Folks, those of you who expressed concern on Joseph Joof's appointment could
not be wrong. The man has started kicking hard. Read on...Culled from the
web.

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"A lot of shouting has been going on by a very few people about Decree 89
but I want to say that government is not in a rush to repeal Decree 89 but
is considering the decree and other laws and will inform the public about
the outcome once a decision is taken."

So said the Attorney General and Secretary for Justice Joseph Joof at a
press conference yesterday at the Department of State for Works and
Communications.

Mr. Joof said the government would not be pushed to a corner, as there is
absolutely no rush. He argued that the decision to ban stemmed from a
recommendation by the public as part of the rectification programme through
the former NCC, and the results of both the referendum and the National
Assembly elections sanctioned it.

Asked whether the statement was not running counter to the promise made by
the President to the Commonwealth Secretary General, Joof replied in the
negative adding that the commitment is there to repeal the decree but not
today or tomorrow but in due course. "Government will not be cornered. A ban
is a ban and those banned had 30 years to avoid being banned but failed." He
advised the banned politicians to engage in something else. "They can engage
in NGO's activities, they can go into business or be telling their children
stories so that they know what happened in The Gambia", Joof admonished.

He warned that government intends to enforce the decree against anybody
particularly against those who had been shouting loudly in the recent past.
"Let them abide by the law and be patient otherwise the ban will be enforced
with a big Bang."

When quizzed why Buba Baldeh and Lamin Kebba Saho were allowed to partake in
political activities, he said there was no need to personalise the issue and
repeated that government would repeal the decree in due course.

When further quizzed on the issue, he said note had been taken about the
issue and the relevant authorities would be informed.

The Justice Secretary vehemently criticised the opposition for travelling to
London to call for sanctions against the country. He decried what he termed
"the call by opposition in London for their sponsors to impose sanctions on
The Gambia and its people." He claimed that they went there to enjoy the per
diem but their call on their sponsors to impose sanctions on the country was
rejected. He described the move as subversive and treasonable in other
countries. He commended the PDOIS for not being party to the meeting and for
abiding by principles. This sentiment was re-echoed by The Youth and Sports
Secretary (GSC Chairman) Secretary Jallow.

Mr. Jallow called on Gambians to give their full support to the National
Youth Conference and Festival scheduled to take place in Basse. -
Information Director Ebrima Cole chaired the conference



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