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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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