FYI >From: "MALICK MANNEH" <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue >Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2006 19:23:24 +0000 > > > >Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue > >Issue No. 62/2006, 7-8 August, 2006 > >Editorial > >MR. PRESIDENT, CHECK THE NATURE OF THE ARRESTS IN BAKAU > >Mr. President, if any Head of State feels that too much information, even >if they tend to exaggerate, is detrimental to stability try governing >without any information. It is important for you, Mr. President, to realise >that you have total grip of the security forces. Your word to them is as >important as the law. > >Hence what you say is very important. It is therefore important to get feed >back on certain actions that are counter productive. > >Mr. President, since Tuesday night one Isatou Jawara, a pregnant lady, >Lamin Jawara and Omar Jatta, an elderly man with hypertension have been >detained. On Friday, which completed the 72 hours detention, the daughter >of Omar Jatta went to request for bail along with a neighbour who was ready >to volunteer to serve as surety. The police officer at Bundung Police >Station told them that he was instructed not to allow anybody from Bakau to >meet or see any of the detainees from Bakau not to talk about granting them >bail. > >Mr. President, Section 19 subsection (2) reads “Any person who is arrested >or detained shall be informed as soon as is reasonably practicable and in >any case within three hours, in a language that he or she understands, of >the reasons for his or her arrest or detention and of his or her right to >consult a legal practitioner.” > >Subsection (3) (b) adds that “any person who is arrested or detained upon >reasonable suspicion of his or her having committed, or being about to >commit, a criminal offence under the Laws of The Gambia, and who is not >released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court and, in any >event, within seventy-two hours.” > >This has been enforced by the courts over and over again. Hence there >should have been general instruction from the SoS for the Interior that >such detention without trial for over 72 hours should cease. The IGP should >have been asked to comply with the law and reprimand any officer who fails >to comply. This is how the rule of law is enforced. However, if no officer >fears to detain a person for over 72 hours or refuse his/her contact with >families to get legal counsel, impunity becomes the order of the day. This >lends to criticism and public outcry. > >It is our understanding that the adults Kassa Jatta, Isatou Jawara, Lamin >Jawara and Omar Jatta were arrested in connection with the search for five >youths, four of whom are either in grade 8 or 9. They were accused of >insulting a complainant. They are Cherno Jarju, Lamin Jassey, Mamburama >Jatta, Lamin Jatta and Mariama Fatty. They have since then submitted >themselves to the police. > >However, the adults are still under detention. We hope that you will send >an independent authority to review this case and advise you accordingly. > >Furthermore, the Social Welfare Department and Child Protection Alliance >should also examine the condition of the youths. There is need to build a >standard of best practice in handling the cases of young people in >particular and the citizenry in general when it comes to arrests, detention >and bail. > > > >WHERE IS CAPTAIN BUBA JAMMEH? > >By Fabakary B. Ceesay > >Captain Buba Jammeh of the Gambia Armed Forces was attached to the State >Guard Unit. He is said to have gone missing for more than two months now. >Captain Jammeh’s picture is displayed at various police Stations in the >country as a wanted person by the state. However, sources told this >reporter that Captain Jammeh has been arrested and is in security custody. >Sources added that Captain Jammeh has spent more than 66 days in detention >without being charged. Sources also added that Captain Jammeh was arrested >shortly after the Daily Observer published names of people who were accused >of being informants of the online Freedom Newspaper. > >When this reporter contacted the GAF Public Relations Officer (PRO), >Captain Lamin Gano, he said he has no knowledge of the whereabouts of >Captain Jammeh, and that he does not even know Captain Jammeh personally. >When it was put to him that Captain Jammeh’s picture has been seen at >various police stations, the Army PRO said: “That is the business of the >police. We have nothing to do with that.” > > > >CHANGE OF IEC MEMBERS > >By Yaya Damha > >Barely few weeks after the removal of Mr. Ndondi Njie as the Chairman of >the Independent Electoral Commission, two other commission members, namely >Ebrima Sanneh and Sulayman Sait Mboob have also been removed. > >The removal of the two commissioners has been confirmed by the Chief >Electoral Officer, Kawsu Ceesay. Mr. Ceesay informed this paper that the >duo were removed on Wednesday and was quick to point out that he did not >know why Sanneh and Mboob were removed. > >He further pointed out that the following persons are appointed as >commission members, namely Malleh Sallah, Alieu Momar Njie and Sarja Fatty. >The three appointees took the oath of office on Friday. > > > >NADD TOURS THE COUNTRY > >The National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) sent >sensitisation teams throughout the country to sensitise the electorate on >the 2006 Presidential Election. > >Team A which was led by Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara commenced their tour from >Kiang West to Upper Fuladu West and from Sami constituency all the way to >Lower Badibu. > >The electorate received the NADD militants with enthusiasm and joy. The >team emphasised throughout the tour why elections are taking place during >the rainy season, and explained that they finally accepted the fact that >campaign must be done since it is a constitutional requirement to hold >elections. > >The NADD team explained to the electorate the amount of taxes collected by >the Area Councils, how it is collected, how it should be utilised to >benefit those who pay the tax; in short, the role of the Area Councils. > >The team also explained how people pay monies to the Central Government, >the passport fees, the ID card fees, the income tax, as well as the >indirect tax. Estimates of the annual Budgets for 12 years (since the >Jammeh regime took over) were given. The country’s loan component was also >fully explained. It was made clear that the Jawara regime left an amount of >D3000 million dalasis debt within a period of 30 years; but that the Jammeh >regime feels that the country can only be developed through taking endless >loans. This is why, they said, the Jammeh Government took an amount of D19, >000 million dalasis within the short period of 12 years only. So they >explained that the total debt of the country which is only due for payment >is D22, 000 million >dalasis. This, they said, if divided between Gambians can amount to D20, >000 per person, including newly-born babies. > >The NADD team explained to the people that the loans are not invested in >the productive sectors of the economy; that they are simply utilised to >build infrastructure which does not generate income to help repay the debt >or help to generate jobs and income for the people. This is why they said >the tax base must be expanded to pay debts. The team explained that duty >levied on the imported commodities are increased which automatically >translates to higher commodity prices and social services costs. > >The NADD militants explained to the farmers why their groundnuts are not >bought. They told the farmers that it was GGC/Alimenta which used to >purchase all the nuts of farmers but, as they said, the Jammeh regime did >not care about the agreement between the Jammeh Government and the GGC; >instead, they went ahead and seized the company. They said the GGC took the >government to an International Tribunal of Arbitration which resulted to >The Gambia Government paying an amount of $11.8 million dollars from the >tax money of the Gambian people. > >According to the militants, this is why big international companies got >scared to come and purchase groundnuts in The Gambia. They also said the >IMF conditionalties also bar the government from engaging in business, that >they are paying huge amounts every year on loans they have taken, and this >is why The Gambia is paying D1, 500 million dalasis as debt service this >year alone. They stated that this is the same reason why government cannot >put medicines in hospitals and health centres and also help the farmers to >improve their farming and increase their income. > >They asked the farmers whether they have been issued with fertilizers and >they answered emphatically: “No”. > >The leader of NADD’s Team A, Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara, dwelled on the NADD >constitution, Memorandum of Understanding and objectives. He also explained >the reasons behind the establishment of NADD. The team explained that NADD >emerged because of the change in the law on the second round of voting. >They said removing the second round in the Presidential Election and only >allowing a simple majority system was what led to the establishment of an >umbrella party- NADD. He said Jammeh changed the law because he had >discovered a decline in his popularity. He said Jammeh received 56% in 1996 >and 52% in 2001and that this is why he feared that in 2006, he would not be >able to get 50% in which case there would be a second round; that he >knew that he could lose at the second round, as did Abdou Joof of Senegal >and many others. He explained that that was why PDOIS, NDAM, NRP, PPP and >UDP came together to form NADD. He explained that if they (the various >parties) pooled their resources and ideas and combined their efforts in >support of a single candidate in the Presidential Election in 2006, they >could win. He said everything is put in place and all the parties including >the UDP and NRP signed the MoU. But, as he said, they got a little >disappointment from the whole arrangement when Lawyer Ousainou Darboe wrote >a letter resigning from NADD. Mr. Juwara argued that no one stops Ousainou >from becoming a candidate, that he had left NADD before the selection of a >flag bearer. > >The farmers in turn complained of the hardships. They said their groundnut >could not be bought; they said they are experiencing hunger and lack of >clean water in some places; they said they have never been in such >difficult situations since the Colonial period; and they said they have >been forgotten by the Jammeh regime totally. They also said their children >cannot get jobs, a situation which is driving them to throw themselves into >the Moroccan sea only to perish there because of the compelling force to >escape poverty. > >The farmers said they are totally disappointed by the Jammeh regime in >every sphere of their lives. They pledged their unreserved support to NADD >and not UDP because as they said the one who withdraws from the marriage is >the one to blame for the break of the marriage. The people were told not to >fear anybody and vote for the candidate of their choice; that the era of >deception and threat in Gambian politics is over. The tour from the >journalist’s observation has been a resounding success. Halifa has been >introduced by team A in over 200 “Bantabas” to the people who endorsed his >candidature as the NADD flag bearer. > > > > > >COLLEGE STUDENTS DEMAND ALLOWANCES > >By Modou Jonga > >Over three hundred Gambia College final year H.T.C. students are demanding >from the college authorities the payment of their project allowances >without delay. The project allowance, an amount of D250.00, is a necessity >that must be paid to final year H.T.C students to help them supplement >their financial capacity in order to submit their project works as required >before the award of certificates to students. > >Final year students who spoke to this reporter said they have contacted the >College’s principal on the issue, but were informed by the principal that >there is no fund available to pay off the project allowances. The Head of >the School of Education was also contacted but, according to the students, >they were told to fill in a requisition form for their project allowances. >The students did, but are yet to see any payment effected. > >This reporter contacted Madam Isatou Ndow, Head of School of Education, who >directed him to the principal who she said is the right person to talk on >the issue. When contacted the principal, said there is no such thing like >project allowance. > > > > > >MANLAFI JARJUE DISCHARGED > >By Modou Jonga > >The criminal trial involving the former Secretary of State for Local >Government and Lands, Manlafi Jarjue, has been withdrawn by the state on >3rd August. > >On Thursday, the prosecutor, ASP Tijan Badjie, applied for the case to be >withdrawn from the court by citing section 68 of the Criminal Procedure >Code. ASP Badjie informed the court that he had received instruction from >the Police High Command to withdraw the case, but the counsel for the >accused, Lamin Mboge, objected to the application sought by the prosecutor >and also applied for his client to be compensated. > >In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Edrisa Mbai, overruled the >application for compensation sought by the counsel for the accused person. >Magistrate Mbai said he cannot grant compensation to the accused person >because he has not entered his defence before the application for >withdrawal was sought by the state. Magistrate Mbai later granted the >state’s application and discharged Manlafi Jarjue. > >Readers could recall that Manlafi Jarjue was charged with criminal trespass >for allegedly selling land that belongs to the President of the Republic, >Yahya Jammeh. The land is said to be situated in Sanyang. The charge sheet >was later amended and he was later charged with obtaining money by false >pretence. > > > >DEVASTATING FIRE INCIDENT IN BRIKAMA > >By modou Jonga > >A fire incident allegedly caused by candle light on Monday 31st July 2006, >has burnt a complete house in the compound of one Janko Ceesay in Brikama >Nema ward. > >According to the compound owner, a physical cash amount of D25000.00 >(Twenty-Five Thousand Dalasis) including valuable household items and a bag >of rice were burnt by the fire. > >However, this reporter was told by eyewitnesses to this devastating fire >incident that the Brikama Fire and Ambulance Services arrived late at the >scene when the fire was partially put off with help of the youths in the >area. > >When this reporter visited the Brikama Fire Service he was told by DC Gaye >that the allegation levied on them are false and further stated that they >were often call late by the public in the case of a fire incident which he >believed is as a result of the lack of awareness on the side of the public >about the Fire Service emergency number. > > > >INTERVIEW WITH HALIFA SALLAH > >ON THE IEC, THE NOMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND THE STATE OF THE >OPPOSITION > >Foroyaa: More terminations at the IEC. What is your reaction? > >Halifa: First and foremost, it should be clear what the constitution says >about the appointment, removal and tenure of office of members of the >commission. Three institutions are responsible for the appointment of >members of the commission. Three institutions are responsible for the >appointment of the commission, Section 42 subsection (3) states that “The >members of the commission shall be appointed by the President in >consultation with the Judicial Service Commission and the Public Service >Commission. The question now arises: Have the Judicial Service and Public >Service Commissions been consulted in all the appointments. The Chairperson >of the Judicial Service Commission is the >Chief Justice. The Solicitor General is also a member. I would like to ask: >If such people are consulted how was it possible to disregard section 42 >subsection (5) (c) of the constitution in the appointment of Ex-Commission >member, Mr. Mboob which states categorically that “A person shall not be >qualified for appointment as a member of the commission if he or she is, >or has at any time during such period of two years been, the holder of any >office in any organisation that sponsors or otherwise supports, or has at >any time sponsored or otherwise supported, a candidate for election as a >member of the National Assembly or of any local government authority or if >he or she has actively identified himself or herself with any such >organisation.” Mr. Mboob was a cabinet minister who openly identified >himself with the APRC. I cannot understand how the >Judicial Service Commission and the Public Service Commission could have >concurred with his appointment as a member of the Independent Electoral >Commission. > >Foroyaa: Do you accept his termination? > >Halifa: The constitution says that “The President may remove a member of >the commission from office for misconduct but before removing a member the >President shall appoint a tribunal of three judges of a superior court to >enquire into the matter and report on the facts.” A member of the >commission shall be entitled to appear and be legally represented before >the tribunal? I am not sure why Mr. Mboob and Mr. Sanneh are removed. The >fact that no tribunal has been convened confirms that the members of the >commission have no security of tenure. > >Two wrongs therefore cannot bring about what is right. My real observation >is that there is arbitrariness in appointing the members of the Commission. >Their removal from office is also characterized by the same arbitrariness. >The insecurity that characterized the offices of the commissioners should >be addressed once and for all since this is an election year. The people >should vote for political parties that are genuinely interested in building >up an independent and impartial electoral commission. > >Foroyaa: The President has said that they the majority will not allow the >minority to dictate how politics is conducted in this country. He called on >the IEC not to allow the opposition or the International Community to >dictate to them. What is your view? > >Halifa: This is exactly what the law says: Section 43 subsection (3) of the >constitution states that “In the exercise of its functions under the >constitution or any other law, the Commission shall not be subject to the >direction or control of any other person or authority.” > >What the President should assure is that the commission has all the >resources required to be free from any control. The duty of all political >forces is to expose the commission whenever it fails to do what the >constitution and the law says it should do. It is our view that the >commission should only abide by the dictate of the constitution, law, >natural justice and fairness. > >Needless to say, the fact that the president mentions majority and minority >confirms that power belongs to the people. The people of the Gambia should >give more value to themselves and their votes. Those who receive them >become very powerful. Those who lack them are marginalized. The type of >leaders who receive the votes of the people are a reflection of the type of >people who live in a country. Democracy requires us to entrust power to the >type of public trustees we want to manage our affairs for us. > >Foroyaa: Do you see the threat as intimidation tactics? > >Halifa: The people have a right to complain about intimidation. Leaders who >expect to be commanders in chief of armies when they become elected will be >seen as laughing stock if they allow themselves to be intimidated. Those >who cannot take the heat should get out of the kitchen. I agree with one >point, that is, we should all respect the MOU. > >Foroyaa: How about the opposition. Are there any prospects of unity? > >Halifa: The UDP/NRP alliance is calling for an enlargement of their >alliance to include NADD. I cannot see how NADD can stand on a political >platform and justify the resignation of the UDP and NRP leader from NADD >and promote the candidature of one of them on their party ticket and >completely abandon the five year transition characterized by the >empowerment of the people and limitation of the powers of president. As >flag bearer I have left the option for NADD to consider another flag >bearer. > >However this does not deter us from working. A candidate will emerge under >a NADD ticket. We will make definite decisions in these coming days. We >will organise one of the biggest rallies ever seen in this country to make >our final announcement. > >Foroyaa: We are poised for a three way race. > >Halifa: The Gambian people want unity. We will pursue it to the end. We >have toured the whole country. We have left Western Division, KMC and >Banjul to allow room for negotiation. However we will soon have to take the >bull by the horn to explain what really happened to give rise to the >current situation. > > > >KASSA JATTA AND TEENAGERS DETAINED > >Fabakary B Ceesay. > >On Tuesday, 1st August 2006, the people of Bakau Wasulung Kunda saw the >arrival of heavily armed Police Intervention Unit (PIU) personnel between >the hours of 9.00 pm and 1.00 am > >According to sources more than twenty five PIU officers commandeered by the >Station Officer of Bakau Police Station, were armed with rifles and batons. >The group of officers and their commander surrounded Jatta Kunda and >demanded the arrest of some children who, they alledged, used provocative >words. According to an eye witness, the S.O was told that the teenagers >they were looking for where not there. It is reported that the S.O. later >ordered the arrest of Lamin Jawara and his sister Isatou Jawara. The eye >witness also added Kassa went to the Police station the following morning >with three teenagers, and they were subsequently detained and later >transferred to various Police Stations. The arrestees are in the persons of >Lamin Jatta who is >detained at Bakau Police Station, Omar Jatta and Lamin Jawara at Bundung >Police Station, Isatou Jawara at Kairaba Police Station, and Mariama Fatty >and Cherno Jarju who were taken to Bakau Police Station the following >morning. Kassa Jatta was first detained at Bakau Police Station, but was >later moved to the PIU Station at Kanifing from where he was retransferred >to the Kotu Police Station. > > > >HEAVY RAIN CAUSES HAVOC > >Forcing Residents To Relocate In Brikama Kabafita > >By Lamin Dampha > >A heavy downpour has terrified the residents of Brikama Kabafita especially >those on the Banjul-Basse highway. The compound of Ma Ansu Demba in Brikama >Kabafita was over inundated by the heavy flow of water which brought down >his compound, leading to the whole compound being inundated. > >Most of the houses in the compound were razed to the ground. Personal >belongings, household items and many other valuable items were submerged in >the water. It was a complete disaster for Mr. Ansu Demba. > >The families of more than 15 were evacuated and were given temporal shelter >by the neighbours. Residents in the area flocked in their numbers to assist >the family in the rescue operations. It took the rescuers hours before they >could take the family especially the children to safety. > >Although there were no casualties in the disaster, the material lost was >huge as it is estimated to reach D100, 000. Speaking to me, the compound >owner Ma Ansu Demba who was rather in a serene mood, said that it is the >work of God. He said that he was deeply moved by the response of the >neighbours. He, however, dispelled rumours that cash amounting to D11, 000 >was stolen in the incident. “Infact where can I have such an amount?” he >asked. He is appealing to the government, NGOs, departments, parastatal, >philanthropists and other well wishers to assist him in the reconstruction >of his compound. > >The Chief of Kombo Central, Bakary Santang Bojang, was at the scene of the >disaster among other hundreds of people. He expressed deep concern over the >issue and promised to forward the issue to the relevant authorities. > >Meanwhile, the Brikama Area Council is once again under the spotlight. It >could be recalled that similar disasters struck Brikama Missira last year. >Residents in Brikama, especially those residing on the Banjul-Basse >highway, repeatedly complained to the Brikama Area Council for a drainage >system. They accused the Brikama Area Council for lack of concern for the >welfare of the tax payers. It appears that this public outcry has not been >heeded to. If the situation remains unchecked more and more disasters >should be expected and, God forbid, with possible human casualties. > >Those wishing to assist the Demba Kunda family can contact the following >numbers: 911467, 9853885 and 4483499. > > > >GPU PREXY OFF TO NAIROBI > >By Sarjo Camara Singhateh > >Mr. Madi Ceesay, the president of the Gambia Press Union, left on the >6th of this month to attend a three-day conference in Nairobi, the Kenyan >Capital. Mr. Ceesay is to attend this meeting in his capacity as the >general manager of the closed Independent Newspaper which has been forced >to cease publication by the authorities, since March 2006. > >Mr. Ceesay said the theme of the conference will be, “Africa’s news media, >vision, and the need and responsibility.” He stated that the conference is >designated for senior editors, broadcasters, NGO representatives >specialising in communication and developments. He said that participants >would come across the African continent and the UK, and also >Parliamentarians from East Africa and the Great Lakes regions. He indicated >that the conference is sponsored by the UN affiliated University for Peace >and Nation Media Group in Nairobi. > >Mr. Ceesay stressed that very crucial topics on the profession in Africa >will be discussed at the conference and they will also deal with challenges >facing the African news media as watchdogs and educators, while promoting >transparent governance and peace building. > >In another development, the GPU Prexy received a boost from the Free Voice >of the Netherlands, a media organisation in Holland. > >Mr. Ceesay also stated that The Gambia Press Union will engage in a three >day capacity building for its members ahead of the forthcoming presidential >and parliamentary elections. He said the training is to take place from the >21st to the 23rd of August, 2006. > >He said that the GPU and the Free Voice of the Netherlands have entered >into partnership for a few months in order to build the capacity of >members. > >Mr. Ceesay indicated that after the three month partnership with the Free >Voice, the GPU will look into other areas of intervention which could be >funded by The Free Voice. > >He said both programmes are timely and will be of immense benefit to the >Union. > >Mr. Ceesay is expected back on the 12th of August, 2006. > > > >HALIFA ON CHILD TRAFFICKING > >By Annia Gaye and Isatou Bittaye > >Hon. Halifa Sallah, the National Assembly Member for Serrekunda Central has >emphasised that every child has a right to be protected. He said protecting >a child is like protecting human society. He said without the protection of >children, human society will not have a good society. He noted that >“Children are the future of a nation.” > >Mr. Sallah was speaking at the Voice of the Young’s 2nd Bantaba held at the >Father Farrel Hall. He spoke on the theme “Child Trafficking: A Cause For >Concern.” He said the human being is a social being and that society has >provided a rich culture that promotes child issues. He stressed that child >trafficking is the worst form of neglecting a child in a society. He went >on to say that a child needs enough protection as “we cannot live in this >world without the presence of children”. > >He said to fight child trafficking, people have to fight poverty that has >put pressure on human beings, and stressed that every child has the right >to nationality. > >He urged parents to be well prepared to take care of their children as they >are brought to this world by them. > > >Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger Download today >it's FREE! > ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤