Acute Trade Distortions In West Africa
As net transport costs increase to $30 million
by Momodu Gassama & Alieu Darboe
The economic implications of net transport costs have widened the scope of trade distortions in 8 West African countries, as statistical figures indicate that the net value increased to $30 million, culminating from multiplicity of barriers, corruption, and harassment of travelers using the roads.
Dawning reports into the enigma, reveals that at a time when The Gambia is in the process of working out modalities for the implementation of the ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of goods within ECOWAS countries, SoS for Trade, Industry,and Employment, Edward Sighateh, has said that recent studies in 8 West African countries indicate that trade is being distorted within the region, showing a net transport costs of $30 million US dollars.
While enunciating that "the implementation of the Inter-state Road Transit (ISRT) would strengthen our traditional role as a hub for re-export to countries in the sub-region", he acknowledged that re-export, as indicated by our trade statistics, has increasingly become important in our economy, considering its contribution to foreign exchange earnings, as well as increasing employment opportunities.
SoS Singhateh recalled that in May 1982, ECOWAS member countries have signed a convention for the establishment of an ECOWAS Inter-state Road Transit System (ISRT), which aims to set a framework within which member states would work to ensure free movement of goods in the sub-region with a view to promote the development of trade within ECOWAS.
"To facilitate the implementation of the modalities, the member states signed the supplementary convention (A/SP 1/5/90 of 29 May 1990) to set up a guarantee mechanism for ISRT", he indicated, which if any member state contravenes could possibly face repercussions of the deal binding the convention.
"The increasing importance of trade as an instrument for economic development require active participation of both economies in the circle of international trade if they are to avoid being marginalised", he added, noting that the implementation of ISRT is therefore not only aim at promoting regional trade but also creating conducive environment for regional economies to enhance participation in the global trade.
He further lamented the rate of increase transport costs in the region, citing that the cost of transporting a container by road from Lagos to Accra, which is approximately 400km costs 3 times higher than transporting the same container from European countries to Lagos, mainly because of interference with the free flow of goods in the West African region.
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Multimillion Dollar Funds For Guinea Bissau
As countries pledge to support Presidential election
by Momodou Gassama
As part of efforts to assuage Guinea Bissau from political and economic crisis, over eight European countries including Germany, France, Belgium, England, Holland and Spain recently converged in Lisbon to discuss ways out of Bissau's woes and to restore constitutionalism in the war ravaged economy.
While disclosing that UN, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have also pledged to support the process, Jose Abdoulie Mane, a representative of the Guinea Bissau Alliance Socialiste de Guneene Party (ASG) in The Gambia told The Independent that Brazil and Portugal, the former colonial masters have already offered to contribute 500,000 Dollars and 1 million Euros, respectively for the funding of the election.
Even though the date has not been fixed for the election, political figures in Bissau assert that in few months time they would determine the date for the election, since political and economic evolution is mainly dependent on presidential election, Mane observed.
ASG representative indicates that the whole of Bissau held the belief that if an elected President takes over the throne, it would pave way for the restoration of justice, education, health and agriculture. "We hoped all Guineans will peacefully participate in the presidential election to exercise their constitutional rights", he optimistically stated.
Digressing off from the point, Mane argued that most African political leaders are hell bent on forming political parties without genuine rationality behind their moves only to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers.
Mane also wasted no time to outline the reasons behind the postponement of Guinea Bissau Presidential elections, attributing it to massive mismanagement of economic resources and excessive dependence on donors for assistance.
On military expenditure, he said huge amount of Guinea's total expenditure goes into the Armed Forces totaling a sum of 750 million CFA Francs on a monthly basis, while lot remained questionable in their collective strive to find peaceful solutions to the problem. This, he added "is a leadership problem, though we believe that soldiers are equal stakeholders in national development, but their powers should be limited and not done at the detriment of the populace".
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Authorities Hold Magazine Editor Over Weekend Without Good Reason
Reporters Without Borders today condemned the detention of magazine editor Olu Richie Awoonor Gordon for three days without charge in Freetown, as well as the failure of the UN mission in Sierra Leone to speak out about the government’s repeated press freedom violations. Police detained Gordon, the editor of Peep magazine, on 11 February after he wrote an article criticising the government’s failure to dismiss a minister who has been accused of corruption. He was released yesterday. "President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah’s government uses the police and judiciary at his whims," the press freedom organization said. "Journalists are too often the victim of these abuses in Sierra Leone, where For Di People editor Paul Kamara continues to languish in prison for criticizing the president."
Referring to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), Reporters Without Borders said: "It is high time the local UN mission monitored respect for the media. Its silence on the tyrannical behaviour of the authorities towards the press just aggravates the situation, by fostering impunity."
Police went to Peep’s office in Freetown on the afternoon of 11 February and told Gordon he was "invited" to come to the police station. After being questioned for several hours and signing a statement, he was placed in custody. He was not released until midday yesterday, after the justice minister decided not to bring any charges.
Reporters Without Borders contacted Superintendent Mr. Lapia while Gordon was still being questioned. Lapia insisted that Gordon had just been "invited" to "answer some questions" and that there was no question of his being "arrested." Contacted by Reporters Without Borders just after his interrogation, Gordon said the police were polite and that it was the government that gave the order to bring him to the police station.
"I still don’t know what is in store for me," Gordon told Reporters Without Borders after the interrogation. "The police don’t know too much about what I am doing here. If I have to spend the weekend in prison, so be it. I have already been arrested in the past, but this is the most absurd episode I’ve ever experienced in my career as a journalist."
Peep! is known for being one of Sierra Leone’s most incisive publications as regards corruption. An article in the 11 February issue asked why marine minister Ibrahim Okere Adams was not fired after being charged by a commission set up to investigate corruption, pointing out that two other ministers, Harry Will and Momoh Pujeh, had been fired after the commission accused them.
The article quoted a presidential office press release saying someone holding public office should only stand down after the courts ruled on their guilt, likening the situation to that of former US President Bill Clinton. The article also pointed out that Adams is one of the most powerful allies of Kabbah and Vice-President Solomon Berewa within the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party in the north of the country.
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Editorial: Mixed signals in appointment of new IGP
The appointment of Major Ousman Sonko, commander of the First Infantry Battalion at Yundum as acting Inspector General of Police after the recent sacking of Landing 13 Badjie came as a complete surprise to many people. Most of them are wondering why President Jammeh decided to appoint a military person to take over the police and by-pass all those senior police officials some of whom no doubt have the necessary experience to handle the position much better than any soldier ever would. Is this an indication that he has lost confidence in them being able to handle the position in view of his past experiences?
Whatever the case however, it is still hard to understand how an army officer, with quite different training could effectively administer the police force which deals more closely with the civil population, which has a completely different orientation from the military. This has led some people to wonder whether we are witnessing an attempt to militarize the police as part of the trend of a continuous militarization of the government.
Obviously, most Gambians were clamouring for a complete break with the military past of the regime, but these sort of actions seem to indicate that while the leopard can change its eating habits, there is no way it can change its spots. Therefore, the military outlook and characteristics which continue to pervade the regime since the so-called transition from military dictatorship to a civilian administration makes it quite apparent that the militarists seem to be gaining the upper hand.
On the moral side however, many people seem to be concerned with the ability of Major Sonko to transform himself from a military to a civilian administrator, dealing with civilians on a daily basis. Most people still remember his perceived role in the ‘foiling’ of the last ‘coup attempt’ when Lieutenant Almamo Manneh was killed in mysterious circumstances and how he eventually turned into a state witness in the court martial of lieutenant Landing Sanneh, his former commander, who was later convicted and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment.
There are also reports of him being recently involved in a road accident near the Westfield Junction in which someone lost his life and that case is still pending with the police. Therefore, some people are wondering whether appointing him as Inspector General would not have the tendency to interfere with the case.
In a reaction to the appointment, a retired senior police officer said it was a big mistake to appoint a soldier as Inspector General of Police because the two institutions have completely different orientation. He attributed the decision to President Jammeh’s lack of advice, which he said would not auger well for the relationship between the police and the civil population.
Some people on the other hand have pointed out that the appointment of Major Sonko is not permanent but temporary until such time that a suitable candidate is identified. In fact some have even interpreted it as an exit conduit for him from the system.
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Embattled Togo leader Visits Nigeria
Togo’s new head of state has arrived in Nigeria for talks with the Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo.
African leaders have condemned the army-backed moves to install Faure Gnassingbe as president following his father’s death.
On Wednesday night, he failed to make a promised address to the nation in a response to a West African ultimatum that fresh elections be held.
At least four people have been killed in protests against the "coup".
The opposition have said they will hold mass funerals for the protestors, but government has warned them not to make political capital out of them.
The constitution was changed after the death of President Gnassingbe Eyadema to allow his son to serve out his father’s term of office, which ran until 2008.
Mr Faure was met in the Nigerian capital, Abuja by Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Olu Adeniji and whisked away to State House to meet President Obasanjo - the current chairman of the African Union.
The talks are likely to focus on how soon Togo can hold elections and choose a new leader.
Analysts say Togo succession is proving a real test for African leaders, and in particular for the AU, in proving to the West it can safeguard good governance and democracy on the continent.
Mr Faure met West African envoys on Tuesday in Lome - in talks described as "very fruitful and encouraging".
The meeting came as an ultimatum by Ecowas - the 15-member Economic Community of West African States - threatening Togo with sanctions unless it returned to constitutional order by the end of Tuesday expired.
"They gave us the impression that they will go back to the constitution but there are still some details on which we have to wait until they announce it," Mr Adeniji told AFP.
But Mr Faure’s anticipated speech did not take place on Wednesday as expected and a government official said the authorities had not confirmed that it would happen.
Apology
Before the talks, Mr Obasanjo said it was going to be "a family meeting".
"In a situation where the family meets to put its heads together and do what is right, how it is right and when it is right," he told reporters.
According to the BBC’s Anna Borzello in Nigeria, these are some of the most conciliatory remarks the Nigerian president has made on Togo since the crisis began 11 days ago.
Earlier, Nigeria said it had received an apology from Togo over the treatment of a group of Nigerian officials whose aircraft was prevented from landing in the Togolese capital last week.
Meanwhile, a crackdown on private media continued on Tuesday with the closure of one television and three radio stations for "financial reasons", AFP reports, bringing to eight the number of stations shut down in the past 10 days.
The new leader has already promised "free and fair" elections soon - but correspondents say he may be referring to parliamentary polls due this year, rather than a presidential ballot.
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UNDP, UNV Support Decentralisation Process
by Pa Modou Secka
The Department of State for Local Government and Lands recently held a validation workshop on the theme "Assessment of capacities in decentralised planning in The Gambia" at the Senegambia Beach Hotel for the finalization of consultancy reports.
In her remarks, the Assistant UNDP Resident Representative, Mrs. Haddy Lamin Njie acknowledged that decentralisation is today recognised as a key element of the local government reforms and decentralization process for the developing countries.
"Poverty is worst at the local level, and its eradication hangs on the empowerment of the communities to identify development needs; participate in the implementation of development programmes and form the right partnerships for the sustenance of development programmes", she said.
She further indicated that United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nation Volunteers (UNV) in partnership with the government of The Gambia has been supporting the local government reforms and decentralization process since 1988.
"There is resistance from the central government to relinquish power to the local authorities", noting that the enactment of the 2002 local government Act, and finance and audit Bill is a clear indication of central government commitment to devolve power to the local authorities.
In his statement, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Department of State for Local Government and Lands, Mr. Mama Nyang said the worth of any country will largely depend upon its potentiality to utilise the abilities of its people.
"Since the early 50’s, the development of human resource has been widely recognised as one of the major objectives of long term economic growth by most developing countries," he said.
Noting that economic development of a nation is the ultimate reflection of human efforts, he said decentralised planning has to be carried out at various levels and should therefore be an integrated operations, adding "when powers and responsibilities are fully decentralised at the sub-national levels, the latter will also have control over the determination of their development goals and targets".
He described decentralization as a situation when lower ranking decision makers acquire all powers and responsibilities and also have control over the determination of their goals and targets. Decentralization, he added ensures the participation of local communities in planning and implementation for a clear cut edge in power-sharing and finance, accountability and public participation.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Kemo Conteh, Director of Governance at the Department of State for Local Government and Lands who also chaired the occasion said, the task in collaboration with UNDP, under the national government programme, and United Nation Volunteers, The Gambia government through the DOSLG and Lands seeks the services of a national consultant for a training needs; assessment of elected officials, technical and administrative staff of the local government authorities and central government sector staff whose action is critical for the effectiveness of local interventions in decentralised planning in KMC, BCC, Mansa Konko, Janjangbureh and Kuntaur Area Council.
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Rights Training For NAYCO
by Juldeh J Sowe
The National Association of Youth and Children’s Organisation (NAYCO), which has a one-year project targeting schools in The Gambia recently held rights training at the TANGO conference hall in Fajara.
Speaking at the programme, NAYCO’s Executive Director, Ousainou Sarr said children rights are internationally recognised. As a result, he said it is important to have specific instruments that are designed for the promotion and protection of children’s rights.
"Children are limited in their capacity to be able to promote and project their rights at all levels. If human rights instruments are not child specific the tendency of child rights has been pushed to the peripheral", he added.
The United Nation and the African charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child have two high-profiled instruments relating to the promotion and protection of the child, even though the 1997 Gambia constitution also has provisions that protect children’s rights.
"The overall purpose of child rights are for the survival, protection, and development of children", which he said cover the responsibilities of children as they relate to the family community school and the nation.
A student participant, Wilny Sinyan said children are interested in learning, which cannot be achieved without the guidance and support of the teachers, adding that students are good claimers of rights but are also negligent of their responsibilities towards parents, teachers, community and the country at large.
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Female Thieves Sentenced
by Dawda Faye
One Bintu Samson and Fatou Dibba were on the 7th February 2005 brought before Magistrate Mboto of the Kanifing Magistrates’ court for conspiring to commit a felony and to steal.
According to the charge sheet, on the 7th November 2004, the accused conspired and stole some items at Saint Mary’s Food and Wine valued at D4, 283. They pleaded guilty.
According to the facts narrated by the prosecutor, on the 7th November 2004 while on duty at the supermarket at the Kairaba branch the accused persons decided to remove non-receipt items without the permission of the management. He said the items were taken out to a waiting taxi. He further said that they were seen and apprehended and the matter was reported to the Kairaba Police Station. He told the court that the accused admitted at the Kairaba Police Station that they stole the said items, for their personal use.
Lawyer Camara voluntarily mitigated on behalf of the accused and told the court that the accused plea of guilt showed that they regretted the act and did not waste the court’s time. He further said that the accused were first offenders, they are breadwinners of their families with children in schools. He finally pleaded to the court to temper justice with mercy.
In her judgment, Magistrate Mboto sentenced the accused to one month in prison or pay the fine of D500 each for both courts and ordered that all the items stolen which were tendered in court to be returned to the owner.
The accused persons did not hire lawyer Camara.
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Africell Holds Art Exhibition
by Juldeh Sowe
Africell recently supported the artistic exhibitions of Ade Oluweji at the Alliance Franco-Gambienne, along Kairaba Avenue.
Presiding over the ceremony, the Director of Alliance Franco Gambienne Mr. Jean Michel Kauffmann, said Ade Oluwaji is in the traditions of the famous Yoruba, which attests to the vitality of a very indigenous artistic creation and his works, noting that it is colourful and very typical of the traditional Yoruba inspirations.
He further mentioned that Ade’s solid educational background shines brilliant, and recalled his days at the Yabo College of Education in 1989 and the University of Ibadan in 1999.
He further indicated that the exhibition intends to groomed artists, create awareness on artistic values and to pave way for international recognitions.
Also speaking at the ceremony Mr. Martin Brady, Sales and Marketing Manager of Africell, said his company is proud to be associated with the exhibition, which is one of the biggest collections of artistic works, noting that as the country celebrates 40 years of independence, the exhibition will enable people to look at The Gambia through the eyes of the artists.
He further depicted that pictures can tell 1000 stories on artworks, since it allows us to debate and discuss the splendid cultural equations and its tenderness. "The artist’s vision, his subject matter and energy relays a story of peace and tranquility within a moment of time.
Present at the ceremony were the Ambassador of France in The Gambia, Mr. Francois Moreh, the Nigerian High Commissioner and other several dignitaries.
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Press Release: Senegalese Armed Forces Visit GAF
The Gambia Armed Forces is pleased to announce to the general public the visit to The Gambia of the Chief of Defence Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces. The Senegalese Chief of Defence Staff, General Papa Khalilou Faal will be accompanied by a high ranking delegation of security heads and the Senegalese Armed Forces Football and Volley ball teams. The visit is scheduled from the 17- 20 February 2005.
General Papa Khalilou Fall and his delegation are special guests of the Gambia Armed Forces and the visit is multi-purpose. However, chief among the reasons for the visit are: for the delegation to grace the 40th Independence Anniversary Celebrations of the Gambia; for the two Armed Forces to forge closer links of cooperation, understanding and comradeship; to mark the occasion of the visit, the following are among the activities programmed for the delegation:
a. Courtesy calls on the Permanent Secretary of the Department of State for Defence, Her Excellency the Vice President of the Gambia Mrs. Isatou Njie Saidy and His Excellency the President and Commander-in- Chief of the Gambia Armed Forces Alh. Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh.
b. Attendance of the 40th Independence Anniversary Parade at the July 22nd Square.
c. Football and volleyball matches between the teams of the two Armed Forces.
d. Bilateral talks between the Chiefs and Commanders of the two Armed Forces.
e. A dinner hosted by the Chief of Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces Commander Assan Sarr.
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THE TENTH OF MUHARAM 61AH - AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY IN THE HISTORY OF WORLD EVENTS Part 111
Husain’s companion, Muslim Awsaja, could not control himself at this heinous insult and asked his permission to reply with an arrow but Husain stopped him saying: "We will never start the fighting from our side". (Tabari Vol II P.328).
One can see here that the Imam was keeping the precepts of the Quran and Islam intact. As the situation grew hotter and an attack from the Umayyad army imminent, Husain once again came forward; after praising God and praying for His blessing on Muhammad (SAW) he addressed his enemies saying: "O, people! You are accusing me, but think who I am! Then search your hearts for what you are doing to me. Consider well if it be lawful for you to kill me and violate my sacrosanctity. Am I not the son of the daughter of your Prophet, the son of the Prophet’s wasi (successor) and Cousin? Did not the prophet say of me and my brother (i.e Imam Hasan) that ‘they are the lords of the youths of Paradise? You cannot deny the truth of what I have said concerning the merits of the family of Muhammad. Are all these not sufficient to prevent you from shedding my blood "? And again:"If you search in the whole East and the West you will not find a grandson of the Prophet other than me". (Tabari Vol. 2 P.329, Bidaya Vol.8 P.179, Mufim, lrshad Vol. 2 P.100). However Husain’s numerous speeches and repeated appeals in the name of the Prophet to his enemies’ religious sentiments which he made through out the day and after each loss of life among his supporters were all in vain. The only reply he received was that he must submit himself to Yazid or be killed. To this, Husain (AS) reply was that he could never humiliate himself like a slave.
Paying allegiance (Bay ‘at) was an old Arab practice, which was carried out, in important matters such as that of kinship and governorship. Those who were ruled and especially the well known among them, would give their hand in allegiance, agreement and obedience to their kings or princes and in this way would show support for his actions. Disagreement after allegiance was considered as disgrace and dishonour for a people and, like breaking an agreement after having signed it officially. It was considered as a definite crime. Following the example of the Holy Prophet, people believed that allegiance, when given by free will and not through force, carried authority and weight. How, could Imam Husain have pledge his loyalty to Yazid who commanded no respect in the community. His anti-Islamic behaviour known throughout the Muslim world had earned for him contempt and disfavour, especially among those who cared for religion. His open and persistent violations of Islamic norms were still more shocking to the community because of close proximity to the Prophet and the Rashidul Caliphs of whom he claimed to be the successor and from whose authority he derived his title. Should the Imam have paid allegiance to Yazid who was among the Umayyads who the Quran referred to as accursed tree. This happened when the holy prophet in a dream saw that the Bani Umayya, like monkeys ascended and descended his pulpit. Thereafter the archangel Gabriel, brought the holy verse, "And when we said to you, surely your lord encompasses men. And we did not create the vision, which we showed you except as a trial for men and the cursed tree in the Quran as well. And we caused them to fear, but it only adds to their grievous transgression", (17:60). Allah the Almighty has called the Bani Umayya whose leaders were Abu Sufyan and Muawiya the "Cursed tree" in the Holy Quran and this Yazid who claimed to be the leader of the Muslims was the son of Muawiya.
Commentators like Tha’labi, Imam Fakhru’d-din Razi and others have recorded this fact. So how can one expect Imam Husain to have endorsed and sanctify Yazid’s irreligious practices, illegal authority by paying allegiance to him.
In fact it should have resulted in the total betrayal of his grandfather’s Divine mission and the religion of Islam and the honour of the Muslims. As the rays of the daylong battle continues, sometimes in single combat, sometimes in collectively which began in the morning and ended shortly before sunset. The phases of the battle can be followed fairly clearly. After Husain’s (AS) first speech, the Umayyad army began firing arrows and duels took place. At noon, Husain and his followers performed the prayer of the Zuhr according to the rite the Salat-ul-Khawf (the prayer prescribed for when one faces a disastrous situation and calamity). It was in the afternoon that the battle became fiercer, and Husain’s supporters one after the other fell fighting in front of him. Until the last of them had perished not a single member of Husain’s family came to harm but finally, it was the turn of his relatives. The first to be killed was Ali al-Akbar, the son of Imam Husain (AS), followed in quick succession by the son of Muslim ibn Aqil, the son of Aqil, three brothers of Abbas ibn Talib (AS) from Ali’s wife Ummal-Banin, then Qasim the son of Hasan (AS) whose body was trampled and mutilated and whose death is described in touching terms. The Imam (AS) watched the fall of each of them and ran to bring back their bodies and lay them in a row before his tent. Alone and weary Husain (AS) returned to the tent to console the terrified and grief-stricken women and children for what would befall them after his death and to bid them farewell for the last time. In the circumstance where he was trying to calm the thirst of the crying baby of six months old, an arrow struck the infant while the Imam (AS) was holding him in his hands. The Imam then lifted his hands with the dead child toward heaven and prayed to God for justice and rewards for his sufferings, (Tabari Vol. II P.356, Bidaya Vol.8 PP185-9, Mufid lrshad, Vol.1I PPI10-14, Maqatil PP80-113). Exhausted and weary, lonely and dejected, wounded and bleeding, Husain seated himself at the door of his tent. The Umayyad forces wavered for a moment, hesitant to kill the grandson of the Prophet. Finally it was Shamir who advanced with a small group of soldiers, but even, he did not dare to deliver the final blow on Husain (AS). At last the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib the Commander of the faithful rose and threw himself on the Umayyads. Attacked from every side, he finally fell facedown in the ground just in front of his tent, while the women and children watched the dreadful scene. Nothing could help, Sinan cut off the head of the grandson of the Prophet in front of the tent where the women and children were crying. This Sinan was prophesied to be one of the murderers of Imam Husain. Ibn Abi ‘l - Hadid Mu ‘tazali has recorded this same report in his Nahju’1-Balagha Vol, I P.208 from Ibn Hilal Saqafi’s Gharat- He says that a man stood up and said: "Let me know about the hair of my head and beard".
The Holy Imam, Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) said, "My friend, the Holy Prophet has informed me that there is an angel in the root of each hair of your head who curses you. There is a devil in the root of each of the hair of your beard that misleads you. There is a calf in your house who will kill the son of the holy Prophet "meaning Imam Husain). This man was Anas Nakh’iy, whose son Sinan was a small child at the time of Ali’s prophesy. And indeed in l0th Muharram 61AH, Sinan reached Karbala and was one of the murderers of Imam Husain (AS). However, some reporters say that the man who asked the question was Sa’d Bin Abi Waqas and that his son (calf) was the accursed Umar Bin Sa’d who was the chief of Yazid’s army, a central figure in the tragedy of Karbala. It is possible that both of them have asked the question in two different meetings. These reports, however, show that the tragic fate of Husain at Karbala on the day of Ashura has been in the unseen long before it’s occurrence. On that fateful day, after the killing of Imam Husain and his family and companions, the soldiers turned to pillage and looting. They seized Husain’s clothes, his sword, and whatever was on his body. Khawali ibn Yazid al Asbabi took the head of Imam Husain into his custody to be taken to Kufa, (Tabari Vol.II P.366, Bidaya Vol. 8, Pl88, Dinawari P.258, Mufid, lrshad Vol. 2 P.117). They looted the tents and seized from the women their ornaments, their baggage, and even the mantles from their heads. The only surviving male child of the time of Husain (AS) was his son Ali, who because of serious illness did not take part in the fighting and was lying on a skin in one of the tents. The skin was pulled under him and Shamir would have killed him, but Allah saved and protected him so that he would be the chain to continue the leadership of the Household of the holy Prophet. Zainab the sister of the Imam covered Ali ibn Husain under her arms and ibn Sa’d restrained Shamir from striking the boy. (For the details of these cruel acts, see Tarikh al-Tabari Vol. 2 P.367, Dinawari P.258, Mufid, lrshad Vol.2 PPl17 ff, Maqatil PPl17 ff).
Finally, the rest of the Imam’s family comprising women and children were taken captives and the combat thus having ended. The tragic day is known as al-ashura, the tenth day of the holy month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Thus the youthful paragons of ‘Ashura’ are a group of martyrs of Karbala who were able to recognise the true path. They offered their lives in order to guard the true path. The story of the martyrdom of these youthful paragons should shake everyone. The description of Ashura is the description of the nobility of spirits. It is an account of how the world became worthless in the eyes of the martyrs and how their martyrdom served as the indictment of polytheism, aggression and oppression.
In their death, too, they set a precedent of how Muslim people can sacrifice everything for freedom and salvation. The event of Ashura in the holy month of Muharram, therefore, is worth all due consideration, recognition and acknowledgement. And above all, all the Muslim people in the world should the continuity of Imam Husain’s sacrifices and jihad efforts to revive the tree of La ilaha ila’ llah. (There is no god but Allah) which is the nucleus of the Holy Quran, the focal point of the Divine mission of the Holy Prophet, the foundation of creation and basis of Iman (faith). May Allah open our hearts to understand the truth and the realities of his religion and the true path that leads to His pleasure. May the Peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his progeny. May Allah bless the faithful servants of the Prophet’s Ummah.
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Horror in the Harbor. Afghan : Arabs and the Attack on the USS Cole
" A destroyer: Even the brave fear its might.
It inspires horror in the harbor and in the open sea.
She sails into the waves flanked by arrogance, haughtiness and false power.
To her doom she moves slowly.
A dinghy awaits her, riding the waves."
Poem by Osama bin Laden, read at his daughter’s wedding, January 2001.
On the morning of October 12,2000, the missile-loaded destroyer USS Cole was tied up to a dolphin, a small, pier-like structure 600 meters from the shore of the port of Aden. The ship was there for refueling. A small dinghy loaded with 225 kilos of explosives approached the vessel, rammed it and blew a hole in its side. Seventeen sailors died in the suicide attack, and 40 others were injured. The two suicide bombers in the dinghy were blown to pieces.
No sailor on the Cole could possibly know it, but the attack on their ship probably had its origins in the landlocked, jagged terrain of Afghanistan. It is most likely that there, in Osama bin Laden’s training camps, most of the perpetrators of the atrocity met. .
In the 1990, after the Russians had left Afghanistan, these Afghan veterans, called
" Afghan Arabs," still filled with the spirit of jihad instilled in them from the al-Qaeda camps, drifted to various Muslim countries, Hundreds of non-Yemenis went to Yemen along with many Yemeni veterans. The country had no visa requirement, which made entry easy. In time, Yemen asked, and then forced, hundreds of non- Yemeni Afghan Arabs to leave, some, defying the departure orders, stayed behind to set up training camps in remote areas beyond the reach of the government. According to Egyptian authorities, Yemen-based Afghan Arabs were responsible
1993 and 1995 assassination attempts against Egyptian high government officials. There were also indications that Yemen-based terrorists participated in attacks on U.S. peacekeepers in Somalia in 1993. In 1994, Yemeni security forces arrested five British nationals, all Muslims and a French-Algerian, thwarting a plot to attack the British Consulate and other targets. Clearly, the destructive spirit of jihad stayed in Yemen.
That spirit, infiltrated into Yemen, was part of the three-year planning process of attack on the Cole. It would later come out in the trial of some of the perpetrators that the planning phase had three steps. First, a senior al-Qaeda official had to assess the feasibility of the mission and then order initial preparations. Second, a logistics operative had to procure what was needed for the operation such as the explosives, safe houses and vehicles. The third Phase was taking action. .
The master planner of the operation, a Saudi born to a Yemeni family, was Abd al-Rabin-al-Nashiri, a close associate of bin Laden. He was al-Qaeda’s chief of operations in the Persian Gulf. Al-Nashiri was the moneyman for the operation, paying for safe house rentals and for other logistic items. He also directed the operation. AI-Nashiri spent part of his time in theUnited Arab Emirates communicating instructions over the phone to the action elements He was, however, in Yemen around the time of the attack but left before it took place.
Another of the planners was Jamal al-Badawi, a Yemeni. He appears to have been the go-between in Yemen receiving Nashiri’s phone instructions from the UAE. He acquired the safe houses for the operation as well as the suicide dinghy. Badawi and Nashiri had been together in Afghanistan.
Badawi and Nashiri were captured after the attack and, with four other defendants, put on trial in July 2004. The other four were Fahd Muhammad al-Qasaa, Maamoun Abroad Onswa, A1i Muhammad al-Muraquib and Murad Salih al-Sorwri. Verdicts were handed down in September. Nashiri and Badawi each received the death sentence. Onswa got eight years for his support role as a money courier for the operation and for assisting Badawi. Al-Qasaa had been assigned to film the operation, but at the last minute, his jihad spirit faltered, and he failed to complete the job. Nonetheless, he still received a 10-year sentence. The others got five years for forging documents used in the operation. Nashiri was sentenced in absentia because he was in custody outside of Yemen.
Like the defendants, the two suicide bombers, Hassan Said Awadh khemeri and Abd al- Muhsin al- Taifi, were both Afghan veterans. Taifi may have had a connection with the American Embassy bombing in Nairobi.
The Cole attack is just one terror incident along others traceable to radicalized Afghan veterans. Bin Laden demanded that trainees pledge their allegiance to him and to al-Qaeda in the camps he set up and supported. These al-Qaeda-trained veterans, since dispersed to various countries, have begun to initiate others into the jihad of bin Laden. Moderate Muslims, international cooperation and effective, fully resourced security services will be needed to frustrate the terrorist plan of the Afghan Arabs and their initiates.
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Sexual Harassment: Who Harasses Who?
by Fatou Badjie
The issue of sexual harassment had raised many arguments and is now motivating to the national level as news is spreading around about a draft bill, which is about to be submitted to cabinet very soon for onward transmission to the National Assembly for enactment.
In our Gambian society, sexual harassment is term as women affair, as most people believe that men harass them because of their mode of dressing. Before we can tell who harasses who or why the sexual harassment, one must first understand the term sexual harassment. The subject matter could suggest the act of troubling, irritation or in another word dragging the sexual feeling of the opposite sex for intercourse. Thus, both sexes can harass one another instead of shifting the total blame on the woman or the girl child alone, since in most cases, they are the ones harassed. On our local newspapers, we have read of the same issue where the writer note, that most of these school girls and school leavers, as the result of their money consciousness, gets themselves attracted to men by the manner in which they often dress. The writer further re-emphasised that the craze for money by the girls, they most times go extra length. But the writer forgot that, it takes two to tango. Sexual harassment could emerge without attractions from the girl child. As in the case of a teacher for instance, who impregnates his student, who should be blame? We all know that a teacher is to enlighten the students and teach them good morals, which also includes the mode of dressing. Teachers and people could argue that, female students are stubborn sets, who will not listen to their teacher in this world of fashion. But, the teacher despite the girl attractive manner of dressing should not go extra miles. He should exercise what we call ‘self control’. A man should not be easily carried away by a mode of dressing because it could lead to rape.
Additionally, girls are now in the habit of wearing G-Strings that men describe as ‘distracting weapon’. They should cover their sexual areas because, these parts are known to be secret, but I do not think a more G-String can raise the sexual appetite of a man. Let’s take a gaze of the below stories of a girl who has been sexually harassed and visa-visa.
Fatou has a majestic way of walking and an attractive manner of dressing. On a Sunday morning, on her way from the market, Modou stop her to commend her beauty. "You are an angel, girl. I like your body movement, it can kill any real man," said Modou. Fatou was surprised and starred at this tall fat man. Unexpectedly, he shook her hand and ran his hand towards her breast. He murmured: I want to suck them, mummy…. What? Fatou shouted and slap him on the face. Then the fight began.
In another case; Binta and Ebou were friends since childhood. Binta was in love with Ebou. One day, she went to see him, but she found him sleeping. She climbed on his bed and started touching him. Ebou was socked when he woke up to see this charming lady on his bed. Two months later news spread in town that she was pregnant.
So, who harasses who? Both sides of course, though they have many ways of doing it. Like in the first scenario, the man was moved by a mare way of walking and in the second one, the lady took advantage of lonely environment to seduce the man, she like.
However, it is pertinent to cite that sexual harassment either from the male side or female, is done at work places between female secretary and the boss, at school between teachers and female students or between students, at our homes between husband and wife or husbands and house help and among the societal members. Thus, attitudinal modification by members of the society is a requirement and prerequisite in order to limit the rate of sexual harassment in our midst. Also, religion must be brought to the forefront to be able to guide our actions. The two most believed religions of the world forbid sex before marriage and Islam demands a proper way of dressing, hence we should act in accordance with our religion.
Government should implement laws that will strictly deal with the culprits of this fierce act. The law should apply to all perpetrators irrespective of their status as no one is above the law. Religious leaders should also use the media to sensitise the masses because sexual harassment could be caused by ignorance.
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Concern Mounts Over Dormant Sports
by Namory Trawally
The Managing Director of Trust Bank, Gambia Ltd Mr. Pa M. M. Njie has said that the lack of relative attention to the other sporting disciplines has negative implications as generally they are overshadowed, leaving potential talents unexploited and unrewarding for players and fans alike.
In a statement made recently at the launching of Trust Bank Inter-Senior Secondary Schools Sports 2005, read on his behalf by Oremi Joiner, Mr. Njie said like football, they are recognised professional games that pay attractive wages and gain both national and international recognition for players.
We reproduce below Mr. Njie’s statement:
Barely two weeks from the Trust Bank Excellence in the Millennium Award Ceremony, which was held in this very hall, we are gathered to witness social responsibilities, this time in the area of sports. Over the years, Trust Bank and Western Union have been very much known for their Nawettan Football sponsorship. Therefore, any invitee to this programme could rightly assume a connection to that. Well, we are equally aware of the important role schools sports and can play in breeding talent and wish to take a step further to contribute to the development of school sports, and not only football.
Honourable SoS, it is our belief that somehow, football has been able to establish itself as the world’s favourite sport. It has gained so much affinity with communities and institutions that other equally important sporting disciplines are generally overshadowed, leaving potential talents unexploited and unrewarding for players and fans alike. This lack of relative attention to the other sports has negative implications. Like football, they are recognised professional games that pay attractive wages and gain both national and international recognition for players. They create employment for players thereby, earning income for their families. This relieves government of the notorious burden of unemployment. Flying the national flag in the international sporting scene will lift the name and image of the country .The other sports equally provide a great source of entertainment for players and fans. Guided by this strong conviction, Trust Bank has identified school sports as a key area to breed local talent and develop sports, including the other sports. At school, students have the right environment to play under the guidance of a Sports Master, who hopefully, is well equipped with the right sporting ethics. This way, students grow to become highly disciplined professionals in their various areas of specialisation. "We believe schools form an integral, if not the most important, component of grass root sports that a country can rely on to produce sporting legends in the likes of Biri Biri".
Honourable SoS, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Trust Bank Inter-Senior Secondary School Sports Competition focuses on four major sporting disciplines namely, Football, Basketball, Volleyball and Athletics. The bank will disburse a total sponsorship package of D200, 000 in the form of trophies and cash prizes, and some cash contribution towards coordination and logistics. By our understanding from the Association of Secondary School Sports, all Senior Secondary Schools in the country will have a chance to participate in the games culminating in national championships. At the climax of these competitions, the top two teams (schools) in each category will each receive a trophy and cash prize.
At this point, I wish to congratulate particularly, the Association of Secondary School Sports on behalf of management and staff and, our valued customers, for their partnership with Trust Bank. We hope this event will mark the beginning of a long standing mutual relationship between us and look forward to working with you in the years ahead, covering more grounds in the promotion and development of school sports.
I also wish to congratulate students, especially players and fans, being the direct beneficiaries of the Trust Bank Inter- Senior Secondary School Sports Competition. I enjoin on them to exercise the true spirit of sportsmanship in all games and, whilst I wish them all good luck, may the best team/school win.
Honourable SoS, as we witness the launching of this sponsorship for school sports, I remember the words of a student, who, whilst delivering the vote of thanks at the recent Trust Bank Excellence in the Millennium Award Ceremony, described Trust Bank as "...a child friendly bank, ...a bank with a human heart". I thank the student for the kind words and wish to use this opportunity to assure him and the entire student population in the country that Trust Bank will continue to fulfill its social responsibility as expected of a true Gambian bank.
Inter-schools cricket league draw out
The first ever inter lower basic schools cricket league, organised by The Gambia cricket association would kick off on February 25th, 2005 in Banjul and Kanifing Municipality.
Johnny Gomez technical director of Gambia cricket association in an interview with Independent Sports revealed that eight (8) schools from Banjul have interred for the championship and were divided into two groups of four teams each.
The group one comprise of Wesley, Albion, Campama and Methodist while group two schools are, Saint Mary’s Saint Joseph, JC. Faye and Mohammadan.
He added that six schools in the KMC entered for the championships.
They are Saint Joseph ex pupils, Serrekunda lower basic, SOS, Latri-kunda lower basic (Danso), Bakau and Bakoteh lower basic.
Mr Gomez added that the Banjul teams would be playing at July 22nd Square while schools in KMC would be using their own grounds.
He added that the length of the field for the lower basic schools is 12 meters while it’s 22 meters will be for the senior schools. Mr Gomez pointed out that at the end of the league format, the two top schools of each group would qualify for the semi-finals.
He called on schools to maintain fair play and any one who violates the rules, according to him, would be banned. Mr Gomez added that recently, Comm. Afrique Limited under the leadership of Mr Mohan, the general consul of India in The Gambia, donated cricket kits to the cricket association worth of $1500.
He said that the donation would help them in their strives to develop the game of cricket in The Gambia.
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12R Claims Bottrop Inter Class Tourney
by Alieu Darboe
The Bottrop Senior Secondary Inter Class Tournament organised by the schools sports department, which aims to bring unity and understanding among the pupils, has recently played the final between 12R and 12T.
In a well-contested final, 12R defeated 12T by 4 nil. 12R scored in the first fifteenth and the last five minutes of the first half.
In the second half of the game, 12T dominated the first ten minutes and had three clear chances to score. Later, the 12R boys dominated the last thirty minutes of the game and were able to score another two goals making the score line 4-nil.
12T, who has been tipped as favourite of the tournament, was disappointed and frustrated after four goals went inside its net.
In a brief chat with Independent Sports, schools sports master Mr. Babbun Fatty said the tournament, first of its kind, was sponsored by the sports department of the school in order to select a good school team for the inter school football gala slated in June. He said as a sports master he would continue to promote sports in the school at all time. He thanked the competing classes for maintaining discipline throughout the tournament.
12R winners received a trophy and a cash prize of D700.00, 12T a trophy and cash prize of D500.00. The leading goal scorer Bamba Jamba Jatta with six goals received D100.00 and a consolation prize of D200.00.
The school’s management, students and other sporting personalities in Brikama, graced the final.
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Kerr Jarga Humbles Kuntaya
by Lamin LK Bojang
On Saturday 29th of January 2005, the two giants of Jokadu Kerr Jarga and Kuntaya met in one of the first historical tournament, first of its kind, organised by the Gambia Football Association (GFA) in their efforts to consolidate the development of rural football in The Gambia.
The march kicked off at 5pm in the premises of Kuntaya senior secondary school. Before the kicked off, both teams admitted ardent confidence, threatening each other with skills during the warm up staged.
The march kicked off with Kerr Jarga having an early lead from a penalty, which was converted to a goal by Ebou Jobe in the fifteenth minute of the first half. There was no strong resistance from the opponents and this therefore gave Kerr Jarga, the visiting side, more determination and courage to thrash out their opponent in the 76th minute of the second half with a marvelous free-kick from the first goal scorer. At the end of the game, Kerr Jarga had a two nil victory against Kuntaya.
After the march, the coach of Kerr Jarga Mr. Ousam Jobe expressed his gratitude over the salient victory which he referred to as the "enamel bowl of sky", and succinctly urged his players to maintain the spirit of discipline in which Kerr Jarga is known for, throughout Jokadu.
He further highlighted that the victory is first the tip of the iceberg and they still have a long way to go to win the trophy.
The victory gave Kerr Jarga a clear four points lead on top of poll A. They will now face Kerr Amadou in their next march during the weekend in Kuntaya.
The national assembly member of the area Hon. Amadou Khan witnessed the march.
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In Mackintosh rape case, Lawyer apologises To The courts
By Sulayman Makalo
The lawyer representing John Mackintosh, a 63-year-old Scottish accused of raping a 10-year-old girl in The Gambia, sought the cooperation of the Gambian courts to forgive his client.
John Mackintosh, has refused to return to The Gambia because he is not confident of receiving a fair trial.
He denied the charges of raping the 10-year-old girl and flew home after being released on bail in May.
His Glasgow-based lawyer, Aamer Anwar, is now demanding action for the damage to his client’s reputation. Mr Anwar said he has received no formal notification of extradition from the Gambian authorities and wants an apology from them if they decided not to proceed with the process.
However, Magistrate Moses Richards of the Kanifing Magistrates court subsequently agreed to issue a warrant for his extradition from the UK but the process has until now not been initiated. "Gambian officials were said to be unhappy with Mr Mackintosh’s return to the UK," sources added.
However, the father of the 10-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by a 63-year-old Briton has earlier urged the UK government to extradite John Mackintosh, the accused person to face trial in The Gambia.
He earlier told the Daily Observer that The Gambia has signed an extradition treaty with Britain, which is enough to arrest John Mackintosh in Inverness, and bring him back to The Gambia for prosecution.
"He has failed to return to the country for trial on the charges that he raped my daughter who is just 10 years. If it was an African who committed such an offence in Europe, most especially in England, every possible effort would be made to bring the person to book," he said.
He called on the government to use its political will to extradite Mr. Mackintosh so that he could "face the full powers of the Sexual Offense Act which came into law last year."
The new Sexual Offence Act allows for suspected paedophiles to be extradited or tried in British courts.
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NAMs Urged To Increase Caretakers’ Salaries
by Momodou Gassama
Mr. Baboucarr Boye, the Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Education, who was deputizing for the Secretary of Sate for education at a two-day workshop for the National Assembly on Education For All (EFA), has cautioned National Assembly Members (NAMs) to appeal to his department to increase funds for caretakers’s salaries in schools.
Permanent Secretary Boye, disclosed that caretakers’s pay scale should also be given the required attention, noting the importance of EFA project.
He recalled that in 2000 in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, the whole world gathered to address the problems of education, during which EFA was formed, indicating that the project objects to improve the quality of education, among other things.
Permanent Secretary Boye hoped that the development agenda the government has set in reducing poverty would be successful.
Mr. Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, the Speaker of the National Assembly as a leader of the legislators, whose influence greatly affect the decision-making process, advised that it is mandatory for his fellow Assembly Members to know and understand every subject that is being discussed at the assembly.
"The onus is on us to do so because it is our duty as representatives of our people. We have the responsibility to be conversant with issues pertaining to matters brought before us in order to effectively and conscientiously execute our mandate", he stated, adding that the assembly is very much aware of the key role education plays in the socio-economic development of the nation.
The Gambia, he added is making significant strives to fulfill her national and international commitments in a manner that suits and responds to our development needs, noting that such a stance is evident in the country’s development programmes and documents.
He further indicated that the workshop would enable participants to know the status of Education For All and to have a better understanding of the new education policy.
Mrs. Sukai Bojang, representative of Unesco in The Gambia, talking on the scope and achievement of Unesco in improving quality education, said, the Unesco Regional Bureau for Education in Africa (BREDA) requested the National Commissions within the Dakar cluster to submit project proposals for funding.
She added that Unesco, through BREDA speaker headed the establishment of Forum for African Parliamentarians for Education (FAPAD) at the eight African Ministers of Education Meeting, which was held in Dar-es-salam, Tanzania in November/December 2002.
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Possible Deportation Splits Spouses
by Sulayman Makalo
A Gambian asylum seeker faces possible separation from his British wife and baby daughter after his application to stay in the UK has been rejected.
Alex Njie fled Gambia four years ago after taking part in a protest against the government, and since then he got frighten to return home. He married his wife Vicky, from Little CheMayor Conteh Talks Firmll, Stoke-on-Trent, 18 months ago, who bears him a baby daughter.
Despite this, the Home Office has rejected his plea to remain in the UK.
He now has only one route of appeal left before he faces final deportation. Mr Njie was quoted as saying his family life is genuine. " I love my wife. They (the government) can think whatever they want but I know how I feel about my wife and kids. I know what will happen to me. I was the one who was there - not them. I know if I go back home, I will be dead," sources quoted from BBC Radio Stoke.
However, the wife Mrs. Vicky Njie said she does not want to be without him. "I don’t even like to think about it. I know my children would be distraught. I wouldn’t know what to tell them, let alone what I would be feeling," she lamented
Until now no date is fixed for Mr Njie’s final appeal before the Immigration Tribunal.
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Mayor Conteh Talks Firm
by Lamin Njie
The Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Abdoulie Conteh has sent a strong message to Gambian youths, drawing their attention to the scourge of HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Mr. Conteh said this at the opening ceremony of a three day workshop on HIV/AIDS organised by Degoo HIV/AIDS Support Organisation (DHASO) at the Gambia Home Economic Centre in Jeshwang.
KMC boss, said time is running out for young people to change their attitude towards the pandemic, noting that it is real, since it has taken the toll in recent time.
Major Conteh indicated that material temptations most often leads to situations where one regret his actions and starts to fumble regrettably for doing the wrong.
"Abstaining oneself from early sex, and faithfulness to one's partners are all values we should comport ourselves in order to live a virtuous life" he said, adding that civilization has taken over our lives, while Western life appallingly takes us aback.
He finally urged all and sundry to stand firm in the fight against HIV/AIDS in The Gambia, noting that our neighbours in Senegal has stabilised the disease.
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