Tears of Love

When 56 year-old British widow, Janet Ordell of Blacksmiths Hill, Hertfordshire, married a Gambian 21 years her junior, never in her imagination did she ever thought that her already broken heart would be reaped into pieces by a man she loves so dearly and calls husband.

After nearly six years of marriage, which was characterised by cheating, lies and deception, Janet's heartless and gold digging Gambian husband has left her not only heart broken but with huge financial debt of £200,000.

Janet's story has already attracted headlines in British Magazines and below we reproduce her sad story. Pls read on.

"My husband of 23 years had died unexpectedly and I was left heartbroken. Time passed and eventually I met a man who made me feel alive again. He was good looking, charming and attentive and within days I was madly in love.

But things weren't straightforward. At 29, John Sarr was 21 years my junior. That was the first problem. The second problem was that he came from the Gambia and was in Britain on a student visa. My friends and family were worried and said: "You are making a mistake. He's only using you to stay in the country.

I told John and he said: "Ignore them. I will prove them all wrong."

SIx weeks after we met, we decided to get married. My mum, my sister and my youngest son refused to attend the wedding. I didn't let it ruin my day. As I gazed into my new husband's eyes, I had no doubts about our future.

Four happy months passed. Then John started planning a trip to see his family in the Gambia. "I will come with you. I would love to meet them," I told him. "You better not," he replied. "Its so hot. You won't feel comfortable."

I was hurt but I didn't let it show. Then he started going out with friends and coming home later and later. Soon he was disappearing for days at a time. When he eventually returned I'd ask: "Where have you been?"

"I don't like being asked so many questions," he'd reply. "I'm not going to be kept prisoner. I will do what I want."

I loved him so much and was frightened of losing him, so I put up with his bad behaviour. Three years into our marriage, he came to me and said: "My grand mother needs to repair her roof. I think we should remorgage your house." I couldn't bear to refuse John anything. I paid £25,000 into his bank and he boarded a plane to the Gambia.

When he returned, he showed me a video of the work he had done there. There was also a footage of his family celebrating a christening. "I paid for that too," he told me. "Oh right," I said.

In fact, it was my money that he used. But he seemed happy so I didn't mind. A few months later, he had another request. "I think I should buy some land in the Gambia. Why don't you remorgage the house again?" he asked. "I am not sure that's a good idea," I replied. He said:"I'm only thinking of our future Janet."

This would increase the repayments. But I reasoned that because John was over 20 years younger than I was, he would still be working when I retired. In later years he would be able to afford to look after us both.

He flew back to the Gambia and purchased an area of land. When he returned, he showed me the paperwork. "Why it is in your name?" I asked. "It's always in the man's name," he said, then changed the subject.

In time he asked me to remorgage the house for a third time. Reluctantly, I agreed to his suggestion. But my trust in him was beginning to wane. When he went off to the Gambia, I decided to do some investigating.

I found the keys to his car, unlocked the door and climbed inside. There were scraps of paper everywhere and when I looked at them, I began to cry. They were love notes and women's phone numbers. Then I found an open packet of condoms. All I could think of was how my family and friends had warned me.

When John returned, I confronted him. "I know what you've been doing. I found the condoms and the notes from your girlfriends in your car," I said. "Its your fault," he told me. "You always put your family first. You don't care about me."

I felt bemused. I'd done everything I could to show John how much I loved him. I went away for the weekend trying to clear my head. When I came back home, half my possessions were missing and John had disappeared too. We has been married for six year. I have ended up totally broke and owe £200,000. John has probably moved to his next victim by now. I wish I had listened to the people who really cared about me."

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

Gambians in UK celebrate Korite

by PK Jarju
The Gambian community in Yorkshire, United Kingdom, Tuesday joined their Muslim brothers in the county to celebrated the Muslim feast of Eidul Fitr, locally refered to as Korite.

The feast, which was to mark the end of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan, brought together Muslim men and women of different race and background.

In Wakefield town despite Tuesday being a working day in the country, the Gambian community gathered in Masjid Zakariyya, where the Eid prayers were conducted.

The Imam of the mosque, who spoke at length about the blessings of Ramadan and Eid quoted a hadith narrated by one of Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) uncles, Ibn Abbaas (RA). In the hadith, Ibn Abbaas (RA) said he heard the Prophet (SAW) say: "In the morning of Eid, Allah sends down the angels to all the lands of the earth where they take their positions at access points of roads, calling out with a voice that is heard by all except men and jinns.

"O ummah of Muhammad (SAW) come forth from your houses towards a Lord that is noble and gracious, Who grants much and pardons the major sins." When they proceed towards the praying ground for their Eid salah, Allah says to the Angels: "What is indeed the reward of that employee who had rendered his services?" The Angels replies: "O Lord and Master, it is only right that he should receive his reward in full for his services." Allah then says, "I call you to witness, O my Angels, that for their having fasted during the month of Ramadan, and for them having stood before me in Laylatul Qadr, I have granted to them as reward My pleasure and have granted to them forgiveness. O My servants ask now of Me, for I swear by My Honour and My Greatness, that whatsoever you shall beg of Me this day in this assembly, of yours for the needs of the Hearafter, I shall grant you; and whatsoever you shall ask for worldly needs, I shall look at you favourably. By My Honour, I swear, as long as you shall obey My commands, I shall cover your faults. By My Honour and My Greatness do I swear that I shall never disgrace you among the evil-doing ones and disbelievers. Depart now from here, you are forgiven. You have pleased me and I am pleased with you. The Angels on seeing this great reward bestowed by Allah upon the ummah of Muhammad (SAW) on the day of Eidul Fitr becomes greatly pleased and happy."

The Imam added that as Muslims, we should indeed be thankful to Almighty Allah for having blessed us with such a Holy month in which all the sins we have committed in the previous months are forgiven. He was however quick to caution Muslims not to go about committing sins with the hope of getting them redeemed in Ramadan.

He seized the opportunity to pray for peace, harmony and prosperity in the globe especially in the Muslim world.

At the end of the prayers, the Gambian community met outside the mosque for a photo session as well as to seek each other's forgiveness. They also prayed to Allah to grant them long life, happiness, progress and everything good that they wish for themselves.

Gambia ranked 158 in world corruption index

by PK Jarju

Transperancy International Tuesday released its annual global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and it was not surprising to see the Gambia being ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world.

The Gambia together with Burundi, Congo, Sierra Leone, Angola and Guinea Bissau, came 158th position, putting them rock bottom of the index ahead of only five African countries; Zimbabwe, DR Congo, Guinea,Chad,Sudan and Somalia.

Denmark came first as the least corrupt country followed by Sweden, New Zealand, Singapore, Finland and Switzerland.

Bostwana top the list of least corrupt countries in Africa coming in 35th position. It is followed by Mauritius in 41st position. Cape Verde Island and South Africa came 47th and 54th positions respectively. Other countries that came far ahead of the Gambia on the index include, Seychelles, Namibia,Tunisia,Ghana,Swaziland, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Senagal, Mali and even Nigeria, which was a couple of years ago named as the most corrupt country.

The score is based on perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts.

In a statement on its website, Transparency International stated that the index is based on perceptions of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories. It added that this year's Corruption Perceptions Index was calculated using data from 13 sources originated from 11 independent institutions. It added that all sources measure the overall extent of corruption (frequency and/or size of bribes) in the public and political sectors and all sources provide a ranking of countries, i.e., include an assessment of multiple countries.

"Evaluation of the extent of corruption in countries is done by country experts, non resident and residents. In the CPI 2008, this consists of the following sources: Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, Bertelsmann Transformation Index, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House, Global Insight and Merchant International Group. Additional sources are resident business leaders evaluating their own country; in the CPI 2008, this consists of the following sources: IMD, Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, and the World Economic Forum,” institution added.

Virtues of Ramadan

Abu Saed Khudri relates that Rasulullah (SAW) said, "Everyday and night in Ramadan Allah sets free a great number of souls from hell. And every Muslim during everyday and night there is a time when duaa is certainly accepted."

Apart from this hadith, there are many others stating that the duaa is accepted at the time of breaking the fast. Unfortunately at that time, we are so engrossed in eating food that we have no time for duaa, nor do we recall the duaa of breaking the fast is: O Allah for you I have fasted, in You do I believe, and on You do I rely and now I break this fast with food coming from you.

Abu Hurairah (RA) reports, Rasulullah (SAW) said: "There are three people whose duaas are not rejected, the fasting person until he breaks the fast, the just ruler and the duaas of the oppressed whose duaa Allah lifts above the clouds and opens unto it the doors of the heavens, and Allah says, I swear by my honour, verily I shall assist you even though it may be after some time."

In Durre Manthoor, it is reported from Aisha (RA) that when Ramadan arrived, the colour of Rasulullah's (SAW) face used to change. He then used to increase salaat, became even more humble in his duaas and had even more fear for Allah. According to another report, he (Rasulullah) hardly ever lay down in bed until Ramadan came to an end.

Further in a hadith, it is stated that the Angel bearing the throne are commanded in Ramadan to leave everything else and recite Ameen to duaa of those who fast. There are many hadiths stating that the duaas during Ramadan in particular are accepted. When Allah has promised and His truthful Prophet (SAW) has informed us, there should be no doubt whatsoever about the truth of these reports. Yet it is strange that in spite of this, we still find such people who apparently do not get what they make duaa for. They ask and do not receive. This does not mean that their duaas have been rejected. One should at this point understand the meaning of duaa being answered.

Rasulullah (SAW) informed us that when a Muslim makes duaa for anything from Allah, except for the severance of ties with relatives or for sinful thing then he definitely receives one of the following three things. Firstly, he gets the exact thing for which he made duaa.

Secondly, if that is not received, Allah either removes from his some great calamity in exchange for what he desired, or thirdly, the reward for the thing for which he made duaa is kept deposited for him in the Hereafter.

Another hadith states that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will call His servant, and say to him, "O My servant, I used to command you to ask of me I had promised to answer. Did you beg of me?" The servant will answer, "Yes I did." Then Allah shall reply, "You did not put forth any request which had not been accepted. You made duaa that a certain calamity should be removed, which I did for you in the worldly life. You made duaa that a certain sorrow should be case off you and the effect of that sorrow was even known to you. For that, I have fixed for you such and such a reward." Rasulullah (SAW) says, that person shall again be reminded of each and every duaa, and he shall be shown how it had been fulfilled in the world, or what reward had been stored for him in the Hereafter. When seeing that, he shall wish that not a single duaa of his have been answered on earth, so that he could receive the full reward only in the Hereafter.

Duaa is indeed very important and to neglect it at any time causes us great loss. Even when the outward signs seem to indicate that our duaa is not answered, courage should not be lost. Should Allah find that granting what we beseech of Him is beneficial, then He grants it, otherwise not. Actually, it is Allah's favour that we do not always get what we ask for, since very often, because of our lack of understanding, we beg of things which are not beneficial at a particular time.

Once again I must draw your attention to the fact that men as well as women suffer from a disease of cursing their children in their anger and sorrows. Be very careful. In the sight of Allah, there are certain times when whatever duaa is made it is immediately answered. So here due to our stupidity, the child is cursed and when the effect of that same duaa comes over the child and lands into calamity, the parents go crying and wailing from side to side not even realising that this is the result of their own curse. Rasulullah (SAW) commands us not to curse ourselves, our children, possessions, or servants.

It is just possible that this is the curse that is heard and answered at a time when all requests are granted, especially in Ramadan, which is filled with such special accepted moments. Hence in this month, great care should be taken. Omar (RA) reports from Rasulullah (SAW) "The one who remembers Allah during Ramadan is forgiven and the one who makes duaa to Allah is not forsaken."

Ibn Mas'ood (RA) reports that on every night of Ramadan a caller from the heavens calls out "O you seeker of good come, come near, O you seeker of evil, turn away (from evil) and open your eyes." Thereafter, that angel calls out, "Is there any seeker of forgiveness that he may be forgiven? Is there any one repenting so that his repentance shall be accepted? Is there anyone making duaa that his duaa may be granted? Is there anyone begging anything so that his plea may be fulfilled?"

Lastly, it should be borne in mind that there are certain conditions on which duaas are accepted. Among these is halal food. Where haram food is consumed, duaa is not accepted. Rasulullah (SAW) said, "Many a greatly troubled one in distress lifts up his hands to the heavens making a duaa, crying 'O Allah, O Allah.' However, the food he eats is haram, what he drinks is haram, his clothes are of haram amd in such cases, how can his duaa be accepted?"

A story is related about a group of people in Kufa whose duaa used to be always answered. Whenever a ruler was over them, they used to make duaa for a curse upon him which quickly came to destroy him. When Hajaaj became ruler there, he invited these people, among others, to a feast. After having eaten, he said: "Now I am not afraid of the duaa for curse upon me from these people because haram food has entered their stomachs."

At this stage, let us ponder over how much haram is being consumed in these times when people are even trying to make permissible the earnings of interest money. We find our people go so far as to think that bribery and what is obtained from it is permissible, while our traders very often, when deling with people, deceive them.
To be continued

Jammeh must explain

In our last weekend edition, we ran a story captioned: No ending to Baba Jobe's troubles, in which we revealed the connection between Baba Jobe, Yahya Jammeh's New Millennium Airline and the Gambia with blood diamonds and arms trafficking.

The story is a very serious one that should not be brushed under the carpet. The Gambian people need answers. They need to be told why their peaceful and God blessed country was used as a base for weapon's smugglers and mobsters. They also need to be told why such international criminal operations were given a free hand to conduct their activities by a regime that claims to be panAfricanist.

Jammeh cannot be exonerated. His aircraft, and former assistant secretary are indicted in this criminal dealings. He must have known something and the National Assembly should without delay investigate him. Our National Assembly Members have to wake up from their slumber. They should know that the Gambia is greater than Yahya Jammeh and her interest must always come first before Jammeh.

Jammeh is the owner of the New Millennium Airline, a Russian-made VIP presidential passenger jet, an Ilyushin IL-62 (C5-GNM) [Gambia] (formerly CCCP-86511 [USSR], RA-86511 [Russia], 3D-RTI [Swaziland], TL-ACL [Central African Republic]), which was formerly registered to Victor Anatoljevitch Bout, one of the world's biggest arms and blood diamonds dealers.

The relationship between Yahya Jammeh and Mr Bout did not stop at the purchase of the aircraft. It went further than that. Investigations shows that even thought the aircraft was reportedly sold to Jammeh, Mr Bout, a former Russian lieutenant, who has acquired the nicknames Merchant of Death and and Lord was still using it to peddle arms and blood diamond thereby supporting former President Taylor’s regime in effort to destabilise Sierra Leone and gain illicit access to diamonds.

Again, a UN Security Council report dated November 30, 2005, lists New Millennium Airline as having its address at the residence of President Jammeh: State House, Banjul, Gambia and that it have acted as a cover for Victor Bout's criminal operations.

Although the New Millennium Airline was said to be managed by Baba Jobe, (a Libyan trained terrorist), I cannot be convinced that Jammeh as owner of the company was not aware of its business dealings Mr Bout.

I am of the view that Baba Jobe was a mere go-between, who was used as a cover by Yahya Jammeh. Baba never got any financial gains from the said dealings? I have the firm believe that the New Millennium Airline, which was covering the criminal activities of Mr Bout is the only one that hugely benefitted from the lucrative business which must have generated millions of Dollars. Jammeh should prove me wrong by showing us the financial transactions of his infamous aircraft.

Secondly, Jammeh have often told the Gambian people that he made Baba Jobe what he was and that he (Jammeh) owned the money which Baba Jobe was spending on people.

Thirdly, the Youth Development Enterprise (YDE), which is again owned by Jammeh and managed by Baba Jobe was paying salaries of the crew and staff as well as maintenance of the New Millennium Airline. Some documents tendered in court by Baba Jobe's defense team during his economic crime trial show the YDE spending huge sums of money on the New Millennium under the directive of Jammeh.

Baba Jobe was a very loyal servant of Jammeh and his responsibilities as assistant secretary Office of the President was 'to help the government and President Jammeh directly' through his connections with the Arab world.

That connection show the coming to the Gambia of other gun running mafias, Samih Osailly and Aziz Nassour. The Lebanese cousins, who are currently serving time in a Belgian jail have between January and June 2001 used the New Millennium Airline as a transiting company for arms and blood diamond, which were used to support the evil and brutal regime of Charles Taylor. Again was Jammeh not aware of the business dealings of Mr Jobe and the two Lebanese? I don't think so.

And although the Gambia has never been a diamond producing country, yet it became a diamond-exporting nation. In 1998, Belgium recorded imports from Banjul of 449,000 carats valued at US$78.3 million, an average value of US$174 per carat. The volume howvere declined the following year to 206,000 carats, with an average per carat value of US$234. And up to mid August 2000, there was a more significant decline: 82,000 carats valued at US$17.6 million (US$214/ct).

Interestingly, when news of the diamond export was reported by The Independent Newspaper (now abitrarily closed down by Jammeh), the Jammeh regime as expected issued a bed time press release saying that the diamonds belongs to the Sarahules (Marakas).

What Jammeh failed to realised is that many Gambians knew that the diamond mines in Sierra Leone were at the time in the hands of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and that it was utter nonsense to suggest that the few Marakas people were able purchase and export diamonds valued at US$78.3 million to Belgium. To further discredit Jammeh, some Marakas people anonimously admitted to The Independent that they have never exported diamonds of such quantity to Belgium.

Its time for Jammeh to come clean before its too late.



Don't harass the bucthers

This Tuesday, while reading the Gambian papers, I came across a story published by the Daily Observer captioned: KMC Mayor reacts to buther's strike. The said strike action came in the wake of Dictator Yahya Jammeh's order for butchers in the country to reduce the price of meat.

In the story, Major Yankuba Colley was quoted as saying that he would not compromise the decision or orders issued by the Gambian leader, noting that anything the president had said was in the interest of the nation; that he would not compromise with anybody who wants to undermine the efforts of President Jammeh."

I found the above comments very interesting as it expose the ignorance of the Major Colley. How can Major Colley make such irresponsible comments? In this 21st Century, I still find it hard to believe that there still exist zombies like Major Colley, who are completely brainless and blind despite being blessed with tennis ball size eyes. But what do you expect when a square peg is inserted in a round hole?

Major Colley needs to know that Jammeh does not own the Gambia. Yes, he is the state of the country, but his duties and responsibilities as head of state are clearly spelt out in the constitution and it does not involve price regulation.

President Jammeh is trying to divert the attention of the public from the fact the high prices of commodity goods are a direct results of his government's poor econmic policies. Jammeh need to be honest to the Gambian people by admitting his failures.

While I understand the pain of the ordinary Gambian in being unable to buy meat, they should understand, that all businesses are geared towards making profit. Many of the cattle that are slaughtered in Jollof are bought from Senegal and Mali. And with the current inflation rate, it is very unfair to force buthers to sell meat at a cost where they cannot make any profit.We should also know that, these buthers are heavily taxed by the KMC. And rather than force them, Jammeh should have urged local councils to negotiate with them so as to resolve the issue. Issuing threats in public only portrays Jammeh as a bully and a tyrant who does not know how to run a country.

Jaarama Gainako

Congratulations to our colleagues at Gainako Newspaper on their second anniversary celebration. Since its establishment, Gainako has played a significant role in educating and highlighting issues affecting the Gambian people. Above all, the paper has given a voice to everyone.

Commentaries by Koto Ebrima Conteh, Omar Jallow among others are always interesting. Solo and Yahya Dampha are also doing a great job. Their stories helps to keep me and many Gambians abreast with current issues happening in Jollof. Keep up the good work. May Allah continue to shower His blessings on you all.


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

No ending to Baba Jobe's troubles

by PK Jarju



As if being jailed for economic crimes and having his assets frozen is not enough, Baba Kajally Jobe, former assistant secretary Office of the President and director of President Yahya Jammeh's New Millennium Airline, is still on the United Nations Security Council travel ban list.

In its latest travel ban list update in pursuant of resolution 1343 (2001) on Liberia, adopted on 7 March 2001, the Security Council still described Mr Jobe as an 'arms trafficker, who supported former President Charles Taylor’s regime in effort to destabilise Sierra Leone and gain illicit access to diamonds.'

It urged all states to take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of Mr Jobe and 58 others, who constitute a threat to the peace process in Liberia, or who are engaged in activities aimed at undermining peace and stability in Liberia and the sub-region, including those senior members of former President Charles Taylor’s Government and their spouses and members of Liberia’s former armed forces who retain links to former President Charles Taylor, and any other individuals, or individuals associated with entities, providing financial or military support to armed rebel groups in Liberia or in countries in the region.

Mr Jobe, 49, who was majority leader and National Assembly Member for Jarra West, was said to have conspired with others to run an arms smuggling ring in contravention of UN Security Council resolution 1343. And in between January and June 2001, Mr Jobe and the New Millennium Airline were said to have been used as transiting companies for illegal weapons handled by gun running mafias, Samih Osailly and Aziz Nassour who were jailed in Antwerp, Belgium for illegal diamond smuggling and weapons purchases.

Mr Osailly and Nassour, who are cousins from Lebanon, were also reported to have sold blood diamonds and indirectly or directly supported the Taylor regime. Baba Jobe is also said to have according to a commercial aviation database, use the New Millennium Airline, a Russian-made passenger jet acquired from Centrafrican Airlines, to cover the operations of, Victor Anatoljevitch Bout, one of the world's biggest arms dealers.

A former Russian lieutenant, who has acquired the nicknames Merchant of Death and Lord of War, Mr Bout use to fly his ancient Soviet planes into battlefields from Liberia to Afghanistan and some of his clients are said to include the Taliban and African warlords. He is said to have transported weapons and minerals in contravention of UN Security Council resolution 1343, and have supported former President Taylor’s regime in effort to destabilise Sierra Leone and gain illicit access to diamonds. The travel ban on Baba Jobe and others first came into effect on June 4, 2001.

The Gambia Government reacted angrily to the news and accused the UN of trying to smear the name of the country. Under the directives of President Jammeh, Momodou Lamin Sedat Jobe, Foreign Affairs Secretary at the time, on June 27, 2001, wrote a protest letter [reference number S/2001/704] to Kishore Mahbubani, chairman of the Security Council Committee established in pursuant to resolution 1343 (2001) concerning Liberia.

In the letter, Secretary of State Jobe said: "I refer to your communications of 7 June 2001, conveying the content of resolution 1343 (2001), and 4 June 2001, addressed to the Permanent Representative of the Gambia [Babucarr Blaise Jagne].

Following the release of the report of the Security Council Panel of Experts on Sierra Leone Diamonds and Arms, the Government of the Gambia, through its Permanent Representative in New York, addressed a letter on 23 January 2001 to you, inviting the Panel of Experts to visit the Gambia before the Security Council considered the report.

I am therefore surprised that, despite the fact that no reaction to my Government’s request was forthcoming from you and without any pre-information or request for clarification from the Gambia, when the subject of sanctions on Liberia was being discussed, a Gambian national, Baba Jobe, has been included in the list of Liberian nationals affected by the Security Council travel ban. I am even more amazed by the fact that the mention of Mr Jobe’s name on the list was accompanied neither by an indication of his passport number nor his date of birth, as is the case with the other persons affected by the sanction.

Following informal enquiries with the sanctions Committee, my Representative at the United Nations was informed that the inclusion of Mr Jobe’s name on the list was a result of a request from the French, British and United States Governments. Consequently a formal request was sent to you, demanding the details surrounding such a serious allegation which the Government of the Gambia definitely cannot treat lightly, if it is corroborated with evidence.

Having waited for almost four weeks for your response, we have taken it upon ourselves to inform the Gambian public that we believe that the decision to include a Gambian on the list was a well-calculated move and is prejudicial to my country, which despite its size has been playing a major role in the quest for peace and stability in the West African sub-region beyond. Furthermore, my Department of State has decided to inform the international community about the very undemocratic, illegal and non-transparent manner in which the Security Council handled this matter.

The Government of the Gambia is aggrieved by the fact that a decision of such magnitude has been taken without any research and consultations with the country affected. It must be noted that situations like this one will, sooner rather than later, undermine the moral authority of the sanctions Committee. When I consulted with the British, French and American Missions in the Gambia, they did not seem to know about the origin of the inclusion of the Gambian national. This can hardly be an illustration of the high standard of justice and equity that is expected of the Committee in passing judgement on Member States and their citizens. It is my belief that the inclusion of the Gambian national in the list is an error which is of great prejudice to the individual and the prestige of the Gambia as a country.

Let me draw your attention to the fact that the Gambia, as a signatory to the ECOWAS Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa, signed in 1998, is the only State that has not so far requested a waiver of the Moratorium in order to import or export arms. The Gambian President, Alhaji Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, has even gone beyond that and informed Member States parties to the agreement very clearly that, if they continue to request waivers, there would be no raison d’être for the Moratorium.

Against this background, therefore, describing a Gambian official as an arms trafficker is not only a very serious matter but a case that has to be followed up, so that the Gambian public can have all the details necessary for a better understanding of the matter.

It is our belief that this accusation is unfounded, because if it were true the matter would have been treated more professionally and we would have received a detailed communication from the Committee prior to the publication of the list. If the foregoing is confirmed the sanctions Committee must convince the whole world that it is fair and respectable and has the courage of recognising its mistakes when they do occur, especially when they tarnish the international reputation of a State Member of the United Nations which gave invaluable service to the Security Council during the two years that it served as one of its non-permanent members."

After a series of correspondence with the UN, the Gambia Government flatly refused to accept the Security Council's indictment of Mr Jobe. It also refused to comply with UN Resolution 1521 which urged all states to freeze without delay funds, other financial assets and economic resources owned or controlled by Baba Jobe and others.

However on March 26, 2004, the Jammeh decided to freeze Mr Jobe's assets two days before he received an 8 year prison sentence for economic crimes.

Although the Security Council has not mentioned President Yahya Jammeh in its report, there are many questions being asked by ordinary Gambians on whether Baba Jobe did actually embarked on such adventures without the knowledge of the airline owner, the President. And if Jammeh indeed knew about the transactions, how much money was generated?

RAMADAN SPECIAL

Virtues of Ramadan
by Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kaandhawi

Salman (RA) reports that " On the last day of Shabaan, Rasulullah (SAW) addressed us and said, 'O people there comes over to you a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than a 1000 months. It is a month in which Allah has made fating compulsory by day. And has made sunnah the Taraaweeh (Nafilo as in Mandika) by night. Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had perform fardh in any other time. And whoever performs a fardh shall be blessed with the reward of 70 faraa-idh in any other time.

This is indeed the month of patience, and the reward for true patience is paradise. It is the month of sympathy with one's fellowmen. It is the month wherein a true believer's sustenance is increased. Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast (at sunset), for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of hell, and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who who fasted (who he fed) without that person's reward being decreased in the least."

Thereupon we said, "O Messenger of Allah, not all of us possess the means whereby we can give a fasting person to break his fast." Rasulullah (SAW) replied, "Allah grants the same reward to one who gives a fasting person to break the fast a mere date, or drink of water or a sip of milk."

"This is a month, the first of which brings Allah's mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the fire of hell. Whosoever lessens the burden of his servants in this month, Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of hell. And in this month, four things you should continue to perform in great number, two of which shall be to please your Lord, while the other two shall be those without which you cannot do. Those which shall be to please your Lord, are that you should in great quantity bear witness that there is no diety to worship except Allah (i.e. recite the Kalimah Laa Ilaaha Illallah) and make must Istighfaar (beg Allah's forgiveness with Astaghfirulaah). And as for those without which you cannot do, you should beg of Allah enterance into paradise and ask refuge in Him from hell."

"And whoever gave a person who fasted water to drink, Allah shall grant that giver to drink from My fountain, such a drink whereafter that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters paradise."

Abu Hurayrah (RA) relates that Rasulullah (SAW) said "My ummah were given five things for Ramadan which were not given to anyone except them. For them the smell from the mouth of a fasting person is more sweater to Allah than the fragrant smell of musk. On their behalf, the fish in the sea seek forgiveness for the fasting persons until the break their fast. Allah prepares and decorates a special garden in paradise everyday and then says (to it), "The time is near when the faithful servants shall cast aside the great trials of the world and come to you." In this month (for them) evil-minded Shaytaan is chained so as not to reach unto those evils to which they normally reach during other months besides Ramadan. On the last night of Ramadan they are forgiven."

The Sahaabah (RA) thereupon enquired, "O messenger of Allah, is that last night Laylatul Qadr? Rasulullah (SAW) replied, "No. But it is only right that a servant should be given his reward on having complete his service."

Ubaadah bin Saamit (RA) reported that Rasulullah (SAW) one day said when Ramadan had drawn near, "Ramadan, the month of blessing has come to you, wherein Allah turns towards you and sends down to you His special mercy, forgives faults, accept prayers, looks at your competitions for the greatest good and boasts to His angels about you. So show Allah your righteousness from yourselves. For verily the most pitable and unfortunate one is the one who is deprived of Allah's mercy in this month."

Abu Saed Khudri relates that Rasulullah (SAW) said, "Everyday and night in Ramadan Allah sets free a great number of souls from hell. And every Muslim during everyday abd night there is a time when duaa is certainly accepted.

To be continued

While I was away

by PK Jarju

I swear by Allah that you people cannot attain salvation, unless you prevent the tyrants from tyranny and invite them to truth and justice.....Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

My dear readers and fans, over the past weeks, I took a break from writing to embark on a tour of Britain with some friends from Bolton, Preston and Leeds. The tour, which took us to many major towns and cities was a memorable one and I will always cherish the wonderful times I had with my colleagues and indeed, the lovely British people we met. I say thanks to everyone who have supported us in one way or the other during the tour. Special thanks to my missus and son, for reluctantly letting me embark on the tour.

While I was away, I received many emails from some concern friends and Gambians for that matter, making all sort of enquiries regarding my long absence on the pages of Allgambian and Freedom Newspaper. And of course, Dida Halake's respond to one of my piece entitled, Nakam Nak Dida?

I found the mail to be interesting and I commend Dida Halake for taking the time to respond to me. However, against the advise of my associates and family, I have decided to straighten the record on some of the issues raised by Halake. As a journalist who was taught by respectable men like Baba Galleh Jallow, Yorro Jallow, DA Jawo, Abdoulie Sey, Pascal Eze, Ndey Tapha Sosseh and Sheriff Bojang Senior to write nothing but the truth, I don't mind people disagreeing with me on what I say or write. But what I cannot stomach is men and women, who spread lies about people in their bid to score points.

It is true that like many Gambians, I supported the AFPRC/APRC and was a friend of Mr. Halake. Well, I still see Mr. Halake as a friend and that was why I was among the first Gambians to congratulate him when he was made managing director of the Observer. However, my friendship with Mr. Halake turned sour when I broke the culture of fear and decided to speak out against the brutalities of the Jammeh regime, its lack of respect to the rights and freedom of the people and its lack of interest in the welfare of Gambians.

Was I surprise that many of my relatives and friends like Dida have turned their backs on me for being a critic of Yahya Jammeh? No. Do I care? Hell no. This was something I expected as I have seen them do to others in the past. For them, any one who disagrees with Yahya Jammeh is confused, mad, anti-development and deserves to rot in hell.

Mr. Halake can go about telling anyone who cares about what a progressive leader he thinks Yahya Jammeh is. But no matter how much he tries, he can never change Jammeh's record as a corrupt, selfish and bloody dictator, whose hands are dripping with the blood of many young Gambians

In fact, I would have loved to engage Mr. Halake in a debate regarding the situation in Jollof if he was Gambian. But the fact that he is a non-Gambian, who has flown back to the UK after his disgraceful exit from the Observer has vindicated my earlier comments about his likes.

Yahya Jammeh and I are both from the same tribe and division and like many of my tribal men, I would have been living large today at the expense of the Gambian tax payers if I were singing the praises of the regime. But as a person who loves the Gambia and believes in democracy and respect to the rights and freedom of the people, my conscience wouldn't allow me to continue identifying myself with a regime that has brought nothing meaningful but poverty and hardships to the ordinary Gambians. As a parent, I am ashamed to have called myself an APRC supporter- a party whose leadership have made many parents childless, wives widows and children orphans.

Dida Halake can call it whatever he wants but as far as I am concern, there is no democracy in the Gambia. What we have in the Gambia is Jammehcracy, which can be best defined as government of Yahya Jammeh, by Yahya Jammeh and for Yahya Jammeh. And I cannot support a regime that have no respect to the rule of law. Jammeh regard himself as god and wants everyone to worship him. My conscience cannot allow me to ignore the brutality and sufferings that the Gambian people are going through in the hands of the false Messiah.

The Jammeh regime has lost its sense of direction and it can be likened to a ship in the middle of the ocean that has suffered a general power failure. The Gambian leadership is sinking believe me or not. The once formidable structure is splitting apart and it is using force and money to cling on to power.

The regime of Mr Jammeh has committed gross human rights abuses against innocent Gambians it has sworn to protect. Utter disregard for the rule of law and democracy have led to a situation of uncertainty. A torrent of arrests and sudden disappearances have left Gambians today more confused by the uncertain direction of a revolution which is supposedly guided by Mr Jammeh in his "wisdom and magnanimity as the saviour of the Gambia".

Jammeh came to power not to salvage the Gambian people but to fulfil his long term ambition of becoming the most powerful and wealthy Gambian. Jammeh has hijacked the country and is ruining the hopes and aspirations of the Gambian people. He is tearing our country to shreds and has seized the rights and freedoms of Gambians. He has transformed our God blessed country from a cheerful to sorry state. And as our noble Prophet (SAW) has commanded us 'to restrain tyrants from tryranny and invite them towards truth and justice', I see it as my responsibility and indeed that of every Gambian to stand up and oppose vicious tyrants like Jammeh.

The Jammeh regime has failed to live up to its slogan of accountability, transparency and probity. It has become unaccountable, nontransparent and unable to get rid of the ills it claimed were riffed in the previous Jawara regime. This regime is worse than the Jawara regime and the once happy people of the Gambia are today living in a sad and miserable society; where a greater percentage cannot even afford to acquire a decent meal for the day. In other words, the revolution has brought nothing meaningful but retrogression, hardship, and endless suffering to the Gambian people.

What can be described as bad under the erstwhile Jawara regime is at its worst state today. Corruption is at its highest with the president and his cronies hijacking the country's economy which is squandered and diverted into personal use. The president and his associates, who were nowhere near the rich ladder before coming to power, are today the richest and most wealthy people in the country.

While I am happy that the sedition case against Mr. Halake has been withdrawn by the state, yet his arrest and 12 days detention exposes the Jammeh regime's lack of respect to the rights of Gambians and non-Gambians alike in the country. The fact that he was held beyond the legal 72 hours for allegedly uttering seditious words and giving false information to a public officer, contrary to the laws of the Gambia shortly after his sacking as Observer MD, shows the unfair treatment being meted out to people who fall out with the Jammeh administration. That is what I am against.

Many a time, we have seen many Gambians being arrested and detained incommunicado at the the Mile Two Prisons and NIA headquarters for months or years without even being told the reason for their arrest.Take the case of Kanjiba Kanyi and others as an example. What about the extra judicial killings of Daba Marena and co, Lt Almamo Manneh, Corporal Momodou Dumbuya, the student demonstrators, the gruesome murder of Deyda Hydara among others? Dida may ignore such henious crimes because he is a non-Gambian, but I cannot turn a blind eye. Though I am a powerless man, I will refuse to accept the situation as it is and will strive to make the situation better.

Dida Halake was not being honest at all when he said I dithered whether to become a critic of the Jammeh regime. I started this very column in 2006 to highlight the situation in the Gambia. This of course was a hard pill for Dida to swallow and the phone call he refered to in his mail was the last time we spoke during which he unsuccessfully tried to persuade me to stop criticising the regime.

Regarding my call sometime last year for the removal of Jammeh, I will reiterate it here that I don't have any regrets for making such calls. This is because the July 22nd revolution was not brought about to alleviate the suffering of Gambian people. It was conducted by a group of unpatriotic, selfish, greedy, and power hungry soldiers who were only interested in becoming wealthy and powerful. They have become so intoxicated with power and do not intend to exit the corridors of power despite the deleterious effect their rule is having on the lives of the people. The removal of Jammeh today will be far more justifiable than the 1994 coup.

What Dida need to understand is that the Gambian people are fed up with Jammeh. They are tired of waking up everyday and see their president getting fatter and fatter at their expense while they suffer with starvation. They are sick of being unable to meet the rising costs of living while the president and his associates diverts their taxes to fund their flamboyant life styles. They are tired of being cruelly held to ransome by a president who claim to be championing their cause.

Mr. Halake can call his short stint at the Observer as a success, but anyone who has seen or worked at the Observer under Mr. Best and Sheriff Bojang will disagree. Where is the success story when the Observer served as a mouth piece of the dictatorship instead of being a voice of the people? Where was the success when Dida Halake use his editorials to blast decent Gambians whose only crime is to oppose the brutal regime of Mr Jammeh?

Finally, I would like Dida to know that as a Gambian who was born in the provences, I have travelled all over the Gambia from Kartong to Koina not once but five times and can name you the names of villages and towns from Banjul to Koina and Barra to Sandu. And although am not in the Gambia physically, I am always in touch with Gambians back home especially those in the provinces a greater percentage of whom are living on less than 50 pence a day and are finding it very difficult to even put food on the table.These people have been failed by the regime.

Mr. Halake, the Gambia under Jammeh is not developing. Development should not be measure by the number of roads and schools being built by Jammeh. It should rather be measured by how well off the people are. Where is the development when people cannot afford to put decent food on the table? Where is the development when the government cannot provide employment opportunities to the thousands of Gambians who graduate from school annually? Where is the development when people are continuing to die from preventable diseases like malaria? Where is the development when our hospitals cannot even conduct simple life saving operations? Where is the development when many had working and promising Gambians are being fired from their jobs for criticising Mr. Jammeh? Where is the development when the infant mortality rate is still high and pregnant women continue to go to hospitals on horse and donkey cartes? This is not what is development.

Mr. Halake, the pages of Allgambian are always open for you despite the fact that we disagree on issues pertaining to the development of the Gambia. And now that you are back in the UK, am wishing you the very best in life.
I rest my case. Peace.

For Comments Pls write to papak196@yahoo.co.uk or info@allgambian.net

68 ministers in 14 years

When one takes a serious look at the July 22 military coup that brought President Yahya Jammeh and his AFPRC/APRC government to power, one would no doubt see that the regime has completely lost its bearings and is just going round and round in circle.

The revolution, which I have always described as illegal and criminal, has eroded our basic civil liberties, including the right to freedom of speech, assembly and movement. The much talk about revolution has failed woefully. The revolution was supposed to change the country for the better as well as improve the living conditions of the ordinary Gambian. Instead, it has made us poorer and poorer.

The Jammeh regime has hijacked the country and is ruining the hopes and aspirations of the Gambian people. It is tearing our country to shreds. It has brought nothing meaningful but suffering, hardship, starvation and retrogression. The level of poverty is increasing by the day with a large number of Gambians finding it hard to meet the rising cost of living. And while the population struggle everyday to afford their three square meals, the president has millions of Dalasis to waste on cultural festivals. The president, who was no where near the property ladder before the coup is today richer than a king and with a salary of less than £800, he boast of fleets of cars, an aircraft, oversea bank accounts and properties in and outside the country. During his annual meet the people's tour, he could be openly seen dishing out packets of money to school children and village elders. He has even admitted that he has enough amount of money which cannot be exhausted even by his great grand children.

The July 22 military coup cannot be described as a revolution. It was not designed to improve the living conditions of Gambians. The coup was not also conducted to make the country a better place to live for Gambians and non Gambians. Instead it was fashioned to fulfill the long term ambitions of some power hungry and money grapping soldiers, who does not have the interest of Gambians at heart.

The regime has a pointless leadership that does not have the slightest idea of how to govern a country. The leadership is more confused than ever and the current situation in the country can only be described as sad and sorry.

Bribery, corruption, favouritism and nepotism is the order of the day and the country's finance is being blundered reckless by the chosen few in power. Development is politicised and many of the development projects have failed to improve the conditions of the local people.

There is no job security when you work for Jammeh. Since 22 July 1994, President Yahya Jammeh has hired 68 cabinet ministers and fired 60 without telling the Gambian people why. This frequent hiring and firing has left Gambians wondering what direction the revolution is taking. And as he is about to celebrate his 14th year in power, Allgambian hereby produce a list of men and women who have occupied various ministerial positions in the Jammeh regime since July 1994.

Mass Axi Gai
Angela Colley
Kanja Sanneh
Neneh Macdoual-Gaye
Therese Ndong-Jatta (resigned)
Maba Jobe (before even taking office)
Momodou Lamin Sedat Jobe (resigned)
Joseph Henry Joof (resigned)
Satang Jow (retired)
Yankuba Kassama
Margaret Keita
Ousman Badjie
Samba Bah
Lamin Kaba Bajo (re-instated, again fired)
Musa Bittaye
Amie Bensouda
Fatou Bom Bensouda
John P. Bojang
Momodou Bojang
Nyimasata Sanneh
Bojang Mamat Cham
Ebrima Ceesay
Momodou Nai Ceesay
Ousman Koro Ceesay (killed)
Sulayman Massaneh Ceesay
Bakary Bunja Dabo
Fasainey Dumbuya
Samba Faal
Omar Faye
Sadibou Haidara
Sheikh Tijan Hydara (re-instated, again fired)
Blaise Jagne
Balla Garba Jahumpa (re-instated, again fired)
Momodou Sarjo Jallow
Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh
Manlafi Jarju
Tamsir Mbowe
Dominic Mendy
Alieu Ngum
Bakary Njie
Omar Njie
Susan Waffa-Ogoo
Hawa Sisay Sabally
Sana Sabally
Abdoulie Sallah (re-instated, fired)
Hassan Sallah
Momodou Sallah
Sidy Morro Sanneh
Kebba Sanyang (re-instated, again fired)
Samsudeen Sarr
Cheyassin Secka
Musa Sillah
Edward Singhatey
Raymond Sock
Amina Faal Sonko
Baboucarr Jatta
Famara Jatta
Kumba Ceesay-Marenah
Mustapha Marong
Fafa Mbai
Musa Mbenga
Sulayman Mboob
Bolong Sonko
Bai Mass Taal
Fatoumatta Tambajang
Bemba Tambedou
Yankuba Touray (fired and re-instated)
Crispin Grey Johnson (fired and re-instated)

Wahtani Ajuma: Salat and its virtues

Abu Muslim narrates: I went to see Abu Umamah (RA) while he was in masjid. I asked him if he had really heard the Holy Prophet (SAW) saying, "when a person performs abulution with right performance and then say his fard salat, Allaf forgives him all the sins committed that day by his feet going towards evil, by his hands in doing evil, by his ears in listening to evil, by his eyes in looking at evil and by his heart of thinking of evil. He replied, 'By Allah, I have heard these words from the oly Prophet (SAW) again and again."

Many of the companions have narrated this hadith with slight variations. In a narration by Usman (RA), the Holy Prophet (SAW) is reported to have warned against being wrong-headed in committing sins in the hope of them redeemed through salat.

We have really no ground to behave as such on this account. After all, what is the quality of salat that we offer? If Allah merely absolves us of our obligation it is His very special favour and grace. Again it is te height of ingratitude to disobey Allah just because He is clement, Merciful and Forgiving.

Ibne Masud (RA) narrates that he heard the Holy Prophet (SAW) saying: "At the approach of of hour of salat, an Angel is deputed to proclaim, 'Arise, O children of Adam and extinguish the fire that you (have by committing sins) kindled to burn yourselfs. So the people rise up, perform abulution and offer their zuhr prayer. This causes forgiveness their sins committed since day-break. The same is repeated at Asr, Maghrib and Isha. After Isha people go to bed, but there are some who busy themselves in good, while there are others in evil deeds.

Salman (RA) says:"After Isha, the people get devided into three groups. There are some for whom the night is a source of blessing nd gain. They are those who spend it in the worship of Allah, while other people are asleep. For them the night brings great reward from their Lord. There are others who turn the night into a burden and curse for themselves, for they are involve in various dark deeds in the dead of night. To them, the night brings woe and misery. There is the third group of people who go to sleep immeadiately after Isha; they neither gain nor lose"

Abu Qatadah bin Rabi (RA) says heard the Holy Prophet (SAW) saying:" Allah has said, "O, Muhammad! I have ordained five times daily prayers to thy followers. I have made a covenant with Myself that whosoever is regular in performing his prayer at its fixed hour, he shall be admitted into the paradise. Those of thy followers who do not guard their prayer, are not included in this covenant."

In another hadith, it is said that Allah has ordained five times prayers and whosoever is mindful of is prayer by doing abuluton properly and by praying at fixed hours with sincerity and devotion, is assured by Allah of his entry to paradise; and whosoever does not guard his prayers, there is no such guarantee for him; he may- or may not be forgiven. Salat is indeed a tremendous value. It affords us an opportunity to receive Allah's guarantee for paradise. When an executive power gives us guarantee or stands surety for meeting any of our requirements of this world, we feel quite satisfied and happy and we consider it our duty to obliged and devoted to him. Here Allah, the Absolute Sovereign of both the worlds is giving guarantee and is standing surety for the real success after death in return for five times daily prayers, which does not involve much effort on our part. If even then we do not avail of the opportunity, we shall have none to blame but ourselves for the dreadful doom that awaits us.

Warning and reproach for neglecting salat

There are a number of hadiths on the subject. On one occassion, the Holy Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said: "Hurry up with your salat when it cloudy (less you should err and miss the correct time) for discard of salat is to become a Kafir (unbeliever). What a stern warning against even missing the correct time of salat, as according to this quotation, to miss the correct time of salat is to discard it.

Although according to the interpretation of Ulama, the verdict of unbeliever is given against a person only when he rejects (and not simply neglects) salat, yet the words of the Prophet (SAW) occuring in these hadith should be very weighty for those who have any regard for him. It may, however , be noted that some of the very important companions of the Prophet (SAW) like Umar, Abdullah bin Masud, Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) etc and eminent jurists like Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ishaq bin Rahwiah, Ibne Mubarak (RA) etc are definitely of the opnion that the verdict of Kufr (unbeliever) can be given against the person intentionally discards his salat. May Allah save us!

Ubadah bin Samit (RA) narrates: My dear friend, the Prophet (SAW) while enjoining upon me seven good practices said, "Do not ascribe anything as partner to Allah, though you may be cut into pieces or burnt alive or crucified; do not forego salat, lest you should get out of the fold of Islam, do not perpetrate disobedience of Allah, lest you deserve His wrath; and do not take to drinking, for that is the mother of all evil.

It is said in a hadith that Allah bestows five favours on a person who is mindful of his prayers, viz: His daily bread s made easy for him, he saved from the punishment of the grave, he shall receive his book of deeds in his right hand on the Day of Judgement, he shall cross siraat with speed of lightning and he shall enter paradise without reckoning. As for he who neglects his salat, he shall meet five times of pusnishment in this world, three at the time of death, three in the grave and three after resurrection.

Those in the world are: he is not blessed life; he is deprived of the light with which the faces of the righteous are endowed, he receives no rewards for his good practices, his prayers are not answered; and he has no shar in the prayers of the pious.

Those at the time of death are: he dies disgracefully, he dies hungry, he dies in thirst which the water in the oceans of the world cannot quench.

Those in the grave are: he is so queezed there that the ribs of one side get into the ribs of the other side, fire is burnt inside for him and he is rolled on cinders day and night; a serpent with fiery eyes and iron nails equal in lenght to a day's journey is let loose on him and shouts with a thundering voice, 'My Lord has charged me with thrashing you till sunrise for neglecting Fajr, till Asr for neglecting Zuhr, till sunset for neglecting Asr, till Isha for neglecting Maghrib and till dawn for neglecting Isha.' The serpent will keep thrashing him till the Last Day. Each blow pushes him to a dept of seventy arms lenght. The punishment will last till the Day of Judgement.

Those after resurrection are: his reckoning will be a hard one; Allah will be angry with him; and he will be thrown into the fire. According to one report, he will have the following three lines written on his forehead:

'O you who neglected Allah's duty'
'O you who has deserved Allah's wrath'
'Now despair of Allah's mercy, as you neglected your duty to Allah'

It is also stated in a hadith that there wil be three courts to be held by Allah on the Day of Judgement. The first will judge between Kufr and Islam and there will be no pardon. The second will be to judge the conduct and duties of one towards another. All aggrieved shall be compensated there; compensation will either be realised from the aggressor or paid by Allah Himself if he pleases to pardon anybody. The third deal with duties towards Allah. Here, the doors of Allah's mercy will be thrown wide open and He shall pardon anybody He wills. In the light of all that has been said above, it must be clearly understood that we deserve the punishment that has been laid down for our commission of sins, but the All-embracing Mercy of Alah overrides everything and knows no bounds.
To be continued.

GPU demands Chief Manneh's release

by PK Jarju

The Gambia Press Union has called on the government of President Yahya Jammeh to respect the verdict of the Ecowas court and release Chief Ebrima Manneh, Crime reporter of the Daily Observer, who has been languishing in detention since his arrest on July 7, 2006, by two NIA officers.

In a strongly worded letter to the Jammeh regime, the press union said the immediate release of Mr Manneh, 30, and the payment of compensation to him as contained in the verdict of the Ecowas court, will pave the way for an end to impunity and the restoration of public confidence especially of the private media.

The press union noted that "democracy cannot prevail and development remains unattainable without the participation of an independent, free and pluralistic press. The media has a crucial role to play in the good governance of democratic societies, by ensuring transparency and accountability, promoting participation and the rule of law, and contributing to the fight against poverty."

It added that the media, as a partner in development can bring about behaviour change and social mobilisation for effective and sustainable development through the dissemination of information that is crucial for the life and development of communities.

Below we reproduce the full text of the statement.

Today, June 7th, 2008 marks two years since the "disappearance" of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a journalist at the Daily Observer Newspaper.

Despite several efforts by the Gambia Press Union, the media establishments and family members to trace his whereabouts the end of his disappearance is still not in sight. The Media Foundation for West Africa eventually took up the matter for his release before the Ecowas Court.

Following a year long protracted court case in which the Government of The Gambia was served many notices and five security officials subpoenaed to appear before the Courts, Chief Manneh continued to languish in detention without any attempt by the state to conduct any investigation or appear before the Ecowas Court to clear any doubts.

Relying on uncontroverted testimonies given by witnesses, the Ecowas Court maintains that in July 2006, Chief Ebrima Manneh was picked up by plain clothes security officials at his place of work, the Daily Observer.

The Ecowas Court has ordered for his immediate release and has awarded him compensation amounting to US$100,000

Today, as everyday, the Gambia Press Union wishes to call the attention of the government in particular and the public at large, to the decisions of the court. We take this opportunity to call on the State to heed to the order of the ECOWAS Court for the immediate release of Chief Ebrima Manneh and to further compensate him with US$100,000. Such actions will pave the way for an end to impunity and the restoration of public confidence especially of the private media.

We wish to point out that democracy cannot prevail and development remains unattainable without the participation of an independent, free and pluralistic press. The media has a crucial role to play in the good governance of democratic societies, by ensuring transparency and accountability, promoting participation and the rule of law, and contributing to the fight against poverty.

The media, as a partner in development can bring about behaviour change and social mobilisation for effective and sustainable development through the dissemination of information that is crucial for the life and development of communities.

Africa disgraced

by Ayman El-Amir*

After three days of hand wringing and inconclusive backroom consultations, the leaders of the African Union (AU) left the Zimbabwean presidential crisis unresolved. It all began when Robert Mugabe re-elected himself president of Zimbabwe for a sixth term in a one- man election runoff that left the world in shock and outrage. Before the election, nearly five million Zimbabweans had fled the country out of starvation or to avoid the prospect of being bludgeoned by Mugabe's thugs -- code-named war veterans -- for supporting the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Those who remained behind were bullied into marching to polling stations to re-elect the man who ruined what was once one of Africa's most prosperous and most promising newly independent countries.

Mugabe's opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, whose MDC party won the parliamentary elections a month ago, fearing for his life, took refugee in the Dutch embassy until the election was over, calling it "an exercise in mass intimidation". The UN Security Council condemned the violence and murder committed against the opposition by Mugabe's government and Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon first called for the postponement of the runoff and later declared that the results "do not represent the will of the Zimbabwean people". While Mugabe won the elections by what his Electoral Commission called a majority, the UN Security Council is considering sanctions against him and his government. He may have gotten away with election fraud for the time being, but Africa has lost its grace.

Despite the controversy, Mugabe arrived in Cairo and was received with the full honours of a legitimate head of state to participate in the AU's summit meeting in the lavish seaside resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. Most influential African leaders hid behind the cloak of calling Zimbabwe's sham election runoff an "internal affair", or muttered half-hearted statements of regret. But more outspoken participants considered that the elections "did not meet the standards of the African Union" while UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha Rosa Migirio called for the election of Mugabe to be suspended until he allowed the AU to organise free and fair elections.

By allowing his participation in the summit, the AU bestowed legitimacy on President Mugabe's charade. Egypt, the host, could have rallied a consensus that would have forced Mugabe to absent himself from the summit until the situation in his country was resolved in a democratic manner. But by participating in the meeting, Mugabe rubbed his fraudulent re-election into the nose of every participating African leader. As they already have their plates full with intractable problems, African leaders found the Kenyan model of hijacking a presidential election and compensating the opposition with some cabinet posts as a safe exit, despite the strong opposition of Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga, himself the victim of a stolen election. Odinga called for the suspension of Mugabe from the AU. Whether this compromise will satisfy the MDC and the rest of the world is a difficult bet. Whatever the outcome, it is unlikely to cleanse Africa's tarnished image or calm international outrage and the threat of sanctions against impoverished Zimbabwe.

Africa's dilemma is twofold: first, it is mostly dominated by like-minded dictatorial regimes that maintain their rule by a combination of brutality and subtle repression. Second, African leaders have overrun the extent to which they can blame past colonial rule for their own failures. Like brotherly military juntas, they have strong bonds with each other in what appears an unholy fraternity. Autocratic rulers aside, the weak, almost protective reaction of South African President Thabo Mbeki raised eyebrows. This was unbecoming of a country that came into the community of nations on the back of a long and bitter struggle against apartheid, achieved democratic majority rule, proceeded in national reconciliation and achieved a great measure of pluralism. The thick shadow of disappointment Mbeki's position cast over South Africa was only dispelled by Africa's honorary statesman, Nelson Mandela. Old and frail, but never lacking political acumen, Mandela told a small gathering in his honour there was "a tragic failure of leadership in Zimbabwe". No African leader could usually withstand this condemnation from such a venerated figure, but self-elected Mugabe and his associates did.

No one questions the historical fact that for four centuries Western colonial rule plundered, retarded and ruined Africa. But its indelible crime is that it never cultivated the political culture of democratic self- government that it swore was the ultimate purpose of its centuries of "discovery", invasion and exploitation. The "white man's burden" was a legacy of oppression and manipulation that, in most African countries, turned into a convenient mask with the label of "nationalist leadership", "revolutionary government" or "liberators". After decades of independence, and many dismal failures, this was finessed into sham elections won by leaders in power, or regime change by military adventurers who hoisted the banner of "revolutionary legitimacy". No wonder that in some African countries that have been independent for decades, some colonial-era laws remain on the books, such as emergency laws and other tools of repressive government.

Most oppressive regimes in Africa put the label of "internal affairs" on their repressive practices, even when they grossly violate provisions of universal human rights that they once solemnly committed themselves to. In Africa, notorious regimes refrain from criticising each other and work hard to build disgraceful alliances in international forums to protect their kin. Conventional wisdom is that you do not throw stones on someone else's house when yours is made of glass. This has undermined respect for human rights and individual freedoms, regressed good governance and entrenched autocratic regimes. That is why South Africa's opposition to UN Security Council moves to sanction the government of Zimbabwe is all the more baffling.

Leaders of the member-states of the AU who met in Sharm El-Sheikh overlooked some important historical lessons. When, in 1946, India raised the issue of apartheid laws in South Africa before the UN General Assembly, as they discriminated against its coloured population, the South African government simply dismissed the complaint on the grounds that the UN had no jurisdiction over its "internal affairs" as a sovereign member-state. In 1999, NATO, with no authorisation from the Security Council, went on a massive bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia) to force then President Slobodan Miloöevi¾ to loosen his grip on Kosovo where his government was accused of committing genocide. Kofi Anan, then UN secretary-general, justified the controversial campaign as "humanitarian intervention", telling the General Assembly that no country that commits mass persecution of its population can do so with impunity, hiding behind the pretext of non-interference in internal affairs. It is not that African leaders are unaware of such developments, but that most of them do not want to be held accountable for bad governance, fraudulent elections or violations of human rights.

Self-elected President Mugabe, like several other African leaders, has many failures. But the greatest of them all is that for 28 years in power he failed to achieve the historic national reconciliation between Zimbabwe's black and white populations, as South Africa did. If anything, he deepened divisions by expropriating the property of white farmers in 1998, without compensation, in vengeful retaliation for their opposition in parliament to some amendments that would grant him totalitarian powers. The dismal conditions under which Zimbabweans live speak volumes of Mugabe's failed policies in every aspect of the country's life. His readily available scapegoat is to heap blame on Anglo-American colonialism and to incite a handful of beneficiary followers.

African leaders are not doing their countries, or their continent, a favour by saving Mugabe from the wrath of his people. It is a short-sighted strategy that will trigger yet another civil war in Africa and eventually backfire on southern Africa. With all good intentions, Egypt is trying to regain the role of big brother it once enjoyed in Africa -- a role of mediation, conciliation and crisis resolution. In the case of Zimbabwe's fraudulent elections, it has done Africa a disservice.

* The writer is former Al-Ahram correspondent in Washington, DC. He also served as director of United Nations Radio and Television in New York.

Culled from Al-Ahram Weekly, Egypt.

Wahtani Ajuma: Salat and its virtues

Abdullah-bin- Umar (Radhi Allaho anho) narrates that he heard the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) saying: "Islam is founded on five pillars :bearing witness that their is no god but Allah, and Muhammad (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) is His servant and apostle; establishment of salat; paying zakat; perfoming of Hajj; and fasting in the month of Ramadan."

The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) has compared Islam to a canopy resting on five supports. The Kalimah is the central support and the other four pillars of Islam are, so to say, the remaining four supports one of each corner of the canopy. Without the central support, the canopy cannot possibly stand, and if anyone of the corner supports is missing, a collapse will result in the defective corner. Now let us judge for ourselves how far we have kept up the canopy of Islam. Is there really any pillar that is being held in its proper place?

The five pillars of Islam mentioned in this hadith signify the most essential duties of a Muslim. Although a Muslim cannot do without any of them, yet salat in Islam occupies a position next only to Imaan. Abdullah bin Masood ((Radhi Allaho anho) says: Once, I inquired of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam), which act (of man) was the dearest to Allah. The Prophet replied, "salat".

Mullah Ali Qari (Rahmatullah alaihe) quoted this hadith in suport of the belief that salat is the most important religious duty after Imaan. This is further corroborated by a hadith, in which te Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) is reported to have said: "Salat is the best of all that has been ordained by Allah."

Abuzar (Radhi Allaho anho) narrates that once the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) came out of his house. It was autumn and the leaves were falling off the trees. He caught hold of a branch of a tree and its leaves began to drop in large number. At this he remarked, 'O Abzar Radhi Allaho anho) when a Muslim offers his slat to please Allah, his sins are shed away from him just as these leaves are falling of this tree."

Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allaho anho) narrates that once the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) asked his companions, "Do you believe that dirt can remain on a person bathing five times a day in a brook runnng in front of his door?' 'No' replied the companions, 'No dirt can remain on his body.' The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) remarked : 'So, exactly is similar is the effect of salat offered five times a day. With the Grace of Allah, it washes away all the sins."

Jabir (Radhi Allaho anho) narrates that he heard the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) saying: "The likedness of five times daily salat is as the likeness of a deep brook running in front of the door of a person who bathes there in five times a day."

Running water is generally free from dirt, and the deeper it runs the cleaner and purer it is. A bath in such water surely removes dirt from the body and makes it clean. Salat offer with due regard for its essentials likewise cleanses the soul of all sins. There are several hadiths of the same meaning, though with slight variations in expressions, narrated by different companions of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam).

Abu Saeed Khudri (Radhi Allaho anho) narrates that he heard the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) saying:"Each of the five salats expiates the sins committed since the salat preceding it. To explain, let us take this case of a person working in a factory. His job is such that his body is covered with dust. But there are five streams of running water in between the factory and his house and, on his return from the job, he takes a bath in each stream. The effect of five times daily salat s quite similar. Any sins of omission and commisson between two salats are forgiven on account of 'Istighfar and Taubah in each salat."

The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) through such parables, aims at impressing that salat has the wonderful power of removing the sins. If we fail to avail of Allah's mercy, surely we ourselves are the losers.

To err is human. We are likely to commit innumerable acts of displeasing Allah and deserve thereby His wrath and punishment, but look how relenting our dear Allah is! He has most graciously shown us the way to earn His mercy and forgiveness. It is a great pity if we do not avail of this great favour. Our Allah is always eager to show us His mercy on very small grounds. It is said in a hadith that if a person goes to bed with the intention of getting up for Tahajjud, and perchance does not wake up, he recieves the full reward for Tahajjud, although he has been enjoying his sleep at of Tahajjud. How boundless is the grace of Allah and what a tremendous loss and deprivation if we do not receive blessing from such a Giver.

Huzaifa (Radhi Allaho anho) says that, whenever the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) happened to face any difficulty, he would at once resort to salat.

Salat is a great blessing of Allah. To resort to salat the time of worry is ti hasten towards His mercy, and when Allah's mercy comes to rescue, there can remain no trace of any worry. There are many traditions concerning this practice of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam). Similar was the practice of his companions, who followed him in the minutest detail.

Abu Darda (Radhi Allaho anho) says: "Whenever a strong wind blew, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) would immediately enter the mosque and would not leave until the wind had subsided. Similarly, at the time of sular or lunar eclipse, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) would at once start offering salat. Sohaib (Radhi Allaho anho) was informed by the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) that all the previous apostles of Allah (peace be upon them) also use to resort to salat in all adversities.

Ibne Abbas (Radhiallaho anho) was once on a journey. Oh his way, he got the news of the death of his son. He got down from his camel and offered two rakaat of salat praying in Tashahud for a long time. He then recited Inna-Lillahi-wa-inna-ilaii-rajeun' and, said " I have done what Allah has ordered us to do in his Holy Book ie.: "Seek Allah's help with patience and salat." (II: 45). Another similar story is narrated about him. He was on a journey when he received the news about the death of his brother Qusum. He descended from his camel by the road side, and performed two rakaats of salat and kept praying in Tashahhud for a long time. After finishing his slat, he rode his camel reciting the following verse of the Holy Qur'an: Seek Allah's help with patience and salat and truly it is indeed hard except to the humble minded.

When Abada (Radhiallaho anh) was about to breathe his last, he said to the people around him, " I prohibit one and all from crying over me. When my soul departs, I ask everyone to perform abulution observing all its essentials, and go to the mosque and pray for my forgiveness, because our Gracious Allah has enjoined on us to 'seek help with patient and salat' After that, lay me down in the pit of my grave.

Nadhr (Radhiallaho anho) narrates: "Once it became very dark during the day in Madina. I hurriedly went to Anas (Radiallaho anho) to know if he had ever experienced similar conditions during the life time of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam). He said to me, "Maazallah! During those blessed days, whenever the wind blew strong, we would hurry to the mosque lest it should be the approach of the Last Day.

Abdullah-bin- Salam (Radhiallaho anho) narrates that whenever the members of the Prophet's family were hard-pressed in any way, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) would enjoin upon them to say salat, and would recite the following verse of the Qur'an: "And enjoin salat upon thy people and be thyself constant therein. We ask not of thee to provide sustenance. We provide it for thee. And the Hereafter is for the righteousness." XX: 132)

It is said in a hadith that when somebody is confronted with a need, whether pertaining to this life or the Hereafter, or whether it concerns Allah or a mortal, he should perform a perfect abulution, offer salat of two rakaats, glorify Allah, then ask blessings for the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) and then pray: There is no go save Allah- the Clement - the Bountiful. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the tremendous throne. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I ask Thee all that leadeth to Thy Mercy and deserveth Thy forgiveness. I ask Thee abundance in all that is good and refugee from all is evil. Leave me no sin but Thou pardonest it, and no distress but Thou removes it, and no need but Thou fulfillest it. O most Merciful of those who show mercy!"

Salat is a tremendoud asset. Besides pleasing Allah, it often gets us deliverence from the calamities of this life and provides us with tranquility and peace of mind. Ibn-Sirin writes: " If I be allowed to choose between paradise and salat of two rakaats, I would prefer salat. The reason is quite clear. Paradise is for my own pleasure while salat is for the pleasure of my dear Lord." The Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) has said: "Enviable is the lot of that Muslim who is with least encumberance, whose main fortune is salat, who remain content with humble provision throughout his life, who worships his Lord in a dutiful manner, who lives a nameless life and who dies an early death, with very little to bequeath and very few to mourn him." In another hadith, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) is reported to have said: "Offer your salat at your homes quite frequently so that these may be blessed with Allah's Grace and Mercy.
To be continued next week.

Culled from Faza'il-E-A'maal.

Jammeh swipes at Tsvangirai

by PK Jarju
Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh has blamed the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and it leader, Morgan Tsvangirai for the violence in Zimbabwe which has left many people dead and the country on the brink of collapse.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday at the Banjul International Airport shortly after his arrival from the two-day African Union summit held in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, President Jammeh said the current murky political climate in the Southern Africa country was cause by the opposition MDC, which he accused of being financed by hostile foreign powers that are trying to re-colonise Zimbabwe.

"The MDC is responsible for the violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe which affected the outcome of the first round of election held earlier this year," President said.

While accusing Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC supporters of being puppets of the West, President Jammeh warned that the African people cannot support any desire of the West's to recolonise the Africa continent.

Jammeh's comments are in contrast to neighbouring Senegal, which is leading calls for the creation of a unity government in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is heading the mediation process in the country has told South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) that outsiders like the European Union or other African nations cannot impose a solution in the trouble country.

"The African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC) cannot dictate the outcome of negotiations between Zimbabwe and political parties," he said.

There is no sign that the current crisis in Zimbabwe will be resolve soon. While Robert Mugabe have accepted calls for dialogue, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has rejected forming a unity government if he is not recognised as the winner of the presidential elections.

In a statement, the MDC leader said Tuesday's resolution by African Union leaders did not adequately deal with the ongoing violence in Zimbabwe, which include reports of reprisal attacks on those who failed to vote for Mr Mugabe on Friday. He added that the said AU resolution did not acknowledge the illegitimacy of the 27 June run-off vote.

"The resolution endorses the concept of a government of national unity, without acknowledging that the MDC, as the winner of the last credible election on 29 March, should be recognised as the legitimate government of Zimbabwe. The basis of talks should be the first-round election. A government of national unity does not address the problems facing Zimbabwe or acknowledge the will of the Zimbabwean people. While the MDC remains committed to negotiations, this must be based on the 29 March result and must move towards a transitional agreement," AFP news agency quotes him as saying.