Hamjatta, As you know them when they mess up, it is the opposition, to be precise the UDP. I told a friend on Monday that the next thing is they will drag Waa Juwara and co soon. As for VP's statement it is a disgrace that she had to lie to the whole Gambia. ZIZ. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hamjatta Kanteh" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2000 2:56 PM Subject: VP's Statement And The Endless Mssaaging Of The Truth > Gambia-L: > Below is the statement of the Vice President on the massacre of UNARMED > students by her ARMED security forces. Reading this would only make you sick > to the stomach. those of you who don't have a strong stomach for LIES should > just DELETE. What does it profit you to gain Jammeh's favour only to lose > your soul? What has happened to conscience? Dammit........... And now, as > anticipated, the spin is that opposition parties were behind it all. See > attached below already they have begun arresting opposition figures. But > Gambia-L, this will be the story that is unspinnable as they are learning > much to their chagrin. > Hamjatta > > ******************************************************** > VP Says Shooting Started From Demonstrators > > > > In her first public statement since the bloody student demonstrations, Monday > and Tuesday, the vice president, Isatou Njie-Saidy, last night addressed the > nation. The full text of her speech is reproduced below. > > Fellow Gambians,Following the unfortunate incident of last Monday in which > our school children led by Gamsu and other unscrupulous people in the society > decided to wreak havoc on the whole country, on behalf of His Excellency, The > President, Government and people of the Gambia, I wish to express our deepest > and heartfelt sympathy and condolence to the parents and families of the dead > and wounded. It is indeed very sad and regrettable that within a period of > three years, students have decided to go on the rampage for the fourth time > causing untold damage and loss of property, and in this instance loss of > lives. Contrary to the erroneous belief that the shooting started from the > security forces on the ground, it is confirmed that in fact the shooting > started from within the demonstrators, since the security forces only had > blank ammunitions, tear gas, batons and shields at the time.I also wish to > assure you of Government's concern and primary duty to maintain the peace and > stability of the country in the interest and welfare of the entire > population, and for the development of The Gambia as nation. > > It must be understood that a fundamental condition for development in any > country is that an atmosphere of security and stability is maintained by the > state. It is only when potential instability is checked and brought under > firm control, and the security environment has become stable, that > development programmes can be carried out and the general welfare of the > people ensured.You are all aware that within the last five years, this > government has invested substantially in education, health, agriculture and > other sectors of the economy. We are all living witnesses to the massive > expansion of educational infrastructure and services at all levels throughout > the country, including the establishment of a university for the first time, > where most of the students enjoy full scholarship. This has been made > possible through the support of both public and private institutions and > individuals, including the establishment of an Educational Trust Fund under > the Office of The President. The parastatal institutions, in particular the > Gambia Telecommunications Company Ltd. (Gamtel), have contributed immense > resources towards the education of a significant number of students at all > strata of the society. In fact the board of directors of Gamtel has recently > approved an increase of 40% on their education fund.Despite all this > sacrifice from Government and the parastatals, it is indeed very > disheartening that the students led by Gamsu and other unscrupulous people > have willfully carried out such massive destruction of useful facilities, > thus depriving everyone of their essential services. > > Fellow Gambians,I wish to appeal to all, particularly community and religious > leaders during this period of grief and sorrow, to offer prayers for the > deceased and the speedy recovery of the injured. Let us also pray for peace > and reconciliation, and embark on a healing process to enhance our cherished > virtues of tolerance and peaceful co-existence that The Gambia has always > been renowned for. In the same vein, we wish to urge the media to engage in > objective reporting during this difficult and trying period.Finally, as > mentioned in our previous press release of Tuesday, 11 April 2000, the > unfortunate death of Ebrima Barry has been given all the attention and > urgency it deserves, by the department of state for Justice. Let me reiterate > that investigations have been completed, the suspects interrogated are > presently remanded in custody. The case has been registered in court and the > due process of the law will be observed.Once again, I wish to appeal to the > general public and Gambians in particular, to re-orientate our thinking and > behaviour towards patriotism and sense of belonging. > > I thank you all for your (readership). > > > > . > > > > > > > > > National Assembly member arrested > Buba Samura, the UDP National Assembly member for Kiang East, was arrested by > the police early yesterday morning in Brikama.His arrest was said to have > been in connection with the student riots Monday. > > Eyewitnesses said Mr Samura was arrested while on his way to Banjul. Our > sources said the vehicle which he was on board was followed by a motor > cyclist identified as a security agent around Gambia College. The driver of > the vehicle was instructed to drive back to Brikama police station with th e > passengers. > > Upon their arrival at the station, Mr Samura was ordered by the police to > alight.Sources close to the police intimated that Mr Samura was told by the > police that he was overheard commending the students for their actions and > saying that it was President Jammeh's misrule which had caused the riots. > > Family members pointed out that all their efforts to see or speak to Mr > Samura bore nought. His younger brother, Omar Samura, told Daily Observer > that few hours after his arrest, he was taken from Brikama police station "to > where, we don't know." > > Meanwhile, about 30 students were arrested in Brikama on Tuesday. A group of > parents told Daily Observer that they were denied access to see their > children in custody. > > > > > > > > . > > > > > > > hkanteh > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------