Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 74/2006, 6-7 September,  2006

Editorial


WHEN WILL BUBA BE RELEASED?

The politics of intimidation is nothing new in Gambian politics. Governors,  
Chiefs and Security Forces more often than not use their position and 
authority  to intimidate political opponents, particularly the most active and vocal 
ones.  The expectation is that once they are broken and become submissive the 
rest of  the opponents would tend to withdraw into their shells or mask their 
true  political feelings.
Needless to say, to accept such a tendency is to  undermine the foundation of 
free and fair elections. The freeness and fairness  of an election is 
determined not only by the voting process but by the  pre-election activities and 
processes as well. These activities and processes  include registration, access 
to the media, the conduct of security and state  officials, civic and voter 
education and most importantly the independence,  impartiality and fairness of 
the body responsible for the conduct of elections.  
Hence before an election can be described as free and fair one must not fear  
being arrested or sacked from one’s job just because of what he/she has 
stated  or done so long as it has been done within the precinct of the law. What 
has  Buba Sanyang done to deserve the ordeal he is now facing? The NIA is yet to 
 explain anything. Information reaching FOROYAA suggests that Buba Sanyang 
has  done nothing but has been effective in drumming up support for NADD 
including  the filling of nomination forms.
His continued detention without charge or  trial for up to 12 days now is 
unlawful and totally against the letter and  spirit of the Constitution which 
states that any person who is arrested and  detained should be brought before a 
court of law to answer to charges or be  released. Gambia belongs to all of us 
and the politics of intimidation has no  peace in this day and age. Let the 
people be allowed to make their choice freely  without fear or intimidation.


OVER SIX THOUSAND REFUGEES  IN BULLOCK AND NDEMBAN

The military onslaught on Cassamance has transformed Ndemban and Bullock  
into a Sanctuary for refugees. It is purported that over six thousand refugees  
have fled from their villages and sought refuge in Ndemban and Bullock. 
When  this reporter visited the two villages over the weekend, he found 
refugees in  every compound in the two villages. The brother of the Alkalo of 
Bullock Modou  Lamin Bojang said refugees from Cassamance cross the border on a 
daily basis,  noting that they are yet to receive support from anybody or 
institution. He said  most of the refugees who came to their village are now staying 
with their  extended family members who are struggling very hard to meet their 
needs. He  said that on Friday and Saturday, the Red Cross and CCF recorded 
the names of  the refugees in the village. Mr. Bojang further informed Foroyaa 
that the  refugees are from the following village: Tambui, Kuram, Eloli, 
Gibara Jiral,  Kabekel, Pukeli, Barajess, Mulumpu and Sesanah. Mr. Bakary Sanyang a 
refugee  from Sesanah said he came with his three wives and four children, 
noting that he  has not brought food or clothing. He said he was at the farm 
when the insurgents  went to their village and ordered everybody to vacate the 
village. He said he  has not got time to pack their belongings. Sainey Sanneh of 
Pukeli said he and  his two wives, and six children boarded a horse cart, 
noting that they brought  just a few clothes. He indicated that they could not 
bring along their goats and  sheep. Saikou Badjie of Kuram said his village has 
been turned into a rebel camp  and that all the inhabitants have fled from the 
area. He said they were not  allowed to bring along their animals.
He indicated that Tambui Gibara has  also been turned into a rebel camp.
When this reporter asked the refugees to  tell him who the protagonists are, 
they said the forces of Salifu Sarjo and  those loyal to Alexandra Gibba are 
fighting, while the Senegalese Soldiers are  fighting with both factions. One 
refugee told this reporter that the Senegalese  forces mistrust people they see 
around the border, noting that such people are  sometimes accused of being 
informants of the rebels. He said sometimes their  villages are raided, and in 
such operations, the youths are often arrested or  killed. 
They said the youths are sometimes accused of taking part in the  rebellion. 
They said the arbitrary arrests carried by the Senegalese Army has  forced 
many youths to run to The Gambia because they fear that they would be  killed.


Press Release from IEC

It has come to the attention of the Independent Electoral Commission that  
certain unscrupulous persons have been presenting themselves to registered  
voters as IEC officials and demanding their voter cards from them with the  
pretext that the IEC needs the cards. 
The IEC hereby wishes to notify all  registered voters that it has not 
authorized any person to collect their cards,  and that registered voters should not 
under any circumstance surrender their  cards to any person. Anybody 
attempting to collect electors’ cards from their  rightful holders must be immediately 
reported to the Police.
As the official  campaign period is now open, the IEC wishes to inform all 
political party  candidates and supporters at the regional and constituency 
levels that they must  seek permit from the IEC office in their Administrative 
Area before holding any  political meeting or rally. This is to ensure that the 
campaign itineraries of  Presidential candidates are not interrupted by 
campaigns organised by local  committees and support groups.
It is imperative that any party sub-group or  committee wishing to hold a 
rally must apply to the IEC office. Such  application, which must indicate the 
date, place, and time they wish to hold the  rally or meeting, must reach the 
IEC at least 48 hours before the date and time  of holding the rally. Any 
political rally or procession that is not authorized  by the IEC during this 
official campaign period is  illegal.


RED CROSS MEMBER KILLED BY MINE IN  CASAMANCE
By Baboucarr Ceesay

A regional delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),  
Mrs. Fournier, died on Friday 1st September 2006, by accident. Her service  
vehicle ran on a mine between the village of Tendine and Leufeu, in the district 
 of Sindian.
The accident took place around 12.00 pm where delegates, in  company of two 
of her colleagues, went into the zone to attend a meeting of the  displaced 
population and returned to the fold to enquire about their needs for  possible 
support to bring to them, indicated a source close to the international  NGO. 
The source indicated that two colleagues of Mrs. Fournier had contusions on  the 
level of the face and their driver, a Senegalese, had fractures on the level  
of the front arm lever and leg. The casualties as well as the body of the  
deceased were evacuated to the regional hospital of Ziguinchor. The accident  
took place at a time when the district of Sindian witnessed a recrudescence of  
violence with bloody confrontations since several months with the factions of  
MFDC. Sources disclosed that the national army of Senegal is now spread in 
some  parts of the district to standby.


“NADD SHALL RESTORE RULE OF LAW”
SAYS HALIFA
Fabakary B.  Ceesay

As the Presidential Election approaches very fast, The National Alliance  for 
Democracy and Development (NADD), held a mass political rally at Bakau on  
Saturday, 2nd September 2006.
Shortly before mounting the podium, the NADD  flag bearer, honorable Halifa 
Sallah spoke to this reporter and indicate to him  that, NADD is the party 
which will fight against impunity.  Mr. Sallah  noted that the present Government 
has no respect for the constitution and the  rule of law and that they are 
governing by impunity.  He said that a NADD  government will eradicate both 
political and economic impunity.  He pointed  out that the present government is 
killing Public Corperations like GPTC, by  taking money from them any time they 
want to commemorate July 22nd celebrations  and other events.  
“This is how they are killing the Public  Corperations.”
Mr. Sallah said that under a NADD government, there will be a  Department of 
State for Human Rights and Justice and that they will be separated  from the 
office of the Attorney General.  We are going to have a commission  on human 
rights as an overseas office just like the office of the Ombudsman,  where 
people can go and report or make complaints’, he emphasised.  The  NADD flag bearer 
asserted that there will be a media commission that will be  regulated by 
journalists themselves, to set their own standards of their  profession.  “This 
commission will not be an administrative court.”   Mr. Sallah noted that a NADD 
government will have a commission for the women and  children 25 rights 
issues.  He emphasised that a NADD government will  create institutions that will 
address any form of human rights abuse.   Halifa also added that under the 
electoral process IEC summons the security to  be under it’s jurisdiction and that 
they can allocate the security forces to  political parties.  “But I have not 
seen that happened at the moment and we  have not been called to say that has 
happened, as such we are providing our own  security” he concluded. 


NADD HOLDS RALLY AT BUNDUNG
By Abdoulie Dibba

The National Alliance for Democracy and Development, (NADD), held a mass  
political rally at Bundung a few hours after the nomination of their  
Presidential Candidate, for the September 22nd Presidential Elections.   Addressing the 
audience, the Members of the Executive Committee of NADD, told  the audience 
that NADD is here to stay; that the APRC’s twelve-year rule has  brought no 
improvement to the lives of The Gambian people; that has brought,  instead, an 
avalanche of hardship, fear and a blatant violation of the  Constitution and the 
rule of Law.  The Executive Committee Members present  at the meeting told the 
audience that they (the people) are their own liberators  through their 
votes.  They told the people that it is their votes, which  determine their 
opportunities in life, that if they vote for a person who  respects the rule of laws; 
one who has clear ideas have the principles and  programme to develop the 
productive base of the economy, then they (the people)  would live in Peace, 
liberty and Dignity.  The executive members said if  voters voted otherwise, then 
the status quo will continue.  On his part,  the NADD Presidential Candidate 
Halifa Sallah, told the audience that the  country has charged as from today, 
after his nomination. He said he is ready to  give his life to ensure that the 
NADD supporters and sympathizers no longer live  in fear nor threaten with 
impunity. He told the audience that The Gambian people  are a sovereign people, 
which mean that all organs of government must derive  their authority from the 
people. This, he said, is precisely the reason why  voters elect a President 
and entrust him with the responsibility of levying  taxes and managing the 
wealth of the country. Halifa told the audience that the  President is also the 
head of the police, the Army and the NIA. He told the  audience that the police, 
the Army and the NIA are required to perform their  functions in accordance 
with the constitution and other laws of The Gambia.  This, he said, is not the 
case in The Gambia. Instead he said the police and the  NIA operate according 
to the dictates of the President. Halifa told the audience  that the 
constitution, which is the supreme law of the land which Jammeh swore  to defend 
without fear or favour, has stated categorically that no one shall be  subjected to 
arbitrary arrest or detention; that no one shall be deprived of his  or her 
liberty except on such grounds, and in accordance with such procedures,  as is 
established by law. Halifa told the audience that the constitution states  very 
clearly that any person who is arrested or detained, shall be informed as  
soon as is reasonably practicable and in any case, within three hours, in a  
language that he or she understands the reasons of his or her arrest or  
detention. He told the audience that section 19 subsection 3 (b) asserted that  “Any 
person who is arrested or detained upon reasonable suspicion of his or her  
having committed or being about to commit a criminal offence under the laws of  
The Gambia and who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before 
 a court and in any event within seventy- two hours.” Halifa told the 
audience  that the police and the NIA because of the fear of the whip of the 
President  whose pronouncement is regarded as the law by the police and the NIA should 
not  respect these constitutional provisions. Halifa told the audience that 
that is  why people are detained for one or two months, three months without 
being  brought before a court of law in total violation of the constitution of 
the  Republic of The Gambia. This, he said is one of the reasons why the APRC  
Government needs to be voted out and replaced by a Government that would 
respect  the constitution and other laws of The Gambia see next issue on the  
Economic.


MONEY DEALER SENTENCED
By Modou Jonga

Framang Saho a Gambian national and residing of Sukuta was on Thursday 24th  
August 2006 arraigned in court, charged with being in possession of faked 
money  contrary to section 325(A) of the Criminal Code.
When the charge sheet was  read to him the accused pleaded guilty to the 
preferred charge. The accused was  subsequently convicted and sentenced to three 
years in prison with no option of  a fine by Magistrate E.F Mbye.
The accused was said to be in possession of a  huge amount of faked money 
sometime in the month of June 2006 at Jiboro village,  Western Division. ASP 
Tijan Badjie represented the Inspector General of  Police.


FARATO IMAMSHIP TRIAL 
POLICE OFFICER TESTIFIES
By Modou Jonga &  Yaya Dampha

The assault trial involving the Imam of Farato village Samba Bah (the  
complainant) and Kembo Saho (the defendant) continued on Tuesday 5th September  at 
the Brikama Magistrate Court.
Kemo Saho (the defendant) was charged with  assaulting the complainant with a 
cutlass and the bail that was granted to him  was revoked, after he 
re-assaulted the same complainant. Lawyer Borry Touray  represented the accused person 
(Kemo Saho).
Testifying in a packed courtroom,  Mr. Bubacarr Jammeh, a Police Officer at 
the Brikama Police Station, said he  recognised both the defendant and the 
complainant. He further said that he met  with Kemo Saho (the defendant) at the 
Brikama Police Station with a cutlass. He  said the defendant informed him (the 
witness) that he has a dispute with the  complainant (Samba Bah).
According to the second witness, he asked the  defendant about the whereabout 
of the complainant, but the defendant said he  could not tell. He said the 
defendant was informed that the complainant was  admitted at the Brikama Health 
Centre. He said the said cutlass was taken from  the defendant. He said the 
defendant was cautioned and the cutlass was  kept.
The complainant, according to the second prosecution witness, was taken  to 
the Health Centre by the Police and they (the Police) were informed at the  
said Health Centre that Samba Bah would be referred to RVTH. Later the  
complainant was discharged and a medical certificate was issued and addressed to  the 
Inspector General of Police.
He said the defendant was put in detention  and a statement was obtained from 
the complainant by the Police when he was at  the Health Centre. The said 
cutlass was shown to the prosecution witness and he  said he recognised it. The 
cutlass was tendered in court and was marked as an  exhibit without objection 
from the defense counsel. The medical certificate of  the complainant, too, was 
tendered in court and marked as an exhibit with no  objection from the 
defense counsel. During cross-examination, by counsel Borry  Touray, the witness 
said he was not an investigator in the case and did only  prepare a file on the 
assault case and not a report. When asked whether he knew  that Samba Bah (the 
complainant) was also charged with assault, the second  prosecution witness 
stated that he was not aware of the complainant being  charged for assault, but 
further stated that he was aware that the defendant  (Kemo Saho) was charged 
with assaulting the complainant. 
Borry Touray put it  to the prosecution witness that on 6th October 2006, his 
client was assaulted by  the complainant. Touray asked the witness whether he 
noticed anything showing  assault on the defendant when he came to the 
station, the witness replied in the  negative. At that juncture, Lawyer Touray told 
the witness that he is not a  truthful witness since he has failed to 
acknowledge the assault on his client.  Touray further asked the witness whether he is 
the author of his client’s  statement, the witness replied in the positive. 
At this juncture, the  defendant’s statement was read by the witness and it was 
later admitted in  evidence despite objection from the prosecutor. When asked 
by the defense  counsel whether he was not told by the defendant at the 
station that the said  cutlass he brought to the station belonged to the 
complainant (Samba Bah), the  witness replied in the negative. The matter was adjourned 
to 14 September 2006  for continuation.


NADD ON PROVINCIAL TOUR
By Fabakary B. Ceesay

The National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) began it’s  
provincial tour yesterday.
Rapturous applause greeted Halifa Sallah and his  supporters at Kerewan on 
Monday.
The NADD entourage which arrived at Kerewan  late in the night was received 
by enthusiastic youths.
Lamin Fatty, a youth  asked his fellow compatriots to vote for Halifa Sallah. 
He dwelt on the  contributions made by Sallah at the National Assembly. He 
said Halifa has never  been a farmer, but he (Sallah) is a proponent of farmers’ 
rights. He said  President Jammeh’s government has ostracized the youths, and 
that is why the  youths are risking their lives in the Mediterranean Sea. He 
assured the youths  that a NADD government will make life better for the 
emerging generation.
The  youths of Salikenne walked several kilometers to meet Halifa on his way 
from  Kerewan. The youths wanted to lift the vehicle that Halifa boarded, but 
they  were restrained from lifting it. Halifa who arrived at Salikenne at 
2.30am, was  greeted by the sound of drums and songs. Sallah is expected to have a 
meeting at  Salikenne today.


GPU ORGANISES ELECTION COVERAGE  TRAINING
By Fabakary B. Ceesay & Amie Sanneh

The President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), Mr. Madi M.K. Ceesay has  
indicated that Gambian Journalists have in many ways contributed to good  
governance in The Gambia, by reporting issues that impact on the  citizenry.
Mr. Ceesay made these remarks at the opening of a three day  training 
workshop on election coverage, at the Mansea Hotel, on Monday, 21st  August 2006.  In 
his key note address, Mr. Ceesay said the challenge of  objectivity, 
impartiality and balance in journalism is faced daily by  journalists, but that there 
is no test of professionalism greater than those  posed in the heat and 
pressure of a bitterly fought political election.   “That is why The Gambia Press 
Union in collaboration with her partners decided  to train journalist in order 
to equip them for the challenges that lie ahead.  Mr. Ceesay noted that 
elections are also a test of political commitment to  democracy; that it is a time 
when the impulse to manipulate the media and to  control information is 
strongest among parties and political leaders running for  office. He narrated that 
journalists must also provide access to the media so  that Citizen’s voice can 
be heard above the noise of the political debate.   He also asserted that there 
is need to strengthen the capacity of journalists so  that they can give 
objective reporting. ‘ This capacity can be built through  training that will 
enable them to identify the pitfalls and to enforce  professional guidelines and 
rules, which will help them to put al sides of an  argument forward, “he said. 
According to him it will help the Journalist to know  the Laws and regulations 
that should restrain political interest groups from  exercising undue 
influence.
.” The exercise of free journalism is an  essential part of any credible 
democracy and journalist must have access to  accurate, timely and informed facts 
and opinions,” he said. He asserted that the  press, especially the public 
media, suffers from manipulation which comes in  many forms. “The greatest threat 
to press freedom is often not in forms of  direct control but rather in the 
creation of an atmosphere in the exercise of  journalism whereby self 
censorship by journalists and editors prevail,” the GPU  president asserted. Going 
further, Mr. Ceesay said, the press needs to be free  from coercion from 
governmental, political or economic control during the  electoral process in order to 
ensure that people are well informed in a bid to  make informed choices,” he 
said. Mr. Ceesay concluded that the training workshop  will provide professional 
assistance to journalists and media organizations to  meet the challenge of 
political and social change. 
 

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