Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 022/2007, 23-25 February, 2007
Editorial
What Does The Government Really Want?
Last week a number of disabled persons were arrested and taken to police
stations in the Greater Banjul Area. Those that we have spoken to have informed
us that though they were released on bail they have been reporting at the
respective police stations on a daily basis. They added that those identified as
Senegalese have been deported.
They said that some have real difficulty moving with their wheel chair all
the way to Kairaba Police Station.
Our information is that some of them have been transferred from Kairaba to
Bundung Police Station for possible prosecution. This is ridiculous! When they
report on Monday they will know their status.
According to our source, they were advised to keep away from traffic lights
and supermarkets to avoid prosecution.
What will they charge them with? Certainly not for begging in the street
because of their poverty; or are they thinking of charging under the Criminal
Code for being rogues and vagabonds; or for being idle and disorderly? These
are colonial laws which the police can use to prosecute anyone they want.
What the disables need is bread and butter, not a whip.
Mrs. Neneh Macdouall Gaye opened an internet café for the blind not too long
ago. What an honour would it be for the government to provide the disabled
with skills and engage them in productive ventures so that they can have means
of survival by relying on their sweat rather than on begging.
Indeed section 31 subsections (1) and (2) of the Constitution make it
abundantly clear that “The right of the disabled and handicapped to respect and
human dignity shall be recognised by the State and society.” (2) “Disabled
persons shall be entitled to protection and against exploitation and to
protection against discrimination, in particular, as regards access to health
services, education and employment.”
CPJ Writes to the President
The Committee for the Protection of Journalists has written to President
Jammeh, calling on him to investigate Chief Manneh’s whereabouts and ensure his
immediate release. Below is a full text of the letter.
Your Excellency,
We are deeply concerned about the well-being of our colleague “Chief”
Ebrima B. Manneh of the Daily Observer, who has not been seen or heard from since
his arrest seven months ago, according to sources in the media and human
rights organizations.
Manneh, the Daily Observer’s State House correspondent, was arrested by
plainclothes security agents at the paper’s offices in the capital, Banjul, on
July 7, 2006, according to sources who asked not to be identified for fear of
retribution. His whereabouts, the reason for his detention, his legal status,
and his health have not been disclosed. Authorities deny detaining Manneh,
although CPJ sources say police are holding him incommunicado outside Banjul.
Manneh was arrested a week after the African Union summit of heads of state,
which was held in Banjul. His arrest was linked to his attempt to reproduce
in the Daily Observer a BBC online report critical of the government,
according to CPJ sources. The report featured a photo of you with the caption “
Meeting host Yahya Jammeh came to power through a coup,” and it discussed a
proposed AU charter on democracy that opposes military coups and constitutional
amendments to extend terms in office, according to CPJ research. The
pro-government private daily never published the BBC report, according to local
journalists. Shortly before his arrest, Manneh had an altercation with the newspaper’
s managing editor, Saja Taal, according to CPJ sources. Taal disputed the
description, telling CPJ that Manneh did not report for work that week.
A CPJ source said Manneh was initially taken to a police station in the
northwestern coastal town of Bakau, about nine miles (15 kilometers) from Banjul.
In mid-January, the private triweekly Foroyaa and the Ghana-based Media
Foundation of West Africa reported that Manneh was being held at a police station
in the eastern border town of Fatoto, more than 250 miles (400 kilometers)
from Banjul. The story claimed that Manneh was initially held at the
headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and then at the Mile Two Prison
in Banjul before being transferred to various police stations throughout the
country. Government officials did not respond to the report, according to
local journalists.
Aziz Bojang, a spokesman for the national police, told CPJ in January that
he was not aware that anyone by Manneh’s name was in custody. Nor was Bojang
aware of media reports about Manneh’s status. Asked if police were
investigating Manneh’s disappearance, Bojang replied: “We don’t have any basis to begin
an investigation since no one ever filed a formal complaint.”
Sources close to Manneh’s family said his relatives have visited several
police stations around the country in search of the journalist, but officials
have not documented their inquiries. Family members also made inquiries with
the Daily Observer and the NIA, but they received no information, according to
local journalists.
Throughout 2006, authorities demonstrated an alarming pattern of holding
journalists incommunicado, while publicly denying the detentions, CPJ research
shows. At least five journalists were imprisoned in NIA detention facilities
during the year despite official denials, according to CPJ research. Daily
Observer editor Malick Mboob, for example, remained in NIA custody for nearly
five months while the agency refused to account for him.
In December 2006, the Daily Observer quoted a senior NIA official as saying
that the agency had either released or transferred to the police and courts
all of its prisoners in a move to “improve the agency’s relations with the
public.” Manneh was not among the affected prisoners, according to local
journalists.
During last summer’s AU summit in Banjul, you were among the leaders to sign
a declaration marking the 25th anniversary of the African Charter on Human
and Peoples’ Rights. The document contained a pledge from heads of state to
rededicate themselves to “ensuring respect for human and peoples’ rights.” Yet
the secret detention of Manneh, without charge or access to a lawyer,
highlights a glaring denial of due process.
With Banjul serving as headquarters of the AU’s African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights, the actions of your government take on symbolic regional
importance. We have seen no evidence to indicate that Manneh has committed a
crime. In keeping with the spirit of the commission, therefore, we call on
you to do all in your power to investigate Manneh’s whereabouts and to ensure
his immediate release.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We await your reply.
Provide us with Embassy or Consulate
Gambians in Congo Demand
By Modou Nyang
Gambians in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville have
called on the government of The Gambia to provide them with an Embassy or a
Consulate to help ease their sufferings at the hands of the Immigration
Authorities in the two Central African Countries.
Khalifa Sillah a representative of the Gambian community in Kinshasa,
Capital City of the Democratic Republic of Congo, made this plea before the
Secretary of State for Youth Sports and Religious Affairs, Sheikh Omar Faye, at the
Hotel Meridian in Brazzaville. Sillah said: “When we learnt that the Minister
is here we decided to come and see him to explain to him the difficulties we
go through here. We have a Gambian population here [so] the Gambia
Government should also see us as part of the country, so that the difficulties we are
encountering here are addressed, to enable us live [in dignity] as other
[nationals] do,” he stressed.
Mr. Sillah who expressed his delight in meeting the Gambian delegation in
Brazzaville especially the SoS, thumbed-up the performance of the Under – 20
football team saying that they have made them proud. “In the past when we talk
about football, others used to rubbish us saying that we do not know
football, so the performance of the team has made us proud,” he enthused.
Sillah indicated that the difficulties they are currently encountering is
that of regularizing their papers, which he said 60 percent of the Gambians in
Kinshasa do not possess. They always go into their homes to arrest them,
because of the lack of Visas which 60 percent of them do not have said Sillah.
Sillah also indicated that unlike the Senegalese, Guineans and Malians who have
Consular representatives, the Gambians always use money to get their people
released, whilst the others just have to inform their Consuls and go free. “
When ever Gambians are arrested I am informed and we use money to get them
released as the head of the Gambian community in Kinshasa. So we want Government
to recognise [the head of the community] to enable him fully represent the
people”.
In receiving the information, SoS Faye asked Sillah to write a letter and he
will deliver it to the Head of State. Faye indicated that he would inform
the Head of State about the plight of the Gambian Community there when he
returned home. “What President Jammeh wants is Panafricanism and African Unity, so
if there are such difficulties between Africans, the leaders should talk
about it,” he added.
For another Gambian, Mbemba Jaiteh, who hailed from Sutukoba in the Upper
River Region and is based in Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, the
situation is the same with what his colleague from Kinshasa narrated earlier. He also
called on the authorities to come to their aid by providing them with an
official representative.
According to Khalifa Sillah the Gambian community in Kinshasa numbers up to
500 [five hundred] people. They meet once every month to discuss issues
pertaining to their welfare and livelihood. Mr. Sillah earlier on donated
wristwatches to the entire team and technical staff of the Under – 20 and also
provided one for the SoS. He said that their main engagement in Kinshasa is
business. In the Republic of Congo, the largest concentration of Gambians are in
the southern city of Pointe Noire and a few are based in the capital. Sillah
hails from Niani Bakadaji in the Central River Region.
DETECTIVE APPEARS IN TREASON TRIAL
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Lamin Cham, a detective at the Major Crimes Unit of The Gambia Police Force,
on Wednesday testified in the ongoing treason trial involving the suspects
of the alleged March 21 foiled coup plot.
Detective Cham told the court that Tamsir Jasseh, Omar Faal Keita and Demba
Dem the 5th, 7th and 8th accused persons, respectively, appeared before an
investigation panel in which he was part of. He said that the accused persons
were asked to explain their role in the March 21 coup plot; that after a brief
explanation, he was ordered to obtain statements from them. He also said
that he did so in the presence of an independent witness. The detective officer
added that he can recognize the statements.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Emmanuel Fagbenle, then applied to
tender the said statements as exhibits. His application was objected by
defence counsels Lamin Camara and Lamin Jobarteh. The defence argued that the
statements are involuntary and applied for a trial-within-a trial (voir dire) to
test their voluntariness.
Presiding Judge, Justice Anin-Yeboah adjourned the trial to February 28th
for a ruling.
GAMBLOOD SEEKS FUND ASSISTANCE
The Gambia Association of Blood Donors (GAMBLOOD) has said that the lack of
fund and equipment is hampering the effectiveness of their activities.
In a courtesy call to the new Speaker of the National Assembly, Fatoumata
Jahumpa Ceesay, on Thursday, 22nd February, the Gamblood team said they need
the support of the parliament.
Ebrima Sowe, the Association’s Secretary General said they need vehicles and
funding. Mr. Sowe identified some of the equipment they are in need of such
as television screen, audio player and recorder, public address system, DVD
player, LCD projector, a generator and a laptop.
The National Assembly Speaker Mrs. Jahumpa Ceesay in response told the
Gamblood delegation that they will always give them support. She said that it is
difficult for the legislator to intervene in this Gamblood request but advised
them to write proposals to the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and UNDP.
MAN SENTENCED FOR BEING IN POSSESSION OF FIRE ARMS
By Yaya Bajo
One Baboucarr Jobarteh, of Brusubi, was last Wednesday sentenced to a fine
of D10, 000 in default to serve 24 months in prison by Magistrate Moses
Richards of the Bundung Magistrate’s Court, for being in possession of an
unauthorised fire arm.
According to the fact sheet, the defendant was on or about the 27th day of
October, 2006 had in his possession an unauthorised single barrel gun with
serial number SM 18 EMN which was not licenced for the year 2005. The defendant
Baboucarr Jobarteh pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him.
Narrating before a fulled to capacity courtroom, the prosecutor, 1674
Ceesay, said the defendant was arrested on 27th November, 2006 by the personnel of
National Intelligent Agency NIA for a case which they were investigating
against him. He added that upon his arrest, his residence was searched and a
single barrel gun bearing the serial number SM 18 EMN with 5 live ammunitions
were discovered. He added that according to the record the firearm was licensed
for 2004 and 2006 but not licensed for the year 2005. A copy of the 2006
licensed with serial no. 004656 was tendered and marked exhibit A and a Single
Barrel Gun with 5 live ammunition were also tendered and collectively marked as
exhibit B.
The defendant was asked by the presiding Magistrate why 2006 licence was
paid and 2005 was not paid. He replied that he went to pay for the 2006 licence
and was never told that he has arrears of 2005. Magistrate Richards expressed
doubt as to how the defendant was allowed to pay the 2006 licence when 2005
was not paid.
Delivering his judgment, the presiding magistrate ruled that the defendant
upon his own plea of guilt, he is convicted for the offence of having in
possession of firm arm without authority contrary to section 8 cap 2101 of the
laws of The Gambia.
In his plea of mitigation, the defendant noted that the records have shown
that he had been regularly paying his license and he is a family man with huge
responsibility. He therefore begged for lenience and mercy. Magistrate
Richards pointed out that the accused is a first time offender and he did not
waste the court’s time and he was genuine and he therefore deserve the court’s
mercy. Magistrate Richards stated that he has no reason to disbelieve the
story narrated by the defendant that he has been regularly paying for his
licence. He, therefore, accordingly sentenced him to a fine of D10, 000 or in
default to serve 24 months in prison.
LOCUST INVASION IS UNLIKELY
By Isatou Bittaye_
“A few trees and bird locusts were reported in URD and NBD South and
Northern part of the country, infesting the natural vegetation but no damages
occurred in the area,” said Mr. Sheikh Tijan Sosseh, the locust monitoring and
evaluation officer at the Africa Emergency Locust Project. Mr. Sosseh indicated
that their divisional locust teams had surveyed 667.7 hectares in the months
under review and no locust were present. He added that few Grasshoppers were
reported in LRD and immediate preparations are on by the team for immediate
control. Mr. Sosseh indicated that red beetles were also reported on vegetables
in Central River Region but no damage occurred. He added that the women
vegetable producers were adviced to apply the neem solution as a bio pesticides
for control. Sheikh Tijan noted that the project in collaboration with NARI
are conducting research on Bio pesticides for locust and other pest control
with the objective of limiting the use of inorganic chemical pesticides which
have impact on human, animal and the environment. He added that the vegetation
and soil moisture condition is dry and no rainfall occurred during the
period, noting that the present situation is unfavourable for locust development
and invasion is unlikely. Mr. Sosseh however added that no significant locust
development is expected but other pest infestations on vegetable crops are
imminent to continue during the growing season except, control measures
continue. He indicated that the sub-regional locust situation revealed that small
spot outbreak occurred in early December 2006, around the Red Sea Coast of
Eritrea where hoppers and adults were forming small groups. He said that control
teams were equipped immediately and they treated about 11,000 hectares.
He added that in the Western Region locust populations declined during the
month in North Western Mauritania and Western Sahara and the ground teams
treated 20 hectares in Mauritania, 770 hectares in Western Sahara, 1000 hectares
in Mali and 1800 hectares in Niger, Tamesna Region. Mr. Sosseh indicated that
as the vegetation was drying out in those areas, no significant developments
are expected, but low numbers of adults are expected to persist in those
areas which could move towards the north Draa Valley in Morocco, Northern
Mauritania and Algeria during periods of warm Southerly Winds. He added that
according to the situation update produced by FAO locust watch, an outbreak of the
Brown locusts occurred in Southwest of Lesotho and Karoo, South Africa and
control operations are also under way in Zimbabwe against the African migratory
locusts. Sheikh Tijan indicated that the weather and ecological conditions is
that the vegetation is drying out in North West Africa but continued to
improve in the winter breeding areas along both sides of the sea where sporadic
rains occurred in the month of December 2006 and good rain fell in the spring
breeding areas along the Iran/Pakistan border.
FOCUS ON POLITICS
SMALL INTENSIFIED HIS OGRANISATION OF THE MASSES
Immediately after his arrival from the conference in Gold coast where he
delivered a paper on the right of West Africans to self-determination, Edward
Francis Small established The Gambia chapter of the NCBWA (National Congress of
British West Africa) and became its secretary.
Small who also pioneered journalism in The Gambia and who understood the
importance of freedom of expression and the dissemination of information in
raising public awareness, established a Newspaper known as “The Gambia Outlook.”
Small became the editor of both The Gambia Outlook and the subsequent one “
The Senegambian Reporter” whose first edition he produced in Dakar, Senegal.
Small always took issues up that concerned the people of Bathurst in the pages
of The Gambia Outlook and always criticized government policy. By 1929,
Small again founded the first Gambia Trade Union; the Bathurst Trade Union (BTU).
According to Dawda Faal, the union became strong enough to organise the
first labour strike in Gambian history at the end of the same year. It was also
seen to be one of the most successful strikes in Africa before the Second
World War.
The strike took sixty days which was successful. The aim of the strike was
to bring better wages for dockers amongst others. According to the Foroyaa
booklet, the colonialists were so overwhelmed that they officially recognised
the union and also increased wages. It then became clear that the pressure of
an organised people could not be ignored.
At this stage, the demand for election of councils increased in 1930, and an
Ordinance was passed, known as the Urban District and Public Health
(Amendment) Ordinance. This created the Urban District Council and Board of Health
and six members of the council were to be elected. Small decided to lead the
Rate Payer’s Association in Banjul (RPA) which was considered as the first
quasi-political party in The Gambia. This organisation was established by one R.
S. Rendall, a retired ethnic Aku Civil Servant in July 1932, but was led and
controlled by Small, through an informal political organisation he had founded
in 1931 called “The Committee of Citizens”.
According to records, the RPA was designed to serve as a liaison between the
people of the colony and the colonial Government and to provide a pool of
interested men and women to stand for election for the Bathurst Urban District
Council (BUDC). The pressure yielded fruit and by 1936, the Gambia witnessed
its first election in history and the Rate Payers Association won all the six
seats open to Africans.
Mark you at this stage; the Bathurst Advisory Town Council (BATC) was purely
playing an advisory role. But the BATC served as the training ground for The
Gambia’s first political leaders.
Small again in 1931, established “The Gambia Cooperative Marketing
Association” to organise the farmers in the country-side. He saw then that the rural
masses who carry the brunt of the suffering under colonial rule must
participate in the political life of the country. The struggle then intensified and by
1934, the colonialists accepted representation to the colonial authorities
for the protectorate town committees to be formed. A proposal was made such as
election of members of District councils to serve as advisory bodies to the
commissioners and carry out certain local functions. This was, however,
rejected by the governor, stating categorically that “The suggestions are aimed at
instituting traditional and long standing native customs for an imported
system.” He also vehemently argued that “Introduction of committees and
councils to the ideas of the protectorate people would destabilise both the people
and the traditional leaders.
As it can be clearly seen, the colonialists were afraid of Democracy which
was considered by them as an imported system. The fact of the matter however
was that the colonialists wanted to remain governors, commissioners and did
not want anything that would disrupt their exploitative system. Francis Small
started his opposition to colonial rule in 1917 which was also the time when
the axis of power and the Allied Powers got embroiled in the First World War
According to Robert W. July, an African historian, the British and French
colonialist permitted little political activity on the part of those Africans
seeking broader economic and constitutional advantages for the people.
He revealed that the destruction caused by the War on the British and French
economies meant that Britain adopted a laisez- faire attitude in British
West African trade, thereby favouring economic power to fall in the hands of
British firms, whilst the French intensified the exploitation of the colonies to
replenish their economy. This was so because it would help to propel the
British economy to come out of its down trend.
Politically, it means the struggle was made all the more difficult for
Francis Small and his colleagues in Africa, but, it instead induced renewed
determination to uproot colonial rule through what was termed as Wilsonian
Constitutional means.
OPINION
DILEMMA OF THE GAMBIA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
By Bijou Peters
The National Assembly is a significant arm of government. It constitutes
both men and women of integrity elected by the electorate to serve the people
and work for the good of the community. The constitution is the supreme law of
The Gambia and any other law found to be inconsistent with any provision of
this document shall, to the extent of its inconsistency, be void. It states
that the failure to obey or carry out any order made, or direction given, under
sub-section II, shall constitute the offence of violating the constitution.
This is a demonstration of the supremacy of the constitution and the reason
why all the chapters, sections and sub-sections of this all-important document
must be adhered to by the National Assembly and other arms of government.
The electorate is mandated to elect the members of the National Assembly and
therefore are expected to have a say in the way they are governed by them.
In The Gambia the majority of the electorate are women most of whom are
illiterate and unaware of the functions of the various arms of government. Those
persons conversant with the constitution are aware that the Speaker and
Deputy Speaker of the House are elected by the National Assembly from among the
nominated members. After the election of the newly elected National Assembly
members, when they convene for the very first time, the constitution stipulates
that no business shall be transacted by them other than before electing the
Speaker and Deputy Speaker. They then proceed to take the Oath of Allegiance,
according to section 93, sub section 5, of the constitution. This then
should have been the first task of the newly elected National Assembly members.
But alas! This was not the procedure taken by all accounts, on January 8, 2007
when the National Assembly first met and the Chief Justice was ever present
to preside over the ceremony of the election of the Speaker and the Deputy
Speaker, as the constitution indicates. In this case the name of the Speaker had
already been announced over GRTS to the consternation of the public. The
National Assembly members had no option but to endorse this nomination which
must have taken them by surprise. This was obviously contrary to the dictates of
the constitution. The National Assembly’s function of providing adequate
checks and balances to ensure the smooth and harmonious running of the
government was ineffective on this occasion. This is cause for concern for those
members of the educated electorate who took the trouble to go out and vote on
January 25th for the National Assembly.
The Executive, the National Assembly and the Judiciary should be independent
of each other and should function as separate branches of the state. The
functions of the different arms of government are clearly defined with adequate
checks and balances to ensure that they all work harmoniously towards the
good of the state and community and for the progress and meaningful development
of the country.
In conclusion, the Editorial of Foroyaa, “Who chose the speaker?” (February
9-11) was pertinent and constructive. We concur with all the issues
highlighted therein. Most of us anticipate the Speaker of the House of Assembly to be
a neutral facilitator in the conduct of the affairs of state, endowed with
the ability to control and ensure checks and balances without fear or favour
(qualities which contribute to good governance). These are all very crucial;
and it is hoped that the new speaker possesses these attributes.
The people are crying out loud for God fearing, conscientious men and women
of the National Assembly who put god first in the affairs of state and
themselves last.
COURT MARTIAL ADJOURNED
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Justice Akomaye Agim has earlier adjourned the court martial sittings for
the 23rd February 2007, due to the absence of one of the defence lawyers Lamin
K. Mboge. Mboge was expected to put his clients in the witness box or to rely
on the evidence before the court.
According to his clients, 2nd Lieutenant Pharing Sanyang and Corporal Samba
Bah, their relatives have earlier informed lawyer Mboge to be in court and
that he had promised to be there. Both of them claimed that they don’t know why
he was not in court. Justice Agim told the accused persons that the
prosecution has closed its case and since they have a legal presentation, they will
be given a chance to allow their counsels to take a decision for them. He then
adjourned the case till today, 23rd February 2007.
However, when the court rose, lawyer Lamin K. Mboge rushed into the court
room in a hurry. He went into chambers to discuss with the panel.
IN OLD YUNDUM TRIAL
Accused Enter Defence, Alleges Torture
By Modou Jonga
On Wednesday 21st February, the first accused person Mustapha Jadama entered
his defense. The case was presided over by magistrate E. F M’bai the
prosecutor was 629 Saine.
TESTIMONY OF MUTARR BAH
The first accused whose real name is Muttarr Bah instead of Mustapha Jadama
expressed his apology for the conflict of names. The first accused asserted
that he is aware of the charge preferred against him. He noted that on the 1st
December 2006, he was told by his mother to pass through the market and
collect his school lunch while going to school.
While approaching the market, some people were seen running and passing him,
he said. He said that subsequently upon his arrival at the market, he
realised that the women were running away from police officers, within the market
vicinity; that he saw the police commissioner and that he told the women not
to run away but to engage in dialogue with the said police commissioner for he
will not beat them. He told the court that it was then that his arrest was
ordered by the police commissioner.
The first accused noted that the police came with two vehicles; that they
pointed a gun at him while running away before being arrested. Subsequently he
said he was arrested and tortured which led him to sustain injuries on his
mouth and eye. The accused noted that he was later handcuffed and beaten and
then put on board a vehicle (G.P.F-9). He said, he saw P.I.U personnel beating
the market women with their batons and also saw the seventeen accused persons
being arrested and had his mobile phone which he was using to communicate
seized whilst disembarking from the police vehicle at Yundum Police Station.
The ninth accused person who came to enquire what had transpired was forcefully
pushed to join them in cells. At the police station, the accused noted,
their statements were taken.
Out of fear, he said, he gave his name as Mustapha Jadama. They were later
charged and put in custody. The accused told the court that while taking lunch
at the said police station, he was knocked by one SO Jaw who named him “
brave man. The accused said that he was put incommunicado detention for three
days at Tujereng Police Station.
While at the said police station, he said, his statement was taken which he
signed. The said statement which was identified by the first accused was
tendered and marked as an exhibit without objection by the first accused.
TESTIMONY OF JAINABA JALLOW
In her testimony as the first defence witness, Jainaba Jallow said she
resides in Old Yundum.
The witness noted that she is aware of the charge preferred against the
first accused. The witness further asserted that at the time of the alleged
offence, she was at the said market at Old Yundum when the police commissioner
came with some men. The witness said that as a result they (the market women)
started running; that it was then that they were told by the first accused not
to run in order to avoid injuring themselves; that subsequently the arrest of
the first accused was ordered by the police commissioner. The witness said
that at the scene of his arrest, the first accused was kicked and beaten.
While being cross examined, the first witness said she knew the first
accused prior to the said alleged incident named as Muttarr Bah. The witness also
noted that she is not aware that the accused always answer to the name of
Mustapha Jadama at the court. She also stated that, she is unaware of the reason
(s) why the police visited them at the old Yundum Market.
Our readers could recall that the first accused is part of seventeen accused
persons said to be residents of Old Yundum Village in Kombo North. The
accused persons who pleaded not guilty are arraigned for acting without legal
authority in a manner that is calculated to lead to incitement of violence,
destruction or damage to property.
The case was adjourned till Monday 12th March for the continuation of
defence.
NAVY OFFICER TESTIFIES IN ARMS CASE
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
A.B Amadou Jallow, a Navy officer has on Wednesday 21st February 2007,
testified before Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court in
a trial that involves five Senegalese customs officers who were allegedly
found in The Gambia’s territorial waters with unauthorise guns in February 6th
2007.
Officer Jallow told the court that while he was at the Navy base in Banjul,
he was ordered by one R.S.M Cherno Jobe to prepare with four others for an
operation around Bakau area. He said that R.S.M Jobe had earlier received a
phone call from Denton Bridge that Senegalese customs officers were operating
with a canoe at around Bakau. He said that he, R.S.M Jobe, Sainey Ngum,
Babucarr Ndow and Sarjo Ngum alongside seven others joined the Sulayman Junkung boat
and headed towards Bakau. He narrated that at around Cape Point, they met
with two canoes which they searched and later realised that the men are
fishermen fishing. A.B Jallow indicated that they saw a canoe coming from towards
Bakau going to outsea in top speed. “We out speeded them and intercepted them,”
said Jallow. He said that they asked them where they were going to and that
one of them answered that they are people who normally go alongside trawlers
at sea to exchange goods with fish. He added that an order was given by
R.S.M Jobe to Sergeant Ndong to search the canoe. He said that after about two
minutes, Sergeant Ndong came out with a bag containing three riles, three AK47
magazines and one G3 magazine. According to the particulars of the offence,
Serigne Ngum, Pap Drammeh, Alieu Cham, Yusu Jobe and Saidou Cham, were found
in The Gambia’s territorial waters near Bakau, they were said to be in
possession of fire arms without authority. They were also charged with possession of
three AK47 rifles, one magazine with fifteen live rounds of ammunition with
93mm caliber and a magazine with 7.62mm caliber. They were also charged with
importation of fire arms in The Gambia without proper authority or
importation licence.
However, as the day’s procedure was about to finish, two senior officers of
the Senegalese custom entered the court room, coming from Senegal to witness
their comrade’s trial. The case is adjourned to 1st March 2007.
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