Hi folks,
Thanks for all your e-mail messages. And please keep them coming.
I have a number issues I want to touch on. First, Sheikh Tijan Nyang
informed us that Muslims all over The Gambia offered prayers yesterday
(Fri., April 14) for the dead and wounded, and also prayed for "peace and
tranquility" back home. The Christians, Mr. Nyang said, will be praying
tomorrow (Sunday, April 16). And I say it's well and good that people pray
for the dead and wounded. But at the same time, I fear that we are going
back to our old ways of being hypocritical, and bringing God into something
He has nothing to do with. The killings that happened in The Gambia were
perpetrated by human beings against not only other human beings, but against
their very own fellow citizens. It is thus a crying shame that we are
hiding behind our faiths as week seek solutions to the problem we face, and
answers to the questions we are asking.
Second, Momodou Buharry has suggested that we take the government up on it's
offer through the Attorney General's office to investigate the killings and
bring those guilty to book. That's all fine, but I hope that we also make
it clear that at this point, nothing short of a negotiated end of President
Jammeh's government will do. Simply put, Yaya must go. The fact of the
matter is that last week's killings are the latest in a list (long) of such.
And I don't think the government can provide any iron-clad guarantee this
won't happen again. Further, from what I gather, they have made it
abundantly clear that their security is priority number 1, and they really
couldn't clear less how much it (in lives and whatever) it costs to
accomplish that. I beg to disagree with them.
The postings we have been getting over the past week also indicate a glaring
lack of contributions (except for a few from Tombong Saidy, and forwarded
editorials from the press) from people who actually reside in The Gambia.
To me, this is a clear indication of the extent to which people back home
have been terrified into silence. This means that it is especially
important for those of us that can talk do so. Our voices must be raised
even higher, not only for ourselves, but all those who wished they could,
but cannot. Furthermore, me must show any and all that aim at preventing an
open discussion of what is of great concern to us that their efforts will
fail.
And regarding our need for translators, I would like to inform Mats Utbult
that his offer to help is greatly appreciated. We would need not only his
translation services but also any contacts and leads he can provide in
his/her community of journalists. Ditto with everyone who wants to help
with the Web project. We'll be working out the details in time.
I guess that's about it. Best wishes.
Katim
----- Original Message -----
From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2000 12:35 PM
Subject: Re: Where Do We Go From Here?
> Buharry,
>
> These are good suggestions since it is clear that the government is doing
the
> usual, seeing what criticism is levelled at them and then trying to cover
> themselves in those areas. It is also an encouragement to be vigilant
since
> they undoubtedly know that what is said here is exposing them to the
World,
> and if it saves a life, then let us keep up the heat. Including the
> suggestions you made into our plan is vital to ensuring that the
statements
> they make are not just empty promises to pacify the people for now.
>
> Jabou
>
> Hi!
>
> I think that we need to step back and take stock of our efforts and
> their results so far. I have reread the petition and I see that the
> government is making overtures regarding some of what is stated in it.
> Instead of blanket, reactionary dismissal of anything offered by the
> government or being blinded by emotions, I think we should devise
strategies
> to analyse and come up with recommendations regarding how we can ensure
the
> achievement of our goals while remaining firm. Examples of government
> overtures are:
>
> PETITION: - release the names of those killed and release their
> bodies to their relatives for proper burial;
>
> Tombong has released the names of those killed and injured. To ensure
that
> this is the total number, we should accept Tombong's challenge and
encourage
> all who have missing relatives to report their names to an agreed upon
person
> or news outlet. I think that Tombong should be thanked for the efforts in
> getting and publishing the names of the victims. He could have simply kept
> quiet just like the rest of the government.
>
> PETITION: - ensure that those responsible for the murder of Ebrima Barry
and
> the rape of Binta Manneh are prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law
> without undue delay;
>
> ATTORNEY GENERAL's STATEMENT: In view of the fact that the credibility of
> our criminal justice system is itself on trial, the Attorney General will
> take the unusual step of appointing a Public Prosecutor under section 65
of
> the Criminal Procedure Code. The Gambia Bar Association, the family of the
> deceased, friends of justice (at home or abroad) are invited to suggest
names
> of lawyers, (both at home and abroad) who can satisfactorily conduct the
> prosecution of the
> alleged murders of Ebrima Barry.
>
>
> Instead of dismissing the AG's offer, let us take him up on it. He has
> suggested that the Bar Association, deceased's families and concerned
people
> outside can suggest names. Let us first ask him questions like how the
> selection procedure will take place, who will make the final selection,
the
> criteria for making such a selection etc. We should begin work on locating
a
> lawyer and try to co-ordinate our efforts with the Bar Association and the
> families of the deceased.
>
>
> PETITION: - launch an independent enquiry into the shootings and
> circumstances surrounding it;
>
> ATTORNEY GENERAL'S STATEMENT: I have invoked my powers under section
11(1)
> of the Coroner's Act, Cap 7.04, and an application is simultaneously being
> lodged with the Chief Justice to order that an inquest be held touching on
> the death of any persons as a result of the events of the 10th and 11th
April
> 2000. The purpose of the inquest is, of course, to establish whether or
not
> an offence has been committed by any person, known or unknown.
>
> What we can do here is to try to influence the make-up of the commission
or
> try to ensure that it is independent. We should remain vigilant to counter
> any attempt to influence the commission. We can also insist that the
students
> alone are not held responsible but that responsibility for the shootings
is
> properly placed on those responsible. More suggestions on what we can do
can
> be forthcoming.
>
> Maybe Tombong can be helpful in providing the names of students still
under
> detention and provide us with the number of students charged and released
on
> bail and the severity of the charges levelled against them.
>
> We should keep the pressure to ensure that the government sticks by what
it
> has offered and to ensure that the rest of the petition items are
respected.
> All the planned activities should be followed.
>
> At this point, I would like to suggest that we desist from using abusive
> language as has been proposed by others earlier. People have vented their
> frustrations and now should be the time for sober reflection and action.
> Continuing to indulge in abusive language will not help our cause and
might
> have the negative impact of having people dismiss our seriousness. We have
> charted a course and should follow it to ensure that justice prevails but
let
> us follow that course with dignity, firmness, vigilance and dedication. We
> still have a long way to go. Thanks.
>
> >>
>
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