We were told that Joseph Joof said: "A ban is a ban and those banned had 30
years to avoid being banned but failed."

I do not want to appear defending Joseph Joof but something must seriously
wrong here. Perhaps those familiar with how Yahya does business can give us
an idea about what is it like to work in his Cabinet. How much is blackmail,
magic or just greed? Is Jammeh such a charismatic leader who can turn his
stunch critics into foolish, die hard supporters with the wisk of a magic
wand? How can seemingly educated, smart, well-to-do, independent Gambians
allow themselves to be used by Jammeh? Is it the money? Big enough to turn
sane people really insane? Or is there something else? Isn't there a pattern
here? i.e a pattern of seemingly clean, well-to-do, and smart Gambians
picked up from the crowd and turned into a very stinky public enemies before
let loose into our midst.

Makes me feel there is a Hollywood movie going on here. A mobster kidnapping
the most able citizens of the town, drug them into junkies, film them doing
the most heinous acts before releasing him into the population. Well just
thinking loud but I still cannot get it!

Malanding



----- Original Message -----
From: "Amadou Drammeh" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 10:32 AM
Subject: Joseph Joof on the rampage!!!!


> 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.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> "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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>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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