EDITORIAL


The United Security Council,  has issued its latest update on individuals
and companies indicted for fuelling the Liberians and Sierra Leoneans
decade long war. Our President's plane, the new millennium and its
managing Director  Baba K Jobe had been indicted once again.  The
indictment went on to states that Baba K Jobe"Former Director of the
Gambia New Millennium Air company. Former member of Parliament of the
Gambia. [S/2001/1015, para. 287]. Arms trafficker in contravention of UNSC
resolution 1343. Supported former President Taylor’s regime in effort to
destabilize Sierra Leone and gain illicit access to diamonds. In prison in
the Gambia."

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh,  had time and time bragged that he owns
the said plane. If the UN can indict Baba Jobe, why not Jammeh?  Jammeh
was privy of the activities of the said plane and was registered on his
name. This is no secret. Even if President Jammeh,  was not directly
involved in the said illegal gun running and diamond sale activities, one
will not hesitate to conclude that he was indirectly involved.  The
indicted Gambian public figure Baba K Jobe, was Jammeh's  "pet boy" and
was most of the time acting on Jammeh's  orders.  It was Jammeh,  who
appointed Jobe,  as the managing Director of the said aircraft and we
cannot be convinced that Jammeh was not privy of the activities of his
plane. Unless he Jammeh,  tells us his side of his story.  Listening to
him  alone is not enough. He need  to clear himself before the UN war
crime court in Sierra Leone.

It is time for the UN to investigate the issue of conspiracy in this
damaging state of affairs against our dear country.  We are not suggesting
that Jammeh conspired with "bourr Jobe", but in the interest of justice
and fair play the owner of the new millennium airline Yahya Jammeh should
be probed. His role on the said plane and possible knowledge about the
said gun running scandal should be a subject of UN enquiry.

It is a well known fact that the disgraced Liberian President  Charles
Taylor was Jammeh's personal friend and brother. During his days as a
President, Banjul was his "second home" as he  was frequently hosted by
The Gambian leader. Taylor's testimony before the said UN court,  will be
interesting-in that there are  lot of  issues he needs  to expose to the
world. We want to know leaders who aided and abetted him to bring untold
sufferings and nightmares  to the  innocent  and poverty stricken
Liberians and Sierra Leoneans.

It is time for the UN to start urging states to hand over indicted
individuals to the UN court in Sierra Leone We want to hear from Baba Jobe
and other individuals indicted by the world body for fuelling crisis on
the African Sub-Region. We do know that The Gambian leader will not be
happy to see his friend and brother Jobe, being extradited to Sierra
Leone. His fear is that Jobe might likely spill the beans.


Prior to his imprisonment, Jobe  was being aided and abetted by the Jammeh
government. It was the same government, who dispatched a  protest letter
to the UN Security Council, exonerating Jobe from any involvement of such
arm  trafficking and diamond sale.  The said letter was authored by the
resigned  Foreign affairs  Minister Dr.Momodou Lamin Sedat Jobe.  The
Jammeh government went as far as trying to recruit a foreign lawyer to
fight Jobe's case in the UN.  Now the  questions  that comes to mind is
that: Why the sudden U turn,  on the side of Jammeh and his government?
Why retracting from your original stance that Baba Jobe was not implicated
on the said UN findings?  What was  your motive?

Upon knowing that the UN means business, Jammeh decided to disown Baba
Jobe in the open. This was the time, he pressed economic crime charges
against Jobe and suspended him from the National Assembly. Shortly after
his conviction, Jobe was dismissed and expelled from the Ruling APRC
government. An order from the UN Security Council,  for Jobe's assets and
bank account(s) to be frozen was enforced by the Jammeh government,
despite their repeated lies and denials that Jobe was not guilty of  wrong
doings.

The sudden grounding of Jammeh's plane and the purchase of  new aircraft
to replace the new memillenniumbsp;speak volumes.  It  suggested that
Jammeh was bent on avoiding running into the hands of the Interpol,  who
we are made to understand  are  likely to impound the said indicted plane.
Jammeh is playing smart, while the world is curiously watching him.
Changing planes here and there will not solve the problem. After all,  the
new millennium is in good shape. Or is Jammeh telling us that the new
millennium  was among the assets frozen in The Gambia  by the UN Security
Council?  We need answers.

It is a shame that our country is linked to such inhumane activities.  The
UN should be weary of President Jammeh, who is blowing cool and hot at the
same time. He Jammeh should be investigated. Sierra leoneans and Liberians
deserve better. The UN update, reminds us about the chopping of hands and
maiming of women and children in the said Mano river states.  The people
of war ravaged Liberia and Sierra Leone were exposed to all kinds of
brutalities by trigger happy rebels and the disgraced Taylor
administration.

The world should help the UN to  bring whosoever was  involved in this
crime against humanity-be it directly or indirectly.  Africa's power house
Nigeria, should respond to the global demand for Taylor to  be handed to
the UN special court in Sierra Leone.  Failure of which,  Nigeria stands
to be accused of aiding and abetting a  war criminal. It is time to
surrender Taylor,  in the interest of justice and fair play.

On a  final note, we are asking the UN Security Council, to investigate
President Jammeh's possible role in the new mimillennium'snbsp; alleged
gun running and diamond sale scandal. It takes two to tango and Gambians
want their President to  shed lights on this scandalous state of affairs.
Our country deserves better.  We rest our case.


The author is the former Secretary General of The Gambia press Union and
also a former Voice of America radio Banjul Correspondent. Mr. M'Bai who
now resides in the US State of North Carolina Raleigh was a leading
political and crime reporter with the Point and Daily Observer newspapers
respectively. He can be reached by email at the following addresses:
[log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]





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