Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 38/2007, 2-3 April 2007
Editorial
COMMUNITY POLICING! COMMUNITY SECURITY!!
COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION CONTROL!!! COMMUNITY MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM!!
The Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, the Inspector General
of Police, the Director General of the NIA and the Director of Immigration
need to organise a seminar or workshop on the concept “Community men and women
in uniform” to define the role of our men and women in uniform in national
development.
We were just telling visitors from the UK that, despite the lack of street
lights and patrol vehicles in most areas in the Kanifing Municipality and
Western Division, people still move about in pitch darkness and leave their doors
and windows open up to dusk. This, we said is due to the existence of the
spirit of community which helps to contain crime and stress arising from
poverty and the difficulties of daily living.
This is why alternative dispute resolution measures which do not include law
enforcement and courts are still the most popular way of handling conflicts.
This unique social set up which enhances tolerance for religious and tribal
diversities and promotes hospitality to guests is found here by every
political administration and should be left here by every government.
In our view, the men and women in uniform are accorded special powers to
safeguard law, peace and security. They should therefore be exemplary in their
conduct.
Section 222, paragraph 13 of the constitution states:
“A person holding an office in a public service or any disciplined force
shall not-
(a) allow his or her political inclinations to interfere with the
discharge of his or her official duties;
(b) be a member of, or take part in any association of persons which
might prevent him or her from impartially discharging his or her duties; or
(c) 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.”
Furthermore section 222, paragraph 3 adds:
“A public officer shall 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.”
These are the dictates of the fundamental law of the land. The president and
all those who serve the public are supposed to respect the dictates of this
fundamental law. Infact, this fundamental law is considered to be so supreme
and inviolable that section 6 subsection (2) affirms:
“All citizens of The Gambia have the right and the duty at all times to
defend this constitution and, in particular, to resist, to the extent reasonably
justifiable in the circumstances, any person or group of persons seeking or
attempting by any violent or unlawful means to suspend, overthrow or abrogate
this constitution or any part of it.”
This is good for peace time as well as unsettled times.
What is the point? The point is that our men and women in uniform should be
cultured in obeying orders that are in line with the dictates of the
constitution. If this was the case, Rambo (Ousman Jatta) would not have been in
detention without trial in unknown places all this long. Where in the world do you
see an elected councillor detained without trial when the constitution
states that a person must be charged and taken to a court within 72 hours or
released? Foroyaa has been reliably informed that Fatou Jaw Manneh, a journalist,
was arrested at the airport and detained. By the time you are reading this
the 72 hours would have elapsed.
Now may we ask: How many people have intervened in Rambo’s case? What type
of history are we writing for posterity to judge?
A generation which doesn’t care about the type of history their children
will read is a failed generation.
It is therefore necessary for the state, the opposition; civil society and
the citizenry at large to rededicate ourselves to the ethics of our National
Anthem and let “Justice guide our actions towards the common good.”
We recommend that at all stations, whenever our men and women in uniform
start off their day, they should start with a recitation of the National Anthem
before they separate to carryout their duties. They will then strive for all
to live in unity, peace and freedom each day. They will strive to ensure that
justice guides their actions so as to promote both the common good and the
brotherhood and sisterhood of our people. 24 April 2007 will be the 27th
anniversary of the Republic. Let us hope that the president will transform this
day into one of national reconciliation by causing the release of all those who
are detained without trial and a general amnesty be given to all Gambians so
that no one will have any fear to come back to their homeland. We need a
starting point for a new political engagement. Will the person occupying the
highest office in the land lead the way? Time will tell.
Where is Fatou Jaw Manneh?
At the NIA Headquarters?
Foroyaa received information that relatives and friends of Fatou Jaw Manneh,
a journalist who has been resident in the US for many years, went to the
airport on Wednesday 28 March 2007 to welcome her home.
Unfortunately, they missed to see her when she arrived. Foroyaa reported
this in the last issue. On Friday Foroyaa started the search by contacting, the
Police, The Immigration and the NIA. Before the end of the day it was clear
that Fatou was neither arrested by the Police nor by the Immigration. Foroyaa
has reliably learnt that she is at the NIA Headquarters. We have contacted
family members to confirm this finding and they have confirmed that they visit
her daily.
Section 191(1) of the Constitution states“There shall be a National
Intelligence Agency which shall be under the command of the President.”
The NIA is therefore directly under the Command of the President. Foroyaa
wishes to advise the President to establish a unit at the president’s office to
receive complaints regarding arrests made by the NIA so that he can be kept
informed of all developments.
In our view, the NIA should only be involved in complex cases of national
security or serious, organised crimes which involve criminal syndicates that
need to be exposed and broken.
A state should not be involved in issues that amount to a storm in a tea
cup. We hope the Director General of NIA will keep to his promise to build the
institution into a professional intelligence organisation that will be
concerned with major security issues and leave the police to deal with crimes of day
to day law enforcement.
72 hours is the constitutional dead line to keep a person without court
appearance or release him/her on bail. In the case of Fatou Jaw Manneh Monday is
a day limit set by the constitution.
The President should either cause an amendment to the Constitution to be
proposed or accept responsibility for every development at the NIA as implied by
Section 191 (1). We will follow Fatou’s case on Monday and we anticipate
that the journalist fraternity and sorority in the Gambia will be equally
concerned.
$1.5 million WAJA Project Launched
A press statement issued by Mr Madi Ceesay, President of the Gambia Press
Union and a Vice President of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA)
has revealed that the 1.5 million WAJA project finally took off the ground on
March 27 2007. Madi, who attended the ceremony at the project’s head offices
in Bamako, described it as colourful. According to Madi, the President of the
WAJA, Ibrihirna Famakan Coulibaly, told the gathering that the project is a
genuine one, noting that journalism needs the support of the people as its
role is cross-cutting. He urged journalists in the sub region to make maximum
use of the project.
He paid special regards to Solimana Sacko, the executive secretary of ACBF
and former prime minister of Mali. Sacko was very instrumental in the
realisation of the project.
The statement continues: “In delivering the keynote address, Sacko told the
gathering that this is a pilot project and that WAJA should see it as their
project and do all to make it successful as the success of this will guarantee
subsequent projects.
“He also underscored the role of journalists in the democratization
processes of nations. He condemned the arrest and detention of journalists by
governments. Sacko said any country that is bending on such cannot be considered a
democratic country.”
The statement reveals that an action plan makes provision for training in
all the sixteen West African countries. The project is meant to build the
capacity of its member unions.
The plan provides for 15 local trainings to be conducted in each of the
countries and two sub-regional trainings, one on training of trainers to be done
in Burkina and another on conflict prevention and peace building to be
conducted in Liberia. There will be a quarterly WAJA bulletin and a web site for
WAJA.
Each country should prepare a proposal and submit to the project head
offices soon.
The Coordinator of the Project, assisted by two experts, one on print and
the other on audio, will take up duties with immediate effect.
GIRL, 16, ATTEMPTS SUICIDE DUE TO FORCED MARRIAGE
By Lamin Fatty
A report reaching Foroyaa has it that, one Mama Danso, a 16 year old girl of
Basse Kaba Kama, attempted to take her own life by consuming a solution of
the powdered mixture of the black substance found in radio batteries. The girl
was said to have attempted to take her own life because of the decision of
her parents to get her married to a man whom she does not love. According to a
source at Basse Health Centre, the 16 year old, Mama Danso was discovered to
have ingested a poison.
The source went on to say that the victim was unconscious as at the time she
was brought and admitted. He said that gastric aspiration was done via
nasogastric tube and the ingested poison was therefore drained. The nurse said
that the patient was later referred to the Bansang Hospital for further treatment
.
In an interview with the victim’s mother, Rohey Trawally, she denied the
allegation that the victim was forced into marriage. She said that every mother
wants the progress of her daughter. She explained that she was at her
vegetable garden during the time of the incident; that it was Mama’s younger sister
who came from the tap with a bucket full of water and then called the
attention of the victim to help her get the bucket down but she did not respond. The
mother said that that was the time the sister went close to her and then
found a cup of water mixed with the black stuff from a battery cell. She then
called the attention of the neighbours who quickly took her to Basse Health
Centre. However, according to her, the victim was responding to treatment and
that she had even talked with her on a mobile phone while she was at the
Hospital in Bansang.
However, the victim’s mother, Rohey Trawally, expressed disappointment over
the daughter’s reaction. Efforts to talk to the Alkalo of Kaba Kama, Fatou
Danso, proved futile as she was said to be in her vegetable garden. Efforts to
talk to the police in Basse and the P.R.O also bore naught.
WILL BASSE AREA COUNCIL SELL ITS PREMISES?
By Lamin Fatty
Unconfirmed reports say that the Basse Area Council is considering selling
the Trust Bank Complex (owned by the council), located in the heart of Basse,
opposite to the Standard Chattered Bank. When contacted to throw light on the
reports the Chairman of the council, Mr Kanimang Sanneh, would neither
confirm nor deny the reports. He simply said he cannot comment on the matter as at
now since, according to him, the council also has a parent body which is the
Department of State for Local Government and Lands.
There has been the rumour before of two attempts to sell these premises.
The first attempt relates to the late Alhagie Banta Camara which did not
materialise.
The second attempt relates to the Trust Bank itself, but this too failed
because the amount the buyers offered was said to be considered being too small
by the council.
However, this time round it is being rumoured in town that the council wants
to sell the complex to a wealthy and popular businessman, called Basiru
Jawara at a tune of 2.4 million dalalsi.
In interviews that this reporter has with a number of rate payers, they all
expressed their disapproval of any sale of the premises. According to one
Alimamo Manneh, a resident of Basse Manneh Kunda, he is not the least in support
of the council’s decision to sell the Trust Bank complex. He opined that to
proceed with the sale of the property without consulting the people would be
unilateral. Another rate payer, by the name Mariatou, who is a vendor, also
expressed her disapproval of any sale of the premises by the council.
According to her, the council wanted to sell the premises before but with the help
due to pressure of the youths and others they, the council, then decided not to
proceed with the selling.
The opinion of the member for Basse Constituency, Honourable Sellu Bah was
also sought. He said he was aware that the council wants to sell the said
premises. However according to Mr. Bah, it is not only him who is opposed to the
sale of the said premises but also all the other NAMs in URR, whether APRC or
the opposition. He even disclosed that they, the NAMs in URR were to convene
a meeting in URR to discuss the issue with the council authorities.
Foroyaa will keep the readers informed of developments in due course.
LETTER TO NADD EXECUTIVE BY EX-FLAG BEARER, HALIFA SALLAH
THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN
An election campaign must have content and focus. It is a battle for
relevance. It can be fought over larger issues or parochial ones. It all depends on
the level of awareness of the voter and the order of priorities of the myriad
of concerns she or he wants addressed.
In short it is what matters to the voter which motivates him or her to
participate or not to participate in elections or to vote or not to vote for a
given candidate. Where interests are diverse, minds can change within seconds,
minutes, days or weeks depending on the mind set of the voter.
The three candidates who stood in Serrekunda Central adopted different types
of campaign methods.
Casting a retrospective glance at the campaign period would reveal that the
electorate in Serrekunda Central was divided into active voters and passive
ones. The fact that, out of more than 30, 000 registered voters, more than 18,
000 did not vote, confirms that the passive voters constituted the silent
majority.
It is now clear as daylight that the single voters who allowed despair to
sneak into their hearts to the point of staying away from the polls have
combined to prevent 18, 000 votes from being cast thus deciding the outcome of the
election. This further confirms that even the person who abstains from voting
can decide the outcome of election. No person who has power to vote can
therefore fail to accept responsibility for the outcome of elections.
Let us look at the justification given for the voter apathy.
Some of the people who counted themselves among the 11, 000 plus people who
voted for the APRC in the presidential elections did not vote for Sainey
Jaiteh because of their claim that he was not their choice of candidate. Some
abstained. Some supported my candidature or that of the UDP.
During the interviews conducted to gauge whether people wanted me to stand
as a candidate or not, several concerned persons indicated to me that they had
their fears that if the UDP were to put up a candidate, the split will
undermine my support base. They also conveyed to me that during the registration
of voters, many underaged children were registered as well as others who were
suspected to be non Gambians and non residents in the constituency.
In short, a number of people abstained because of the lack of faith in the
electoral system on the chance of success.
Some people came to confess that they gave up on the system when they heard
the decision of the court of appeal to overturn the earlier decision of the
High Court to bar those whose names did not appear in the register from voting.
They argued that in the face of the split, a decision to allow those whose
names are not found in a register of voters to vote made the casting of their
votes a futile exercise.
Now one may ask: What were the characteristics of the active voters?
The answer is simple. The active voters could be divided into four
categories.
First and foremost, are the voters with sovereign minds of their own? They
were ready to follow the issues and vote for the person of their choice free
from any inducement or intimidation.
The second category of voters were poised to vote on party lines.
The third category voted purely on tribal lines.
The fourth category of voters are those who saw the election campaign period
as a time for trade. They were resolved to give their votes to the highest
bidder.
One of our ex-supporters told his colleagues in the opposition the following
on the phone to woe them to support Sainey Jaiteh. According to him, he was
in the compound of ministers and is provided with all that he needed. He
asked them to join him.
In retrospect the results of the elections confirm that those who voted on
party lines alone could not guarantee victory to any of the candidates. Hence
the election results of 6000, 4000 and 1500 against a voter role of 30, 000
cannot accord any party any comfort that it has the majority of voters in
Serrekunda Central in its grip. Only the complacent will fail to see the need for
each party or candidate to go back to the drawing board to study the
material conditions and social consciousness they give birth to, in order to know
how to engage such a complex group of voters.
In order to achieve this task, it is necessary to follow the foot prints of
the campaign of each of the candidates to look at the issues and their impact
on the electorate and the final results.
DEFEATED INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR NIAMINA EAST TESTIFIES IN COURT
The trial of the defeated independent candidate for Niamina East, Ebrima L.
S. Mareneh, and his campaign coordinator, Talibo Ceesay, proceeded at the
Jareng Magistrate Court recently. The case is before Magistrate Baldeh.
In his evidence in chief, the 1st accused, Ebrima L.S Marenah, said he was
an independent candidate during the last National Assembly elections; that on
the 19th day of January 2007, while he was having a political meeting in
Kudang, he got information that some of his supporters were arrested and brought
to Jareng Police Station; that he and his coordinator, Talibo Ceesay, the 2nd
accused, went to the police station to find out the reason for their arrest.
He said on arrival, they found a gathering of about 15 to 20 people in front
of the police station being addressed by the chief, Alh. Kebba Touray, and
the NIA officer, Demba Fofana. He said that they found the two telling the
others that they know that they are supporting him, the independent candidate,
and that if he, Marenah, wins they will be in serious trouble, as most of them
are Alkalos and APRC committee members; that it is the APRC government which
gave them those positions and that is why they should not support any other
candidate than that of the APRC. According to Marenah, the chief and the NIA
operative further told the people that the Secretary of State for Local
Government and Lands, Ismaila Sambou, was there and had asked them to give him the
names of all the Alkalos who are supporting the independent candidate so
that he will sack them. He said they appealed to him to forgive them; that they
promised that they will call them (the Alkalos) to warn them to desist from
supporting an opposition candidate. He said they threatened them that if they
want peace for themselves, they should make sure that he does not win. He
said at that moment, they were asked to board the vehicles to take them to their
various villages. Marenah said he and his coordinator went to Kudang. He
said they parked their motor bike at a fuel dealer’s place. He said when they
came for the motor bike, they asked for the man who was entrusted to take care
of it and they were directed to the opposite shop. “Then I asked my
coordinator to wait for me by the motor bike whilst I look for the fuel sellers so as
to add some more fuel,” said Marenah. He said when he came back, he was
informed by the people sitting nearby that his partner was arrested by a police
officer. He said he also followed them to the police station. He said as he
entered the station’s veranda, he heard Gibba telling his coordinator “your
counterpart has run away.” He said it was then that he told Gibba, “here I am I
shall never run away.” He said Gibba then asked him who he was and he told
him his name and that he was the independent candidate contesting for the
Niamina East Seat. He said Gibba again asked him the reason why he was there. He
said he told him that he got information that some of his supporters were
arrested and that is what he came to find out. He said Gibba further said, “Why
didn’t you identify yourself when you came? I said there was no need to
identify myself because I found the chief and the NIA talking, and everybody was
listening; I could only stand by and listen, but not to interfere. After all, I
understand the information I got is not credible so there was no need to
even talk to you about it.” He said Gibba told him that he has no right to come
to the police station. “I then said to him that I have the right to be there.
That was the time Fofana the NIA officer came and told Gibba that don’t
waste your time talking to this man, put him in cell; I am responsible for any
thing.” He said that was the time he was asked to go over the counter and
subsequently put in a cell with his coordinator until the following day when they
were granted bail.
Cross Examination By Prosecutor Colley.
Q. When you arrived at Jareng police station, did you see any of your
supporters within the gathering?
A. Yes
Q. Who are they?
A. Almost all the people gathered here (Police Station) are my supporters.
Q. Can you give their names?
A. I don’t know their names. I only recognise them.
Q. I am putting it to you that none of those people were your supporters?
A. Yes they are my supporters.
Q. Where were you standing when the chief was addressing the gathering?
A. In front of the police station
Q. I am putting it to you that you were standing at a distance where you
were identified by Madi Noho?
A. I was standing in front of the police station in the midst of the people
being addressed by the chief.
Q. Am further putting it to you that none of your supporters were arrested?
A. I said in my evidence in chief that they were not arrested, but brought
here (Police Station) to threaten them
Q. Where was Talibo when you came to Jareng police station?
A. I was with him just as how we are standing by each other at the moment.
Q. Was he within the midst of the people?
A. Yes, of course.
Q. I am putting it to you that you only came to Jareng to provoke the peace
which was existing?
A. No, I did not come to provoke the peace. I am a peace maker. End of
cross-examination.
At this stage the 2nd accused took over. He said his names are Talibo
Ceesay; that he lives in Kudang and is a tailor; that on the 19 of January 2007,
while in Kudang, the 1st accused told him that he got information that some of
his supporters were arrested and taken to Jareng police station. He said he
decided to go with 1st accused to the station, that on arrival, they parked
their motorbike at a fuel dealer’s place. He further said that when they came
to the police station, they saw people gathered in front of the station and
the chief, Alh. Kebba Touray, was talking to them. He said he heard him telling
the people that they should not support the independent candidate because
some of them are Alkalos. He said, that Fofana, the NIA operative told them that
the information that the Alkalos are supporting the independent candidate
has reached Banjul and that the Secretary of State for Local Government had
asked them to list down their names and send it to him for dismissal. According
to the 2nd accused it was at that moment that one Madi Noho came and greeted
him and then asked him where he was from. He said that he told him, “I came
from Kudang and then he left.” He said from there, they asked them to
disperse, and they also went to collect their motorbike. He said as the 1st accused
went to look for the fuel dealer, the police officer Gibba came and asked him
about him (Marenah). He said he told him that it was Marenah that he was
waiting for. He said that Gibba then told him that the 1st accused, Marenah has
ran away. He also replied that Marenah cannot run away; that is not true;
that this was the time he said he was arrested by Gibba and asked to follow him
to the station. After a while the 1st accused, Marenah, came in and then they
were both put in a cell until the following day.
Cross Examination of 2nd Accused.
Q. Are you a supporter of the independent candidate?
A. Yes.
Q Were you supposed to hold a meeting on that day?
A. We were having a meeting in Kudang.
Q. You know that the APRC should have a meeting in Jareng on that day and
you came and join in their midst to provoke the peace?
A. APRC was not suppose to hold a meeting in Jareng on that day.
Q. I am further putting it to you that you were standing at a distance to
listen to what the APRC people were saying?
A. I was in the midst of the people gathered in front of the police station.
Q. I am finally putting it to you that you came to Jareng purposely to
follow the APRC candidate which would have breached the peace?
A. No
At this stage, the case was adjourned to 24th of April 2007 for judgment,
and the Magistrate reminded the parties that the bail condition remains the
same.
FOCUS ON POLITICS
PAP CHEYASSIN SECKA, N.L.P LEADER SPEAKS
With Suwaibou Touray
We have been focusing on the history of the Gambia from pre-independence to
post independence era. In the last issue we have focused on Mr. M.E Jallow, a
Trade Unionist, who had participated in the drafting of the new labour Act
for the Gambia in 1990. Earlier on, we were engaged in analyzing the economic
situation between 1970 to 1975. In this issue, we would want to focus on the
N.L.P in 1975 before we go into the show down between the P.P.P and the N.C.P
in 1977 elections because, as you can see, these were the three parties
struggling to win the hearts and minds of the Gambian electorate during the
period.
Mr. Pap Cheyassin Secka, a barrister at Law, and five other Gambians,
decided to found a new political party and which coincided with the anniversary of
the death of Kwame Nkrumah on the 17th April 1975. This was only few months
before Mr. Sheriff .M. Dibba’s removal from office, and only two months before
a general strike of 26 July 1975. So as you can see, the politics of the
period was charged with a lot of sentiments. This was why there was the belief
or rumour that Mr. Dibba was part of a group of people building a new party.
According to Pap Cheyassin, the party already had branches in all the 35
constituencies. According to the Gambia Outlook, Mr. Secka travelled by bus and
had a mass rally at Basse at the Sami cinema hall on the 23rd August 1975.
The Outlook says Mr. Secka knew about the tour of Kebba Leigh and eleven
others who went before him because the Basse Youths who approached them had
informed him about it. According to the outlook the youths were very unhappy
because they could not get information from radio Gambia which could not reach URD
at that time. They felt alienated.
Mr. Secka gave a speech which impressed many young people at the Sami cinema
hall. He went as thus after greetings; “What the country needs now is to put
men not half men who would curry favors, put them together; let them work,
and you will see miracles. This is the challenge we are facing”. There was
applause from the crowd.
Mr. Secka went on to deplore the slow pace of development, roads, schools,
etc., and said the people who are given the task to do work did not do it, so
he said “so you need to give the task to new people, not necessarily me,
there should not be any mystification about it” he stressed. There was applause
from the crowd.
He continued “that if you believed that this country should remain this way
and you are lucky to have a president called Sir Dawda Jawara who has given
us peace and tranquility to be starving half the time, never have any work to
do; don’t go to school; no hospital to treat us; gives internal peace and are
satisfied with that peace, that is your problem. There was murmuring and
claps. Mr. Secka said that for him he found that situation to be intolerable and
asserted that “if I have got to go to jail for saying so, I opt to go then.”
Mr. Secka had to address the psychological threat of the information he has
received, and went on “And if Kebba Leigh and eleven others were ordered in
three landrovers to go to the country to tell us not to listen to the reasons
why a new party is born, then it is very serious, it is an insult.”
According to the Outlook, Mr. Secka claimed that the failure of Mr. Kebba
Leigh’s tour was what motivated the president’s unprecedented tour of the
country which has never occurred; that this was the first time the president was
confronted with an ideology and he said, “this will make the president work,
to serve us, and to make his task.
Mr. Secka went on to assert that after they had reviewed the historical
evolution of our political process, they came to the conclusion that we failed
because we allowed other people to decide for us things that we should decide
for ourselves.
He also added that our priorities were misled; that we must reconstitute
ourselves again as a Nation, find out where we went wrong and our mistakes and
move on. According to him, nothing stops us from doing that. He also said, “I
believe that the difference we had with animals is, we sleep in houses and
they sleep in open space at night.”
Mr. Secka, according to outlook, called on the people not to sit down and
weep; that it is for us to behave like men; that it is not about positions or
even whether they were there when it happened; that it is only important that
they bear witness to the fact that unless we re-organise ourselves on a new
and entirely new base, there was no way we could survive as a nation.
Mr. Secka also counseled on the “I don’t care” attitude and said that won’
t work and the “it is not my problem” attitude won’t also do, because as he
emphasised, if you see that Cheyassin went crazy, don’t join Jawara, simply
leave Cheyassin alone and stay with the new organization which is the
solution. He advised. “You don’t go crazy and join Jawara, remove Cheyassin and let
the country move.” He also called on people not to worship our heroes, but
worship them after they died. “When they are alive, let us criticize them, let
us make them work. When they are dead, we can tell them and their children
how good they were.” And as he said the people would then emulate them but
warned that so long as they are alive, let us see them, talk to them, react to
them as human beings that they are. He then ended his speech and there was
considerable applause.
Mr. Secka came back from the tour quite satisfied. They held a meeting at
Odeon Cinema, in Banjul, on the 28th September 1975, where a coordinating
committee was selected comprising the following; Chairman, Pap Cheyassin Secka,
Vice Chairman, Mr. Sam Sillah, Publicity Secretary, Mr. Allasan Ndure,
Treasurer, Mr. Henry Baldeh.
At that time, Mr. Secka was said to be an interim chairman but not the
leader. He said that would be decided after a party convention in December 1975.
Their motto was, one Nation, one people. A committee was also drawn up to work
on the constitution of the National Liberation Party.
What was not clear was whether the N.L.P was to make a tactical alliance
with the NCP, like the UP. However, on 4th October 1975, the NLP held their
first rally at Leman and Cotton Street and expounded on his criticism of Jawara’s
administration that the cost of living was going high, educational
facilities inadequate, and the prevailing dissatisfaction in the entire country. Pap
Cheyassin also called on the people to join the NLP Party.
See next issue on the struggle to win hearts and minds in the 1977
elections.
TREASON TRIAL HEARD IN CHAMBERS
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
The treason and murder trial of Abdoulie Sonko was heard in Chambers on
Friday, March 30, before Justice S. M. Monageng.
Mr. Sonko is standing trial for allegedly taking part in the November 1996
military assault on the Farafenni Army Camp.
The Acting Director of Public Prosecution, Emmanuel Fagbenle, and State
Counsel, N.B. Jones-Nebo, appeared for the prosecution while Mr Mai Fatty
appeared for the defendant. The trial will resume in court today.
573 RECRUITS GRADUATE FROM TRAINING
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
573 soldiers consisting of intakes 28A, 28B, 28C, (the largest ever passing
out graduands in the history of The Gambia Armed Forces), last Friday, held
their passing out ceremony at the 22 July Square presided by the Commander in
Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces, President Yaya Jammeh.
According to the Chief of Defence Staff, Colonel Lang Tombong Tamba, the 573
soldiers had undergone intensive training proceedings including many
techniques. He indicated that the soldiers, who consisted of 543 men and 27 females,
had undergone 16 months training and assignments. Colonel Tamba added that
the recruits had training in weapons, landing paramilitary training and many
other necessary forms of training. He said that there were other recruits who
were discharged from the force because their performance was below standard.
Colonel Tamba noted that The Gambia Armed Forces is now a standard force like
any other armed force in the modern world. He said that many members of the
armed forces had received training and undergone courses at various
institutions in the world. He said that 95% of The Gambia soldiers are now literate and
that their responsibility is to serve the people and the Nation. He said
that the army is an institution of discipline and high morals. He said that the
soldiers should be ready to protect the interest of The Gambian people and
must not offend them in any away. He said that they should also treat other
security forces as brothers and sisters in the country. Tamba also called on
civilians to be helpful to the security as it is a collective responsibility. He
asserted that every Gambian is a security personnel not the forces only.
For his part, President Jammeh, told the passing out recruits that in the
armed forces there is no democracy. He said: “If you are democratic, armed
forces is not your institution”. He told the soldiers that the force is a highly
disciplined institution and absolute loyalty is required. “In the armed
forces, we say obey and complain. In the army your boss is right.” Jammeh told the
soldiers that they have now taken an obligation and the supreme decision to
sacrifice everything for the well being of their country. He said that the
difference between the armed forces and civil society is that they (the
soldiers) are spending sleepless nights to ensure the safety of the members of
society. Jammeh emphasised that for any country to have meaningful development,
the absolute loyalty of the armed forces is needed. He told the soldiers that
they have now put their lives on the line for this country to live in peace,
pride and dignity. President Jammeh lamented that there is no neutral position
in the force: one is either loyal or disloyal. He said that The Gambia Armed
Forces requires absolute loyalty to defend the integrity of the country. J
ammeh told the gathering that The Gambia Armed Forces will soon initiate a
programme to allow young people to join the forces even before they finished
their education. He said that the Armed Forces will sponsor their education to
any level of their choice, noting: “The sky is the limit”, but they must join
the force after completing their education, no matter what you become.” At
the end of the ceremony, 10 soldiers were decorated with awards of order of
merit and were also promoted to the rank of lance corporal. The decoration was
done by the president.
One of the decorated soldiers was absent due to his training engagement
overseas. The master of the ceremony was Lieutenant Alagie Sanneh.
FIRE DISASTER VICTIMS SOLICIT FOR HELP
FOROYAA has been reliably informed by victims of a very serious fire
disaster which occurred at Sare Sandi, in the Wuli East District of the Upper River
Region.
The victims who are poor farmers have lost over 200 bags of groundnuts, over
1000 bundles of sorghum and a similar amount of millet. They have also lost
ruminants, cooking utensils, household materials such as beds, chairs, over
3000 dalasis cash and more than five tonnes of harvested cotton wool waiting
to be bought.
The families affected by the inferno are those of Mr. Demba Jawo, Muhammed
Sowe, Sulay Sowe and Yaya Barry and another family, comprising five out of 7
compounds in the village.
The fire which devastated this village occurred on Tobaski day when the
majority of adults had left to attend prayers at the nearby village of
Bantantinti, just across the Senegalese border.
The victims are currently being assisted by the few other families depending
on the meagre and already depleted poor grain harvest for the season. They
are calling on institutions, NGOs and individual Samaritans for help.
If you want to help, call on 4393177or 9954533.
Young Tennis Duo Return with Honours
By Modou Nyang
Basuruwa Conteh and Yankuba Drammeh the young Gambian representatives in the
ITF under 18 junior ranking circuits in Lagos and Cotonou, ranked 31 and 30
respectively. The circuit which involves players from West and Central
African regions also included players from Southern Africa, Europe and Asia.
The first leg of competition started in Lagos, Nigeria where the boys
finished 39 and 41 which qualified them for the second leg in Cotonou, Benin and
they upped their performance ranking 31 and 30 respectively in their final drop.
According to Sulayman Jobe coach of the two players who accompanied them for
the competitions, at the second leg of the circuit in Cotonou the boys
performed well losing only at the quarter final stage.
Jobe indicated that the performance of the boys were very god especially
Yankuba who is 16 but was drafted to play in an under 18 competition. He said: “
it is very clear the boys have the potential to move up in their rankings in
the next coming competitions as we go ahead, because within two weeks they
were able to move up in their ranking [so] I believe they will play better in
the future”.
Jobe also applauded Slok Air for the support they have been rendering to the
Tennis Federation, noting that without their support they would not have
been able to participate in this particular competition.
In WALO Competition
Gambia 1-0 Senegal
By Modou Nyang
The Gambia armed forces football team defeated their Senegalese counterparts
by a lone goal in the opening match of the 34th West Africa Liaison Office
sporting competition at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
In an encounter that witnessed most of the chances falling to the host, Buba
…… broke the death lock by sealing the only goal of the game.
The Gambia Armed forces team could have been in the firm control in the
first period but poor finishing and lack of concentration was their problem. The
Gambian team that also competes in the Gambia Football Association league
dominated the contest and entirely dictating the pace of the game.
The competition continues and as we went to press the first contest in
wrestling was taking place at the Syben A.Madi Arena at the Independence Stadium.
GFA League Division 1 Roundup
By Madiba Singhateh and Musa Barrow
On Saturday, Gambia Ports Authority defeated Steve Biko 2-1 at the
Serrekunda East playing grounds. After falling behind 15 minutes into the first half,
Ports scored twice in the second period to clinch all three points.
Steve Biko took the lead in the first through Ousman Badjie forcing Ports to
fight back missing some chances in the first 45 minutes. And when hostilities
resumed in the second half, Ports leveled just two minutes into the period.
Hadji Tunkara fired powerfully to put his side in level terms. The tempo of
the game was high with both sides fighting for the winner and it was ports who
was lucky when in the Hadji was downed by the Biko keeper, resulting into a
penalty which was scored to put Ports ahead. In the other match of the day,
Hawks recorded their first win when they defeated Bakau United 1-0 at the
Banjul grounds.
And on Sunday at the Serrekunda West grounds Real de Banjul got the better
of Sea view FC winning them by a lone goal. Saikou Jawara’s 15th minute strike
in the first was enough to seal all three points in contest .The match was
well contested with, division 1 debutants Sea view, giving Real a hard run up
to the final whistle.
Tennis: Jobes Cup in the Offing
By Modou Nyang
An annual tennis competition dubbed the Jobes cup, is in the offing
according to tennis coach and enthusiast, Sulayman Jobe.
According to Jobe an open tennis competition will be organised late this
month to cater for taste of tennis players and enthusiasts. According to Jobe
the tournament will be sponsored by Nyang Bantang Sports, representatives of
Saller Sports in the Gambia.
Jobe indicated that the competition will involve both male and female and
that there will four trophies for two of the winners in each category. He said
that an amount of D1500, 00 will be awarded to the first player and D1000, 00
to the second.
All tennis players are invited to go forward and participate in the
competition both nationals and non nationals too.
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