You wonder how the Gambia can become part of the community of civilized
nations amidst such wanton disregard for basic rules of civility. What
is the gain to kidnap people like Jobarteh, other than to show the world
that Gambia is led by a criminal enterprise that has no regard even for
its own members much more those it sees to oppose it? Or is this the
work of the "the deaf, blind and dumb", who could not just return to the
Right Path?

Some will say, you are what you do. You can call it anything you want
but you are criminal if all you engage in is criminal activities. NO ONE
has right to kidnap and detain ANYONE in the Gambia or anywhere on
earth. To pretend someone is exempted from that only affirms how
backward thinking we have become.

We must demand that Lamin Jobarteh is brought before a court of law or
released without delay.

Malanding Jaiteh



We thank Foroyaa for this editorial.

DUE PROCESS OF LAW IS ABOUT JUSTICE AND HUMAN DECENCY
Published on Thursday, 06 June 2013 17:45 | Written by Ousman Njie
There have been and there still are people in detention without trial.
Regardless of who they are they have rights that should be respected.
Gambians should become so cultured and imbued with conscience that none
should want justice to be administered in a selective manner to the
detriment of the freedom of someone they just don’t like.

A society becomes just when its leaders and people are just. Such
leaders and people would want the due process of law to be respected
without fear or favour, affection or ill will. The state has an army,
police force, courts, prisons and other intelligence and security
apparatuses.
These instruments could be utilised to protect people and enlarge
freedoms or to suppress people and restrict freedoms. To free these
forces from implementing the personal whims of those in power which
could be affected by human sentiments of show of power and revenge, laws
are put in place to guide their operation which if followed to the
letter would always enable the executive and members of such forces to
put sentiments aside and perform their roles with decency and justice.

The public and international outcry against detention without trial and
disappearance without trace should compel those in power to engage in
reform of the criminal justice system so that every Gambian would know
what to expect when one falls into the hands of law enforcement officers.
One would know that within three hours one would know why one is
detained, that one would be able to speak to one’s counsel and that
within 72 hours one would either appear before a court or be granted
police bail, that once one is charged one would be presumed innocent
until proven or have pleaded guilty and that one would have a fair trial
before an independent and impartial judge.
The longer one stays in power the more one should make one’s rule
bearable. If one does not have that spirit one should not overstay in
office. This is the verdict of truth and commonsense and is worth
considering.

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