FOLKS, The Daily Observer editorial on "Freedom" seems to be interesting. The paper applauded president Bush's call for freedom and the end to tyranny. The paper went as far as urging the US leader to intervene in countries whose democratic records are appalling. Three countries were named, Togo the Equatorial Guinea and Sudan. However, the paper failed to name The Gambia, which is worst than the countries named above in terms of human records. In my own opinion The Gambia, should have been the first country to be named. Under dictator Yahya, we have witnessed killings, arson attacks, abductions, unlawful arrest of citizens who had dissenting opinions with his corrupt administration. We have also witnessed the passage of draconian laws, such as the newly enacted Newspaper Act bill and the indemnity Act. These are important issues to write about. As the saying goes" You don't throw stone, when you are in a glass house" We also have our own problem, which requires the intervention of president Bush. Gambia's case should be put to the attention of the international community, in view of the recent deteriorating human rights situation. when i heard about president Bush's master piece speech, i had The Gambia in mind. This is a country, where a lot of improvement on human rights and the rule of law is needed. Freedom and Free speech is threatened in The Gambia. People are not free to express their opinions on the current state of Affairs. We have seen people arrested for merely criticising Jammeh's ill-conceived policies. Agreed, that the countries named by the Observer, had bad human rights records, but to do justice to the editorial, The Gambia should not have been spared. To me, it seems as you have a "sickness' and you trying to conceal it. The best way to cure a disease is to disclose it to your neighbours, family and your doctor. Through this, you will be cured. We have serious problem at home and should not be down played. Charity begins at home. No matter whose ass is gutted the truth should be reported. That what journalism is all about. The editorial was good, but The absence of The Gambia's name rendered it biased. Just my mind speaking. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Let the bells of freedom ring By Jan 25, 2005, 09:55 Email this article Printer friendly page The inauguration speech of George Bush delivered at the Capitol last week is an enthralling call for arms against the monsters of tyranny, oppression and marginalisation all over the world. The speech advocates for liberty, freedom and justice for all humanity. If the speech became the policy for Mr Bush’s second term, then all peoples living under the yoke of tyranny should be ready to see light at the dark tunnel of their oppressions. Mr Bush was absolutely right when he stated that freedoms such as expression, right to life, movement, association and to elect leaders of choice based on universal adult suffrage were universal and transcended all other narrow boundaries such as race or religion. The Bush administration has the rare chance to restore freedoms to all peoples who are yearning for it in Arabia especially, and in some dark corners of Africa and Asia. The totalitarian regimes in these parts of the world should no longer be allowed to oppress their peoples in the name of religion or because someone's long dead grandfather had been smart enough to conquer a territory and call it his by divine right. Africa is still not wholly free from the clutches of tyrants. In many parts of the continent, the masses do not possess the freedom to elect their leaders, they live under monarchies which are busy patronising their huge families and not looking after their peoples. Or even in countries where elections take place, they are nothing more than window dressing, meant to appease the donors and be in the good books of the rest of the international community. The second Bush administration should focus its attention on such African countries and make them live by the rules of democracy. Countries like Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan come to mind, but are by no means the only culprits, as being among the remaining bastions of intolerance and abuse on the continent. Yet it should be the focus of the incoming administration to also reward countries that live by the letter of democracy and good governance. Genuine democracy should be rewarded and sham democracy punished because at the end of the day, every human being has the inalienable right to live in a free and just society. We applaud Mr Bush’s historic speech and urge him to live by his words so that tyrants like Saddam continue to find the world more and more unfriendly. © Copyright 2003 by Observer Company Top of Page Editorial Latest Headlines Iraq: who won? Africa’s dilemma The MDI success story Taiwan’s new envoy How African students suffer and die Urban transport system needed urgently Let the bells of freedom ring The way forward Tolerance and obedience Sheepscape _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! 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