>From: Omar Drammeh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Female circumcision; a burnig issue in Norway.
>Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 14:53:31 +0200
>
>                                   "Betrayal and lies???"
>
>
>Until lately, the issue of female circumcision in The Gambian community at
>large is taboo; it is sensitive, and many would look the other way anytime
>it is raised. A recent TV programme in Norway has embarked upon a
>demystification campaign of this issue, and The Gambian and Somali
>communities are the main targets. Last week, two young Somali girls came
>forward to tell their story, and it is found out that 3000 young girls are
>at risk of being circumcised and that already 29 cases were reported of
>girls including a 5 year old Gambian being circumcised outside Norway.
>
>One of the Somali girls was equipped with a hidden camera to seek advice
>from The Gambian and Somali imams as to what she should do because she was
>at the verge of being ostrocized by her family for refusing to get
>circumcised. One Gambian imam Ibrahim Saidy adviced her to obey her parents
>and go ahead and do the circumcision, since there seemed to be no other
>alternative, and that Allah`s message was to obey ones parents. Another
>Gambian imam Fakebba Jagana, who represents another Gambian mosque gave the
>girl a similar advice, but also went further trying to justify his point by
>giving an example of how he maintains a wife both in The Gambia and here in
>Norway, when unknowingly he was digging his own grave! The Somali imam also
>supports the idea, and he even has a daugther to be sent out of the country
>for the operation (Don`t get shocked that with the limited number of
>Gambians in Oslo, we still can`t worship together in one house. There is
>too much of division it is unbelievable, but, then that is a common Gambian
>phenomenon everywhere). Another Gambian, Kebba Secka, who is the secretary
>general of The islamic council in Norway, and a key member of the
>commission for ethics and values set up by the former government (The
>christian democrats) was also approached, and his was equally the same
>advice, though he wouldn`t take any responsibilty for it. The whole thing
>was one big set up; none of these people knew they were on hidden camera.
>Officially, all four of them are against female circumcision, but the
>camera had shown a hidden reality in the communities.
>
>Now what we have is a question of integrity. A couple of weeks ago, imam
>Saidy`s sermon was on "Betrayal and lies", and that the moslem ceases to be
>one when these are predominant in his/her character. The sad reality is
>that all three imams and kebba Secka gave different versions officially and
>unofficially. These are people who are highy respected in our communities
>here, and to see them being put on the spot and being labelled as liars
>especilly on national TV is rather unfortunate.
>
>One striking thing though, is that the media is manipulating the whole
>issue to their own advantage, and it is headline news today in the tabloids
>and the radio. This is also an opportune time when the outspoken leader of
>the Progress Party Carl I Hagen gets his kick, and would start launching
>his usual verbal attacks on immigrants, especially now that his party is
>doing well in the polls. Anytime there is some issue about immigrants, Carl
>is out  and most often than not blow everything out of proportion to get
>the sympathy of the electorate. When The Gambia was portrayed in a TV
>progrmme as a sex tourism paradise where young Gambian males in their 20s
>marry European ladies over 60, and when Pakistani A and B gangs went on a
>shooting rampage to eliminate each other, it was never "cool" to be an
>immigrant here. It was all immigrants this and immigrants that, and yet
>again here is another bombshell.
>
>Imam Saidy had apologised to the whole nation, and Kebba Secka had tendered
>his resignation. The Somali mosque distanced itself from the statements
>made by the "imam", claiming that he was not representing them, and that he
>was just there by coincidence. This further casts a shadow of doubt on
>their credibility.
>
>What these imams and Kebba Secka seem not to be aware of was that there was
>a law enacted back in 1995 which bands circumcission of Norwegian girls
>both in and outside Norway, and that the offence is punishable by
>imprisonment. A state lawyer Tor Axel Busch is launching an investigation
>into this, and many might be brought to book. The justice minister has also
>made a statement as to reconsidering state subsidies to these mosques
>involved. If the state subsidies are held back these mosques that are
>basically dependent on state handouts are all bound to crumble, since most
>members of their congregations never bother paying their subsriptions.
>
>Norway finances a project against the eradication of the practise in
>Senegal, and it is said to be very successful, and I understand in Kenya
>Kenyan women run a sort of a work shop where women gather and do their
>stuff and talk about issues affecting them, and the only thing absent is
>the actual"operation". This might be something for our sisters back home in
>Th Gambia who are in a crusade to eliminate female circumcision.
>
>It seems the interpretation of our culture, tradition, the hadith and
>sharia are most of the time confusing. While circumcision is seen as a
>traditional and cultural practice, the picture painted here in this country
>is highly a religeous one, and the moslem especially the male has a lot of
>explanation to do as to the distinctions.
>
>It is human to err, and I feel sorry for these people who were completely
>bamboozled. It aint the least funny!
>
>Good day all,
>Omar
>
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WHO WILL SPARE THE GAMBIAN FARMERS

We wonder who will spare our Gambian farmers. To our dismay our pparents the
Gambian farmers are always victims of selfishness, self centered and curupt
people. They are being looted all the time to fill personal pockets. With
all the poverty they tried so hard to send us to school and we inturn rob
them off, that is not why they sent us to school. They want to get out of
the poverty trap. All they know is agriculture, we should embrace new
projects for them in order for them to improve on technology so as to
increase production.

The Irish potato project in NBD,namely Illiassa, Jarjari, Kekuta Kunda and
Katchang was going to be a very good start as far as horticulture
diversification is concern, but greedy , self centered people like PA
(AMADOU) JALLOW WOULD NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!  FAO started this project which
was more than welcomed by the villagers, who worked so hard to contribute
quota.  But PA JALLOW ran away with some money and unpaid fertilizer and
insecticide bills leaving the problems to the poor farmers to settle. And
now during the farming season people are again without sufficient funds to
purchase Irish potato seeds, fertilizers and other farm implements, as Pa
did not organise the crop marketing as he had promised in the villages.  The
same thing happened according to sources to the proposed fishing project
sponsored by some private people from Findland, the fishing boat and fishing
nets were never bought even before the sponsors came to the Gambia. Shame on
you , why did you choose to loot our NBD WHICH HAVE SUFFERED NEGLECT FOR
OVER 30YEARS.

I am a citizen of Katchang and I was very happy to learn about such
developments in my village. Instead you came here in the US to attend a
daughters graduation, present her with a car at the cost of my poor parents.
How can you feel confortable traveling around the world with this kind of
money. As young as you are don't you think there is a better way of live of
life than this?

During my investigations I found out that looting as been part of youfrom
all the places they recalled you ever worked

What will happen to Arabo Kanyi MP who the farmers know and will question,
Dont you think about his political career? Can you ever return to NBD to
face these people your father served so well during his time?

I feel that it about time to reveal people like you, we have been focusing
too much on Yaya Jammeh in this part of the world and other dubious people
slip away.

I cannot stop thinking when will we come out of this kind of mesh? help!!!
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