Well, I must salute sister FJC for this one, and Ms Diab for the support.
However, I think that the refusal to grant a moment of silence for Satang
Jobarteh goes beyond her being just a woman.

Jabou Joh

In a message dated 3/10/03 7:13:56 AM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> Daily Observer
> Monday, March 10 2003
>
> Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay nominated member of the National Assembly on
> Friday critised fellow members of the Assembly for being "unfair" to women
> of this country.
>
> The Member's fury started when her proposal for members to observe a
> minute's silence for dead woman activitist, Satang Jorbateh was thrown out.
>
> 'I want to be on records that I made a motion in this National Assembly to
> observe a minute's silence for one of our sisters who regularly attended
> our
> proceedings, and was blatantly refused by the Assembly, because she was a
> woman," FJC told Parliament.
>
> She added that there is nothing wrong with observing a minute's silence for
> Satang since we are all good Muslims and Christians.  "Or is it because she
> is a woman, that's why men are refusing, saying it has to be done at a
> rally?  We are offended, the women are offended and you have to apologise
> ",
> she told parliamentarians.
>
> Hon. Ramzia Diab another nominated member declared support for FJC's
> proposal.  She told the Speaker that rejecting the proposal is gross
> disrespect.  "I have the right to say what I want to say this has nothing
> to
> do with gender, it is humanitarian gesture.  This was a woman who had
> trained most of the National Assembly Members women in school.  All we want
> is to observe a minute 's silnce in respect of her soul," she stressed.
>
> She pointed out that this suggestion has nothing to do with the Women's Day
> celebration in Mansakonko.  It's just to respect the chair she used to sit
> on because, she always attended sittings at the National assembly," she
> said, threatening to stage a women MP walkout.
>
> In response, Speaker Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, said while he has very good
> regard for the late Satang Jobarteh, the House has to go by the majority
> decision.  Besides so many prominent women have passed away in this country
> without the National Assembly observing a minute's silence in their memory.
>
> Hon. Halifa Sallah, Member for Serrekunda Central called for th matter to
> be
> put to a vote.
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