the ghettoes  
>of
>Serrekunda? What are we doing about that?”
>
>Mr. Facuru Muhammed  Sillah, Coordinator of Youth O/AU – Gambia Chapter 
>also
>harped on the  significant roles of Nkrumah, Sekou Toure and other African
>liberators who  pioneered the independence of their countries. Facuru 
>quoted
>Sekou Toure as  saying he preferred being free in poverty to being a slave 
>in
>riches.
>
>Rongo, the musician, had attracted the attention of the audience  earlier 
>by
>entering the hall singing his Pan-Africanist song.
>
>Rapper Joe also read a redemption-like lyric with Africanist  stanzas.
>
>In his closing remarks, Mr. Pa Malick Ceesay, Executive  Secretary, 
>National
>Youth Council reiterated that our culture and language, as a  people, are
>indispensable parts of our liberation process. Ceesay said  conventional 
>education
>should not lead to the demise of valuable aspects of our  cultural 
>identities.
>
>The ceremony ended with prayers followed by  the national anthem of The
>Gambia.
>
>CONSTITUTION OF THE GAMBIA PRESS  UNION
>
>1.          PREAMBLE
>Cognisant of the rapid changes and transformation taking place in  our
>society, socially, politically and Economically,
>Aware of the pivotal  role that the media is expected to play in such a
>process,
>It has been deemed  necessary to revise the constitution of the Gambia 
>Press
>Union in order to  reflect those Important  changes.
>1.         NAME
>The name  shall remain the GAMBIA PRESS UNION, henceforth referred to as 
>the
>UNION.
>2.         AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
>The Union shall:
>Be purely a professional and non-political organisation  concerned with
>matters affecting journalism and all aspects of the mass media,  although 
>not
>unconcerned with the political and socio-economic needs and  aspirations of 
>the
>society in general.
>Defend the freedom of the press and  professional independence in 
>journalism.
>Promote unity and understanding  amongst journalists and other media 
>workers
>through collective bargaining and  the provision of welfare schemes.
>Safeguard the freedom of the press and  protect the rights, liberties and
>welfare of journalists and other media  workers.
>Develop the prestige and enhance the social role of journalists and  other
>media workers, as well as endeavour at all times to maintain the standards  
>of
>the profession.
>Uphold the freedom of the collection and dissemination of  information, the
>right to opinion and fair comment.
>Forge closer  collaboration with other journalist orgnisations and media
>institutions both in  The Gambia and abroad.
>Encourage budding journalists and others interested in  the profession.
>Seek training facilities and opportunities for members, both  locally and
>abroad, as well as seek to enhance the professional competence of  members
>through various other means necessary.
>Promote solidarity amongst  journalists and others in the  profession.
>3.          MEMBERSHIP
>(a)       Membership of the Union  shall be open to all practicing
>journalists and other media workers in The  Gambia.
>(b)       There shall exist the  following category of  membership:
>(i)          Full
>(ii)         Associate
>(iii)     Affiliate
>(a)       Full membership shall be  extended to full time  Gambian
>                                                             Journalists 
>and
>other media workers, both in The Gambia and  abroad.
>(b)       Associate membership shall he  extended to others concerned with
>the
>mass media;  including Gambia-based foreign journalists, public  relations
>       officers and  students of Journalism.
>(c)        Affiliate membership shall be extended to Gambia-based
>organizations
>and  other bodies connected with the mass media; and they shall have  only
>
>one  vote.
>4.         ORGANS AND  FUNCTIONS
>(a)       The organs of the Union  shall comprise the general membership 
>and
>the Executive Committee, as well as  any other ad hoc body that may be
>created.
>(b)       Both the general membership  and the Executive Committee shall 
>have
>powers to establish ad hoc committees and  to co-opt outsiders on an 
>advisory
>capacity as and when necessary.
>5. GENERAL  MEMBERSHIP
>(a)       The general membership  shall comprise members of the categories
>and ranks. It shall be the highest  decision making body of the Union.
>6. EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE
>(a)       The Executive Committee  shall comprise the following:
>(i)      President
>(ii)   Two Vice Presidents
>(iii)  Secretary  General
>(iv)   Two Assistant Secretaries
>(v)     Treasurer
>(vi)   Two co-opted members (one of whom must be a  female)
>(b) The Executive Committee shall be elected from fully paid up  members
>during the triennial congress, and unless elected members leave their  
>posts under
>any circumstances, they shall hold office for three  years
>(c)        The Executive Committee  shall be the main organ for 
>implementing
>Union plans and decisions and its  members shall in their respective
>capacities be individually and collectively  responsible to the general 
>membership for
>carrying out the running of the  Union.
>(d)  All former Chairpersons/Presidents of the Union as well as  
>proprietors
>of media houses who are members of the Union shall be co-opted as  advisers 
>of
>the Executive Committee.
>
>7.  OFFICIALS AND THEIR  FUNCTIONS
>(a) The President and in his/her absence the first and second Vice
>Presidents respectively shall Chair all meetings and other functions of the 
>  Union, In
>their absence, the function shall Be performed by such person that  members
>may determine.
>(i)         The President shall not serve more than two three-year  terms.
>(b)       The Secretary General, and in  his/her absence, any of the two
>assistant secretaries shall be responsible for  recording minutes of 
>meetings as
>well as responsible for general correspondence  of the Union.
>(c)        The Treasurer  shall be the custodian of the Union’s accounts 
>and
>all monies due shall be  payable to him/her. He/she shall be required to
>submit an annual statement of  account to the Annual General Meeting as 
>well as lay
>the audited accounts before  the Triennial Congress for  scrutiny.
>d)         There shall be  an Administrator of the Secretariat who shall be
>an ex-officio member of the  Executive Committee. He/she shall be 
>responsible
>for the day-to-day  administration of the Secretariat under the direct
>supervision of the President  and he/she shall be held accountable for all 
>the assets
>and properties of the  Union.
>He/she shall submit a monthly report on the status of the Secretariat  at
>every general meeting.
>(e)       No  proprietor or part owner of a media house or organ of news
>shall be eligible for  election to any position in the Executive Committee.
>
>8.   MEETINGS
>(a)       There shall be an Annual  General Meeting of the Union at the
>beginning of each
>calendar year and an ordinary general meeting on  the first Saturday of 
>each
>month.
>(b)       The  Executive Committee shall be responsible for the convening 
>of
>both the Annual  General Meetings and the monthly meetings, as well as all
>other meetings of the  Union.
>(c)        The Executive Committee  shall also meet as and when necessary. 
>It
>shall also convene an extra-ordinary  general meeting as and when 
>necessary,
>or at the request of not less than a  simple majority of the general
>membership.
>(d)       The Annual General  Meeting shall receive and examine reports by
>the President and the Secretary  General on the activities of the Union 
>during
>the year under review, while the  Treasurer shall present a statement of
>account. The AGM would also consider and  adopt an annual action plan 
>prepared by
>the Executive Committee, as well as  consider and adopt resolutions and 
>decide
>on any amendments to the  Constitution.
>(e)       The AGM shall also  consider and adopt the subsequent year’s 
>budget
>prepared by the Treasurer in  consultation with the Executive  Committee.
>
>9.          QUORUM
>(a)       One third of the general  membership shall form a quorum in any
>properly constituted general meeting of  the Union, and all decisions taken 
>in
>such a meeting shall be binding on the  Union.
>
>10.        DECISIONS
>(a)       All decisions of the Union  shall be taken by consensus or by a
>simple majority of the members in attendance  in a properly constituted 
>meeting.
>Voting on any issue shall be by show of hand  and the President shall have 
>a
>casting vote, which shall be used only in the  event of a  tie.
>
>11.                    FUNDS
>(a)       The Union shall derive its  funds from either or all of the
>following  sources:
>(i)         Membership  subscriptions
>(ii) Donations and contributions
>(iii) Sale of  publications
>(iv) And through other fund raising activities sanctioned by the  general
>membership.
>(b)       All individual  members of all categories shall pay a membership
>registration fee on admission  as well as monthly subscription fees as
>determined from time to time by the  general membership.
>(c)        Affiliate  member organisations shall pay membership 
>registration
>fees upon admission and  annual subscription fees due and payable at the
>beginning of each calendar  year.
>(d)       All monies collected by the  Treasurer shall be payable into the
>Union’s bank account, unless otherwise  determined by the general 
>membership.
>(e)        The President, Treasurer and one member of the advisory body 
>shall
>be the  signatories to the Union’s bank account.
>(f) No money shall be withdrawn from  the account unless it shall be
>authorized by the general membership, except in  cases of emergency when 
>the President
>or in his/her absence, the First Vice  President can authorize such
>withdrawals and thereafter refer the matter to the  general membership for
>consideration and endorsement.
>
>12.  DISCIPLINE
>(a) Any member who is accused of gross professional misconduct or  
>financial
>misappropriation involving Union funds shall have his/her membership
>suspended by a simple majority of members in attendance in a properly  
>constituted
>general meeting. The matter shall then be referred to a special  
>disciplinary
>committee selected for the purpose, which shall consider the matter  and
>recommend any further action to be taken against such a  member.
>(b)       Constant failure by a member  to pay his/her dues as well as 
>abide
>by the Union’s Constitutional provisions  shall be deemed to be lack of
>interest and may result in withdrawal of  membership without notice.
>(c)        Any  member subjected to disciplinary measures shall reserve the
>right to petition  the Executive Committee for a review who shall be 
>obliged to
>table the matter in  a subsequent general meeting for consideration.
>
>13.  AMENDMENTS
>(a)       The whole or any part of  this Constitution shall be subject to
>amendment by a simple majority of members  in attendance in any properly
>constituted  AGM.
>(b)       All proposals for amendment of  the Constitution shall be done in
>writing by fully paid up members and forwarded  to the Secretary General at
>least one week prior to the  AGM.
>
>14.       DISSOLUTION
>In the  event that the Union is to be dissolved, all its assets and
>properties shall be  given to a media organization in this country with 
>similar aims
>and  objectives.
>DONE IN BANJUL ON THIS 15TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2001
>
>The  Freedom of the Press Act
>The right to publish a newspaper without having the  contents monitored in
>advance by any government agency is one example of freedom  of the press. 
>The
>Freedom of the Press Act serves to safeguard freedom of speech  in printed 
>form.
>It gives all individuals a fundamental right to express  their opinions and
>disseminate them without prior censorship. The right of free  access to
>official documents is also enshrined in the Freedom of the Press Act.  This 
>means
>that anyone is entitled to contact a public authority or agency in  Sweden 
>and
>request access to an official document, such as a decision it has  made. An
>individual who makes such a request does not need to give his name or  
>specify the
>purpose of his request.
>Another principle contained in the  Freedom of the Press Act is the freedom
>to communicate information. According to  this principle, all persons in 
>Sweden
>are entitled to communicate to the press  information that they consider
>important and necessary to make public. The  publisher of the material is 
>not
>entitled to reveal the source if the individual  in question wishes to 
>remain
>anonymous. It is a punishable offence for anyone,  for example the head of 
>a
>public agency, to try to find out who has leaked  information to the media.
>Sweden’s first Freedom of the Press Act was  introduced as early as 1766.
>See next issue for further  details.
>
>36 BLACK BEAUTY CONTESTANTS HONOURED
>By Sarjo  Camara-Singhateh
>The United States Ambassador to The Gambia, Mr. Joseph D.  Stafford hosted 
>a
>colourful reception in honour of Ms. Black USA contestants on  Saturday, 
>May
>26, 2007 between the hours of 19.00 to 21.00 hours at his  residence.
>Addressing the contestants, Ambassador Stafford described them as
>Ambassadors of Peace and determined “queens”. He said, he was impressed 
>with the  way
>and manner the “queens” were received by the Gambian people.
>
>He  said it is a land mark history between the US and the Gambia. He said
>this  described the strong historical, social and cultural relationship 
>between
>the  Gambia and United States.
>
>Speaking on behalf of the delegates, Ms.  Kerin Arrington described the “
>queens” as beautiful, talented and intelligent.  She said the beauty 
>pageant is
>not meant to make participants celebrities, but  they are here to link the
>Gambia and the United States. She emphasised that the  arrival of the 
>queens on
>this trip to The Gambia is a mark of  history.
>
>The reception could be described as an interactive one.  The Ambassador’s
>residence was decorated with all the flags of the states within  the United
>States and the Gambian flag fluttered as well. The reception was  opened by 
>the
>national anthems of The Gambia and United States.
>
>U –  20 Team Final Selection 6 in 5 Out
>By Modou Nyang
>The final selection for  the U – 20 have been made with six new players
>making the team and five others  facing the axe.
>Most notable among the absentees from Coach Bonu Johnson’s 22  man 
>selection,
>is team Captain Ken Malamin Jammeh who is dropped because of  injury. 
>Fringe
>players Habib Kunta, Demba Sanyang and Sarja Leigh also lead the  exit door
>together with Pierre Gomez falling out of favour for the team’s Fifa U  
>– 20
>World Cup party.
>Kebba Bah, Paul Jatta, Ebrima Jatta and Abdourahman  Dampha gained entry 
>into
>the team together with Abdou Jatta and goalkeeper  Suruwa Bojang.
>They will join the other players who were part of the team  during the
>African Youth Championship in Congo earlier this year. Coach Peter  Bonu 
>Johnson is
>supposed to travel with a team of 22 players including 3  goalkeepers to 
>the
>Fifa U – 20 World Cup holding in Canada.
>The team is  expected to leave for the UK for a three week training camp 
>and
>then move to the  US before their final destination in Toronto, Canada. 
>They
>will play Mexico in  their first game on July 2nd.
>
>Controversial Goal Gift  Wallidan
>By Modou Nyang
>A 43rd minute controversial goal by Amadou Gaye  earned Wallidan a vital 
>win
>against Sait Matty at the Serrekunda East grounds on  Sunday.
>The leggy Wallidan striker broke through and slipped the ball under  the
>keeper into the bottom post of the Sait Matty goal just as the first half  
>was
>about to end. The goal sent the Sait Matty bench wild as they protested to  
>the
>linesman for not ruling Gaye offside.
>Elsewhere Hawks continued their  poor form as they threw a 2 goal advantage
>to level with division 1 strugglers  Seaview FC at the Serrekunda West 
>grounds.
>  Seaview cancelled one goal in  each half to register a remarkable 
>comeback
>against the FA Cup holders.
>And  on Saturday Gamtel drew one all with Steve Biko at the Independence
>Stadium in  Bakau and Real de Banjul inflicted a one goal defeat to Armed 
>Forces
>deepening  further the woes of the Soldiers. The match between Bakau United 
>and
>Ports  Authority did not proceed.
>
>2nd Division Week Six  Roundup
>By Modou Nyang
>In week six of the GFA second division matches on  Friday, Interior FC drew 
>2
>all against Tallinding United whilst Samger and Kaira  Silo fired blanks.
>Brikama United hammered Jambanjelly FC 3-0. Serrekunda East  FC knocked Ham 
>Ham
>3-1 and Nema United picked up their first win by edging past  Young 
>Africans by
>a lone goal.
>The game between Ham Ham and Serrekunda East  witnessed a tough battle at 
>the
>Serrekunda West grounds. Serrekunda East took  the lead in the 11th minute
>when Ham Ham keeper Dam Jaye failed to handle  properly allowing the ball 
>to
>slip into his net. Ham Ham came back into the game  when Pa Omar Nyang 
>scored
>from the penalty spot as they fought to avoid defeat  in their own ground.
>But the Easterners forced their way back into the lead  in the 67th minute
>through a penalty when Ham Ham’s Alagie Baker was adjudged to  have 
>handled the
>ball. Assan Njie made no mistake as he sent Dam Jaye flying in  the wrong
>side. And as Ham Ham struggle to get back into the game central  defender 
>Assan
>Njie gifted Modou Worry Jallow in the 84th minute to seal the day  for
>Serrekunda East.
>
>JARRA CENTRAL, JARRA EAST GET NEW  CHIEFS
>By Yaya Dampha
>The people of Jarra Central have a new chief in the  person of Mr. Momodou 
>L.
>Ceesay, the APRC candidate in the last National  Assembly elections.
>
>Mr. Momodou L. Ceesay was appointed Chief of  the District on Friday 25 May
>2007. He received his appointment letter when he  was invited by the 
>Regional
>Governor, Mr. Momodou Soma Jobe, to a meeting in  Jappineh. His predecessor
>Alhagie Haruna Sabally who is yet to receive his  letter of retirement was
>elected Chief since the first Republic when he defeated  Mr. Sheik Burama 
>Dampha in
>1978. He succeeded Seyfo Bakary Dampha of Jappineh.  When contacted, the
>Governor of LRR said Mr. Sabally is retired because of old  age. He said at 
>the
>time of his retirement, Haruna was the oldest chief in the  country. 
>Governor
>Jobe noted that up till Saturday 26 May, Haruna could not be  given his 
>letter
>because he is not yet seen. Sources close to Haruna say he has  travelled.
>
>In another development Mr. Ansumana Kanagie who works at  the Department of
>Technical Services in Mansakonko is appointed Head Chief of  Jarra East. He 
>has
>succeeded Mr. Alhagie Fafanding Darboe of Jarra Pakaliba who  has been the
>Chief for Jarra East since the first Republic.
>
>Mr.  Kanagie got his letter of appointment on Friday through the Governor 
>of
>LRR. It  was the same day that Mr. Darboe got his retirement letter. When
>contacted the  Governor LRR, Momodou Soma Jobe, confirmed the appointment 
>of Mr.
>Kanagie. He  said this happened because Fafanding Darboe has been having 
>poor
>health for the  past two years.
>
>COMIUM JOINS THE TELECOMMUNICATION ARENA
>COMIUM  Gambia Ltd was on Saturday 26 May inaugurated by the President of 
>the
>Republic.  In his speech, President Jammeh indicated that in a bid to 
>promote
>  Telecommunications Technology, Gamtel and Gamcel have already embarked on 
>a
>new  wireless communications programme aimed at promoting easy access to
>digital  facilities as well or the enhancement of the International Gateway 
>VSAT
>facilities. The President indicated that he is informed that COMIUM Gambia 
>Ltd
>will provides access to new and innovative mobile services with high 
>quality
>coverage, affordable and accessible services to Gambians for both local and
>international calls.
>
>He also said that COMIUM will also introduce  services such as GPRS which
>will give customers the opportunity to send e-mails  and instant messages 
>on
>their phones and provide services such as multimedia  messaging (MMS) to 
>allow
>customers to send voice pictures and video over the  network with ring back
>tones, and ringing tones.
>
>On her part, the  Secretary of State for Communications and Information
>Technology Mrs. Neneh  Macdouall-Gaye indicated that the launching of this 
>GSM
>operator is another  milestone in the communications sector that 
>complements the
>efforts and policy  objective of her Department of State in a bid to 
>implement
>the National  Information and Communication Infrastructure Policy.
>
>SoS Gaye said  that COMIUM was granted a cellular licence in May 2006 to
>provide mobile and  internet services, and that having a third GSM operator 
>will
>give more choices  to customers and encourage competition which has great
>benefit such as costs  reduction, better service delivery and innovative 
>ideas.
>
>On his  part, the Managing Director of COMIUM Mr. Amer Atwi said COMIUM 
>will
>offer  Gambians the widest range of value-added services, the most 
>efficient
>and the  highest quality coverage The Gambia has ever experienced. He said 
>they
>will be  the first to provide coverage to the entire country.
>
>Mr. Atwi said  entering a new market is always a challenge and they have
>already enjoyed good  challenges. He said increased competition means more 
>choices
>and therefore  higher standards of service.
>
>The inauguration ceremony was  characterized by dancing and drumming. It 
>was
>colourful event.
>
>TWO  DROWN AS BOAT CAPSIZES
>By Musa Barrow
>Reports coming from Wuli indicate  that two youths from the Village of Jah
>Kunda drowned after the boat which was  ferrying them capsized.
>
>Kalley Danjo and Kawu Danjo, who come from  the same family, died on
>Wednesday 16th May 20 at Limban-mbulu river crossing  point and were laid 
>to rest on
>the same day.
>
>The Danjo brothers  left their home early that morning apparently on the
>search for “palm rope”  which is used for tightening the roof of 
>thatched huts
>and other domestic  purposes.
>
>Reports further indicate that when the two brothers  reached the river
>crossing point, they attempted to cross by using a locally  made canoe, and 
>it was
>this venture that claimed their  lives.
>
>Kalley Danjo who is the elder of the two and believed to be  in his early 
>30s
>is survived by two children and a wife. He has also been  described as a
>person who was highly respected by his colleagues and elders.
>Kawn is said to be in his 20’s.
>
>Several attempts have been made  by Foroyaa speak to the police PRO on this
>case, he but could not shed light on  the matter.
>
>FOCUS ON POLITICS
>1981 POLITICAL  CRISIS
>JAWARA HELICOPTERED TO BANJUL, DID HE LEARN NEW LESSONS?
>With  Suwaibou Touray
>We have been focusing on politics in general. This motivates  us to analyse
>the trend of politics from the pre-colonial to post colonial era.  We have
>started reviewing the happenings of July 30th 1981 crisis which we said  
>was a
>crisis of monumental proportions. In the last issue, we have stopped where  
>we
>said the estimated number of casualties stood at hundreds dead and many 
>more
>wounded. Let us continue from where we have stopped.
>
>Gambians  abroad particularly the educated elites in Britain demonstrated
>after two days  of the crisis against the intervention of Senegal in what 
>they
>called the  internal affairs of The Gambia.
>
>According to BBC reports, Gambians  staged a protest procession at The 
>Gambia
>High Commission in London demanding  for the immediate withdrawal of
>Senegalese troops from The Gambian  soil.
>
>Kukoi who had once aspired to be a priest must have been  shocked after
>realising the number of people killed and wounded as well as the  
>destruction of
>property. This must have motivated his mind not to carry out his  threats 
>to
>kill his hostages. He also did not order any killing of top  bureaucrats.
>According to Foroyaa, even though Kukoi and his men were in control  of the 
>Pipeline
>area for days, their feeling was that he might have had good  intentions 
>but
>wrong ideas.
>
>However speculation had it that Kukoi  had eliminated the two Senegalese
>combatants, he had earlier captured. At this  stage, Kukoi who felt the 
>battle had
>been lost, left the as the radio  announcement continued, at a time when a
>lot of his combatants were still armed  waiting for further instructions. 
>Many
>also believed Kukoi’s insinuation when he  continued to call on the world
>socialist community to help in arresting the  Senegalese aggression. In so 
>doing,
>Guinea Bissau was constantly mentioned as  the closest socialist country 
>that
>was expected to send troops. It became  clearer as hours passed by and 
>Kukoi’s
>voice steadily receded into oblivion that  their intervention was a dream.
>Little did they know that Kukoi had infact gone  for good. He had gone when 
>his
>combatants such as Mustapha Danso and others were  in hiding. They had to
>retire from the woods. Mustapha Danso who was already  sentenced to death 
>but was
>yet to be hanged was one such person who was released  from prison to 
>fight. He
>was later executed by firing squad according to a radio  announcement.
>With the airport, the Bakau Barracks, radio Gambia and Banjul  secured, and
>the Senegalese tanks stationed at Denton Bridge near the baobab  trees with
>their turrets pointing at each direction, Sir Dawda could also  finally 
>come from
>Senegal.
>
>According to The Gambia Outlook, Sir  Dawda was introduced to the pilots of
>the Senegalese Air force by President  Abdou Diouf before he boarded a
>helicopter to Banjul. He was met by the then  Vice President, Mr. Assan 
>Musa Camara
>plus some dignitaries, escorted by  Senegalese troops.
>
>According to The Gambia Outlook, nobody believed  that Jawara had entered 
>the
>country. The PPP was said to have organised a  private meeting at their
>bureau which Jawara attended, amid heavy Senegalese  troop presence.
>
>What Next?
>The first thing Jawara must logically  do was to consolidate his position
>after the uprising. This can only be done  when there is no remaining 
>threat or
>remnants of resistance. Immediately, people  began to see machinery in
>operation. In Brikama, Chief Sanjally Bojang, Mr.  Dembo Jatta, a cabinet 
>Minister and
>other PPP militants could be seen with  Senegalese soldiers engaged in 
>house
>to house searches. It amazed many people to  see especially them to engage 
>in
>such a rigorous search considering the  pronouncements they had earlier on
>made during the heat of the struggle. Many  young people who simply moved 
>on the
>streets attempting to pass through  Senegalese troops check points as if
>nothing out of the ordinary happened got  themselves arrested on mere 
>suspicion.
>The searches and arrests continued  unabated in all the towns across the 
>country
>and even in remote  villages.
>
>According to The Gambia Outlook, many Field Force  personnel were rounded 
>up,
>tied up, huddled together like sardines in tin and  only in their 
>underpants
>and dumped together at both the Bakau Depot and several  police stations. 
>At
>the Police Headquarters in Banjul, the cells were said to be  overcrowded 
>with
>detainees, some were said to have suffocated to  death.
>
>The second thing that was done to consolidate the  president’s grip was 
>to
>establish a state of emergency. The Attorney General and  Minister of 
>Justice,
>Honourable M.L Saho swiftly convened an emergency  parliament to ratify the
>Emergency Powers Act which was unanimously carried by  the house.
>
>Immediately after the meeting it was announced that two  members of the 
>house
>were absent, Mr. S.M Dibba and Mr. Gibou Jagne, all of the  main opposition
>NCP party. They were arrested. It was also announced that a Mr.  Mbye was 
>also
>said to be in detention in connection with similar offences. This  was what
>effectively laid to rest the rumour of the NCP leaders’ arrest and  
>detention.
>Mr. Cheyassin Secka NLP leader was also arrested and detained, which  was 
>said
>not to be in connection with the crisis.
>With the state of emergency  imposed throughout the country, Gambians had
>most of their normal freedoms  curtailed. Anybody could be arrested under 
>any
>pretext. In less than two weeks  after the battle dust had settled, over 
>1000
>people had been arrested and  detained. The foreign media criticized the
>Government for the terrible  conditions of detainees but M.L Saho; the 
>Attorney
>General dismissed outside  reports and said it was made by a few misguided
>individuals in some foreign  countries.
>
>With the swelling of detainees in detention centres, the  BBC criticized 
>the
>government for disallowing detainees to seek for legal  counsels. At this
>stage, the detainees had reached over a thousand people. Many  opposition 
>elements
>described it as revenge or vendetta against them to cow  them.
>
>According to records, Jawara himself was so overwhelmed with  the number of
>detainees and therefore had to comment. He said the condition of  detainees 
>was
>made difficult because of their number. He then allowed lawyers to  go to 
>the
>detention centres to make their services available to detainees. What  
>Jawara
>may not have known was that his militants and so many other people who
>wanted to be close to him made it their duty to report all those who were
>supporting the opposition. This was why people like Muhamadou Jobarteh, 
>detainee  No
>721 and more than twenty other NCP supporters of Brifu in the Wuli District
>were arrested. Alhagi Tobaye Touray of Fatoto detainee No. 814 was 
>arrested.
>Some elders were said to have died during the detention. These reports 
>could not
>  have been mentioned by the papers during the state of emergency for fear 
>of
>arrest. The situation was made so chaotic that the president ordered for
>quick  preliminary scrutiny of cases and people who were in no way culpable 
>could
>be  released to reduce the swelling of the detention centres. By about the
>17th of  August 1981, the president had released over 91 detainees who were 
>not
>found in  any way connected to the uprising but were reported by people who
>considered  them enemies.
>
>The period had been succinctly captured by Sam Jones  when he said, 
>“Terror
>reigned in the hearts of many, fear of victimization, fear  of 
>intimidation,
>fear of losing the rights and privileges enshrined in the rules  of 
>democracy
>and so on reigned.”
>
>After a while, many were trying to  relax their minds; that Jawara would 
>not
>after all listen to opportunists who  were advocating for “an eye for an 
>eye”
>, “tooth for a tooth” principle. But by  the 27th August, Sir Dawda’s 
>axe
>fell on the following people; Chief Sanjally  Bojang of Kombo Central 
>District
>was dismissed. The reasons were not elaborated  but many felt that his 
>express
>support for the rebels or denunciation of  Jawara’s regime was what led 
>to his
>putsch. Mr. Dembo Jatta the then Minister of  Education, Youth, Sports and
>Culture also lost his portfolio for what the  Outlook called, “Yielding 
>to the
>intimidating tactics of the revolutionaries.”  Mr H.O Semega Janneh also 
>had his
>job terminated on 9 September as Minister of  Information and Tourism and
>replaced with Mr. B.B Darboe, the Member of  Parliament of Kiang West. No 
>reasons
>were advanced.
>
>Observers at  the scene were of the view that the crisis must have taught a
>lesson to the  president; that the slogan that one should not mind one’s
>enemies, but one’s  so-called best friends is a misconception. According 
>to Mr Sam
>Jones, “Sir Dawda  by now knows that his enemies know nothing about him 
>as much
>as his friends  do.”
>
>See next issues as the country struggles to put behind the  crisis
>
>
>
>
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