Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue

Issue No. 69/2005, 1- 4 September, 2005



Editorial

THE DESPERATION of the APRC Regime

Hunger for power corrupts. Extreme hunger for power corrupts absolutely. This is the wisdom of the ages which is being taught by experience in the Gambia.

The President does read newspapers. He is not unaware of what was taking place in Upper Saloum in particular and to a lesser degree in Serrekunda Central.

The only difference between the two constituencies is because of the attempt by the APRC militants to be careful in the way they did their corrupt practice in Serrekunda Central. In Upper Saloum the team led by Aziz Tamba and Amulai Jammeh did everything to corrupt the electoral system in Upper Saloum. Transports were provided and money dished out to conduct an operation which can justifiably be called operation corrupt the electoral system.

The Nation will be shocked when the share number of people who transferred their cards to Upper Saloum is revealed. The people of Upper Saloum are extremely outraged by the tactics to treat people who have children and grandchildren in the Gambia as aliens by an immigration officer who was very close to Chief Malick Mbye and hardly informed his superiors what was taking place on the ground. What deepened their frustration is the involvement of Aziz Tamba who had no blood ties with the inhabitants of Upper Saloum. Some even questioned his very origin since the immigration officers were bent on following people on allegations.  Many people are wondering why the some members of the APRC leadership who had suffered much because of  accusation of doubtful citizenship would terrorise people who have children and grand children and take them to police stations as aliens. To make matters worse the people of Upper Saloum witnessed bus loads after bus loads of voters taken from other
 constituencies to transfer their cards in Upper Saloum when the electoral decree has clearly stipulated that only those who cease to be resident in the constituencies they were registered can transfer to the constituency they went to reside. This law has been honoured with total disregard by the APRC agents. What the people are wanting for is the list of transfers and replacements to be published. This list should be published now to enable the stakeholders to review them before nomination.

These descent citizens who do not want corrupt elements to corrupt the electoral system should be ready to review the list.

We strongly recommend for the list to be sent to the villages where the culprits come for scrutiny. This paper is willing to combat corrupt electoral practices by publishing names of the willing fools and their villages for worldwide circulation. Further, maximum publicity will be given to the activities of such culprits so that the nation will identify them and for posterity. Their children and children’s children would see them to have been the biggest betrayals of democracy and traditional values of honesty and sincerity. The time has come for the Nation to stand collectively to do away with any practice that undermine the deriving of authority from the consent of the absolute majority.

The Gambia does not have a proportional system of voting, we have a constituency system. Hence only those who happened to be resident in a constituency should vote in that constituency. In actual fact constituency boundaries are supposed to be drawn proportionately. This was done before but the APRC government allowed it to collect dust. This regime has no respect for democracy or political decency. The people of Upper Saloum should not allow it to cease their right to select their representative by mobilising voters from other constituencies. Any party can do the same thing. However, those who respect the law should not be disadvantaged. It is the IEC that should ensure this.



LETTER TO THE IEC

The Need for Guarantees to Ensure Free and Fair Elections

On Commissioners, Chiefs, The Security Forces, Transfers, Intimidation Tactics And The Use Of Public Property

The by-elections in Serrekunda Central, Jarra West, Upper Saloum and Wuli West are drawing near. According to section 8 of the Elections Decree, the IEC is responsible for the implementation of the constitutional and other legal provisions relating to the electoral process.

It is stipulated very clearly under section 222 of the Constitution that a public officer should “not in the course of his or her official functions and without lawful excuse do or cause to be done, any action which is prejudicial to the rights of any other person.”

For your information the Commissioner of the CRD did not only lead a campaign in support of the APRC in the Nianija and Njau by elections, he went as far as to harass a NADD polling agent by the name of Assan Mboge on polling day.

This was in gross violation of the code of conduct for public officers.

Suffice it to say, the same commissioner has called on the people of Upper Saloum to support the APRC candidate while on an official tour with the SoS for Agriculture. Section 222 states that “A person holding office in the public service or any disciplined force shall not take part in any activities which cast doubt on his or her capacity to deal impartially with matters or issues which are the concern of his or her public office or which interfere with the performance of his or her public duties”

Commissioners and Chiefs are magistrates and presidents of tribunals, respectively. In which part of the civilized world do you find magistrates and presidents of tribunals engaging in campaign for a political party?

Suffice it to say, when the Commissioner was subjecting the NADD polling agent to intimidation he had security escorts. This was also in gross violation of the election laws. We do not want any presence of a security agent during registration exercises or elections without their submission to the direction and control of the IEC. Section 129 of the Election’s Decree states: “The Inspector General of Police shall, on the request of the commission, assign to the commission such number of police officers as the commission may require during the period of registration of voters and conduct of elections.

(2) A police officer assigned to the commission shall, during his assignment, be under the control and direction of the commission

(3) Every police officer assigned under this section shall serve the commission from the period of the commencement of registration of voters or the conduct of elections until

(a) three days after the end of the registration, and

(b) seven days after the declaration of election results”



We expect that the IEC will liaise with the Inspector General of Police to ensure that in the forthcoming by-elections no security personnel will be found anywhere on duty who is not under the authority of the IEC. Furthermore, during the Njau and Nianija by-elections government vehicles were utilized to campaign for the APRC candidates in gross violation of section 91 of the Election’s Decree. Section 91 states among other things: “No candidate or political party shall during an election campaign period (a) abuse or engage in the improper use of property of the government for political propaganda purposes”

This by-election is not an ordinary one. It is going to determine whether Gambia will be a multi party state or a one party state. The declaration of the four opposition seats vacant by the Supreme Court has left the National Assembly of the Gambia without an opposition and the ECOWAS and Pan African Parliaments without representation from the opposition. The election is as important as a general election. How this election is conducted will determine how the presidential election in 2006 will be conducted by the IEC. This is not an ordinary by-election. We therefore expect extra ordinary action by the IEC to ensure a free and fair election.

It is already clear from the remarks of the President that he has no respect for ethical and moral standards in conducting election campaigns as required by Section 90 of the Elections Decree. He has been calling the opposition members donkeys and cockroaches. Such insult and slander may continue during the campaign period. It is the duty of the IEC to start voter education right away to ensure respect for election ethics.

It is also important to convey to you that a climate of intimidation and repression is being imposed on the people of Upper Saloum.

When the APRC government put in the Elections Decree that a person’s citizenship may be determined by providing “a document certified by five elders residing in the place of birth of the applicant stating that the applicant was born in that place” many questioned why such a crude method was adopted to certify citizenship. Since it became difficult to beat the system they had to get any five elders to determine citizenship. They further opened the room for anyone to get a voter’s card, only to accuse these people today of being aliens. People are deserting their wives and villagers are spending their days and nights in police stations for being accused of being aliens.  Some have children and grandchildren.  Some are wives of Alkalis or village heads originally from the neighbouring countries but had lived in The Gambia for 30 - 40 years.



The Elections (Amendment) Act 2001 however teaches that it is the APRC dominated National Assembly that amended the Elections Decree to make it very easy for any five persons calling themselves elders to certify that an applicant for registration of voters is a citizen.

The amendment indicated that the citizenship of a person may be attested to by “a document certified by five elders that the applicant is a citizen of the Gambia”.

During the registration, the APRC committees in the area often maintain such elders near registration centres to issue documents.  The APRC dominated National Assembly decided to bind the hand of the registering officers not to enquire into the validity of documents certified by five elders.  Instead of teaching the non Gambian spouses of Gambians and those who had stayed in the country for decades how to become citizens they help them to get National Identity cards.

Now, immigration officers are enquiring into the validity of documents given to people in Upper Saloum. The APRC mobilizers know the people they have assisted to get cards. Now they are following their list to expose and harass those who have turned against them.

It is the APRC dominated National Assembly which made the law. Uncouth and untrained immigration officers are accusing people who claim to be citizens of being liars and are threatening to detain them until they tell them what they want to hear. They have seized ID cards and voters’ cards instead of taking accused persons whose citizenship they question before courts for legal action. Immigration officers have become prosecutors, judges and jury in Upper Saloum and have imposed a reign of terror on the population.

Allow me just to describe the savagery to which the people of Upper Saloum are subjected to. Adama Camara is a wife to a man accused of being an alien. The man is a step son to the Alkali of the village.  He grew up under the Alkali as a child and finally got married when he became an adult.  Adama is from Janneh Kunda. Her citizenship is unquestionable. She was arrested Friday night before she had her meals. The Immigration Officers claimed that her husband is an alien who had evaded arrest and that they would keep her under custody until her husband turns up. She was detained at Kaur Police Station over night. She slept on the cement floor despite the fact that she was 5 months pregnant.  She slept in a state of hunger. She was not given any breakfast. Male security officers escorted the female detainees when they went to answer to the call of nature. She was not released until in the afternoon of the day following her arrest. The barbarity that Adama has been subjected to is
 comparable only to the transportation of Africans as slaves over the Atlantic or oppression under apartheid laws in South Africa.

Mr. Chairman, the situation in Upper Saloum is not conducive to free and fair elections. The IEC must order the immigration officers to hand over the voters’ cards to the owners. If the owners are alleged to have committed any crime they should be charged and taken before a court for trial. Seizure of their voters’ cards tantamount to interference with the electoral process.

Needless to say, the people arrested in Upper Saloum and accused of being aliens are not taken to court; on the contrary, they are being asked to report on bail on a daily basis.

The time, money, energy being wasted and the loss of prestige associated with such movement back and forth, to police station is a familiar tactic of subjecting people to harassment under the cloak of legality just to make them submit to the will of the Executive.  The arrests should stop and a climate of tranquility created for the by election.

Mr. Chairman, the APRC machinery in Upper Saloum is masterminded by one Aziz Tamba and Amulai Janneh who developed a network to transfer voters cards from other constituencies. Sindola transport driven by APRC Agents have been seen in Janjanbureh. Truck loads of persons from many constituencies especially in Niamina. have been followed up to Janjanbureh.

Section 35 of the elections decree is very clear on transfers. First and foremost the applicant for a transfer must cease to be resident in the constituency in which he is registered and must be resident in the constituency where he wants to transfer. Secondly it is obligatory under Section 35 (6) of the decree for the Commission to make inquiries to satisfy itself that the person has ceased to be resident where he is registered and is resident where he want to transfer.

Now may we ask: Can a registering officer in Janjanbureh conduct investigation with speed to ascertain whether an applicant for a transfer is in compliance with the law providing for transfers. When the list of voters is complete and exposed you will discover the most fraudulent transfer practices that have ever been masterminded by a political party to undermine the fairness of an election.

We are waiting for a speedy exposure of the list of transfers and replacements and a judicious response to all queries.  How you respond will determine whether the IEC is independent and impartial.

We must again remind you of our fears.  We have repeatedly shouted from the mountain top that the IEC is a hostage of the executive. You have just replaced members of the IEC who are unconstitutionally removed.  We are contemplating court action but had found out that the Supreme Court is in recess.  It is abundantly clear from the Press Release from the Office of the President that the members of the IEC who are removed are accused of misconduct.  Section 42(c) of the Constitution states that “The President may remove a member of the Commission from office for misconduct, but, before removing a member, the President shall appoint a tribunal of three judges of a superior court to enquire into the matter and report on the facts.  A member of the Commission shall be entitled to appear and be legally represented before the tribunal.”

How can we be confident that you will not meet the same fate if you refuse to accept the fraudulent schemes of the APRC that is already evident.  Needless to say, the appointment of an Ex-Secretary of State as a member of the Commission is in violation of Section 42(5)(d)of the Constitution which states among other things that “A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a member of the Commission if he or she is, or has at any time during such period of two years been the holder of any office in any organization that sponsors or otherwise supports, or has at any time sponsored or otherwise supported, a candidate for election as a member of the National Assembly or of any local government authority or if he or she has actively identified himself or herself with any such organization.”  (Our Emphasis). Who will expect us to trust that the secretary of the state will perform his duties with independence and impartiality.

We must therefore emphasize with all the emphasis at out command that your institution is looked at with much suspicion.

We hope your practice will help to allay our fears and doubts.

History is waiting to be made.  The events to record are taking shape.  The rehearsal masterminded by the chief executive promises a dirty picture.

By a copy of this letter we would like to appeal to the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS and the Chairman of the AU Commission, the Representative of the EU and all other foreign governments to seek the mandate for observers to monitor the 29th September by election in the Gambia.

It is hoped that with all hands on deck to ensure a free and fair election, the people in the four constituencies will be able to exercise their right to elect the National assembly members of choice, without fear or inducement.

This is the demand of democracy and it is incontrovertible.



WORK ON SANDIKA MARKET UNDERWAY



By Sarjo M. Camara

Vendors at the Sandika market in Serrekunda were taken by surprise when they saw their canteens being pulled down on Tuesday morning. They were stunned when they were informed by the Kanifing Municipal Council that all the canteens were to be demolished. Soon action followed. The goods were moved aside and soon the market was transformed into rubble.

Soon after the completion of the demolition exercise, the Secretary of State for Works and Infrastructure stepped in, escorted by security officers. He told the vendors present of the government’s intention to build roads in the area and urged everyone to bear with them during this period so that the area can be accessible without problem. He noted that the area is next to a health centre and the odour disturbs patients at the health centre. He spent sometimes visiting all parts of the site.

A disaffected vendor told this reporter that everything happened that morning and they had no notice. Another noted that no alternative temporary arrangement had been made for them. He

wondered how he would keep his foodstuff. A group of women said everything happened at a stroke, without notice and they were not told anything about their fate.

See next issue of FOROYAA for an interview with Halifa Sallah on this matter.



NADD’S HAMAT BAH CONDEMNS MASS TRANSFER OF VOTERS



Bubacarr K. Sowe

Hamat Bah, the prospective candidate for the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) who is aspiring for the Upper Saloum seat in the forthcoming by elections, has condemned the mass transfer of voters from other constituencies to Upper Saloum. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Bah urged The Independent Electoral Commission to nullify the two thousand and five hundred voters are allegedly transferred to Upper Saloum.

“In 2001, they (APRC) transferred over six hundred and thirty seven voters’ cards from other constituencies to Upper Saloum, and this was vehemently fought against by the National Reconciliation Party, and it was cancelled by the then Independent Electoral Commission. This time, they have done the same thing. But we will make sure that what is right is done. With all the utterances of President Jammeh, it is a defeat against him and a shame for any party to engage in such an activity whilst you call yourself a democrat,” Bah remarked.

The aggrieved politician pointed out that his party has already written to the National Electoral body, demanding the names of all those who transferred their voters’ cards to Upper Saloum. Bah said ten supporters of the opposition were recently arrested including a pregnant woman by an immigration officer by the name Sergeant Gibba. He said the arrestees were harassed by the said immigration officer. He also accused the ruling APRC government of threatening Alkalolu who support NADD with incarceration and sacking.

“The APRC were shocked that people don’t even cherish the position of Alkalo. They saw Alkalolu campaigning everyday, everywhere. To them (Alkalolu), the threat of sacking them was a joke. They had gone to Alkalolu who told them ‘please take your paper. We don’t want the position. Being an Alkalolu cannot stop me from being an NRP supporter’ Nobody wants to be an Alkalo in most villages in Upper Saloum”, he remarked.



NADD ENSURES FULL RESPECT FOR WOMEN

SAYS AMIE SILLAH

By Fatou Janneh

Dilating on the role and importance of women in development, Amie Sillah a veteran politician opined that NADD is established to protect, empower and promote the fullest participation of women. She added that NADD ensures the empowerment and respect for women so that they can participate in sustainable development. “NADD comprises competent men and women. We have equal rights as our male counterparts. And as women, men are our partners and we must learn to live and work in partnership. “We are not competing or in war with our men,” she emphasised. She appealed to every woman to take ownership of herself, regard herself as an instrument of development.

While addressing a community meeting of NADD supporters on Sunday, Amie Sillah urged women to rally behind NADD in order to put an end to the deception of the present administration.

She also showed her dissatisfaction to the National Assembly members for ratifying the women’s protocol with reservations. Amie Sillah cautioned the electorate particularly women to be steadfast and respect their votes as their voice and power. She quickly added that everybody be vigilant and expose whosoever is engaged in malpractices in the forthcoming by-elections slated for the 29th September this year.

Speaking at the community meeting in Bundung, Fatou Touray, a youth activist clarified that the role of NAMs is to scrutinise the activities of the executive; must regard themselves as servants of the people and should desist from making bad laws in the National Assembly. She indicated that NAMs must act as watch dogs by not only checking public expenditure but also by averting executive encroachment.

However, speakers clarified that a better Gambia can only be built by choosing good and competent representatives. They maintained that the APRC government only brought hardship to the people of the Gambia. “Gambians never witnessed the sale of a bag of rice at six hundred dalasis and other escalation of commodity prices and high rate of unemployment among our youths.”

They asserted that this is due to corruption, bad governance and abuse of power. They opined that the only way to put an end to such system is to unseat the President in 2006 is going to be determined by this bye election. They assured the gathering that Gambia cannot afford to lose Mr. Sallah in the National Assembly for he is competent and multifaceted. They informed the people at the meeting that they will teach the President a lesson by showing him that power belongs to the people.

For his part, Halifa Sallah posited that human beings should not allow themselves to live like animals and endure hardship forever. Rather a human being must realise his or her worth. He said if a person does not know want belongs to him or her that person will be at the mercy of another.

“If you don’t know who you are, you will not know what you own, then someone else will take it from you and make it his or her own.”

He asserted that such people are left to live in “hell on earth” that is continuous suffering from cradle to the grave and leaving your children and children’s children to follow the same trend of life. “Such a life is meaningless and not worth living,” he emphasised.

Mr. Sallah further stated that a country is collectively owned by every citizen. He said citizenship therefore, is equality, power and it is a voice. He emphasised that the national wealth is owned by everybody.” And that is why elections are held, to elect the people we trust to entrust them our power and voice. But if the electorate are not satisfied with any representative, whether the president or NAMs, they (the same electorate) have the right to vote them out,” he told the gathering. He however said that the people have the final say based on their choice.

Sallah revealed that the debt of the Gambia stands at 22 billion dalasis. He added that 1.4 billion dalasis will be deducted from the national budget this year to pay the country’s debt. He pointed out that 400 million has been missing from the Central bank.

Mr. Sallah informed the gathering that all the infrastructure built by the APRC government are derived from loans. Loans, he said cannot develop any country without creating avenues for generating income. He however, urged the people to seek knowledge and accurate information to safeguard the country.

Mr. Sallah concluded by saying that purchasing of voters’ cards from electorate is a crime under the Election Decree. He reminded the audience that their votes are their voice and power.



ROLE OF JOURNALISTS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION



By Amie Sanneh

The President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) Mr. Madi M.K. Ceesay has described media practitioners as very crucial in the society, noting that they inform, educate and entertain the public.

Presenting a paper on “The Role of the Media in Conflict, Peace Building and Maintenance” at the Second International Youth Summer Camp organised by the Youth Ambassadors for Peace, he added that the media can inflame conflicts and incite war as opposed to its fundamental role of creating peace. This, he said, depends on how responsible a journalist handles the piece of information.

Mr. Ceesay went on to cite examples in some parts of Africa where journalists through their style of informing the public cause the death of hundreds of thousands of people due to irresponsibility. He revealed that in Rwanda about 800,000 Rwandans were slaughtered by their countrymen and women.

“A particular radio station in Rwanda was instigating one ethnic group against the other. So you can see how the media can plunge a nation into a mess. This kind of journalism is very unfortunate and the media fraternity is standing up to see to it that unprofessionalism is not repeated,” he remarked.

Mr. Ceesay pointed out that journalists can pay a vital role in peace building and conflict resolution. This he said can only be attained when journalists are responsible and abide by the codes of conduct. He added that journalists through educating the public can also promote and maintain peace in society.

“In our role as media practitioners and educators we should be looking at the national interests, for there is where the security of our people lies,” he said.

Ceesay noted that this is due to the fact that African Journalism Schools tend to put much premium on fair, unbiased reporting.

Highlighting some of the challenges faced by Gambian journalists, The GPU President pointed out that they (media houses) have to improve on the content and quality of newspapers.

Another problem he mentioned is the lack of printing press. He revealed that private printers are afraid to print for private media for fear of their press being burnt down as in the case of the Independent Newspaper who are now using A4 size paper.

He also indicated that the lack of journalism schools and the hostile laws faced by journalists in the Gambia are yet other problems faced by journalists in the country.

Another challenge he said was the death of Deyda Hydara “GPU is still mourning him,” he remarked.

The GPU President further suggested the way forward for media practitioners. He pointed out that National interest should be the guiding principle of all journalists. He also strengthened the need for collaboration to exist between government and the media and for them (government) to see us as partners in development. He proposed that the laws which are passed on journalists to be reviewed, noting that it is not favourable.

“The challenge is to put the media in its rightful place in the build of the society. The media is a very important arbiter, a bridge between people and government. We have to make the media more powerful and more secure in terms of income. It has to be more attractive to the bright, young people entering the job market in Africa so that we have a strong and talented force to create a peaceful environment,” he noted




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