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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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