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Subject:
From:
Yusupha Jow <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 17 Sep 2000 23:24:35 EDT
Content-Type:
text/plain
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At least someone is speaking up.
Enjoy!

Daily Observer (Banjul)
 Sept 17th

NRP leader, Hamat Bah, has taken Justice secretary, Pap   Cheyassin Secka, to
task for his "failure" to publicise the long-awaited coroner   and commission
reports on April 10 and 11 students demonstrations, which left at   least 13
young people dead. The Upper Saloum representative was speaking on   Thursday
before the National Assembly during the ratification of a motion on the   Afri
can Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
  Bah said, "the Justice Secretary promised Gambians that the   Coroner's
Report would be publicised within one week. He also said the   commission
will present its report within three weeks.
  But up to date, the report of the coroner and the commission   has not been
presented to Gambians." Mr. Bah said "young Gambian students were   butchered
when demonstrating for their rights." He added that the young Gambians   who
were brutally murdered, were exercising their constitutional rights. He   cite
d Mali and the Central Africa, where he said children were also being   butche
red for exercising their rights.
  He expressed the need for African governments to come up   with measures to
penalise governments who violate treaties they have signed. Bah   also
expressed the need to protect and defend the rights of young children.
  But Hamat's statements riled some members of the ruling   party. Kanaji
Jawla, an APRC member, accused Hamat Bah of trying to gain "cheap   popularity
 by making ridiculous remarks to entertain the public gallery" and in   order
to hit the Daily Observer front pages.
  He said the April 10 and 11 incidents were adequately   addressed by
President Jammeh during his nationwide television address.   "Government is
very concerned about the incident.
  Nobody should talk about it to gain political capital. The   government of
the day is doing everything possible to ensure that the rights of   the
children are protected.
  This is a mature government with a leader who has vision for   this
country," said Jawla. Netty Baldeh also added, "This house does not intend   t
o dramatise and politicise the deaths of the students.
  We rather prefer to forget and reconcile." Kemeseng Jammeh,   the minority
leader who welcomed the motion said, "It is a move in the right   direction."
He commended SoS Secka for bringing the motion before the House. He,   however
, supported Hamat Bah's statement on the students riots.
  "The students were violently prevented from staging a   demonstration,
which brought about the killing of 14 children. These children   have the
constitutional rights to stage a demonstration." He also expressed   concern
over the delay in publicising the coroner and the commission's   report.
  "We are interested in the administration of justice." He   also spoke about
the code of conduct imposed on students which he said is   causing a lot of
controversy in the country. Reacting, SoS Secka told Hamat Bah,   "You will
have the opportunity to debate the commission's report when it comes   to the
House." He denied saying that the coroner's report would be publicised   withi
n a week.
  "I did say that the coroner will be appointed within a week.   The coroner
has submitted his report to the Justice department and I will advise   governm
ent on the report." SoS Secka said he was not aware of codes of conduct   impo
sed on students."

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