Fatoumata
  Sister Jabou have been doing a very good job. Once again thanks for your efforts forwarding foroyaa, keeping us inform about events folding back home.

Fatoumata <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
  PLEASE JOIN ME TO THANK GUNJUR FOR BEING PROVIDING FOROYAA NEWS TO US ONLINE
PRIOR TO THE NEWSPAPER COMING ONLINE.

BRAVO GUNJUR AND MAY ALLAH REWARD YOU!!!!

FATOU

On 11/11/2007, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
> Issue No. 132/2007, 9 - 11 November, 2007
> Editorial
>
> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
> SHOULD ADVISE THE PRESIDENT
> Chief Manneh's case will again be brought up before the ECOWAS Court. The
> government should examine what it had gained by detaining Rambo for over
> a
> year. The danger of long detention without trial is the possibility of
> sickness
> and even death while in detention. Such developments become tragic. Human
> right Law protects both state and person. A State which respects human
> rights is
> protected form having a record of maltreating its people with impunity.
> In short, if a police officer abides by the constitutional provisions and
> inform a suspect of the cause of his or her detention within three hours
> and
> enable the person to gain access to a legal counsel, no person will
> disappear
> or be tortured. The role of a Republic is to protect the sovereignty of
> the
> people .This requires leaders who consider themselves as servants of the
> people; Section 72 of the Constitution states that ''The Attorney General
> shall be
> the principal legal adviser of the state''
> We therefore hope that the person in charge will be afforded all the
> support
> necessary to fulfill the terms of her oath to perform her duties without
> fear or favour, affection or ill will.
>
> Former SoS's Wife Convicted
> By Fabakary B. Ceesay
> Mrs Ndey Njie, the wife of the former Secretary of State for Youth Sports
> and Religious Affairs, was on Wednesday 7 November convicted by Principal
> Magistrate B.Y Camara of Banjul Magistrate Court.
> Delivering the judgment, Magistrate B.Y Camara pointed out that the
> accused
> person, Mrs. Ndey Njie, was charged with common assault contrary to
> section
> 227 of the Criminal Code, Cap 10. He stated before the court that Mrs.
> Ndey
> Njie,on the 14 May,at the police headquarters unlawfully assaulted one
> Mrs.
> Nyarra Adams by slapping her on the face. Magistrate Camara said the
> prosecution
> had a task to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Magistrate Camara
> indicated that the prosecution had called five witnesses to prove its
> case. He
> noted that the witnesses included the complainant, Nyarra Adams, her
> husband
> Saikou Lamin Adams, Sergeant Lamin Cham, Police Commissioner Essa Badjie,
> alias
> "Jesus," and Assistant Superintendent, Malanin Ceesay; that their
> evidences
> before the court corroborated each other; that the accused person indeed
> assaulted the complainant. He said most of the witnesses produced by the
> prosecution are all senior security officers who testified that they
> witness the
> case before the court. Magistrate Camara said that on the side of the
> defence
> they have called only two witnesses to defend their case; that Mr.
> Abdoulie
> Faal and Mr. Musa Njie all testified that they heard the complainant
> using foul
> words towards the accused person's father; that there was a quarrel, but
> no
> assault has taken place. Magistrate Camara ruled that it is the
> conclusion of
> the court that the prosecution has proved their case and therefore
> convicted
> the accused as charged.
> Mitigating on behalf of the accused person, Counsel Haddy Dandeh Njie
> pleaded that the accused is 30 years old and is currently taking care of a
> twelve-year-old girl. She said the accused has never had a tussle with the
> law.
> Counsel Njie added that the accused regrets and expresses embarrassment to
> the
> fact that she was standing trial at a court.
> Magistrate Camara said the behaviour of the accused was stupid for her to
> act in such a manner at such a place, like the police headquarters. He
> noted
> that it was lack of discipline for one to behave in that way knowing that
> one's
> husband is a high-ranking government official. He therefore sentenced her
> to
> a fine of D7,000 dalasis and another D5,000 dalasis to compensate Nyarra
> Adams for causing embarrassment to her in front of the police officers
> and in
> default to serve 12 months in prison.
>
> Stakeholders Comparative
> Studies On Jetty Project Validated
> By Modou Jonga & Amie Sanneh
> A one-day consultative workshop to validate the comparative studies of
> the
> fisheries Jetty landing fees and fuel under the Gambian Artisanal
> fisheries
> Development Project was on Thursday 8 November held at the Corinthia
> Atlantic
> Hotel in Banjul.
> In his welcoming remarks, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of
> State
> for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly matters, Mr. Lamin
> Nyabally said the essence of the Gambia Artisanal Fisheries Development
> Project
> (GAFDP) is to improve fisheries facilities and infrastructure. Mr.
> Nyabally
> expressed hope that the discussion on the GAFDP comparative studies will
> be
> meaningful.
> The Director of Fisheries Mr. Adiatou E. Njai said the main objectives
> of
> the project are in five components, namely, the improvement of fisheries
> and
> infrastructures, strengthening of fisheries Department, strengthening
> monitoring, control and surveillance, credit program, and project
> management.
> Speaking further, the Fisheries Director noted that the fisheries Jetty
> will
> be managed by The Gambia Ports Authority on behalf of the Fisheries
> Department based on a management Agreement that spells out the terms and
> conditions
> of management.Mr Njie said the GPA signed this management agreement in
> 2001.
> On the study report of GPA, the Fisheries Director said the objective of
> the
> consultancy on the comparative studies, was to conduct comparative
> analysis
> of the fisheries port landing fees, fuel price tariffs and incentive in
> The
> Gambia and Senegal in order to recommend to Gambia Government the right
> levels
> to apply to ensure the competitive and profitability of the new Banjul
> fisheries Jetty. Mr. Njai revealed that the consultant, Mr. Abdou Njie
> of Sahel
> Management International, has successfully completed the study
> after exhaustive
> investigation and analysis of the data collected in Senegal and
> The Gambia.
> He concluded that the one day consultative meeting is a testimony of the
> success of the comparative studies of the fisheries Jetty project.
> In his opening statement, the Secretary of State for Fisheries, Water
> Resources and National Assembly Matters, Yankuba Touray, noted the
> significance of
> the fisheries sector in the national development efforts. SoS Touray
> underscored his Department's resolve in achieving a significant reduction
> in poverty
> through increased food security, employment opportunities and Foreign
> Exchange earning by means of sustainable management, exploitation and
> utilization of
> fisheries resources. He said the construction of the Banjul Fisheries
> Jetty
> would cater for landing and cold storage facilities among other things;
> that
> the fisheries Jetty Project will create a window of opportunities for
> private
> sector investment. The SoS called for the application of appropriate and
> competitive prices in order to optimize the number of vessels using the
> Jetty
> thus making it profitable and expressed hope for the efficient
> operationslization of the new Banjul Jetty.
>
> BEACH BOYS COMPLAIN OF MALTREATMENT BY SOLDIERS AND GTA
> By Isatou Bittaye
> The boys at the beach, commonly called "Bumpsters", have raised their
> dissatisfaction over the manner they are treated by the soldiers and
> staff of the
> Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) at the beach. Speaking to this reporter,
> Ebrima Darboe, a beach boy, said they depend on the beach to earn their
> living,
> but that they are being denied the freedom to do so by the GTA and
> soldiers at
> the beach. He said that he has a Bar where he sells soft drinks and beer
> and
> that he does not hustle or rob the tourists, but the soldiers treat him
> like
> a "bumpster". He said they always disturb him at the beach. Ebrima
> complained that the GTA set rules for them, which according to him are
> not reasonable,
> citing the GTA identity card as an example. He said that being at the
> beach
> could sometimes bring opportunities for them, as they can be fortunate to
> have a sponsor.
> Ebrima added that they are not "bumpsters" who harass or rob tourists,
> but
> are there to help tourist's in order to get something from them for their
> living. He said that he is a bar-keeper and some of his friends are
> fishermen
> and juice pressers, that the only solution to their problem is for the
> soldiers
> and the GTA to leave them to have their freedom at the beach. He added
> that
> they are also urging the government to establish factories such as
> fishing
> companies, etc as an alternative where they can be employed to enable
> them to
> contribute to the development of the Gambia.
> He called on the Hotel Managers to employ them in their hotels as
> entertainers. Sheriff Ceesay, another beach boy told Foroyaa that their
> main problem is
> the soldiers.
> He explained that they depend on the beach to make ends meet, but the
> soldiers always disturb them. He said the soldiers sometimes arrest
> and detain them
> at their camps for 72 hours, punished them by forcing them to do hard
> work
> or even beat and torture them to stop going to the beach. He said
> this cannot
> stop them from going to the beach..
> Sheriff said they sometimes have good opportunities at the beach, but
> these
> opportunities sometimes slip away due to the treatment meted out to them
> by
> the soldiers. He also called on the government to create employment for
> young
> people and for society to also change their perception that youths do no
> want
> to work, but rather prefer to sit at street corners drinking green tea
> (attaya). Sheriff challenged that everybody wants to leave a happy life
> and
> develop his family and the nation. He said that people should have
> sympathy and
> respect for each other. He agreed that there is occasionally one or two
> bad boys
> who cause trouble but that this is not a general problem that should be
> used
> as a pretext to deny them the beach.
> Mr. Amadou Ceesay, the Director of Human Resources at the GTA, told this
> reporter that the tourism industry needs to be regulated in order
> to achieve the
> desired objectives. He said that the GTA understands that
> the frustrations
> of the boys are as a result of poverty, but they will not allow them to
> wreck
> the industry.
> Mr. Ceesay said the GTA introduced the identity card to make sure that
> only
> people with bona fide businesses are allowed to go to the beach. He said
> before the ID card is issued to anybody, the person must register with
> GTA. He
> added that they have established the Tourism Security Unit (TSU) for the
> safety
> and well being of the tourists and they operate within all areas
> frequented
> by tourists. Mr. Ceesay said the GTA understands that the "bumpster"
> problem
> is a social problem and decided to tackle it in two approaches. He said
> the
> GTA has created employment schemes such as the official tourist guide
> scheme,
> which was introduced in 1997, that the scheme is a poverty alleviation
> scheme that trains and employs "bumpsters" as guides. He said they also
> conduct
> sensitisation programmes on the TV and radio and also go to schools to
> sensitise people on the negative effects of bumpsters and try to
> introduce people to
> ways they can contribute positively to the nation. He said that
> the reality
> is that everybody cannot be employed in the tourism industry and
> the beach
> boys "bumpst negatively"'. He said some juice presser's method
> of operation
> at the beach is unhygienic and can cause health problems to the tourists.
> He
> said they don't allow juice pressers to operate in an area where there is
> no
> tap. He said they have allocated places where they should operate but
> some
> boys do scatter along the beach.
> He added that he received e-mail from a tourist that some boys were
> trying
> to harass her at the beach, which he said could drive tourist from the
> Gambia
> and that will be a great loss to the economy.
> On his part, Lt. Ousman Bah, the head of the Tourism Security Unit, (TSU)
> said the unit is mandated with the responsibility of clearing the
> industry with
> all forms of illegal acts such as hustling, robbing, prostitution,
> bumpsting, drug dealing and other criminal acts under the Gambia
> Tourism Offences Act.
> Lt. Bah said they are trained professionally to deal with people, either
> Gambians or non-Gambians, and are to make sure that nobody harass or rob
> tourists. He denied the allegation that they arrest and beat or torture
> people, but
> noted that they arrest people they found hustling tourists and detain them
> for 72 hours.
> He said during the 72 hours of detention, they normally ask the arrestees
> to
> perform cleansing exercises because they committed offences and that is
> their form of punishment and they feed them with three daily meals, which
> is
> sponsored by GTA. He said some boys did not have the valid documents
> to be at the
> beach and the TSU now has a drug squad and immigration unit and
> they monitor
> drug dealers and people without valid documents. Lt. Bah noted that they
> have rules governing them to provide a safe and secure environment for
> people
> doing business in the tourism development area. He said they operate from
> Atlantic Hotel to Sanyang on a daily basis to protect tourist, which is
> their
> responsibility, and the national interest is paramount since tourism
> contributes
> a lot to the country. He said some boys do not want their presence at the
> beach but they use dialogue to enlighten them on the importance of
> tourism.
> Lt. Bah said they are trying to introduce a plan whereby anybody arrested
> will be taken to GTA to be recruited in their cleansing team. He said
> they know
> they are dealing with their own brothers but it is their responsibility.
> He
> said they are trying to build and foster civil-military relations and
> people
> should understand that it is their mandate to control and secure the
> beach.
>
> Lawyer Tambedou Defends Omar Ndow
> By Fabakary B. Ceesay
> The economic crime trial involving the former Managing Director of
> Gamtel,
> Mr. Omar Ndow could not proceed on Wednesday 7 November at the Banjul
> Magistrates Court. The prosecution was supposed to reply to the "no case
> to answer"
> submission by the defence on the last sitting date. Holding brief for ASP
> Momodou Bojang was Corporal 1831 Sanyang, who informed the court that ASP
> Bojang
> was involved in another case at Kanifing Magistrates Court. Corporal
> Sanyang
> told the court that it is impossible for ASP Bojang to make it to the
> Banjul
> Court. He applied for and adjournment to enable ASP Bojang to be
> available.
> The defense counsel, Sheriff M. Tambedou, argued that if the prosecution
> has
> no reply to his submission, he would urged the court to deliver a ruling
> on
> the matter. Counsel Tambedou added that the prosecution did not advance
> any
> genuine reasons for their absence. Mr. Tambedou said instead of appearing
> before a Principal Magistrate, he went to attend a case before a first
> class
> magistrate. Principal Magistrate B.Y. Camara ruled that the case is a
> sensitive
> matter and for the cause of justice to be served, he would adjourn the
> matter
> to a short date. He noted that the reason advanced by the prosecution is
> not
> reasonable enough.
>
> TRIBUTE TO THE LATE BABOUCARR GAYE
> A MENTOR, FRIEND, COLLEAGUE AND FATHER
> Baboucarr Gaye, one of the titans of the Gambian Media, was a courageous,
> honest, and very principled journalist who had contributed enormously
> towards
> the growth of the media in the country your untimely death has sent shock
> waves through many in The Gambia and beyond.
> We have lost a hero, a champion, a fighter for freedom of expression and
> human rights. Baboucarr you are gone but your deeds will remain with us.
> You
> will always be remembered by the old, young and the interested
> readership.
>
> Though once a time he was a gem
> A man of manly manners made
> A king and a champion all in one
> Of fresh and newly blood and bones
>
> Here before us lies the past
> Now stripped of any presence kept
> A history stripped and only left
> With memories lit in faded colors
>
> Though of an era past and distant
> He was a thing dearly desired
> More than gems and diamonds too
> No price ever could match his worth
>
> Here before us indifference lies
> In a static state and stagnant
> In this world, lifeless and listless
> Lethargic, languid and torpid
>
> Once in him was greatly action
> Ambition, toughness and talent
> In many ways inspiring and funny
> He loved to fly, though now he lies
>
> Here before us lies the fresh
> Yet we think and talk of greatness
> Could he then be gone and done
> By just an end to the flesh he wore
>
>
> Baboucarr rest in eternal peace. Till we meet again
>
> From your daughter, and colleague
> Agi cox - Bah
>
> FOCUS ON POLITICS
> IN THE 1988 KUKOI SCARE,
> ACCUSED PERSONS ALLEGED SEVERE
> TORTURE UNDER DURESS
> We have been focusing on politics in this column and this compels us to
> follow the narration of political events from the Pre-colonial period to
> the
> Post-Independence era. We have successfully covered the narration of
> events up to
> the year 1988.
> In the last issue, we have stopped where we said Mr. Sisoho expressed his
> concern, among other things, that for Foroyaa to associate Mr Tombong
> Saidy and
> Amadou Kabir to MOJA may make things difficult for them.
> Let us continue from where we stopped
> The treason trials concerning one Musa Sanneh, Amadou Badjie,
> Adrian Sambou
> and Ousman Sanneh continued. The concern of the PDOIS supporters at
> the time
> was the alleged link that was being portrayed in court by the prosecution
> appearing to link Kukoi to PDOIS.
> However, the trial revealed glaring allegations of torture by the accused
> persons. The allegations made were so serious as to attract the attention
> of
> the international media. For example, by about 9 May, the BBC attended
> the
> trial and reported on the allegations of torture by the accused persons.
> According to the BBC report, all the accused persons alleged that their
> statements
> were obtained under severe torture on several occasions. The prosecution
> objected to the allegation, which led to a trial within a trial to
> determine
> whether the accused persons were indeed tortured.
> In his testimony in court, Amadou Badjie ,one of the accused persons,
> told
> the court in minute details how he was tortured by Deputy Commander
> Sainey
> Mbye and six other officers, all of whom he pointed out in court, one
> after the
> other. Badjie said Mbye ordered him to be stripped to his under-pants,
> which
> was done. He also said a Jola officer was chosen (since he was a Jola) to
> tie
> his hands together at the wrists. Badjie said Mbye then ordered the same
> officer to push an iron rod between his knees and elbow joints, saying
> the
> officer does not need to worry whether Badjie was hurt or not in
> the process.
> Badjie alleged that after the rod had been forcefully inserted through
> his
> knees, each of the two ends was placed on a chair with him thus trussed
> up
> and dangling above the two chairs. He said that whilst in this position,
> Sainey
> Mbye had a small blue machine brought and placed on a nearby table.
> Justice
> Ayoola who presided over the trial within a trial did not give a ruling
> on
> the case at the time.
> In the case of Musa Sanneh, who also alleged the same torture, Ayoola
> dismissed his statement and upheld that of the statement of the police.
> The police
> demanded for the examination a private medical doctor to establish

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