Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue Issue No.20/2006, 16-19 March, 2006 * * *
Editorial*

*CAN AN AFRICAN BE AN ALIEN IN AN AFRICAN COUNTRY?*

The President of The Republic should consult with the Secretary of State for
Interior to inquire into the ways and means of implementing their policies
towards Africans in the Gambia. It is the objective of the AU to create a
United States of Africa by 2030.

However, the heads of the African states have agreed to promote African
integration by building continental institutions. They can even interfere in
each others affairs where governments commit genocide against populations in
a particular country. The problem of Africans anywhere is supposed to be the
problem of Africans everywhere.

As Gambia prepares to host the AU Summit, the government should begin to
sensitize its personnel in particular and the public at large on the merits
of African Unity. This should be further buttressed by a change of attitude
towards the Africans in the country.

There is absolutely no doubt that the AU Summit cannot be meaningful to
other Africans in the country if the current practice of packing Africans
like sardines in immigration transports continues.

Sometimes the transports are so congested that the immigration officers
stand on the bumpers outside of the transport to accompany their prisoners.
One would not be surprised if prisoners suffocate in those transports one of
these days because of lack of ventilation. The officers could also fall and
suffer injuries. This is the time to bear in mind that it is meaningless to
talk about African Unity if Africans are treated as aliens on the African
continent. Gambians who are recently deported from Morocco had been
explaining their experiences. Foroyaa will start to give lengthy coverage of
the experiences of Gambians in other countries so that we will see the need
to change the trend in the Gambia. If there is any area that the government
today or a new government tomorrow should tackle, it is the treatment of
Africans in the country. The frequent chasing of young people suspected of
being aliens and their transportation in congested vehicles reminds an
African patriot of the days of slavery.

All Africans in particular yearn for the day when they will call the whole
of Africa a homeland that would guarantee them liberty, dignity and
prosperity. That is the day an Africa of the people would have been created.
As it stands we have an Africa of the leaders. They hold summits, exchange
visits and give rapturous welcome to each other while the people who cross
borders find themselves in prisoners' vans, handcuffed or jailed. They are
gagged, tortured and banished as animals.

Since the leaders treat each other with respect, the African people should
also build their own solidarity and treat each other with respect. This is
the way to start building the Africa of the people, for the people and y the
people; that Africa is still in the horizon. It is waiting for new leaders
who are truly committed to the unification of the continent and genuine
emancipation of the African people. That day is not far. Kwame Nkrumah's
Africa is on the view. When it comes, the African people will be the
architects of their own destiny.




*Will The State Comply*

*By Surakata Danso*

Will the State comply with the court order to reinstate Mayor Jeng whose
dismissal was found to be illegal by the High Court? The State had failed to
comply with this court order made on 19 December 2005 by Justice Belghore.
On the contrary, after more than two months it filed an application for a
stay of execution. Now that the application for a stay of execution has been
overturned, will the State comply?

The State had, on Monday 13th March 2006, lost its Stay of Execution
application against a court order to reinstate Mayor Pa Sallah Jeng, at the
High Court.

When the case was called before a well-attended court, Hawa Sisay Sabally
stood up for the respondent while counsel Ajayi represented the state. In
moving the case of the state, counsel Ajayi informed the court that the
application before it was brought under order 43 of rule 18 of the High
Court Rules; that it is backed with a six-paragraph affidavit, which they
relied on entirely. Mr. Ajayi made several citations from the Nigerian Law
Report to back the state's case. He finally called on the court to up-hold
the application and order for a stay of execution of the judgment delivered
on the 19th December, 2005, by Justice Belgore.

In her reply to the state, counsel for the respondent, Hawa Sisay Sabally,
informed the court that there is no application before the court. She
indicated that the order that the state relied on to come to court, had been
amended since 1995 and that the amended version further indicated that such
applications are only allowed within 14 days, from the day of Judgment.
Madam Sabally then called on the court to dismiss the case not only because
it is incompetent but also it lacks merit. This proposal was upheld by the
court on the merit of the amendment of the said order and the 14 days
period, and was eventually dismissed by Justice Dorbezie.

Readers would recall that the state, in 2005, suspended the elected mayor of
Banjul, Pa Sallah Jeng and set up an enquiry against him. He was not found
liable of any crime. The elected Mayor then moved and filed a suit in the
high court against his suspension as illegal and unconstitutional. On the 19
th of December, 2006, Justice Belghore ruled that the action of the state
was illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic. The said judgment then
called on the state to reinstate the elected mayor of the people of Banjul.





*Justice Izuako Bids Farewell*

The Gambia bar Association, on Friday, the 3rd day of March 2006, organised
a farewell party for Justice Izuako, at the Ocean Clipper Bay Restaurant, at
Cape Point in Bakau. Justice Izuako, who hails from Nigeria came to The
Gambia as a commonwealth judge in 2004 on a two-year contract. She has been
viewed as a human rights and gender activist. Those who had the chance of
getting close to her have described her as very friendly.

In her thanks giving speech to the members of the Bar during the ceremony,
Justice Nkemdilim Izuako started by saying that law is the bedrock of human
society; that it is the law that enables human beings of a given nation or
society to know their worth in society. She went on to quote from a book
entitled *Just Law* as follows: "Almost nothing has more impact on our
lives. Law is entangled with every day existence regulating human relations,
business dealings and controlling conducts which could threaten our
security. And the rules by which we co-exist." She asserted that therefore
the base line is that law is the life blood of a nation. She further
indicated that members of the public may admire their black gowns and wigs
or may even scoff at them. She went further to say that students may engage
in debates as to whether our robes and wigs are the relics of colonialism or
whether the time has come to discard them. Justice Izuako asserted that
these are not the concerns of the moment. She indicated that the concerns
are that as lawyers or members of the legal profession, they are the priests
and ministers of the law. She said that when a man or a woman is ill he/she
will need a doctor; that the doctor will diagnose, prescribe, operate and do
whatever is needed to save a life. The same man or woman may find
himself/herself on the verge of losing his house or his job; that she/he may
instead, find that he or she has been badly cheated in a business, or that
she/he is a victim of domestic violence or negligence or even that he is
locked up after being accused. Justice Izuako said he/she may need a lawyer
and the courts. She asked that where he/she cannot brief a lawyer, who will
sort through the maze of his problems? She went on to explain that the
person begins to see that his life has no value or meaning. She said that
he/she finds out sooner too that the tablets, injections and surgery can
only be translated to good health and life when there is value added. She
went on to say that as ministers of law they are equipped to add that value
and meaning to the lives of people through legal advocacy and application of
the law. She indicated that the right to life is as much the right to access
to the law.

Justice Izuako again lamented that the role of the legal advocators is the
sorting out of the lives of the people and making those lives meaningful to
them. She explained that she has come to the conclusion that the role of the
members of the legal profession is a call to leadership. She continued to
indicate that when she dwelt on leadership, it was not about the political
leadership of a nation; that the leadership role of lawyers is about
ensuring that the day-to-day affairs of human beings are regulated by proper
conduct.

Justice Izuako concluded by paying tribute to all the members of the Bar who
had appeared before her in the past two years, from the 17th January 2004,
for the seriousness and respectfulness they have demonstrated in their
conduct during cases. She finally asked for the forgiveness of any member of
the Bar or Bench she. Might have offended, and thanked the Commonwealth for
giving her the opportunity to serve the Gambian people.

For his part, Mr. Musa Bittaye, the President of the Gambia Bar Association,
described Justice Izuako as a judge in the true sense of the word. That the
Gambian people and the bar would always remember her for her uprightness in
delivering Justice. At the end of the well-attended ceremony the members of
the Bar sang a solidarity song in her honour. She left the Gambia on
the 5thMarch 2006.





*NRP/UDP RALLY AT EBONY*

*By Lamin Fatty*

The leader and flag bearer of the newly formed NRP/UDP Coalition Ousainou
Darboe, told a large gathering at a rally held at Ebony in Serrekunda on
Saturday, last week, that honest members of NADD justify their pull out.
According to Mr. Darboe, a lot of talk is going on regarding the UDP's pull
out from NADD; that this is because some heard the information but it is not
clear to them while some have not even heard of it. He said some people
heard about the information and they understand it very well but never want
to speak the truth, simply because people see things differently. Mr. Darboe
further indicated that some Executive members see NADD as a source of
creating wealth for themselves while others see it as a party that is not to
rescue the Gambian people from President Jammeh and his bad governance and
put in place a sound democratic government based on the consent of the
people. According to Mr. Darboe, those people who are looking at NADD from
the latter perspective are the people who justify their pull out. He said
people who are only in for their personal gains are the people who do not
justify their pull out. According to Mr. Darboe, UDP only accepted to be
equally represented with the rest of political parities that form NADD,
because of UDP's intention to change the bad system of Government imposed on
the people by the APRC regime; that otherwise, the UDP would never accept
such conditions. The UDP/NRP leader further said that everybody in The
Gambia can bear witness with him that UDP is stronger than PDOIS. But that
because of unity, that was why UDP accepted to join NADD. He said if anybody
thinks that UDP is foolish that is why they accepted to join NADD or because
UDP is only interested in leadership, the person is fooling himself/herself.
According to Darboe those people who know the strength of political parties
in the Gambia know that no opposition party can challenge UDP. He further
said if UDP was only interested in leadership, they would have told the
people the first day that UDP was going to lead. If anybody wanted to come
or stay it would be left to them. Darboe further highlighted that hypocrites
who are helping them, saying that Ousainou pulled out because of the
leadership issue, are the same people who went to Sinchu Alagie and told the
nation that NADD could not even select their flag bearer because the only
capable candidate among the Executive, was Mr. Darboe and the rest of the
Executive did not want him to become the leader. According to Mr. Darboe
this was said by Yankuba Touray at the Sinchu meeting and that the same
Yankuba in saying now, that he is selfish. However, he said he will leave
Yankuba to be judged by his conscience, since he does not think well.

Mr. Darboe finally told the gathering that all the propaganda that Yankuba
is doing was because he is afraid of the UDP/NRP Coalition which is out to
remove the Jammeh administration.




INFERNO DESTROYS THREE APARTMENTS**

* *

*By Bubacarr K. Sowe and Fabakary B. Ceesay*

A three apartment building in Ebo Town was on Sunday night, 12th March,
2006, burnt from a candle accident.

According to Ebrima S. Touray, the landlord in whose room the incident
started lit a candle, placed it on the drawers of the bed head and left the
room to sort out something with his tenants. He added that upon his return,
he saw that the fire had already started blazing. Mr. Touray who could not
instantly estimate the damages, told Foroyaa that he has lost tens of
thousands of dalasis worth of goods, including household items, clothing,
identity cards, school and official documents, bank books and many other
valuable items.

"Leaving a burning candle by a bed may be unsafe," he said, "But I often do
this with great care."

A tenant in the compound, Cherno Kanyi, whose apartment was ruined by the
fire, also indicated the loss of thousands of dalasis in cash and goods, in
said fire accident. He said all his household items including foodstuff were
destroyed.

"I lost a bed costing 12, 000 dalasis, a set of chairs valued at 10, 000
dalasis, a DVD set, musical set and thousands of dalasis in cash," said Mr.
Kanyi.

According to eye witnesses, the fire brigade arrived at the scene "with one
tank and called for another brigade for re-enforcement. They added that the
neighbours played an important role in putting out the fire.





*SONKO: SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF FACTS NOT FICTION*

*Says Halifa Sallah*

Sonko claims that "the composition of Gambia's debt stock is one of the best
structured in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire third world borrowing
countries."

According to Sonko, the government of the day has borrowed wisely and
meaningfully; the Gambia will soon meet all the conditions for debt relief;
the government's preoccupation was not to achieve debt forgiveness but to
uplift Gambians. He argued that the NADD MOU has to be revisited since it
does not talk about debt relief.

As standard-bearer for NADD, it is my duty to respect the opinion of every
Gambian and to state our own so that the discerning reader will be able to
distinguish which opinion is sound and which is loaded with flaws.

Development is about the quantitative and qualitative development of the
productive base with view to enhancing investment in the social sectors to
promote the general welfare of the people; economically, socially,
intellectually and culturally. Debt can be considered to be properly
structured only if its leads to the development of the productive base to
ensure repayment without undermining the sustainable development of the
social sectors and the promotion of general welfare. I am sure Sonko would
agree with this premise to the debate.

My position is that the debts taken by the government is not leading to the
development of the productive base of the economy; on the contrary, it is
leading to diversion of investment capital from production to finance budget
deficits. Consequently, corporate and income taxes are increasing just to
repay loans. This is leading to the impoverishment of corporations and
income earners without comparative improvement of the services of the social
sectors.

Since Sonko has not given himself time to understand the facts he creates
his own argument regarding Gambia's debt burden and tries to give the
impression that I do not understand the nature of the debt stock of the
country.

Let us now invite facts to prove that it is Salifu Sonko who lacks
understanding of the nature and characteristics of the debt burden of the
country. This is why he claims that the APRC regime has improved the quality
of its borrowing. Contrary to this view, the donors are punishing the
country because of financial indiscipline, which has led to gross
indebtedness. What is the nature of the debt stock of the country? The debt
of the Gambia can be classified into domestic debts and foreign debts. The
foreign debts are owed to foreign governments and multilateral
organizations.

Sonko will be surprised to know that out of the D1466 million that was paid
as interest and debt repayment in 2005, D723 million is payment of interest
on the domestic debts. The payment on foreign interest amounted to D226
million, foreign amortization or payment on the principal amounted to 516
million.

The domestic debt has been growing because of the dependence of government
on treasury bills to finance growing budget deficits. For example in 2005,
the budget deficit amounted to D855 million. This budget deficit had been
compounded by unauthorized expenditure. This mismanagement of the resources
led to action by the IMF to suspend their financing of Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper programmes in 2003 until government curbs unauthorized
expenditure, audit the Central bank externally and reduce the deficits and
clear arrears in the payment of the interests on debts. Infact, the donors
punished the Gambia because of governance by withholding 115 million dollars
pledged in 2002 in the Geneva round

Consequently, government is now increasing taxes while reducing expenditures
in the social sectors. For example, vehicle licence fees are increased by
30%, sales tax on non-oil imports have increased from 10% to 15%. There is
15% sales tax on domestically produced goods and excise duty of 10% is
levied on used cars in addition to the Customs duties and sales tax. On the
other hand, subvention at the RVH has been reduced from D41 million in 2005
to D35 million in 2006. Expenditure on drugs and dressings has been reduced
from D6.5 million to 5 million. The subvention to Bansang dropped from D13
million to D11.5 million with expenditure on drugs and dressing dropping
from D3 million to D2 million. The subvention to Farafenni Hospital dropped
from D10.5 million to D9.3 million with expenditure on drugs and dressing
being reduced from D2.2 million to D1.2 million. Subvention to the Sulayman
Junkung Jammeh Hospital in Bwiam was reduced from D5.5 million to
D4.7million with expenditure on drugs and dressing being reduced from
D1.2 million to D700 thousand.

Hence it should be clear that since the government is living by borrowing to
meet its day-to-day needs those with capital to invest are giving money to
government for interest instead of giving it to the private sector to
develop productivity. This is why the banking sectors claim to government in
2005 was D1.2 billion while credit to the private sector was just
D1.9billion. Foreign direct investment was
D1.5 billion while expenditure on imports stood at D6.3 billion and
repayment of loans amounted to 1.4 billion in 2005.

NADD therefore holds that financial discipline is key to reducing the
domestic debt, release investment capital to develop the productive sector,
win the respect of the donors and earn debt relief and create the basis for
receiving grants to develop the social sectors.

Sonko should not confuse NADD with individual parties. NADD is a
transitional instrument. It aims to institute a good governance programme to
enable the country to earn maximum assistance from the International
Community, boost up private and public sector investments where they have
comparative advantages and promote the sustainable development of
employment, earning and the social sector for a period of five years. The
president will not seek a second term nor support any other party. The
parties could then seek the mandate of the people on the basis of their
individual principles, policies, programmes and ideologies. It is then that
the individual parties can put up and implement their individual party
programmes if elected.  What do you have to say Salifu? I hold my breath to
await your reply.


GAMBIAN WOMEN SPEAK OUT

* *

*By Sarjo Camara Singhateh*

*Continuation *



Foroyaa:

Aunty Amie Sillah can you share your experience and views with the Gambian
Women concerning the international Women's Day.

Aunty Amie Sillah – Sarr is a gender activist, Politician and Educationist.

Aunty Amie: This theme is a very wide topic. Politics is really very
thrilling and there is a lot of debate. We have been debating the issue of
women for a long time especially in women Fora from Mexico, Copenhagen,
Nairobi, Dakar, Beijing and New York.

In 2000 we have a whole session about women in politics and decision-making
and that was the second time when I met with Elen Johnson Sirleaf, the
President of Liberia. That time she was struggling with her party and infact
she was the discussant of our meeting and I decided to take part in the
political discussion and deliberation.

Aunty Amie: I also gave my experience about the Gambia. I told them that in
Gambia there is no legal restriction to enter into politics that the law is
very clear there is no discrimination. Women can stand at any level in
governance.

That our problem is in the socio-cultural domain.

(1)The educational level of women is very low;

(2)Women are not economically empowered. And we see that politics in Gambia
is money, and the women do not have that kind of money. Money and
Socio-cultural factors are our barriers.

I pointed out that as a woman culture demands that you have to be seen and
not to be heard.

On the political scene what is available is character assassination and
politics of insult and harassment.

Many women are not used to husling, and insult. As a women the first thing
they will ask is your marital status, you relation with men, how many
children out of wedlock if you are a victim. They use that to castigate you
and make you to lose your self-esteem. This is why many women shy away from
politics.

When a man stands no one asks all these questions about him, like how many
women did he impregnated, divorce, married etc. So you can see that gender
discrimination against women is a fundamental in politics, no one should go
into somebody's personal life.

Foroyaa: What is your vision of the National Assembly?

Aunty Amie: I called for equal representation at the national Assembly as
women also have issues to discuss about their welfare and development.  We
need women to take part at the National Assembly debates, where issues of
life and death are discussed.

This includes health, agriculture and other national and international
issues. We need sober men and women to discuss issues, because women are
being marginalized in patriarchy exploited and subjected to abuse.

Foroyaa: Describe the concept of gender?

Gender is about man and woman, gender is about humanity. There are
gender-Sensitive men and women and also gender insensitive women and men
especially those referred to as the patriarchal gatekeepers.

Men and women are just like a bird with two wings- masculine and feminine.
The bird cannot fly if one winged.  We want our Gambian, African, and World
bird to fly to higher heights. What we are calling in gender is about Social
inclusion, Social Justice, gender justice, peace and prosperity. There is no
religion that tells a man to discriminate a man or woman. We don't hate men
we are partners in development.

Foroyaa: share you experience with us.

Aunty Amie: When I went to the United States they were attacking African men
I told them no you cannot be global, there are also some African men who are
good. They asked who is my example. I told them my husband is my example.
They laughed at me. But when I told them that I stood two times in elections
and still my husband gave me care and support. Like wise my party members.

I told them that during campaigns I do go out to reach people till late 4 am
5 am but my husband waited for me, gave me a warm bath, massage and hot tea.
He gave me love and support.

That he is gender conscious and sensitive then one cannot say that African
men are not good.

Foroyaa: What should the political environment be like?

Aunty Amie: In my own perspective the environment should be conducive, and
that should start with the government.

The government has signed all the protocols including the Women's Protocol.
They were the first to sign it but they ratified it with reservations, which
are detrimental to women's interests. Let the Jammeh administration
encouraged its NAMS members to lift the reservations on the Women Protocol
domesticate and implement its provision to protect the lives of women and
children in The Gambia.

Let the ruling party file in many capable women. In NADD were I am an
executive member we have created lot of space for women. If you read the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) It is saying that all NADD's organs shall
include women. Myself and Aja Ya Fatou Sonko are formidable Women. We are
going to stand by that and our brothers will give us all the support we
need. All the political parties should involve women, as they are partners
in development. Not only any women but capable women to take part in
elections from local government, Parliamentary to Presidential.

Foroyaa: What is your advice?

Aunty Amie: My general advice is that we are women we need peace; we want
the smiling coast to remain forever. We are happy that the MOU is signed by
political parties i.e. the ruling party, NADD, NCP and GPDP had all agreed
to abide by it. Now let it be inscribe in our conscience and practice.

Women should be empowered they should not be a luggage to anyone. As women
we should bring compassion, sympathy, unity and empathy into politics. As
women we have our commonalities, differences, divergences and specificities
but our commonality is a common ground to fight patriarchy, oppression,
exploitation and oppression.

I commended the opposition for their maturity and steadfastness during the
crisis when they held our leaders. We took our time and talk to our
supporters and asked them to be calm. If NADD had been an opportunist party
it would have incited our people and bring about death and destruction. We
refused to be cowered into violence. NADD is a better alternative.

Foroyaa: Thank you Aunty Amie for sparing your time and energy.

Aunty Amie: It's a pleasure. Keep up the good work.





*NADD MILITANTS RESPOND TO EBOU JALLOW*

If one reads conscientiously the article written by Ebou Jallow and
published in the Daily

Observer issue of Tuesday 7th March 2005, one wonders at the end of the
article as to

who is actually relevant or irrelevant in The Gambia today: Ebou Jallow or
NADD? In the first place Ebou Jallow ran away from this country in
circumstances, which are still not resolved as it concerns his alleged
absconding with public funds to the tune of three million dollars. While in
the US he was reported by the Washington Times on 20th October 1995, as
follows:

"A member of the military council that seized power in the West African
nation of Gambia last year has defected to the United States, saying he left
after the NO.2 man on the five man council boasted of killing the finance
minister with a baseball bat. Capt. Ebou Jallow said he defected last week
because of a "culture of fear" spread by the military regime and the
establishment of Libyan camps to indoctrinate Gambians in the philosophy of
Libyan leader Moammar".

This is what Ebou Jallow said of the AFPRC/APRC government 10 years ago.
Today he claims in his article in the Daily Observer that,

"The Gambia needs a leader, like President Jammeh, who can translate a
vision into action that generates equal opportunities for all Gambians."


The question any right thinking and patriotic Gambian would ask Ebou is not
how relevant or not is NADD, but to tell his compatriots the following:

1. Where is the money he allegedly took away?

2. Why did he abandon the AFPRC to go to the US and still remain there?

3. Does he still stand by his comments made in the Washington Post?

4. Has The Gambia changed from the situation he described to the Washington
Post?

5. What is the motive for his praise singing for Yaya Jammeh and APRC today?

Ebou may be able to fool Yaya Jammeh and a few Gambians for a long period of
time, but surely he cannot fool the majority of Gambians especially the vast
majority who have rallied behind NADD for any longer. We wish to inform Ebou
and his ilk that the

majority of Gambians have seen NADD as a great opportunity to bring back
true " democracy to the country, which will put an end to self-perpetuating
rule and the politics of patronage and intimidation, which was highly
practiced, by Yaya Jammeh and the APRC.

NADD militants will not attempt, in the slightest manner, to defend Halifa,
especially against a person of Ebou Jallow's character. All Gambians in all
parties know who is Halifa, and NADD Militants challenge anyone to provide
any evidence of calumny and opportunism in Halifa, for there is none. Halifa
Sallah's character and pedigree speak for him!

NADD militants will not also argue with Ebou on the merits and demerits of
the APRC Government since all Gambians, who are honest and enlightened
enough know without doubt that the Government of Yaya Jammeh has paralyzed
this country politically, economically and socially. Gambians truly live in
a culture of fear as described by Ebou 10 years ago, and we are poorer today
than at Independence. The country is so indebted that public service
delivery in all sectors is at its lowest ebb as more than one-third of our
budget is used to service loans that the government has contracted only to
waste and plunge us into excruciating poverty and misery.

On the issue of socialism, it appears that Ebou has not realized that NADD
is neither a capitalist nor socialist party, but a progressive party that
aims to engage the most productive and progressive policies and programmes
for the people of The Gambia. The world has advanced so much that Cold War
thinking has become irrelevant. However, we would like to remind Ebou that
one of the leading countries giving invaluable support to The Gambia is
Cuba, which is unique in the world for being socialist/communist. Yet the
Socialist/Communist Government under Fidel Castro has created one of the
best living conditions for its people compared to what some of the
staunchest capitalist countries did for their people. For your information
Cuba has one of the best, if not the best, health delivery system in the
world. Cuba has achieved 100 percent literacy rate, with free education for
all its citizens from kindergarten to university. Child mortality rate in
Cuba is at first world standard. Cuba has established some of the best
medical and scientific research stations and institutions in the world and
is a leading member of the world community as it has provided immense
support to all of Africa more than any other individual country in the
world. For this reason, all Africans should be grateful to Cuba, and if not
support but spare socialism for the simple reason that Cuba is socialist. We
are sure Ebou Jallow would not want to embarrass Yaya Jammeh, a close ally
of Cuba by making such disparaging comments against socialism in his Daily
Observer article such as the following,

"Socialism is totally incompatible with liberty. The socialist idea that a
government is capable of shaping the world around it according to its wishes
is simply paternalistic and boneheaded...Socialists will always be ready to
make dismissive arguments that they are not interested in communism but a
"democratic" welfare state.

Whatsoever the semantics they deploy against their critics, history has
always proven the indubitable reality that socialism is a threat to human
freedom. Socialists who masquerade as saviours always find themselves in
situations where they shall be obliged to be oppressive and tyrannical if
they want to achieve their "good intentions" for equality and ending
poverty."

We are also made to believe that Yaya is a comrade to Colonel Ghadaffi,
another professed socialist. We ask Ebou whether based on his remarks above
he dares tell Yaya Jammeh to abandon Cuba and Libya? Ebou cannot
misinterpret socialism and surely he cannot also tarnish the image and
integrity of Halifa Sallah.

The article by Ebou Jallow and the recent misinformation campaign by the
Daily Observer against the opposition in general and NADD in particular
should indicate to Gambians that the APRC government and its cohorts have
become not only irrelevant but anachronistic. They have embarked on a
campaign of throwing dust in the eyes of the people just to maintain
self-perpetuating rule and politics of patronage and deceit in the country.

NADD says that is not possible anymore, and the path has been paved. No one
can stop the journey. This is why Yaya Jammeh, after initial rejection, was
made to sign the MOD between political parties for decency and decorum in
electioneering this year.

NADD Militants wish to call on all Gambians to realize that the issue for
The Gambia is democracy and development. The country cannot make any
achievement in the absence of democracy and development, which will usher in
peace and stability, ensure respect for the rule of law by the government
and all institutions and individuals. Democracy and development will promote
and protect our human rights and remove the culture of fear that Ebou talked
about 10 years ago and still continues unabated with impunity.

NADD has a programme for this country. This programme will be implemented
within five years, which is the lifespan of NADD. Under a NADD Government,
there will be term limits to the presidency. All Gambians will have access
to GRTS to air their views. All civil servants shall do their work without
any fear or intimidation or dismissal. The economy of the country will be
managed in such a way that our wealth will be invested in our people and
country in order to create more wealth and bring about economic
independence. This is the unique difference between NADD and all other
political parties in The Gambia. We, the militants to NAD, call on all
youths, women and, indeed, anyone who wishes to bring about a brighter
future for The Gambia to join NADD and contribute his or her quota to
national development.

NADD does not wish to engage in petty and personal issues with any
individual. We demand debate and dialogue over national issues and
programmes. We ask Ebou Jallow and the Daily Observer to entertain a debate
of issues and not attacks against the person of anyone. In the same vein, we
demand the Daily Observer to allow divergent views based on issues, if it
wishes to uphold the basic ABC of Journalism, which is:

A- Accuracy

B- Balance

C- Clarity

For the information of the general public, young men and women of NADD have
constituted themselves into a forum purposely to further the democratic and
developmental agenda of The Gambia. In this vein, the NADD Militants Forum
will not leave any attempt by anybody or institution to hoodwink Gambians go
unchallenged. We seek enlightened and intellectual debate and dialogue for
the good of the country. With NADD, a new realization is emerging in the
youth of the Gambia. It is a realization that has awakened us to our
obligations to our people, which we have vowed to fulfill without any
hesitation and to the best of our ability. We have sworn to promote and
protect the human rights and freedom of Gambians and maintain a political
culture based on the

Values of decency, truth and patriotism.

*Mr. Suwaibou Touray*

*NADD Militants Forum*



*DANKUNKU: CONFLICT OVER OWNERSHIP OF WOODLOT*

*Pateh Baldeh and Yaya Dampha*

The people of Niamina Dankunku District are in conflict over ownership of a
woodlot at Dankunku. Those in Dankunku claim that they own it while others
residing outside Dankunku claim that it belongs to the whole district. This
conflict became evident when the Secretary of State for Agriculture held a
meeting at Malkunda in the District of Niamina.

Those residing outside Dankunku bitterly condemned the action taken by the
Director of Forestry Department concerning the woodlot at Dankunku Village.
The National Assembly Member for the area, Hon, Kebba Nget, and many other
speakers at a meeting held in Malkunda, CRD, complained to the SOS for
Agriculture that the woodlot was planted by all the 26 villages in the
district and that the Chief of the area, whom they sent to the Department of
Forestry, is also accused of siding with the people of Dankunku village.
They said the Chief told them that he had accepted that the woodlot belonged
to the people of Dankunku because a clear document to this effect was shown
to him at the Forestry Department. The people of the district were not happy
with the Chief's remarks when he told them about what he had discovered.

In his response to their complaints, SOS Touray told the people of Niamina
to unite and forget about their political differences. He said all that he
understood was that the people were fighting for economic gains from the
woodlot. He promised that the matter would be resolved soon.

When a *Foroyaa* reporter got in touch with Mr. Samba Ceesay, the chief of
the area, he said he accepted the idea because an official document was
shown to him by the Director of Forestry. The Alkalo of Dankunku, Mr. Ebou
Mboge, was also contacted for comments. He told this paper that the woodlot
belongs to Dankunku village and not the district. Our reporter was shown a
certificate of ownership and the said document was signed by the Director of
Forestry. The document said the woodlot was planted by the people of
Dankunku through USAID and EEC projects in 1984, and that it was owned by
the village, although the document was prepared in the year 2005.

*Foroyaa's* investigations also revealed that the whole episode started when
the satellite villages around Dankunku met and agreed that the woodlot
should be the property of the district.  They agreed that from then on they
would all share the benefits gained from the woodlot. After this meeting the
people of Dankunku sold some trees to a dealer whose upon felling of the
tress was blocked by the Chief and some people in the District. They seized
the felled trees and waited with guns and other weapons for the possible
intervention of the people of Dankunku. When the wood dealer reported the
matter to the Alkalo of Dankunku, Mr. Ebou Mboge, he told his villagers to
remain calm. He sent message to the Police in Dankunku and Jareng inorder to
avert trouble. The Chief and his men were dispersed by the Police. The
Alkalo of Dankunku is said to have also sent a team to the Department of
Forestry to prepare a new document for them. The original document was said
to have been under the custody of the late Sarja Mboge, the then Chief of
the area. It was said to be missing together with other documents that were
kept by the late Chief. He explained that this is said to be the reason why
the document (certificate of ownership) shown to our reporter was dated
December, 2005.

A young man from Dankunku told our reporter that he could remember in 1984
when the village youths and their counter parts, the USAID and EEC,
initiated this project. He said that no other village participated in the
planting except the Maribantang youths. He said the forestry field worker
who was with them on the ground is now a senior officer at the Forestry
Department. At the Department of Forestry the officials maintained that the
woodlot is a village property.




FIRE FIGHTER SUCCUMBS TO INFERNO AT KANILAI

The fire incident that took place in Kanilai on Sunday 5th March, 2006
claimed the life of Ebrima Sowe, a fire fighter from Brikama Wellingara.
According to an eyewitness Ebrima succumbed to the inferno at a time when he
and his colleagues were struggling to extinguish the fire that was blazing
in Kanilai. Reports have it that the fire fighters were trapped in the fire
in the process. According to a source, Ebrima Sowe and Lamin Ceesay were
rushed to the hospital. The Fire Service PRO, Haddy Conneh, confirmed the
story and informed our reporter that Lamin Ceesay is currently at the
hospital. She said Ebrima who passed away was enlisted in the Fire Service
in 1995 as a confirmed fire fighter. She said Ebrima Sowe is survived by his
wife and a child.





*URD ACOUNTANT ARRESTED*
Over 4 Million Dalasis Scandal

*From Basse Correspondent.*

Mr. Sukuta Makalo, the Accountant at the office of the commissioner in
Basse, URD, was arrested over the weekend by the Fraud Squad, upon his
arrival from Basse. According to our source, Mr. Makalo is alleged to have
mismanaged over four million dalasis (D4m) at the Commissioner's Office in
Basse URD.

When our reporter visited the Police Head Quarters on Monday, he found Mr.
Makalo under detection. When contacted, the Police PRO was said to be out of
his office at the time. However, a personnel at the Police Fraud Squad
confirmed the arrest of Mr. Makalo and informed this paper that they are
still investigating the matter. Some relatives and friends of the accountant
were seen by our reporter at the Police Head Quarters. They told our
reporter that they have been trying to apply for a bail for their brother
and friend but that the Police are saying that they are not ready with their
investigation. The family members have hired the services of Lawyer Borry
Touray, who, according to them, is working very hard to secure Mr. Makalo's
release. However, reports reaching this paper indicate that Mr. Makalo is in
complicity with some officers. Foroyaa will investigate the matter further
and keep the public informed, accordingly.

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