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.

No hope for change

by PK Jarju

A personality whose only vision is to acquire and retain power and whose only mission is how to acquire and retain power by any means can only sow the seed of political decadence in a nation...Halifa Sallah April 2000.

Last Friday, over 50,000 people from all parts of the globe gathered in London's Hyde Park to celebrate the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela, one of the world's greatest leader.

A record 80 million people are reported to have watched the concert on their television sets. Like these people who were unable to attend the concert, I stayed awake all night with my one-year old son, Jamil, to watch the concert on TV. And being a crazy fan of Mandela, I couldn't hold my tongue. I kept lecturing my son about Mandela's stance against totalitarianism, oppression, fight against HIV/Aids, hunger and most importantly, his fight against apartheid in South Africa even though the poor lad couldn't understand a thing of what I was saying.

Mandela is a man I admire and have great respect for. The man went through hell in defense of his beliefs. He made a lot of sacrifice in the fight against oppression and brutality and despite his old age, he is still playing an active role in the fight against hunger and diseases.

Like, Kofi Annan, former UN secretary General, said: "People always ask me what difference one person can make in the face of injustice, conflict, human right violations, mass poverty and disease. I answer by citing the courage, tenacity, dignity and magnanimity of Nelson Mandela. I cited his lifelong struggle against apartheid, and his steadfast refusal to compromise his beliefs during long years of incarceration."

But despite his achievements, Mandela still believes that the fight is not yet over. And as a wise man, Mandela used the event in London to call on the thousands of people in the park and the millions like me, who were glued on their TV sets at home, work places and cafes to take over the mantle in the fight against oppression, injustice, hunger and diseases.

"As we celebrate," he said to the cheering crowd: "we say tonight, after nearly 90 years of life, it's time for new hands to lift the burdens. It's in your hands now. Even as we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that our work is far from complete. Where there is poverty and sickness, including AIDS, where human beings are being oppressed, there's more work to be done. Our work is for freedom for all."

Everyone in the world accepts the fact that Mandela is very old now and is starting to look weak physically, and there is oppression, brutality, diseases and hunger everywhere in the world, but who will stand up for the oppressed, the hungry and the sick? In the case of my own country, the Gambia, the country is being rule for the past 14 years by a brutal dictator in the person of Yahiya Jammeh, who does not have any respect for the rights and freedoms of the citizenry.

Gross human rights violations are being committed day in-day out by men in uniform with the blessings of the president. People are dying every day from preventable diseases like malaria and the HIV/Aids infection is increasing at an alarming rate. People are starving, suffering and living in a state of fear resulting in a situation where the people are afraid of their ruler instead of the ruler being afraid of the people, who voted for him into power. The very people, whose affairs he claim to be representing.

The situation is pathetic and despite the fact that a large majority of the population are dissatisfied with the current regime as they keep moaning about the regime's lack of interest in their welfare and the sufferings they are going through, only a few people are brave enough to stand up to the dictatorship. Interestingly, these people who refuse to bow down to the dictator by speaking out against his murder happy regime, are branded enemies and stooges of the West, who want to bring instability in the country.

These few men and women who chose to oppose and criticise the regime are often arbitrarily rounded up and held incommunicado for days, weeks, months and years without being charged. The regime in most cases ignore court orders for their unconditional release.

Jammeh is controlling every facet of the Gambian society and as president, he thinks he owns the country and its people. He talks to us any how he wants and as president, he maintains that he has absolute powers to harass, arrest, detain and torture anyone who opposes him and his regime as long as he wants.

Being a nation that is afraid of its leadership, the Gambian people have allowed the government of Yahya Jammeh to snoop into their lives and violate their spaces. There is nothing like free society in the Gambia anymore. We are now a nanny state. We are all being watch by NIA officers and other security agents in and outside the Gambia. Officials of Gambian missions overseas are turned into spies to monitor the activities of Gambians abroad instead of representing their welfare.

As thing are in the Gambia at the moment, it would be difficult if not impossible for the country to have some one like Nelson Mandela. Some one who will stand up and fight for the freedom of Gambians. This is because we have all chosed to ignore the plight of Gambians and the Gambia in order to be in the good books of the regime. None of us wants to be buried six-feet deep or handcuffed in front of his wife and children and tortured in the Gambia's Guantanamo Bay (NIA Headquarters). None of us wants to be jobless. We all want to wake up everyday, do our own thing and ignore the opression and suffering.

We have come to accept the fact that Jammeh have demonds and knows what we are all up to and what is about to happen in 400 years to come. We have accepted the fact that we are a weak people who cannot remove Jammeh through the ballot box. We have all accepted the fact that voting against Jammeh will bring instability to the country. As a weak and powerless people, we have chosed not to speak the truth but to distort in our selfish desire to gain Jammeh's recognition and benevolence. All what we are doing now is cry ourselves to sleep in silence while we pray and wait for the Most Merciful and Ever Living God to rain fire on this brutal ruler and his thugs. Well, lets continue kneeling down and pray then for the next million years.

The Gambian opposition that is supposed to be a government in waiting is not providing an alternative. You log on your computer or open your newspaper everyday hoping to see them selling their party polices and programmes, see them speak against the thuggist regime, the sufferings and hardship of the people among other pertinent issues, but they are nowhere to be seen. All you read is articles by journalists and a few concerned Gambians overseas who want a restoration of democracy and the rule of law in their motherland.

The PDOIS is the only opposition party that is vocal against the dictatorship. Halifa Sallah, Sidia Jatta, Sam Sarr and others are using The Foroyaa to sensitise Gambians as well as talk tough against the Jammeh regime's lack of respect to the rights and freedoms of Gambians, wastage of tax payers money, the need for the respect of the constitution, accountability and transparency and many other things that are in the interest of the Gambia and Gambians.

The leadership of UDP, NDAM, NRP, PPP and other oppositions parties, whose names I cannot even remember are all hiding in their shells. They are yet to recover from the 2006 election defeat and have become so domant to an extend that I sometimes wonder whether they even exist. The more they remain silent and inactive, the more Jammeh is turning the country into a one party state.

The Jammeh regime is at the moment more fearful of the online Gambian media than the opposition. These newspapers are giving him sleepless nights with their editorials and commentaries that expose his regime as corrupt, brutal, totalitarian, incompetent and his lack of interest of the Gambian people at heart.

Taking into consideration the current political situation in the country, I do not habour the slightest hope in my heart that the Jammeh regime will be flushed out of power come 2011 elections. This is because opposition parties that are expected fight Jammeh in the polls are currently idle. And an active opposition that is really interested in getting into power will not remain silent and idle in the face of the current hardship the people are going through. In the meanwhile, lets continue to suffer in silence, starve, die from preventable diseases while the men in power continue to live their flamboyant lifestles at our expense. Lets continue raising our hands to the heavens and wait for miracles to happen.
Peace!

Nakam nak Dida?

For the past seven months or so, Dida Halake have used his position as managing director of the Daily Observer to lambaste opponents and critics of the brutal Jammeh regime, whom he described as enemies of progressive Gambia.

For Mr. Halake, there is nothing like dictatorship in the Gambia. He wanted everyone who reads the Daily Observer to believe that the Jammeh regime is respecting all democratic principles and the rule of law. He wanted everyone to believe that the Jammeh regime have the interest of Gambians at heart. He wanted everyone to bend their knees for Jammeh and that all the hundreds if not thousands of Gambians and non-Gambians being arbitrarily arrested, tortured and detained for weeks, months and years or even killed by security officers acting under the direct command of Jammeh are only trying to tarnish the name of peaceful Gambia.

For him, the torrid tales of torture, harassment, and murder being published in the private media are nothing but mere fabrications and lies.

But on June 13, he woke up in a filthy police cell, denied access to a lawyer and held for a week. He was treated like a common criminal and presumed guilty until he proves himself innocent of a crime. He was regarded as a criminal by the very people he spent many sleepless nights fighting for. The very people who made him abandon his high pay job and comfortable life in Leeds, UK to run a failed newspaper business; a newspaper that serves as a voice for only the oppressor instead of the oppressed.

Now that he have provided decent meals for the mosquitoes at Kotu Police Station, Dida must be wondering where the hell thing have gone wrong with his master. Yes, his master at State House, whom he has over the past few months done everything to please.

As a well-read friend of mine, who often reads to me quotes from Machiavelli, Dida Halake must be really disappointed with himself. He allowed himself to be used and dumped in a very childish manner. He was used to rebuild the image of a confused and blood thirsty dictator in the person of Yahya Jammeh, who thinks power is everything. A dictator who thinks he owns the country. And now that he is dumped in a disgraceful manner, even the usual sympathetic Gambian public seems to rejoicing.

The way Dida Halake behaved and his removal from the Observer will be forgotten by most of us not before too long, but it will have an enormous impact on his life and his future. But if anything positive can be said of his short stint as managing director and he being turned into some sort of national hate figure, maybe it will be that he takes a long, hard look at himself. Then he thinks seriously about the type of kiss-arse journalism he was practicing.

Over the past months, I have tried telling Dida that brutal dictators like Jammeh are not worthy being served but he wouldn't listen. His ego got the better of him and he thought being appointed managing director of the Observer was the best thing that ever happened to him. He though it would get him closer to the most powerful man in the Gambia, and perhaps land him some favours. Taking advantage of the fact that Jammeh is not the most intelligent president, who only wants to hear ear-pleasing things, he quickly transformed himself into a griot and used the Observer as his instrument to wax lyrics of praises to the blood thirsty dictator. But as typical of Jammeh, he easily get bore of people who compromise their principles to work for him. He is what the Wollofs say Bur du nboka.

I feel sorry for Dida, even though I know he doesn’t need me to sympathise with him. All the sacrifices he made were not appreciated. It was thrown at his face. Oh! How can I forget? That is typical of the Observer management. It never appreciates all the sacrifices its employers make in their day-to-day job. That's what they did to Sheriff Bojang snr. When he took over as MD, the Observer had hit the bottom rungs; no good machines, one broken down vehicle, millions of Dalasis in debts, incredibly low sales, very low morale, the production department was hijacked by a bunch of Senegalese printers and lithographers. Within a period of two years, he was able to rebuild a dynamic team and turned around the company. He acquired new machines, replaced the Senegalese with young Gambians in their twenties, launched a new website, bought vehicles for management and staff, paid some debts, restructured the rest and started investing in treasury bills. Under his leadership, the Observer beat the competition hands down and doubled the circulation as opposed to before when even with their low numbers they have hundreds of unsold returns each day. And significantly also, gave everyone a voice.

But all these were not appreciated by Neneh MacDoul, current managing director, who was then the chairperson of the company. He was sacked without even being told the reason why.

And ever since, the Observer is yet to recover from the Sheriff Bojang curse. In the spate of four years, the management of the Observer have hired and fired three managing directors. Momodou Sanyang, Saja Taal and Dida Halake were all removed without being told the reason why.

What happened to these men should be lesson to anyone who is lobbying to be the next Observer managing director. The post is political and insecure. You can be hired today and be fired tomorrow. So the choice is yours.

Our Own Guantanamo Bay

When Gambians should reflect on the very dark days of the AFPRC/APRC regime, they will find in "the revolution" an epoch seething with rage, plunder and recklessness. The Gambian people are being so cruelly held to ransom by a gang of brutal and blood thirsty politicians who employ any means necessary to stay in power despite the deleterious effect their rule may have on the lives of the people.

Since coming to power in 1994, the Jammeh regime has committed gross human rights abuses against innocent Gambians it has sworn to protect. Utter disregard for the rule of law and of democracy have led to a situation of uncertainty. A torrent of arrests, torture and sudden disappearances have left Gambians more confused by the uncertain direction of a revolution which is supposedly guided by President Jammeh in his "wisdom and magnanimity as the saviour of The Gambia".

In the name of national security, the Jammeh regime ignores the constitutional provisions on the rights and freedoms of the citizenry and trampled the rights of defendants underfoot. For Jammeh, security and justice don't go together.

Despite the return of the country to civilian rule, the regime is yet to repeal draconian laws it enacted during the transition that gives the NIA and the secretary of state for the Interior broad power to detain individuals indefinitely without charge in the interest of national security. It has also not repealed Decree 45, which abrogates constitutional safeguards against arbitrary search and permits search and seizure of property without due process. The NIA is using these laws to arrest and detain people arbitrarily as well as tap phone lines of opponents and critics of the regime without warrant.

The NIA, which is responsible for protecting state security, collecting intelligence, and conducting covert investigations, centres its works on journalists and opponents of the regime. It arrest, detain and torture journalists and opposition figures who write or say things that are deemed critical of the president and his regime. Its headquarters on Marina Parade directly opposite the Supreme Court, is use as the base to torture and mistreat critics of the regime.

The NIA officers with the blessings of Jammeh, are above the law and do anything they wish in the name of the President. For them, the interest of the president comes before the country and they don't give a monkey to the laws of the land in dealing with cases involving journalists and opponents of the regime. Anyone who is against the regime is seen as an enemy. An enemy that should be buried six-feet deep. And as a result, the bodies of many young Gambians are today decomposing in marked and unmarked graves across the country. Their lives have been cut short and their families torn apart because they got the balls to oppose a dictatorial regime.

The NIA headquarters is the Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib of the Gambia. It is the place where many Gambians are arbitrarily detained and torture in the name of national security. And in this piece of PK's Beef, I have listed below some cases of torture meted out to Gambians by their own brothers at the NIA headquarters. Please read on.

On June 8, 1997, several UDP supporters attending a congress in Brikama were arrested by the police who declared the congress illegal. The men, Shyngle Nyassi, Wasa Janneh, Sarjo Kunjang Sanneh, Dodou Sanyang and others were transferred to the NIA headquarters where they were detained. Immediately after their release, the victims spoke to the press and showed evidence of the injuries sustained as a result of being beaten with heavy whips while being forced to crawl on their hands and knees before security officials. There were also allegations that water cannon had been used on them and that one victim, Dodou Sanyang, had been burned on his genitals. Despite reporting the alleged beatings to the authorities, the matter was never investigated.

In 1997 former Army lieutenants, Lamin Jarju, LF Jammeh and Copral Alieu Bah, who were arrested in connection with the Kartong military attack revealed that they were tortured while being interrogated at the NIA headquarters. Although the state has denied such allegations, bruises and swellings were visible on their faces when they were paraded on national TV.

In 2000, Lt Landing Sanneh, former State House commander, who was arrested on alleged treason charges alleged that he was tortured by soldiers and NIA officers while being interrogated at the NIA headquarters. Sanneh alleged that the officers threatened to blow his brain if he failed sign a statement implicating him to a coup plot.

In June 2000, Ebrima Barrow, a civilian who was remanded at the Mile Two Prisons on treason charges, was transferred to the NIA headquarters where he was tortured. Barrow alleged that the NIA officers beat and applied electric shocks on his private parts and had sustained serious injuries which include a broken jaw and teeth.

Early in 2001, Dodou Kasa Jatta, a UDP sympathiser was arrested and detained at the NIA headquarters after writing an article in The Independent, which was critical of the regime. Mr Jatta revealed that he was beaten with batons and cables by NIA officers while in detention. Despite protest by the UDP secretariat, the authorities failed to investigate the matter.

In April 2001, Alhagie Nyabally, a senior executive of the Gambia Student's Union (Gamsu), was kidnapped by NIA officers while on his way to play football. Nyabally alleged that the officers whisked him to their headquarters in Banjul, where he was stripped naked and beaten for comments he made against President Jammeh during commemorations of the April 10 student demonstration.

In October 2001, Alhagie Mbye, a senior reporter of The Independent Newspaper, was arrested at his home in Bakoteh and detained incommunicado at the NIA headquarters. After his release, Mbye revealed that he was dumped in a pitch dark cell which was infested by mosquitoes and was tortured for many days by NIA officers, who threatened to kill him if he continues writing articles critical of the regime.

In 2002 Ousman Darboe, a reporter with The Independent was arrested and detained by the NIA after writing a story which alleged that Vice President Njie-Saidy had remarried after the dead of her husband. Although he was not tortured physically, he was dumped in a bare cell without a blanket for three days.

In September 2003, Abdoulie Sey, editor of The Independent was arrested and detained incommunicado at the NIA headquarters for three days. After his release without charge, Sey revealed that he was dumped in a mosquito invested cell and had to be taken to the RVTH for treatment after he contracted malaria.

On December 16, 2004, Deyda Hydara, founder and managing editor of The Point Newspaper, was murdered by unknown gunmen on his way from work. Although the government has denied having a hand in his murder, many are still pointing fingers at the NIA, which was alleged to have been mounting surveillance on him.

In 2005, State Guards soldiers arrested Haruna Jammeh and Jisaja Kujabie, from Foni. The men were said to have been transferred to the NIA headquarters where they were tortured before being transferred to Mile Two Prisons. They are still being held incommunicado.

On March 21, 2006, many security officers were arrested and detained at the Mile Two Prisons in connection with an allege coup plot. Some of the men Captain Bunja Darboe, Captain Yaya Darboe, Captain Wassa Camara and Second Lieutenant Pharing Sanyang, Captain Pierre J. Mendy, Captain Abdoukarim Jah, Lieutenant Momodou Alieu Bah, Corporal Samba Bah, Lance Corporal Babou Janha and Private Alhagie Nying revealed at their court marshal hearing that they were tortured at the NIA headquarters by State Guard soldiers and NIA officers. The men alleged that they were beaten with cables, sticks and hammer which resulted in some of them sustaining eye injuries, broken arms, and jaws.

Also in connection with the alleged coup plot, Abdoulie Njie, a civilian, was arrested and detained incommunicado at the NIA headquarters. Mr Njie was reported to have been severely torture for months before been transferred to the Mile Two Prisons where he is still being held.

Mariam Denton, a private legal practitioner was also arrested and held incommunicado by the NIA for 111 days in connection with the March 21 alleged coup. In July a court order was issued for her release. The government tried unsuccessfully to subvert the court order by charging her with concealment of treason; but on July 25, the charges were dropped and she was released. Ms Denton was reported to have been assaulted and threatened while being interrogated.

On March 28, 2006, Madi Ceesay, general manager of the The Independent and Musa Saidykhan, editor-in-chief together with other staff of the newspaper, were arrested and detained. A few hours later, all the detainees, except Ceesay, who was also president of the Gambia Press Union, and Saidykhan, were released. The manager and editor spent 22 days in detention and were subjected to horrific torture which included beating and electric shocks on their genitals.

In April 2006, former NIA director general, Daba Marena and four army officers-- Ebou Lowe, Alieu Ceesay, Alpha Bah and Malafi Corr were reported to have been tortured and killed at the NIA headquarters by NIA officials and soldiers in connection with the March 21 alleged coup plot. The government denied such reports saying the men escaped while being transferred to the Jangjangbureh Prisons but no investigation had taken place since.

On April 10, 2006 Lamin Fatty, a reporter with The Independent, was arrested by the NIA. He was held incommunicado and severely tortured and given electric shocks in various parts of his body for 63 days. He was later released on bail by a magistrates’ court and charged with "publishing false information".

Also in April 2006, Momodou Lamin Nyassi, a former chief of Foni Kansala, Buba Sanyang and Ndongo Mboob all residents of Bwiam, in Foni, were arrested by NIA officers and held incommunicado. No charges have since been preferred on them.

On May 26, 2006, Malick Mboob, former sub-editor of the Daily Observer and communications officer at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH), was sacked and arrested for his alleged contribution to the Freedom Newspaper. Also, journalists Pa Modou Faal of the Gambia Radio & Television Services (GRTS) and Musa Sheriff, a Liberian journalist working at the weekly News & Report magazine, were arrested alongside Mboob and alleged dozens of subscribers of the Freedom Newspaper. All the arrested persons were severely tortured by NIA officers and State House soldiers. Faal and Sheriff were released a few days later but Mboob was held incommunicado for 137 days until he was released by a court order, without having been charged.

On May 31, 2006 Lamin Cham, BBC correspondent in Banjul and former editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer, was arrested and tortured for allegedly having links with the Freedom Newspaper. He was released a few days later after it was discovered that the allegation levelled against him was false.

On June 2, 2006, the NIA detained Duta Kamaso, a former member of the National Assembly, on "political and economic grounds”; Kamaso was said to be have been assaulted while in custody. She was released without charge on October 9 and the state is yet to explain the reason for her arrest.

On July 11, 2006 Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter of the Daily Observer, was arrested by two NIA at the Daily Observer premises. His whereabouts are still unknown as both the NIA and police denied having custody of him. Unconfirmed reports told AllGambian that he was tortured and murdered.

From August 26 to September 5, 2006, the NIA detained and tortured Buba Sanyang, a NADD supporter, for several days beyond the 72-hour limit on accusations of impersonating a member of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Sanyang read a televised confession statement alleging he was assigned by NADD leader Halifa Sallah to impersonate an IEC officer and collect voter registration cards. He was released later on bail and no charges were ever brought against him and his case did not go to trial.

On September 18, 2006, Kanyiba Kanyi, a staff of the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), was arrested at his home in Bontho, Kombo East, by NIA officers. And despite a High Court order for his release, the state is yet to release him.

On December 8, 2006, former deputy director-general of the NIA, Alieu Singhateh, and former director of external relations of the NIA, Kemo Balajo, were released after prolonged detention on charges of concealment of treason in relation to the March 21 coup plot. The two were said to have been mistreated and threatened by NIA officers and State Guard soldiers while being interrogated at the NIA headquarters. They were denied access to lawyers for several months.

On July 8, 2007, former police commissioner Ebrima Camara and army sergeant Buba Mendy were released without charge after being arrested in April 2006 on suspicion of involvement with the coup plot. There are unconfirmed reports that they were tortured while being interrogated at the NIA headquarters.

On October 12 2007, Tamba Fofana was released without charge after being arrested in September 2006 on accusations of "anti state" activities. He was reported to have been tortured by the NIA, which had denied knowledge of his whereabouts despite a court order in December 2006 to release him.

On October 12 2007, Ousman Jatta, who had been held incommunicado since September 2006, was released from detention following a third high court order for his release on June 5. Jatta was rearrested twice in 2006 without charge for expressing views in disagreement with the government. He was first held at the NIA headquarters before being moved to various police stations in the provinces.

On December 27, detainees Foday Barry and Abdoulie Kujabi, arrested in April 2006 in connection to the coup plot, were released unconditionally, and their charges were dropped without explanation. Both men were reported to have been tortured by the NIA.

As the cases of torture catalogued above are never investigated by the Jammeh regime, there is little hope that the barbarism that has invaded our lives is going to be over anytime soon.

Excuse me Dida!

My attention has been drawn to an open letter Dida Halake, managing editor of the Daily Observer, wrote to the president of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), Ndey Tapha Sosseh, which was published in the April 28th edition of his newspaper.

Responding to a letter sent to the Observer earlier by Ms Sosseh, which was putting them in the picture about the activities of the press union; Dida Halake went on a rampage, making childish and unnecessary attacks on Gambian journalists and the press union, which he described as a political union.

I never wanted to waste my precious time responding to such baseless and childish criticisms levelled against Gambian journalists and the press union as they would give Mr. Halake the prominence he does not deserve. However, after Mr. Halake reproduced the same letter in the May 12 edition of the Observer in response to Swaibou Conateh, I was left with no choice but to react.

Dida's attacks expose his ignorance, arrogance, pettiness and above all, lack of understanding to the journalism profession. Gambian journalists like all responsible journalists around the globe, have a responsibility to keep governments accountable. And it would be very unprofessional and unethical if they should ignore the sufferings and above of all, gross violations of the people's rights by President Jammeh and his associates.

The Gambia Press Union is a pressure group set up ages ago to defend the interest of Gambian journalists, who have for the past 13 years been subjected to all forms of harassment, censorship, arrest, torture and even murder in the hands of the Jammeh regime. And as a responsible pressure group, the GPU cannot sit and fold its hands while the Jammeh regime embarks on its evil policies of silencing the freedom of expression.

The GPU and its members are not interested in political office. They do not also regard themselves as enemies of Yahya Jammeh and his government. They see themselves as partners in development.

Dida's efforts to undermine the press union is known to every Gambian. And he has to realise that no matter what negative tactics he employs, the GPU shall always remain an independent institution that will never bow down to Yahya Jammeh and his evil regime.

As a non-member of the press union, it is flabbergasting to see Mr. Halake make demands for the resignation of elected executive of the union. The GPU executive members were elected by registered members of the union and if Dida Halake is not happy with the decision of the GPU members, then he should go fly like a kite. Is Dida calling the election unfair because GPU members voted against the candidate they put up against Ndey Tapha? I believe that he would be singing a different song if Mr. Sawaneh had won the election.

Another thing Dida Halake needs to understand is that, GPU elections are transparent. Members of the union cast their votes to whosoever they wish without giving a toss who the person is or which institution he works for. Ebrima Jaw Manneh and Lamin Dibba were not voted into the executive because they were not the choice of the union members, period!

Sacking Buya Jammeh for refusing to resign his GPU post was again childish on the part of Mr. Halake. Buya was not a staff of the Observer. He was a freelancer, meaning the Observer was only buying stories from him as there was no contractual agreement between them. But how can he understand this basic journalism term when he is not a journalist. Journalism goes beyond being able to read and write. No wonder that is why Dida Halake is struggling 24 hours a day to produce a newspaper worth reading.

The Gambia Press Union sees all media houses irrespective of their editorial policy as one family. This is why it does not discriminate against media houses, and if Mr. Halake does not want the Observer and its members of staff to be part of the union, then that is their bread and butter. But one thing they need to understand is that the GPU does not need them. It will continue to survive with or without them.

Like I said in the past, Gambian journalists are the most patriotic Gambians alive today. We love our country so much. That is why we are standing on the way of a brutal dictator who wants to transform the country into his personal kingdom. Which progressive government have Mr. Halake seen that torture and even kill its own citizens for its own selfish interest? Which visionary leader has Mr. Halake seen in this 21st Century who kidnap his own citizens and detain them as long as it suites him? Well maybe that's the type of leadership he have in his native Ethiopia.

Mr. Halake's excuse on why the Daily Observer is keeping a tight lip on the disappearance of its own reporter, Chief Ebrima Manneh is very pathetic. Chief Manneh is a Gambian and if his arrest has anything do with national security as Mr. Halake is trying to make us believe, then why the hell is he never taken to any court of law. The Gambian courts are empowered by the 1997 constitution to hear all cases from civil to criminal and the Jammeh regime have no excuse for denying him justice. There is no responsible media house in the world that will turn a blind eye to a serious case like that of Chief Manneh.

How disgraceful is for the Observer to ignore the plight of its own staff, who gave all he could for the success of the company? Refusing to publish even a single article in support of Mr. Manneh is not what we call responsible journalism. That is gross irresponsible journalism.

Another issue that I cannot ignore is Mr. Halake's portrayal of GPU members as opportunities, who just abscond when they are sent abroad. That is just ridiculous. The GPU has since its inception sent its members to countries like the US, United Kingdom, Israel, Taiwan, Egypt among others and despite the persecution in the Gambian none of them have ever failed to return home after the end of their trip.

The lady Mr. Halake is accusing of absconding while covering the 2001 US election never absconded. Her name is Isatou Jaiteh. I worked with her at The Independent Newspaper. Isatou never went to the US on behalf of the GPU. She went on behalf of The Independent. She returned to the Gambia together with Sheriff Bojang immediately after the elections. Isatou went back to the US about a month later to study international relation and I can still confirm to you that she is doing well with her education. So there you go Mr. Halake, get your facts rights.

Talking about absconding, how many members of staff of the Observer have over the years failed to return to the country while representing the newspaper. What about its sports reporter (name withheld), who absconded in Peru during the Fifa U-17 World Cup? What about Mr. Y (name withheld) who absconded while on a coverage in Taiwan among others? What about the Agriculture columnist (name withheld) who went to Paris and never returned?

Mr. Halake should grow up and stop playing this childish game. How sad it is to see someone of Dida's age making such silly and irresponsible statements on a newspaper.
Mr. Halake need to hold is breath. He knows nothing about journalism and as a result he cannot lecture us anything about the profession. The journalism he is practicing at the Observer is nothing but gutter journalism. He cannot distinguish between Jammeh's interest and national interest and in his desires to please his masters, he continues to shamelessly print unbalance and one sided stories that are not even news worthy. Dida's lack of understanding of journalism has made him believe that responsible journalism is about singing praises for bloody tyrants. That is just idiotic.

I rest my case.

Party with the People's Tour

As Gambians endure yet another terrible year epitomised by skyrocketing prices of basic commodities like rice, bread, and oil, President Yahya Jammeh last Monday began his annual country-wide tour. The Dialogue with the People's Tour, which is estimated to cost the poor tax payers over 1.5 million Dalasis, is aimed among other things to enable the President to communicate directly with the local people about issues affecting them.

However, over the previous years, Jammeh has used the tour to fool the Gambian people about the achievements of his government as well as portray himself as the only true Gambian who is capable of governing the country. This time round, as the country is facing an economic uncertainty, which is making it difficult for the ordinary man in the street to put a decent meal on the table as a result of his incompetence and above all, lack of interest to the welfare of Gambians, it would be very interesting to see what news the flamboyant dictator has for the starving population.

But does he really have any pleasant news to tell the poverty stricken Gambians, who are really finding it difficult to put food on the table? The situation in the country is fast becoming unbearable and if drastic actions are not taken, the average Gambian would end up starving to death. Hey am not talking bollocks. I' m dead serious.

A story published last week by Foroyaa Newspaper shows the true picture of the reality on the ground. The story, which was based on woman's account on how much it cost to prepare a decent benachin states: "1 kilo of meat and bone is D75.00; 6 cups of rice is D21.00; 3 cups of oil is D21.00, pepper D10.00; tomato, D10.00; tomato paste D10.00; cabbage, D10.00; bitter tomato, D5.00; garden egg, D5.00; a delicacy called yate, D5.00, firewood, D10.00. The total cost of the lunch is D189.00. The family’s breakfast requires 6 small loafs of bread which cost D18.00, 1 egg for each bread gives a total cost of D30.00, oil to fry the egg costs D7.00 per cup, onion costs D2.00 and pepper D2.00 giving a total cost of D65. Hence breakfast plus lunch would cost a sum of D254.00. This represents only 2 meals a day."

If we are to go by the above market prices of basic commodities, then many Gambians will soon be departing to the land of see me no more as a result of malnutrition. The current prices of commodities means that poor Gambians earning less than D5,000 will have to spend D7, 620 a month in order to put decent food on the table. And don't forget, electric, water, rent and transportation hasn't even been mentioned. How on earth will they survive?

And in this period of hardship and sufferings, what was expected of the President was for him to listen attentively to the cries of the starving population many of whom are living on less than one US Dollar a day and devise modalities of how to improve their conditions. Instead, all what I see on his itinerary is party, party and party. I would therefore be correct to state that the tour is not for Jammeh to discuss with people, but for him to party with them and therefore the name of the tour should be changed from Dialogue to Party with the People's Tour.

Staging grand parties for starving people to celebrate elections won months ago can again be seen as a waste of money. It also shows that the President being the richest Gambian does not give a monkey to the suffering and hardship Gambians are going through in their everyday life. Of course, he is far from touch with the electorates as he relies on his sycophants, who tell him ear-pleasing things that everything is alright. Yeah, Gambia no problem; Gambia no problem my back. The Gambia is full of problems. From Banjul to Basse and Kartong to Koina, people are complaining in low tones about how things are spiraling out of control. Except may be in Kanilai, which is now the bread basket of Western Division.

What benefits are Gambians going to derive from such grand parties? Gathering thousands of men and women, young and old to eat benachin and dance to Ucass Sedhiou Band, Jaliba Kuyateh, Afinjang and traditional music all night long is not what we want in this crucial moment. Now is not the time for idleness but the time for work and if Jammeh is not ready to work then, let him pack his bags.

We pride ourselves as Muslims who are ever willing to die in defence of our religion, yet we continue to do things that contradict our religion. Where are the likes of Imam Fatty, Banding Drammeh and other Alhajis and Oustaces who are always on the radios and television discouraging people from watching Nigerian movies, Maria de Los Angeles and using contraceptives? Why are they all scared of telling Jammeh the bitter truth?

I have stated it over and over and I will repeat here again that the Jammeh regime does not have any sense of direction. It is lost in its track. The President is more confuse than ever and it would be better if he exit from power and continue with his medical breakthrough of curing HIV/Aids, barren women, impotent men, ulcer, diabetic, stroke among others.

President Jammeh needs to wake up and see the light. He needs to lower his grace and pride and listen to his critics. His policies and programmes are taking the country nowhere. His Vision 2020 is only good in paper but will never be attained putting into consideration the way and manner in which he is governing the country. He may take pride in the number of projects his government has built over the past years but that has not in anyway make the Gambia a better place nor improve the living conditions of Gambians.

Take for instance, while the building of so many junior and senior secondary schools by the Jammeh regime is good, yet it has not brought quality education to students. All these schools lack equipped libraries, science labs and good teachers and as a result, our education system is sinking down the drain with students producing very, very poor examination results. And instead of dishing out thousands if not millions of Dalasis in A4 size envelopes for students to organise parties, the money could be better spent on text books and other essential education materials to enable the students pass their exams.

Our health centres are being persistently hit with drug shortages. They have failed to solve the health problems of the people. A larger majority of Gambians now go to private health centres and pharmacies which are better equipped for treatment. More and more Gambians are dying from preventable diseases like malaria. The infant mortality rate is still high and as a result of poor planning, the Gambian tax payer is shouldering the repayment of the loans used to build these hospitals while they are getting little or no benefits from them.

Our agricultural sector is the worst affected. Poor government policies have wrecked our once happy farming communities. There is no good market for their groundnut and for the past couple of years farmers have to sell their nuts on credit bases which takes them several months before they lay hands on their monies. An average farmer earns less than D5,000 a year.

Despite our fertile lands, Gambians are yet to be self-food sufficient. We are a hungry nation, a starving population for that matter. And without any proper and effective agricultural policies, Gambians will continue to import rice at high prices. Jammeh should be manly enough to accept his failures. Our dying farming sector is not due to the laziness of Gambian men. Gambian men have never been lazy. They are real hard workers, who should be applauded instead of being insulted. Calling them lazy is a great disrespect on the part of Jammeh.

Jammeh needs to know that the Gambia can only be self-food sufficient through mechanised farming. Agricultural farms like, Radiville Farm and YAMS Agricultural Enterprise needs to be supported by the government. Their produce if sold locally would save the country millions of Dalasis in imports.

Jammeh has to stop the wastage of tax payer's money. Gambians are unfairly over-taxed and their taxes should be better spend on worthy and productive causes. Alleviating poverty, which is threatening the people, is what we want Jammeh and his cronies to do. What Jammeh got to know is that, poverty breeds crime and instability. Gambians are being push and push to the wall and the government needs to solve their problems NOW before it is too late. This was case in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Niger you name it and government should learn from those lessons.

Misinformation Campaigns and Ethnic Incitements

When tribalist journalists like Ferdinand Nahimana and Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza of Radio Television Libres des Mille Collines, RTLM and Hassan Ngeze of Kangura Newspaper received long prison sentences for their role in the Rwandan genocide, many have thought that it would serve as a lesson to other journalists around the world who hide behind the profession to poach at others simply because they belong to a different tribe, race or religion.

Over the past few days, the Freedom Newspaper has been releasing lists of Gambians working both in the private and public sector whom it identified as Jolas appointed by President Jammeh. As a Gambian, I have tried to ignore responding to such a sensitive topic in order to avoid being called a tribalist. But the time has come when I cannot turn a blind eye to certain tribalist comments in the articles that could incite tribal hatred among Gambians. Tribalism, like racism is such a sensitive issue and journalists must be careful of what to publish or broadcast in our various media outlets.

I am not having a go at Mr Mbai and the Freedom Newspaper for publishing such articles. He has a right to publish anything he wants under the sun. But journalism goes with responsibility. That is why professionals like Kevin Marsh of the BBC's Today Programme expressed the need for a profession built on values; fairness, impartiality, open mindedness, inclusivity. The public deserves – and our system needs – journalists who read from both sides of the balance sheet and who understand that a partial truth is more lethal than a blatant untruth.

In this 21st century, it is beyond believe that we still continue to look at each other as Jolas, Mandinka, Wollof, and Fula and not as Gambians. This is very unfortunate. And what makes it more unfortunate is the decision of Freedom Newspaper to name these men and women serving their country whose only crime is to belong to the Jola tribe.

Looking at the way the Freedom Newspaper is portraying things in the country, it make one believe that the Gambian civil service is dominated by Jolas. This is far from reality. In fact some of the people identified as Jolas are not Jolas. Having a surname like Jarju, Jammeh, Camara, Sanyang et cetera, does not in anyway make you a Jola. It is the same with Wollof and Serers. Take for instance; Pa Kalifa Sanyang is a Mandinka from Faraba Banta. Fatim Badjie does not even know what is how are you in Jola. Susan Waffa Ogoo is an Aku. Fabakary Jammeh of the National Lottery is a Mandinka.

Another thing I cannot comprehend is the tribalist way Mr Mbai plays with his news headlines and intros. Just take a look at this: “Western Region Governor Abdou FM Badjie Fired!!! Another Jolla Takes Over Brikama!! Western Region Governor Abdou FM Badjie has been sacked with immediate effect, the Freedom Newspaper, can authoritatively reveal. Badjie who shared the same ethnic group with the President has been replaced by another Jolla Lamin Sanneh; NIA Director, Arrested, Sacked And Detained!!! Another official of the Mandingka ethnic group at the NIA has been arrested, sacked and detained at the Mile Two Central Prison.”

Reading this makes me sick. And looking at the substance of the story, the NIA officer's removal was as a result of alleged financial mismanagement and not because he is a Mandinka.

Again, in trying to confuse the public by making them believe that Jammeh that is only appointing Jolas in positions of public trust, Mbai has failed to point out that Jammeh has nothing to do with the appointment of some of the people he is listing in his newspaper nor has their ethnicity played a part in their appointments.

One thing I found interesting in Gambian politics is the way we keep pointing the dirty finger of tribalism at each other. For example, a Mandinka who supports the UDP is not tribalist. A Fula who supports the NRP is not a tribalist but a Jola who supports Jammeh, is called tribalist. This is very, very unfair. If we can describe Jammeh as tribalist for having men and women of different tribes to work for him, then it makes me wonder what we think of the UDP and NRP. We have to stop this conservative way of thinking if we are to progress as a country.

I am not disputing the fact that we do have some Jolas in cabinet and other government positions. Yes we do but so too is people from other tribes. Take for instance, I will only consider Ousman Sonko, Secretary of State for the Interior, Isamaila K. Sambou, secretary of state for Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, and Abdou Kolley, secretary of State for Trade, Industry & Employment as the only Jolas in Jammeh's cabinet. The remaining members of cabinet like Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, Musa G. Bala Gaye, Dr Malick Njie, Momodou Kotu Cham, Ousman Jammeh, Lamin Bojang, Dr Omar Touray, Nancy Njie, Crispin Grey Johnson, Marie Saine-Firdaus, Yankouba Touray, Fatou L. Faye, Fatim Badji, Mass Axy Gye, and Abdoulie Momodou Sallah are all Gambians of different tribes. So where is the Jola domination that we are whining about?

The speaker of the National Assembly, who is the most powerful person in the country after the president, is a nonJola. The Chief Justice is not a Jola, the mayor of Banjul, the chairman of North Bank, Central River, Upper River, and Lower River Regions of the country are all not Jolas. Again where are the Jolas said to be dominating all positions of public trust? Furthermore, talking about the Jolas dominating the civil service, name five Jolas who are permanent or deputy secretaries, name one single Jola who is a judge or magistrate, name five Jolas heading the Gambian diplomatic missions abroad. The issue of Jammeh using the Jolas to govern the country falls flat on the face.

Pa Nderry's statement that: "He [Jammeh] is favoring his tribe men and women to the expense of the Gambian nation. If you are not a Jolla today in The Gambia, you are considered as a " bad person, unpatriotic, enemy of the state, the list goes on and on…..The President has undermined the country’s cultural and ethnic diversities in the name of tribal discrimination ," can only be described as a figment of his imagination.

One thing we have to bear in mind is the fact that a larger percentage of the people who support Jammeh are the Mandinkas, Wollofs, Fulas, you name them and it would be counter productive if not suicidal on his part to insult them.

The statement "prior to the advent of the Jammeh administration, we have been happily living with Jollas in this country. It’s Yahya Jammeh who is trying to promote tribal discrimination in The Gambia. He hides in the name of governance to discrimination against other tribes," is what I will call a whopper to borrow from Mike Moore. If Jammeh's ways of governance is deemed tribalist, then how would Pa Nderry describe his own antics? It’s like the cooking pot calling the kettle black.

It is true that Gambians have been living happily and they are still, but the problem here is that there are some big-headed men of other tribes who think that God created their tribe first before the other tribes. They are so conservative and never will they ever tolerate the fact that they are being rule by someone from another tribe, a tribe they deemed inferior for that matter. Every African is proud of his tribe and none of us will ever regard ourselves as inferior to another tribe. Therefore, the issue of tribalism will always be a problem as long as we don't see ourselves as Gambians belonging to one big family.

With regard to the statement: "Based on the feed backs we are getting, Jammeh has a special project on Mandingka, Fulla and Wollof army officers and other public servants. His main intention is to get rid of potential threats and replace them with his own tribe men.....Yahya Jammeh is a hater, who should be apprehended. His discrimination against other tribes is getting out of hand. He puts Jollas first, before any other tribe. Look at the way, he sends his tribe men and women for overseas studies. He denied other tribes scholarships. Jammeh is building a Jolla Kingdom in The Gambia. Gambians should open their eyes. This tribal discrimination got to stop. Let us reclaim our country back. Jammeh discriminates against other tribe.!!"

I see such a statement as an incitement of tribal tension. We need to be very professional when playing the tribalism card. This is because outrageous remarks like this will bring nothing but tribal war in our God blessed country. Talking about reclaiming the Gambia, is the Gambia in the hands of a Gambian or foreigner? Or does he want to make us believe that it is wrong for a Jola to rule the Gambia?

We have to grow up and see each other as brothers and sisters who are all progenies of Adam and Eve. We are Gambians and not Mandinkas, Fulas, Jola or Tukulor and we must resist against any thing that tries to divide us on ethic lines.

May Almighty Allah continue to shower His love, protection and guidance on us all. Amen

Compromised justice

Over the past two weeks, local newspapers in the Gambia were filled with stories about the former Alkalo of Sohm, Momodou Baringo Jarjue, who was convicted for illegally removing forest properties and conniving to fell a mahogany tree as well as charcoal burning.

The Daily Observer even went further to write an editorial on the subject captioned Exemplary in which they praise the head chief of Kombo East, Alhaji Basirou Jarjue, for upholding the law by convicting his own brother.

The Daily Observer was right when it said that what the Gambian society needs now is leaders who are servants of the people and not masters. The author of that editorial needs to look at that statement over and over again in respect to the country's leadership. He needs to ask himself whether the leadership we have in the country is that which sees itself as master or servant of the Gambian people? To me and indeed to every right thinking Gambian, Jammeh is not only a master of the Gambian people but a God as well.

Since 1997, the Gambian leader has been manipulating the country's constitution, enacting laws after laws that give him absolute powers over the country and its people. He does what he feels like and says what he wants to the people without due regards to the law. He is untouchable. He cannot be questioned by police or prosecuted for any wrong doing while in power and even after exiting from the corridors of power.

The Observer is again right when it says: "If we make a rough quantification of the causes of Africa’s underdevelopment, we are likely to find 50 percent of it, if not more, being the cause of unscrupulous leadership." Well, in the case of the Gambia, our underdevelopment is all down to one man. And that is Jammeh.

This was a guy who before July 1994 was nowhere near the property ladder. The fella was poor, malnourished and even had ratatoi. Today, he is the wealthiest Gambian owning vast lands and properties he can never afford with his mere salary. How he acquired all those riches will always be a mystery to the Gambian people. Start talking about his assets and you risk being buried six feet deep or incarcerated at the Mile Two prisons if you are lucky.

Jammeh and his associates have hijacked the country and anything good is for them. They are like the pigs in George Orwell's book, Animal Farm.

Many close associates of the president who were sacked or indicted for corruption are never brought before any court of law neither do they pay back to the state monies illegally acquired. Instead they are within months of their dismissals reappointed to higher positions of public trust. And if an alkalo who is not paid a penny for his work could be punished for illegally removing trees belonging to the village forest in the name of justice, then that gives another interpretation of our justice system. It only severely punishes the poor.

Our justice system is not fit for purpose. It is very compromising. Justice in the Gambia is one sided and the only people who face the brunt of the law are the poor and opponents of the regime. Take the case of Abdou Jobe, former managing director of Nawec as an example. The guy was arrested and charged with economic crimes only for him to be pardoned by Jammeh after some Muslim elders pleaded on his behalf. David Colley's case is another example. The guy was convicted of theft only to be reappointed as director general of our Prisons services less than four months after his conviction.

Why is Blaise Jagne, Neneh MacDoul, Yankuba Touray, Lamin Kaba Bajo and all those big fish who were implicated in official corruption never taken to court when their crimes are more grievous than those committed by Alkalo Jarjue. And if a poor local chief like Alhaji Basirou Jarjue can uphold the law by punishing his own brother, then President Jammeh should bury his head in shame. He put his interest and that of his mates before national interest and as a result many corrupt officers who should have been eating porridge at the Mile Two Prisons are still occupying public offices and continuing to milk the tax payers. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander.

The fight against corruption in the Gambia is only targeting the wrong people and that is why Jammeh's Operation no Compromise has failed. The so-called operation was nothing but a witch hunt and a waste of tax payer's money. Almost all civil servants who were sacked after been indicted by the Paul Commission are all back at work. In fact, the report has never been made public.

To conclude, I will say well done Chief Basirou, shame on Mr President.

Defending Pa Nderry
Over the weekend, my colleague, Pa Nderry M'bai got a nasty email from one Ebrahim A Jackson or whatever he calls himself. I had to laugh aloud after reading Ebrahim's mail to Mr M'bai as his writings shows that the guy's balls are bigger than his brain.

Ebrahim needs to know that while he is busy singing and dancing to Afinjang, the rest of the Gambian people are not. We have woken up from our slumber and have realised that the APRC and its leadership is nothing but wolves in sheep clothing. And while Ebrahim is still blindly worshipping Jammeh, whom he regards as god, witted Gambians on the contrary sees Jammeh as nothing but their servant period.

Jammeh is paid by the Gambian tax payers. Above all, building schools, roads and hospitals is his government's responsibility and it would be very idiotic if Gambians are to praise him each and every time he does what he is meant to do.

Blaming Mr M'bai of neglecting the carnage in Iraq is nonsense. The development in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay has nothing to do with the Gambia. Mr M'bai is a Gambian and it is his responsibility to talk about issues affecting the lives of the Gambian people.

Mr Ebrahim should understand that patriotism goes beyond supporting tyranny. Jammeh does not love the Gambia more than us and our criticisms of his oppressive regime should not be regarded as a means of trying to destabilised the country. We love the Gambia, it’s the land of our birth and we have our families living there and it is only a mad man who will set fire on his own house while his parents and kids are sleeping inside.

Mr Ebrahim, in this 21st century, it is very sad to see that there still exist young men like who have failed to recognised who they are and where they are going. You have eyes but you don't see and if the Freedom newspaper is giving you sleepless nights, stop reading it period.