Gov't urged to stop human rights abuses

The minority leader of the National Assembly has called on the Jammeh regime to put an end to the gross human right abuses and adhere to the provisions of human rights in the country.

Momodou Lamin Sanneh, member for Kiang West, said the poor human rights record of the Jammeh regime is a cause for concern as it has stained the Gambia's image in the ouside world.

Speaking at the official end of the 2008 legislative year last Tuesday, the minority leader said a number of Gambians have over the years been arrested and detained by security officers without being charged or told the reasons for their arrest.

He read out a list of names published in a recent article of Foroyaa Newspaper of people who are languishing in detention for years without being charged with any criminal offense.

The minority leader added that the continuous arrest and detention of people without charge is tarnishing Gambia's image and unless the government start respecting the rights of people, the coutry's image will continue to drag in the mud.

He called on the government to act within the constitution by charging and arraigning people suspected to have committed a crime in competent court of law.

Also decrying the poor human rights record of the Jammeh regime, Babanding KK Daffeh, member for Kiang Central, said the government should adhere to the rules in arresting and detaining suspects.

He said in many instances, suspects are held by law security officers beyond the legal 72 hours.

Bekai Camara, member for Wuli East called on the department of state for the Interior to set up a police station in his constituency to help reduce the high rate of banditry in the area.

Saikou Suso, member for Kantora, appealed to the department of state for the Interior to renovate the state of Fatoto Police Station as well as provide a vehicle for the station. He lamented that the lack of vehicle at the station has seriously hampered the work of the police in his area.

Gambia jail British couple

A Scottish missionary and his wife, who pleaded guilty to sedition charges in Gambia, have been sentenced to one year in prison with hard labour.

David and Fiona Fulton were arrested last month after sending a letter to groups and individuals which criticised the country's government.

The couple changed their original not guilty plea last week.

Mr Fulton, 60, is from Troon in Ayrshire. His 46-year-old wife is from Torquay in Devon.

Last week the couple pleaded guilty to charges of sedition against the government of President Yahya Jammeh.

Hard labour

They issued a public apology but their remorse did not mollify the judge.

The Fultons admitted publishing e-mails with seditious comments with intent to bring hatred or contempt against the president or the government.

Presiding magistrate Idrissa Mbai said: "I found the offences of the accused party to be very shocking and they have shown no respect for the country, the government and the president of the republic. I will send a clear message to the offenders.

"I therefore sentence you to a fine of 250,000 Dalasis (about £6,250) and mandatory jail time of one year with hard labour."

If the couple do not pay the fine they face an additional six months in prison.

'Seeking clarity'

They can lodge an appeal within 20 days, but it was not clear if they would do so.

The tiny west African country inside Senegal, has been criticised in recent years for its human rights record.

Jammeh, an outspoken military officer and former wrestler, has ruled the former British colony since seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1994.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said consular staff had been providing assistance to the Fultons.

He said the Foreign Office was "seeking clarity" over what hard labour meant "in this context".

He added that it was a decision for the Fultons with their legal representative as to whether they appealed against the judgement.

The spokesman said that the couple's two-year-old daughter was being cared for by a family friend in the family home.

Courtesy of BBC

Deyda's killing was an act of terror

by PK Jarju

Baba Galleh

Baba Galleh Jallow,  former Daily Observer editor-in-chief and CEO of the now closed Independent Newspaper, has described the killing of Deyda Hydara as an act of terrorism.

Deyda Hydara, founder and managing editor of The Point Newspaper was murdered by unknown gun men on December 16, 2004, while on his way home.

Speaking to  PK Jarju on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Mr Hydara's death, Mr Jallow said: "I think Deyda was killed because he was critical of the Jammeh regime. I think he was killed because he constituted an unbearable voice of truth to people who cannot bear the sound of truth. I think he was killed as a warning to others that they would be risking their lives if they dared to be too critical of the government. I think it is absurd to imagine that the government is doing anything to catch Deyda’s killers. I think the government killed Deyda. How can the killer catch the killer?"

Mr Jallow added that it was simply unbelievable to think that Deyda Hydara could be so brutally murdered as he have always tempered his opinions with a noticeable degree of restraint and respect for whoever was the object of his critiques.

Below is the full text of Mr Jallow's interview.

PK Jarju: It’s been four years now since the brutal killing of Deyda Hydara. What do you make of the whole incident?

Baba Galleh: I think first of all, that Deyda’s killing was an act of terrorism. Those who killed Deyda were out to instill terror into the hearts of those who, like Deyda, dare to be critical of the powers that be. Secondly, the fact that no one has been arrested for the murder is indicative of a dismal lack of law and order in The Gambia.

 Are you saying that the Gambia is an anarchic state?

Baba Galleh: I wouldn’t call it a state of anarchy because that would imply saying there is no government in The Gambia. I am saying that there is dismal lack of respect for the rule of law and order in The Gambia. Deyda’s killing is just one of several cases that remain unsolved or for which no one has been arrested. There are the cases of Ousman Koro Ceesay, of Almamo Manneh, of the student victims of April 2000, of the Radio 1FM and The Independent arson attacks, of Daba Marena and his co-prisoners, and more recently, of the foreign nationals from Ghana and other countries. I find it ironic that a state that constantly brags about its determination to curb criminality and insecurity has not been able to arrest those who committed any of these criminal acts. The only answer –to my mind – is that the state itself committed the crimes.

 Why do you think Deyda was killed?

Baba Galleh: I think Deyda was killed because he was critical of the Jammeh regime. I think he was killed because he constituted an unbearable voice of truth to people who cannot bear the sound of truth. I think he was killed as a warning to others that they would be risking their lives if they dared to be too critical of the government.

 Do you think the government is doing enough to catch Deyda's killer?

Baba Galleh: I think it is absurd to imagine that the government is doing anything to catch Deyda’s killers. I think the government killed Deyda. How can the killer catch the killer?

Do you have any prove to back your claims that Deyda was murdered by the state?

Baba Galleh: I have reason to think – and that’s the word I use – that Deyda was murdered by the government. Has Jammeh not repeatedly threatened to send his critics six feet deep? Deyda himself had reported receiving death threats he had reason to believe came from the government. Then there are the previous unsolved murder cases mentioned above. Moreover, the fact that no one has been arrested for the murder is all the more reason to believe that he was killed by the state. Or is the state telling us that it is powerless to stop murders in the country?

So are you saying that Jammeh was lying to the Gambian people when he said on GRTS that he does not believe in killing people?

Baba Galleh: If Jammeh did not believe in killing people, why on earth did he join the military? I think one has to believe in the possibility of killing people before enlisting as a soldier, because that’s exactly what soldiers are trained to do – kill people when considered necessary. So that was just one of Jammeh’s many outbursts of pre-thinking talk. Or is he saying that people become soldiers in order to kill wild animals only? Or that people killed by soldiers are less than human beings?

 Do you think there is a cover up in the investigations?

 Baba Galleh I think there are no investigations to cover up in the first place. That is my strong conviction.

What is your response then to the dossier issued on June 5, 2005 by the department of state for the Interior on the death of Deyda?

Baba Galleh: I think that dossier was meant as a means of closing the case, of claiming that investigations had been conducted and the findings made public. I think it was a fake dossier, a decoy to deflect public attention and interest in the case. And it failed.

What type of person was Deyda?

Baba Galleh: I knew Deyda to be a very kind-hearted and very principled and courageous man. He never hesitated to speak his mind and was a good listener.

 What was your initial reaction when you heard the news that Deyda was murdered?

Baba Galleh: I was shocked, like all right-thinking Gambians. To think that Deyda could be so brutally murdered was simply unbelievable. After all, he always tempered his opinions with a noticeable degree of restraint and respect for whoever was the object of his critiques.

Deyda Hydara

Deyda’s killing was among a string of attacks against the private press including The Independent. In your mind, what do you think was the motive?

Baba Galleh: The motive for press censorship is always fear of the truth, fear of public enlightenment, fear of the people’s power that could grow out of being politically informed. It is always an act of cowardice by irresponsible and paranoid regimes that seek to keep the people in a perpetual state of darkness and passive subjugation.

 Government investigations into the arson attacks on The Independent has not yield any positive result. Do you think that will be the same with Deyda’s case?

Baba Galleh: As I said above, it is absurd to think that the government will carry out any serious investigations into any crimes of a political nature because the same government is responsible for committing those very crimes. How can the thief catch the thief? People should stop asking the government to investigate these crimes. It is just so absurd.

 So instead what should people do when they cannot trust their government?

Baba Galleh: It depends on what they can do or feel they can do. They can try to remove the government from power, they can criticize the government, they can accuse the government of being untrustworthy, they can withdraw their support. It all depends on just what is possible for them to do and what they see themselves as capable of doing in the circumstances. It also depends on whether they want to do anything than sit by and watch.

Do you think the failure to apprehend Deyda’s killers and arsonist of The Independent exposes the government’s weaknesses in providing a safe and secure environment for media practitioners in the country?

Baba Galleh: No. I think the government is responsible for these crimes and that is why no one has been apprehended. I don’t think that the government is interested in providing a safe and secure environment for media practitioners in the country, unless, of course, if they are of the boot-licking sort.

 President Jammeh has often accused Gambian journalists and online contributors abroad of writing false stories to tarnish his image and the Gambia’s. What’s your reaction to that?

Baba Galleh: President Jammeh has no moral right to accuse any journalist of anything. If he has the audacity to close media houses without observing the due process of law, of having people arrested and indefinitely locked up without any charges, what right does he have to blame anyone for tarnishing his image? He is tarnishing his own image. What journalists report is what’s taking place or what they believe is taking place. And if any journalist reports the untruth, it is for the law to deal with them, not the president. The president is neither the state nor the law. Jammeh thinks he loves The Gambia more than anyone else but that is simply a manifestation of his extreme delusion. All Gambians love The Gambia and being president does not make anyone love their country more than anyone else. So he should quit saying such nonsense.

What do you make of the closure of The Independent?

Baba Galleh: The closure of The Independent was an act of naked criminal injustice. We know that the state has the potential authority to close down a media outlet. But the process of closure has to proceed according to the due process of law. To simply wake up one fine day and use armed men to close a private media outlet and then turn around and brag about it as Jammeh did, is further evidence of his unsuitability for the position of head of state.

The burnt printing press of The Independent

 Do you have any plans to challenge its closure in the courts?

Baba Galleh: No. I will not give the regime any modicum of credibility by challenging its own crimes in its own courts. I believe that the courts are powerless to do anything in cases like The Independent’s in today’s Gambia. The Independent was closed to stop the truth from being told. But the truth is still being told. So I would challenge the state to eat The Independent if they can. Let them erase the memory of the paper if they can. Let them go back to June 1999 when the paper started and confiscate and burn all the issues ever published. If they do that, I’ll grant them victory. Otherwise, I will maintain that they are mere cowards and bullies who can deny hundreds of people their daily bread just to make one man feel comfortable in his bed of lies...

 Are you saying Jammeh does not have the interests of the Gambian people at heart?

Baba Galleh: I am saying that he places his own personal interests above the interests of the Gambian people.

Jammeh once told GRTS that you begged him to drop libel charges against you for publishing a story in December 1999 captioned New wife for Jammeh. Is that true?

Baba Galleh: If he said I did, it was totally untrue. I have never begged Jammeh to drop any charges against me and I have never asked anyone to do so on my behalf. And as a point of correction for you, our caption for that story had a question mark after it. It read “New Wife for Jammeh?” rather than “New Wife for Jammeh.” That’s a significant difference. Jammeh has this bad habit of talking without thinking. He seems to imagine that because he is the president, he can say anything that crosses his mind and so often says things that are totally untrue or nonsensical.

How do you see the current atmosphere in which Gambian journalists are operating?

Baba Galleh: I think on the home front, the atmosphere is clearly difficult. Journalists working for privately owned media houses now have to watch their words or else… On the other hand, there are the online media, which are doing a great job of keeping the flame of free speech burning without any immediate threats to their persons or properties.

They have to watch their words or else what?

Baba Galleh: Or else face the consequences.

As far as freedom of expression is concerned, would you classify Jammeh as an enemy of free speech?

Baba Galleh: Jammeh is not only an enemy of free speech; he is an enemy of free thought, and therefore an enemy of viable progress for our country.

The killing of Deyda and other attacks on the media is triggering a mass exodus of journalists from the Gambia. Don’t you think that is what the government wants?

Baba Galleh: I can say for certain that what they want is “no criticism.”

 Jammeh has often claimed that he is hard on the press in order to save the Gambia from being in flames like Sierra Leone. How will you react to that?

Baba Galleh: Well the press says exactly the same thing, that it is hard on the government to save The Gambia from sliding into a violent conflict situation. Sit-tight despotism and irresponsible governance, violations of people’s rights, disregard for the rule of law – these are some of the key reasons for the outbreak of conflict in Sierra Leone and elsewhere in Africa. So the press tries to warn the government of the dangers of getting engaged in these things. In any case, Jammeh has no authority to be hard on the press. That should be the role of the law enforcement agencies following the due process of law.

Why are you a critic of the Jammeh regime?

Baba Galleh: I am a critic of the Jammeh regime for many numbers of reasons. First among these is the fact that he betrayed the Gambian people; he lied to us; he had promised to spend only two years in power and return to barracks. He broke that promise with blatant impunity. He also broke his promise to put term limits in the constitution. He now claims ownership of our country and has become a sit-tight despot. He is intolerant of any form of dissent and denies Gambians the right to know and the right to peaceful change of leadership. He has no respect for constitutional provisions or for the rule of law. I guess if PK Jarju was president and behaved this way I would be his critic too.

So you mean the Gambia is colonised by Jammeh?

Baba Galleh: I mean Jammeh is holding The Gambian people hostage. We have records of him saying after the coup that no president will ever be allowed to spend more than ten years in power. That “in fact, ten years is too much.” Those are his exact words. We have records of him saying that he will return to barracks after a transition period of two years. He set up the National Consultative Committee to find out just how long people wanted the AFPRC to stay in power. The national consensus was two years. A constitutional review committee he set up recommended, and he publicly accepted, the idea of putting two five-year term limits for the president. Why did he fail to do all these things? Can he not legitimately be accused of being selfish and greedy for power and self-aggrandizement at the expense of the Gambian people? Is he waiting for another group of soldiers to come by and kick him out of power? Would such a thing not hurt the Gambian people?

Don’t you think that the existence of a national assembly and judiciary means that we are a democratic country?

Baba Galleh: Absolutely not. When the national assembly and judiciary are emasculated and turned into the personal properties and political instruments of the president, as ours clearly are, we cannot call that country a- democracy. The level of separation of powers, checks and balances between the three arms of government needed for a functional democracy are clearly not present in The Gambia. Does Jammeh not hire and fire judges and magistrates at will? Have we not had at least thirteen justice ministers in fourteen years of Jammeh’s government? Does he not expel national assembly members at will? Has there been a single instance of a government-sponsored piece of legislation being opposed by a majority in the national assembly? Democracy requires much more than the existence of these institutions.

As a critic of the Jammeh regime, you were subjected to so many arrests and detentions. Did it ever come to a point where you wanted to quit the profession?

Baba Galleh: No. I was arrested and locked up several times. But I refused to be intimidated because I knew that those arresting me were the criminals, not me. For my safety I had to leave The Gambia to pursue higher education in the United States. But I continue to write and to speak my mind and to call for an end to Jammeh’s politics of impunity.

 You are now separated from your family and friends as a result of your work. Do you have any regrets for being a journalist?

Baba Galleh: I have no regrets whatsoever. I would do it all over again, and even more, if I could.

 Supporters of the Jammeh regime say your postings are always critical of the regime no matter what it does. How do you see such criticisms?

Baba Galleh: Well, I respect people’s right to criticize me and to disagree with my views and opinions. And they are welcome to do so anywhere, anytime. I think such criticisms are healthy. No one should claim infallibility or consider himself or herself to be above criticism. After all, we are trying to build a democratic political culture in The Gambia whose cardinal principle would be tolerance and respect for contrary opinions. So I welcome those criticisms and even encourage them. That’s the type of society we want – a society in which people can openly disagree and criticize. So, no hard feelings at all for my critics.

 If you are to say anything positive about Jammeh what will it be?

Baba Galleh: Well, he is now a self-declared professor. I would say that’s so very positive.

 If called on by Jammeh to serve The Gambia in any capacity, will you accept the call?

Baba Galleh: Absolutely not. If I did, I would be accepting to serve him, and not The Gambia. I will never be part of a dictatorial regime that has no respect for human dignity, constitutional provisions, and the rule of law.

Politically, where do you think the Gambia is heading to?

Baba Galleh: What the future holds is anybody’s guess. I know that what we have today is a dictatorship and dictatorships historically spell trouble for their countries.

 Do you think Jammeh is responsible for Gambia’s problems?

Baba Galleh: He certainly is responsible for many of Gambia’s problems. I wouldn’t say he is responsible for all of Gambia’s problems because there are forces bigger than him at work within the international context.

Despite Gambia’s problems, Jammeh is still loved by the electorates. Why is that so?

Baba Galleh: Well, the answer to that question is far more complicated than can be satisfactorily answered in an interview of this nature. However, I would say that most people are not making the connection between their personal problems and the current government. Related to that is the nature of our political culture, our political habits of mind, how people see the government, what they understand to be the nature of government as an institution and the president as a leader of a twenty-first century society. I think what we can call the “mansa mentality” needs to be neutralized in the Gambian body politic before the majority of Gambians can start seeing the state for what it is and start making informed electoral choices.

 As a former schoolmate of Jammeh, what advise do you have for him?

Baba Galleh: Since Jammeh purports to be such a good and God-fearing Muslim, I would advise him to fulfil his promises to the Gambian people. The Koran makes it categorically clear that people who break their promises are hypocrites and I would guess Jammeh knows the verse I’m referring to. I would also advise him to quit acts of injustice if he is indeed as pious as he would like us to believe. The Koran and Sunnah are very clear on the need for Muslims to act with justice and for the leader to dispense justice equitably among his people. So in short, I would say to him: Mr. Jammeh be a good Muslim.

 Do you think the Gambian media is playing its role seriously?

Baba Galleh: Yes, I think some Gambian media outlets are playing their roles seriously. The online media community in Europe and the United States are doing great for our country. I think some Gambian media outlets are mere extensions of our good professor’s mouth, and are therefore not doing a good job at all.

Deyda's murder is one of Gambia's biggest tragedies

A former president of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) has described the assassination of Deyda Hydara on December 16, 2004 as the biggest tragedies that had ever befallen the Gambia.

In an interview with AllGambian, Mr Jawo who was a close friend of the late Deyda Hydara and is currently based in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, said it is extremely hard for any rational being to make sense as to why anyone would pull a trigger against a harmless person like Deyda.

"His assassination was no doubt one of the biggest tragedies that had ever befallen The Gambia. However, the apparent lack of interest by the Gambian authorities to thoroughly investigate this gruesome murder makes it even harder to comprehend. It is indeed hard to imagine such a thing happening in The Gambia, let alone to a harmless person like Deyda. He was not only a friend to everyone, but Deyda was also a kind-hearted person who was ever ready to assist anyone in need, regardless of ethnic, religious, political or social background. Therefore, it is hard to guess who might have killed him and why," Mr Jawo said.

Below is the full text of Mr Jawo’s interview with AllGambian's PK Jarju.

AllGambian: It has been four years now since the gruesome murder of Deyda Hydara. What do you make of the whole incident?

DAJ: It is extremely hard for any rational being to make sense as to why anyone would pull a trigger against a harmless person like Deyda. His assassination was no doubt one of the biggest tragedies that had ever befallen The Gambia. However, the apparent lack of interest by the Gambian authorities to thoroughly investigate this gruesome murder makes it even harder to comprehend.

AllGambian: How was it like as a friend of Deyda when you first got the call in the early hours of December 16, 2004 that he was killed?

DAJ: I had actually returned from a trip to Zambia on the very night that Deyda was killed, and it was early in the morning that a western diplomat called me on the telephone asking what I knew about what had happened to Deyda. I told her that I was not aware of anything happening to him. I then called Pap Saine who told me that they shot him dead the previous night. The news came to me like a dream and it only became a reality when several people started calling me about it.

AllGambian: Why do you think Deyda was killed?

DAJ: It was indeed hard to imagine such a thing happening in The Gambia, let alone to a harmless person like Deyda. He was not only a friend to everyone, but Deyda was also a kind-hearted person who was ever ready to assist anyone in need, regardless of ethnic, religious, political or social background. Therefore, it is hard to guess who might have killed him and why.

AllGambian: Are you surprised that no one has yet been arrested or charged with Deyda’s murder?

DAJ: Of course anyone concerned about equity and justice would be surprised that not only has no one yet been apprehended about his murder, but that the Gambian authorities do not even seem to be interested in investigating the case. They instead seem to treat his assassination like a non-event. It is hard to imagine such a heinous crime being committed in a close-knit society like ours and four years later, no one has been apprehended for it.

AllGambian: Some people are accusing the government of not doing enough to catch the killers of Deyda. Do you agree with that?

DAJ: It is definitely hard to understand why there is no visible sign that the Gambian authorities are actually investigation the case. Therefore, there is a lot of credibility in any allegations that the government is not doing enough to apprehend his killers.

AllGambian: Do you think there is a cover up in the investigations?

DAJ: While I am not in a position to categorically accuse the government or anyone of a cover-up in the investigations, but the very fact that it is four years and there are hardly any serious investigations going on gives a lot of credibility to such assumptions. Apart from anything else, Deyda was a Gambian citizen who, like all Gambians, deserved the protection of the Gambia government. Therefore, if such a gruesome crime has been committed against him, it is definitely the duty of the government to investigate it with the utmost seriousness, in order to bring the perpetrators to book. It is therefore quite disappointing that the government does not seem to give much regard to the investigations.

AllGambian: What was your response to the report issued on June 5, 2005 by the Department of State for the Interior on the investigations into Deyda’s death?

DAJ: Like everyone else concerned about justice and fair play, I was quite flabbergasted by the so-called “Confidential Report” issued by the Department of State for the Interior in June 2005, which has been the first and so far the only report they have issued on the investigations. Instead of coming up with some possible leads as to who may killed Deyda and why, the report was instead full of aspersions and innuendos about his reputation and way of life, virtually sifting the blame for his murder on his “wayward” character, portraying him as a womanizer and an irresponsible person who made many enemies for himself, all of which were far from the truth.

AllGambian: the Gambia Press Union was angry with the government for not pursuing their investigations in a scientific and professional manner, especially the use of modern means to trace the origin of the bullets extracted from Mr Hydara’s body. What would you say to that?

DAJ: Of course the GPU, and no doubt several other groups and individuals concerned with equity and justice have questioned the government’s commitment to carry out a thorough investigation of the case. As such, they called for the involvement of other more credible and experienced investigators to help the police apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime. However, the authorities have flatly refused to accept that proposition, claiming that they had the capacity to investigate the case, even though they seem to have completely abandoned the investigations.

AllGambian: The GPU urged the government in June 2005 to seek help from the UN, the Commonwealth or other friendly governments to investigate Mr Hydara’s murder as it was beyond their capacity. Do you think international assistance would have made any difference?

DAJ: There is absolutely no doubt that assistance from more experienced investigators from the very beginning when whatever evidence existed was fresh, could have made a lot of difference. I even understand that some western embassies were quite willing to seek the services of agencies in their countries to assist, but the authorities rejected it outright.

AllGambian: Considering the situation, it looks as if the authorities are done with Deyda’s case. Do you think the murderers will ever be apprehended?

DAJ: With the way things are going, it is hard to see how Deyda’s killers could ever be brought to book, especially when no investigation seems to be going on. We can therefore only hope and pray that the authorities will change their minds and give it the seriousness it deserves, otherwise, there is no chance of the killers being ever apprehended.

AllGambian: Mr Hydara was a personal friend of yours. Can you tell me what type of person he was?

DAJ: Of course Deyda was not only a long term colleague and a friend of mine, but he was also a friend to everyone. He was quite a selfless gentleman of the highest category, who was eager and always willing to help those in need. He had great respect for humanity and he had the best of intentions for this country. In a nutshell, Deyda was courageous, steadfast and committed to the ideals of journalism and to everything else he was engaged in.

AllGambian: Why did you and Ahmed Alota decide to write the Book, ‘A Living Mirror: The Life of Deyda Hydara’?

DAJ: Ahmed Alota and I decided to write the book on Deyda’s life because we thought someone needed to document Deyda’s fulfilled life for the benefit of future generations. Deyda was not only a journalist but a defender of human rights and a social activist who constantly fought against injustice and therefore his life had a lot of lessons for everyone, particularly the younger generation.

AllGambian: It was said that in the course of your research for the book, some people had warned you to desist from writing it because you could get killed. Why did you refuse to back down?

DAJ: Of course some people thought that we were deliberately looking for trouble by writing a book on the life of Deyda, and some even advised us to drop the idea. However, we were quite determined to do what we thought was the right thing to do, and that was to document Deyda’s impressive achievements. We knew we were not committing any crime by writing the book and as such, we never contemplated abandoning the idea because of the possibility of someone somewhere being intimidated by it.

AllGambian: In the book, you narrated a scene where Mr Hydara, after a good meal of benachin at his house, removed his shirt, pointed to his ribs and his left temple, and told his wife, “This is where they will shoot me.” Do you think he had foreseen his assassination?

DAJ: Yes we were told that bizarre story by Mrs. Maria Hydara (his wife), and in fact another friend of his also told us a similar story of how they went to a restaurant one day and he refused for them to sit at a particular table because he said someone may shoot at him there. However, whether he foresaw his assassination or those were just coincidental jokes, it is hard to tell.

AllGambian: Why did you risk your life to work for The Point weeks after the murder of Deyda?

DAJ: I was never an employee of The Point, even though I was involved with the editorial work for sometime after Deyda’s murder. It was a fulfillment of a promise I gave to Pap Saine on the day of the funeral when he suggested that he was going to give up as it was not worth the risk. I told him that we could not afford to let The Point die with Deyda because it was his legacy. I therefore gave him an undertaking that I was going to help, and that was my connection with the paper.

AllGambian: Many Gambian journalists have fled the country or quit the profession since Deyda’s murder. Don’t you think that was one of the objectives of whoever must have killed Deyda?

DAJ: While it is not easy to guess what the motives of Deyda’s killers were, but it makes a lot of sense to assume that the authorities would not be sad to see many journalists leave the country as it left fewer people in the country to criticize what they are doing.

AllGambian: How do you see the atmosphere in which the Gambian media is operating?

DAJ: The atmosphere under which the Gambian media operates is certainly far from ideal. There is no doubt that Deyda’s murder and the prevailing atmosphere of impunity, especially for those who commit crime against journalists and their media houses, has been one of the factors responsible for the decision by many journalists to leave the country. We have all witnessed the various crimes perpetrated against some media houses and some individual journalists which have never been investigated. We have also seen the arbitrary closure of media houses such as Citizen FM, Sud FM and The Independent without any court order.

Indeed, without the courage and resilience of Gambian journalists, there would never have been any independent media left in the country today as we know it. Most probably, all the surviving newspapers and other media houses would have been singing the same tunes as the Daily Observer.

AllGambian: Despite the return of the country to civilian rule, Decree 70/71 is still not repealed. Do you think the government has any plans of repealing it?

DAJ: There are of course no visible plans to repeal Decree 70/71 or any of the numerous other repressive media laws. What we have instead seen is the promulgation of even more draconian laws such as the Newspaper Amendment Act and the Criminal Code Amendment Act 2004, both of which make life harder for the independent media.

AllGambian: Finally, what do you think needs to be done in order to bring Deyda’s killers to justice?

DAJ: What everyone expects the authorities to do in order to show the whole world that they are indeed interested in apprehending Deyda’s killers is to show commitment to investigate his murder, otherwise, it is hard to see how Deyda’s murderers will ever be brought to book.

GPU STATEMENT ON THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF DEYDA HYDARA

Today, December 16th 2008 marks four long years since the murder of the late Deyda Hydara, journalist and co-proprietor of The Point Newspaper.

Today, as everyday, our thoughts and our hearts are filled with memories of Deyda Hydara – his steadfastness in his belief in journalism as an agent of change, his doggedness to inform reliably, truthfully and impartially, his staunch and unwavering defence of the cardinal principles of this noble profession, his unrelenting desire to advocate for and champion the rights of the under privileged and most notably, his continued condemnation of all things unjust.

Therefore, every year, especially on December 16, 2004, we find ourselves saddened, our hearts filled with grief at the unnecessary loss of a rare species, an illustrious son of The Gambia, one who believed in freedom enough to die for it. But, more importantly, we find the silence and impunity following his brutal murder most foul deafening and intolerable.

Today, we reassure the family of Deyda Hydara that once again, as always, we stand heads and shoulders with you on this difficult journey. Deyda Hydara was a colleague, a mentor and a friend who shall never be forgotten. Deyda’s life was a life of courage. It is the basis of any true act of courage that for one who received death threats, for one who visualized that for him, the end would mean being gunned down, he stood firm in his beliefs, firm in his convictions and firm in his determination to fight against social injustices. We shall continue to advocate for the solution of this crime until it is solved.

Once again, the Gambia Press Union, on the anniversary of the killing of Deyda Hydara, is making an appeal to the Government of The Gambia in particular and the public at large, that four long years have passed and no significant information has been made available so far as to the extent and depth of investigations on the murder of Deyda Hydara. We are yet to see any form of bold commitments from the State Security Apparatus’ to resolving this crime.

The Gambia Press Union therefore, unequivocally condemns the slow pace of investigations into the murder of the late Deyda Hydara; Condemns the unwillingness of the State Security Apparatus’ to comment on and or divulge information into the extent of investigations into the murder of Deyda Hydara; Calls for a commitment from the State Authorities that it will do everything possible within its powers and mandate to see to it that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to book; Calls for a renewed commitment to the solving of this senseless murder for as time passes by so the trail goes colder and the crime more difficult to solve; Denounces the impunity enjoyed by attackers of media practitioners in The Gambia and laissez faire attitude of the Gambian Security authorities towards investigating and solving crimes against journalists and media institutions in The Gambia; Condemns the continued intolerable intimidation of the media, in particular the private press in The Gambia

We also call on the state authorities through the office of the Inspector General of Police, the Secretary of State for the Interior and the National Security Council whose responsibilities amongst others are the maintenance of law and order and the prevention and detection of crime to:

Issue a progress report into the investigations into the brutal murder of Deyda Hydara; Leave no stone unturned to trace the perpetrators of this heinous crime;
To, in future, react swiftly to threats against journalists linked to their work and develop specific strategies and mechanisms for the protection of journalists who have been the targets of serious threats;

Where these cannot be met, we regrettably call on the National Assembly, to acknowledge the persistent threats to the lives and freedoms of journalists and media practitioners, notably in exercising their rights to freedom of speech, expression and assembly, key elements to the work of media workers, and in demonstrating the commitments of the Legislature to serve in the public interest as outlined in Section 109 Sub Sections 1 and 2 of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia, to set up an independent Committee of Inquiry to investigate the delays into the investigations of the murder of Deyda Hydara.

In light of renewed and improved press government relations and the fact that a free and vibrant press is the very foundation of a healthy democracy and a key indicator of good governance, we once again appeal to the Government of The Gambia to do everything within its power to ensure that justice and the truth prevails.

We also remind the Government of The Gambia that there can be no meaningful development without the popular participation of the general citizenry, who are most effectively mobilised through the channels of the media, which provides them the opportunity to express their views concerning the way in which they are governed. Hence, the media’s contribution to the development of The Gambia must be seen as paramount.

It is worthy to note that commitments to solving crimes particularly crimes against the media and media practitioners will go a long way to paving the way for an end to impunity and to the restoration of public confidence. Serious negations by the relevant authorities charged with the responsibility for the prevention and detection of crime are simply unacceptable.

Signed:

The Executive Board

Gambia Press Union

Letter to My Brother from another Mother

by PK Jarju, Birmingham, UK

My dear brother from another mother, greetings in the name of the most Beneficent, Merciful and Gracious Lord, our Cherisher and Sustainer, Who has created man out of a clot and has taught [man] the use of the pen.
It’s been a while since I last wrote to you as I have been very busy thousands of miles away in a foreign land. Yeah, the place I moved to in order to escape your brutal regime, which has no regards to the rights and freedoms of the Gambian people.

My brother from another mother, when you took over the reigns of power in July 1994, many Gambians gave you their blessings. They stood by you in those difficult years thereby enabling you to attain some of your objectives. But sadly today, many of them have lost confidence and trust in you. They have been betrayed, lied to and failed by the revolution which was supposed to change their lives and country for the better.

The revolution instead of alleviating their sufferings brought nothing but more miseries, hardships and retrogression. While you and your associates are getting rich and richer, a large percentage of the Gambian people live far below the poverty ladder. And as a result, many Gambians are today cannot afford to acquire a decent meal for the day.

You and your associates have highjacked the country and is wrecking the lives and dreams of many Gambians, especially the young generation. Despite 14 years of promises, the Gambian people are yet to break free from the shackles of poverty.
The prices of basic commodities are increasing left right centre everyday beyond the reach of many Gambian families. The Gambian people continue to be born in poverty, grow up in poverty and die in poverty.

My brother from another mother, becoming president of our little country is too good to be true for you. You have become so intoxicated with power and despite being in power for 14 years; you still never want to give it up. Your government have lost its sense of direction and have no interest in the welfare of the people at heart. You are ruling the country as though it is your private estate and property, to do with as you choose. You have created a dictatorship and neglected your duties as president.

You gave yourself so much power making you the most powerful Gambian the country has ever seen. You are now more powerful than a king and you talk to people the way you want, do things the way you want for you are untouchable.

My brother from another mother, the situation in our country has over the years being going from bad to worst and the Gambian people are crying everyday in their homes, bantabas, farms and rice fields about the shameful misdeeds of your government. They cry every day about the increasing level of poverty, sufferings, arrest and detention without charge, torture and the incompetence of your brutal regime. But instead of listening to their cries, you employ bullying and intimidation techniques to silence them.

You and your government are scared of the truth and as a result you are doing all within your powers to extinguish it. You want to spread ignorance among the Gambian people by keeping them uninformed and living a life of complete denial.

Those who speak the truth are whisked away in the middle of the night from their families never to be seen again. They are branded enemies of the Gambia, undesirable elements and illegitimate sons and daughters of Africa, who deserves nothing better than the gas chambers.

My brother from another mother, as a man who carry the holy book of Almighty Allah everywhere you go and hymn His praises 24 hours a day, seven days a week 365 days a year, permit me to draw your attention to the story of Luqman, the wise, who has a surah named after him in the Qur'an.

When Allah asked Luqman whether he liked to be king and justly rule over the people. He submitted: "O my Lord, if it is a command from You, I must obey; for in that case, I shall be assisted by You. But if I am granted the choice to accept or to decline, I would rather be excused; I do not like to undertake this onerous responsibility. A ruler is always in a difficult situation. Tyranny and other evils surround him on all sides and everything depends upon whether he is divinely aided or not. If he rules justly, he can attain to salvation, if not; he is led astray from the path leading to Jannah. And, it is far better to lead a humble life rather than to live an easy life in this world and do harm to one's life in the Hereafter. He who prefers this world to the Hereafter suffers double loss: this world forsakes him, sooner or later, and he has no value in the Hereafter."

Don't misjudge me, I am not asking you to be Luqman; all I ask of you is to govern the people base on the principles of democracy and the rule of the law.

My brother from another mother, it is true that you are president of 1.5 million people so what? You are nothing special in the eyes of wise men but a mere human being. Remember that no matter how powerful thou may be, no matter how much wealth you gather and no matter how long thou may live, thou shall one day be laid down in the pit of the grave for your abode and men you used to look low upon; men you bullied and mistreated will throw dust upon you from all sides to cover you.

My brother from another mother, as president, you were elected to represent the welfare of the Gambian people. But instead you have gone further to own the country and everything in it. You have killed, tortured, jailed and exiled anyone who refuses to bend his knee for you. This has resulted in a situation of fear an uncertainty.

Your security officers are armed and given the license to arrest, torture and even kill anyone who does not agree with your dictatorial policies. In your name, they have orphaned many Gambian children. In you name they have widowed many Gambian women and in your name they have made many parents childless. Also in your name my dear brother, they have torned many closed Gambian families apart.

My dear brother from another mother, you need to remember that no matter how big and powerful you are; you cannot be bigger than the Gambia. The Gambia was born centuries before you and will always continue to exist till the end of time. The Gambia does not belong to you and you do not love it more than anyone of us. The Gambian people have a right to speak out against the brutality and mismanagement of your government.

My brother from another mother, you have to learn from the lessons of past dictators like Idi Amin, Samuel Doe, Hussein Habre, Charles Taylor, Saddam Hussein and others. You have to put down your sword and start listening to the views of the people especially your opponents and critics. These people are Gambians like you. They love and cared for their country and it is ridiculous to hear you branding them as anti-development just because they choose to speak the truth. You are the cause of the Gambia's problems and you have to be honest with the people.

Continuing your policies of brutality and savagery is not the best way forward. You have to bury your pride and stop dividing and ruling the people base on party politics.

My brother from another mother, you have to realise that no act of brutality against your opponents will stop them from speaking out against your government.
The more you torture and kill them, the more you will see them rise again. The more laws you create to suppress them, the more they would break them. For they are a people who want to see the full restoration of democracy and the respect of human rights in the country.

While you may succeed in silencing some of them through force, yet their desire, their instinct to oppose brutality and repress freedom of thought will never be quenched. Of course it can be forced to keep quiet at times, when the repression gets worse. But instinct remains, and will always remain and when the circumstances becomes a little bit favourable, it will raise its head again. The desire to be free is one of the fundamental human desires.

Have a good day my dear brother from another mother, Eid Mubarak.
For comments write to papak196@yahoo.co.uk or info@allgambian.net

For How Long Shall He kill Our Prophets?

by PK Jarju

“Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right and desire to know, but besides this, they have a right an indisputable, unalienable, indefensible, divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge- I mean the characters and conduct of their rulers..." John Adams

The continuous arrests, detention and disappearance of people in the Gambia should indeed be a cause for concern to every Gambian living in the country and abroad. A week hardly passes by without someone being picked up and detained by the state security agents for one unexplained reason or another.

These arrests have gone far too long and many people are languishing at the Mile Two Prisons, Janjangbureh Prisons, NIA headquarters and police stations across the country without being charged or told the reasons for their arrests. Chief Ebrima Manneh, Kanyiba Kanyi, among many others are a good example of Gambians who are being arbitrarily detained for months and years without been brought before any court of law. These men are being punished for crimes that only Yahya Jammeh knows.

The Jammeh regime is becoming more and more powerful by the day and has ceased to be a government of the people. Forget about democracy and the rule of law. We are only a democratic country by name. The Gambia is owned by Yahya Jammeh and we are all his subjects.

You may disagree with me but we are not a free society anymore. The notion of living in a free Gambia is out of the window because we have allowed Yahya Jammeh and his cronies to snoop into our peaceful lives and violate our space while we all stood aside and watch with open eyes. As a trusting people, we gave him an inch to manage our affairs but he has taken a mile.

As president and head of state, Jammeh has become so intoxicated with power. All what he talks and dream about is POWER. He rules with the motto that, he as president should be good sometimes and be wicked on most occasions. He believes in god and the god he believes in wants him to be filthy rich, successful and reign over us forever and his opponents and critics dead and buried six-feet-deep. His god also wants him to be more powerful than even King Solomon and Samson in the New Testament.

Jammeh has grown bigger than the Gambia and he therefore expects everyone to bend their knees for him. Blinded and absolutely corrupted by his powers, today Jammeh maintains that he has the right without any basis in the constitution and laws of the Gambia to sack anyone from his job label anyone a criminal, saboteur or detractor then lock him up and throw the keys into the River Gambia. He is the boss and cannot be challenged.

Despite the fact there exists three chambers of government with different duties and responsibilities as spelt out in the constitution, yet these chambers of government are far from being independent. They are directly under the control of the president and as a result, they do not live up to their responsibilities. They all dance to the tune of the big man.

In other words, though he has his offices in Kanilai and Banjul, Jammeh runs and controls every facet of the Gambian society from curing HIV/Aids, hiring and firing secretaries of state, expelling National Assembly Members, dismissing judges, civil servants and even seyfolu and village alkalolu. Not only that, he declares public holidays when ever he wants, sets the news agenda of the public media, decides what prices commodity goods are to be sold at and when we should all observer the two Eids (Eidul Fitr and Eidul Ahad) among others.

Like Napoleon in George Orwell's Animal Farm, Jammeh regards anything that goes against him as an enemy. An enemy that deserves to be punished severely. His orders are always final and it makes me sick all the time when I see people jumping to execute his commands without even using their God-given brains to think. For these zombies, who often boost about how much they loved and cared for the country, whatever the president says or does is in the best interest of the country.

It is therefore not surprising that the bodies of hundreds of Gambians and nonGambians are today full of scares of torture while the unlucky ones are decomposing in marked and unmarked graves across the country. Like angels guarding the fire of Hell, Jammeh's henchmen do not have anything call sympathy in their hearts. They don't flinch a bit when commanded to do something by their master. As a result, these men are committing many heinous crimes against people with impunity in the name of the president.

Take the case of the 44 Ghanaians as an example. These young immigrants, who were traveling to Europe in makeshifts boats via Gambian waters, were in the summer of 2005 arrested and lynched by state agents, just because some idiots in the Quadrangle without any shred of evidence accused them of trying to destablise the country.

Daba Marena and others were also arbitrarily killed while in government custody just because someone accused them of treason. The student demonstrators were also brutally gunned down just because someone accused them of being used by some opposition elements to destabilise the country.

All these and many serious unresolved murder cases involving security officers are buried deep under the carpet. No investigations were conducted and will never be conducted because the president loves the Gambia so much and does not want anything that will tarnish the image of the country.

Recently, many butchers and traders are being harassed by security officers and local councils because Jammeh issued orders for the price reduction of commodity goods and meat. Again market vendors, traders and taxi drivers are harassed on set setal Saturdays because Jammeh gave orders that we should all be at home sweeping our streets and localities.

Today in the Gambia, despite the fact that there exist a book called the constitution, that was supposed to make us live in peace and unity; people are being governed according to the law of the jungle - survival of the fittest. The president and those close to him can do anything they want to the poor masses without being held accountable.

The country is now a nanny state and we are all being watch. Our daily activities are being monitored and recorded not by Close Circuit Televisions (CCTV), but by informers and the secret police. We cannot say anything about the government or Jammeh in the streets because someone elsewhere is listening. Our phone lines are tapped by NIA officers in the name of national security. Political debates are now out of our school curriculum because so many students are serving as the eyes and ears of the regime. Criticise the regime and you will never see the sun again.

These bullies have sown fear in the hearts of everyone in the country. So much arrests and disappearance have left people wondering who is next on the men in black's list. That irrational fear is what is making some people jump under their beds when they hear a car park outside their houses in the middle of the night.

All these evils are happening every day in our lives and yet we are doing nothing to stop it. We have accepted them as part of life and do not give a monkey as to who is bundled into a tinted glass pick-up and banged up in a filthy and mosquito infested cell or killed by the men in black. The only time we seem to care is when a family member or someone close to us goes missing. Like a former colleague of mine (name withheld) once told me after his arrest and detention at the NIA headquarters, he never believed in the stories people say about the brutality of the NIA officers until when he landed there.

Like my friend, we should not wait until we have all become victims before we start doing something. We should not continue sitting down and allow Jammeh and his cronies to rule us any how they want. We are a country and not a village. It is time to say enough is enough. Far too many wrongs have been committed by the regime and we must all not sit down and accept these evils and wrongs the way they are. We are a talk and do nation and those who can talk must talk while those who can do must do every little thing we all can to change things for the better.

The political madness that has gripped our peaceful country can only be eradicated if we come together and form a united political front that will flush out Jammeh through the polls. Let's stop looking low upon ourselves or doubt our abilities. We are not a bunch of dummies. We are all literates and our labour power is a force, which when fully tapped can bring about the much needed changes in our land of birth.

This is the only way out. The Gambia belongs to each and every one of us and we must all do everything we can to restore democracy and the rule of law in our God bless country. We are all blessed with different skills and we should use our skills to let Jammeh know that we have seen and had enough of his brutal regime. Our spirit can never be crushed as long as we have the self belief that our dreams are attainable. Like my late grand dad (may Allah bless his soul) used to tell me during my primary school days, when treads unite, they can even tie and elephant.

Sitting down with folded hands and a sorry face or praying to the heavens for miracles to happen will get us nowhere. God's help only descent on a people who help themselves. As stated by Abu Darda in one hadith, you people must all command people to do good, restrain them from evil otherwise Allah will cause such a tyrant to rule over you who will not respect your elders and will not have mercy on your youngsters. Then you people will pray to Him but will not answer to your prayers, you will ask Him for help but will not help you, you will seek His pardon but will not pardon you.

Long live the great people of the Gambia. Long live the Gambia.

Wishing my esteem readers a happy Koriteh. Peace!

For comments, write to info@allgambian.net or papak196@yahoo.co.uk. You can also read my blog www.pkjarju.blogspot.com.

Yahya Jammeh's Secret World

by PK Jarju

In the wake of the July 22 military coup that brought Yahya Jammeh and the AFPRC/APRC regime to power, numerous commissions of inquiry were set up to probe the activities of ex-President Jawara, his ministers and associates.


The Junta among other things accused the PPP regime of rampant corruption and living a flamboyant lifestyle at the detriment of the Gambian people. And the commissions of inquiry were used as a venue to expose and humiliate ex-PPP officials.


At that time, Jammeh portrayed himself as a puritan and a patriot, who feels the pain and sufferings of the people. He condemns everything that had to do with Jawara and does things that the people have never seen Jawara do like joining in cleaning exercises, walking on foot from State House to the July 22 Square among others.


To Jammeh, Jawara was nothing but a thief and a criminal who mismanaged the Gambian economy and diverted millions of taxpayer’s money to fund his luxurious lifestyle. Jammeh was so angry with Jawara that he ordered the demolition of the borehole in Jawara's native village, Barajally, which was the only source of fresh water for the village.


Interestingly, there was nothing special about Barajally. No major developments have taken place in the village throughout Jawara's 30-year rule. The village was like any other rural Gambian village.


Jawara’s house in Bakau and his gardens in Yundum were all frozen by the Junta because they were allegedly acquired from taxpayer’s money.


At the time of taking over the reigns of power, Yahya Jammeh was not a wealthy man. In fact, he only had a few thousands of Dalasis in his Continent Bank account. But just after 14 years in power, Jammeh has become the richest Gambian.


Despite being paid a monthly salary of less than £1000, Jammeh is so much loaded that he does not even know how much money is stashed away in his bank accounts. He is living a luxurious lifestyle and has once even confessed that he is so loaded with money that not even his great grand children will be able to exhaust it. How did he acquire all these riches? Well you answer that question.

Since 1994, Jammeh has been building a vast empire in his native Kanilai, which is reported to be worth millions of Dalasis. Before 1994, Kanilai was a hamlet, previously unknown to many Gambians. In fact, it was only known by a few as a place for healing broken arms and limbs. And Jammeh's hobbies were honey hunting and farming.


But today, the village is transformed into a modern town with uninterrupted power supply, water, telephone, internet facilities, street lights, good road network, a safari camp, fire station, a well equipped hospital, a school for Mathematics and Science, an 8 square kilometre game park among others.


A large contingent of NIA officers, State Guard soldiers, police and CIDs are permanently based in Kanilai that monitors the activities of anyone who visits the place. Apart from the government owned GRTS and the Daily Observer, no other media houses are allowed entry. In other words, Kanilai is a no go area for local journalists.


However, I managed to get some information about President Jammeh’s secret world which I hope will interest the Gambian voters.


Life Style

Despite having his office in State House, Banjul, the Gambian leader spends less time in the capital. He spends most of his time in Kanilai, where he feels more relaxed.



For Jammeh, the saying there is no place like home isvery true asKanilai offers him the freedom to do stuff that he likes most. He smokes Piccadilly and is addicted to Chinese Green Tea, Attaya, which is brewed for him by State Guard soldiers. His favourite brewer is a female soldier from Kiang called Nyima Sanneh, whom he lavishes with money, when he is in a joyous mood.


Jammeh is responsible for the feeding and upkeep of the thousands of soldiers and people in Kanilai. Everyday whether Jammeh is in Kanilai or not, a bull and four sheep are slaughtered. Over a thousand bags of rice are consumed each month.


Friday and Saturday nights are for cultural dance except in the month of Ramadan. The dance which starts at 12am to 4am is held outside Jammeh's residence. Jammeh never misses the cultural dances as he is a great lover of cultural music. He sits on a sofa sometimes with his wife Zaineb and guests. The different cultural dancers compete among themselves before Jammeh, who rains money on them as if it grows on trees. The best dancer of the night goes home with a cash amount of D50, 000.


In the dry season, Jammeh also organises inter-village wrestling competitions and other cultural festivals during which he gives away huge amount of money to wrestlers and their supporters. These events attract thousands of people from across the country who are fed and sheltered by Jammeh.


Games Park

The Kanilai Games' Park has more animals than the Abuko Nature Reserve. The 8 square kilometre park has 300 species of birds, 8 wild dogs that feed on fresh meat, 265 crocodiles, 3 wilder beasts, 3 lions, many ostriches, falcons, peacocks, wolves, dears, antelopes, monkeys, bush pigs among others.



Most of these animals were bought from South Africa and transported to Banjul via chartered cargo planes. The planes according to our State House sources normally land at the Banjul International A

irport during ungodly hours of the night to prevent the public from seeing them. There are also over 25 camels, over 100 sheep and goats and over 150 heads of cattle.


Buildings

Since late 1994, Jammeh took ownership of vast hectares of land. Some of the land was inherited from his parents while the others were given to him by some families hoping to earn certain favours in return. But recently, families like the Colley Kunda family are complaining in low tones that some of their lands are being grabbed by Jammeh for farming and building.


Jammeh's private residence can be compared with any king's palace. It is a 100x100 and has an indoor swimming pool and a crocodile pond. Dears and other animals can be seen roaming about in the garden and Jammeh sometimes personally feeds them. The palace is sealed away from the public by a 12 foot fence. The palace has other facilities like a cabinet room where cabinet meetings are held, VIP room, where visiting diplomats are received etc.


Outside the palace, Jammeh built a large building called the Four House where he spend most of his leisure time treating people with HIV/Aids and other diseases.


There is also The Reservoir, a hotel like estate with over 10 buildings and many rooms. This is the residence of Jammeh's employees and farm helpers. There is also a secret detention camp and an army camp. Currently, a lot of construction work is on going and it’s been rumoured that many ministries might be move there if not the capital.


Farms

As a man who loves farming, Jammeh has so many farms. Every year he cultivates vast hectares of peanuts, rice, corn, millet, coos coos, water melon among others. There are also vegetable gardens.


Jammeh employs a small staff mainly his tribal people to work in the farm, who are paid a monthly salary. Also during the raining season, thousands of people from all parts of the country do voluntary work in the President's farms. The volunteers are well fed and sheltered by Jammeh, who gives them large sums of money when they finish work.


Some of the farm proceeds are said to be donated to the Jammeh Foundation for Peace.


If you have any comments on this article write to info@allgambian.net or papak196@yahoo.co.uk

Acts of barbarism in the name of Islam

by PK Jarju

The more I look at TV footages of last Wednesday's terror attack in Mumbai, India, the angrier I get. A group of losers who claimed to be believers in the oneness of Allah and the Day of Judgement attacked innocent people, killing over 170 people and injuring 200 or more. And the thousand and one questions I keep asking myself is, who the hell are they and what are they hoping to gain?

Personally, I think they are bunch of useless, hopeless and blood thirsty idiots whose only desire is to kill hundreds of innocent men, women and children. The attack on Mumbai is not a jihad and these attackers should not identify themselves as Muslims. The indiscriminate killing of people and wanton destruction of properties is totally condemned by Islam, a religion of peace.

Islam does not promote the senseless killings and violence that we see young Muslims embarking upon. And these idiots, who blow themselves up in name of Allah, should forget about going to heaven. They are doing it for their own selfish desires and must forget about gaining the pleasure of Allah. They are vile murderers who will not taste the fragrance of heaven not to even talk of being blessed with 72 virgins.

Over the past years, we have seen a significant rise in the number of young Muslims being radicalised by so-called Islamic scholars and international criminals like Osama bin Laden and others. These young men are being fooled into blowing themselves and others up by fanatics who are themselves too scared of death.

Idiots and cowards like Bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri hiding some where in the caves of Afghanistan or Pakistan are tarnishing the name of Islam with their promotion of violence against people, who do not share the same faith or belief.

Every Muslim wants to go to heaven and if Bin Laden and his associates truly believe that blowing oneself up together with hundreds of infidels will lead to his admission in heaven, then what the hell are they doing in the darkness of a cave? Surely, the mountains of Afghanistan cannot be compared with heaven.

The Muslim community needs to take drastic actions by weeding out these criminals, who hide behind our peaceful religion to rain havoc on innocent people. Though they are our brothers in faith or blood, their bombs and bullets do not know who is a relative, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Sikh, American, British or Israeli.

Indiscriminate killing of people is not part of our noble religion and until we stand up to these idiots, our religion will continue to be associated with acts of barbarism like the one we saw in New York and now India.

I pray to Almighty Allah to bless the departed souls in His heavenly kingdom and grant a speedy recovery to the injured.

Rest in Peace my dear friends
The saying that death is a bad reaper that is always after the unripe fruit is indeed very true. In the past three months alone, I have lost three close friends of mine in the media.

First to depart this world was Abubacarr Sanyang, marketing manager of the Daily Observer. Mr Sanyang was a great friend of mine. Our friendship started in the summer of 2003, when he was hired by Sheriff Bojang as assistant marketing manager of the company.

Although we were working in different departments, Mr Sanyang and I had a very cordial working relationship and were often referred to as twins from another mother by the compositors in the computer room.

He was a hard working guy, who had the interest of the company at heart. Mr Sanyang was lovable, friendly and respectful. He had a good sense of humour and PR, which enabled him to attract many customers.

The Daily Observer was Mr Sanyang's second home. He would report to work at 8am and would in most cases clock out hours after his official closing time.

My relationship with Sanyang continued even after my sojourn to the UK. We spoke regularly on the phone and was devastated when I phone his cell phone a day after Korite and was told he passed away a day before.

My second friend to die was Ejatou Jallow alias EJ of the now closed Independent Newspaper. My friendship with EJ started in 2001 when she joined The Independent. She was like a sister to me and had shared by-lines on many stories like the treason trial of Dumo Sarho and co, the murder trial of the UDP leadership among others.

My friendship with EJ continued even when I quit The Independent for the Observer. We were always in touch on the phone and would always visit her anytime I went to Banjul. While I was covering the Baba Jobe economic crime trial, (then she was pursuing a diploma programme in law at the Gambia Technical Training Institute), she would often come to the High Court. We would have breakfast in the High Court café with Emile Touray of Foroyaa and talk about the Baba Jobe case and other criminal matters been presided over at the time by Justice Madabuchi Abuchi Paul.

Stop other reporters at the High Court from following us to the café, we would often lie to them that we were going to Justice Paul’s naming ceremony. But we got found out day by Surahata Danso of Foroyaa.

I have not spoken much with EJ when I came to the UK and was devastated when I was told last month by my friend in the US, Pa Ousman Darboe that she died a week before after a protracted illness.

While trying to come to term with the death of my two friends, it was shocking to hear the death of Habibou Ceesay. I knew Habibou since my days at The Independent and he worked under me at the Observer. He was a shy guy and does not talk much and his best mate was Madi Njie.

The two are always seen hanging at Modou’s shop, near the Observer and I would sometime have a drink with them and have a laugh.

The death of these three is a big blow to the Gambian media. I pray to Almighty to have mercy on their souls and grant them entry into His heavenly kingdom. Amen.