Ansumana, Your opinion is respected. We don't argue with opinions that are not substantiated. We take them into consideration. I will take you on certain points to show you that we are a different breed and we know exactly what we are doing and how to do it. You are occupied by a personality. We are occupied by a Gambian people, in particular, African people, in general and humanity, at large. For your information, the Commission of Inquiry is now gazetted. The content goes as follows: "COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE PUBLIC DISTURBANCES OF 10TH AND 11TH APRIL 2000. "IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred on the President by section 200 of the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia 1997, this Commission is hereby issued. "1. The Commission shall consist of- "(a) Justice Felix Michael Lartey, who shall be the Chairperson of the Commission; "(b) Mr Joseph Henry Joof; "(c) Reverend Titus Pratt; "(d) Mr Bai Ndongo Faal; "(e) Mr Momodou Ousman Njie; "(f) Alhajie Ousman Jah; "(g) Mr james M.B. Abraham; "(h) Mr Kebba Sarr; and "(i) Mrs Ndey Kumba Sosseh. "(2) The Commissioners shall, from among themselves, elect a Vice Chairperson. 2. The Commission is authorised to inquire into the causes of the breakdown of public order on 10th and 11th April 2000 and to- "(a) determine the extent to which any individual or group of individuals directly or indirectly contributed to it; "(b) assess and quantify the material loss occasioned by the breakdown of public order on 10th and 11th April 2000; and "(c) make recommendations as to how a recurrence of such a breakdown of public order can be avoided. "3. (1) The Commission shall - "(a) make a fully and impartial investigation into the causes of the breakdown of public order on 10th and 11th April 2000; and "(b) furnish in writing a report on the results of the inquiry, including a statement of the reasons leading to the conclusions of the Commission. (2) The Commission shall have all the powers, rights and privileges of a judge of the High Court at a trial in respect of- "(a) enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise; "(b) compelling the production of documents; "(c) issuing a commission or request for the examination of witnesses abroad; and "(d) making of interim orders. "4. The Secretary-General shall appoint a Secretary to the Commission. "5 (1) The Chairperson shall preside at sessions of the Commission and in the Chairperson's absence, the Vice Chairperson shall preside and in the absence of both, the members present shall appoint one of their number to preside. "(2) The quorum for a session of the Commission is five commissioners. "6. (1) The Commission is not bound by the rules of evidence applicable to a court of law and may receive in evidence any material evidence it may deem necessary for arriving at a decision. "(2) The Commission shall prescribe its own procedure. "7. In the conduct of its inquiry the Commission shall be independent and shall not act under the direction or control of any authority. 8. (1) A Commissioner shall not be liable to any action or suit in respect of any matter or thing bona fide or omitted to be done in the performance of his or her functions as a Commissioner. "(2) A witness before the Commission shall be entitled to the same to the immunities and privileges as if he or she were a witness in proceedings before the High Court. "9. The Commission shall be assisted by Counsel appointed by the Attorney General, and such other investigating officers as it may from time to time require. "10. The Inspector General of Police shall assign such police officers to attend upon the Commissioners of the Commission, to preserve order, serve summonses on witnesses and perform such other functions relating to the Commission as the Commission may direct. "11. (1) The Commission shall complete its inquiry within five weeks of its first sitting- provided that if in the opinion of the Commission it is necessary to continue its inquiry beyond five weeks then it may request the President for an extension of time to do so. "(2) The Commission shall cease to exist on the date that the Commission submits its report to the President. "DATED THIS 22ND DAY OF MAY, 2000. "YAHYA A.J.J. JAMMEH. "President of the Republic of The Gambia." ----- Original Message ----- From: Ansumana Kujabi <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 8:32 AM Subject: THE CORONER'S INQUEST AND COMMISSION OF INQUIRY > I must say that Mr. Ebou Colly and Mr. Dampha are prudent intellectuals who > have not only accurately pin-pointed the major weaknesses in the writings of > Foroyaa, but also vividly exposed the disorganized nature and dishonesty of > the writings in talking about the Coroner's Inquest and the so-called > Commission of Inquiry. Colly put it best: "Sometimes when they want to talk > about a spot in the moon, they would first take you on a ride at different > spots in the surrounding stars until you sometimes end up being totally lost > in the galaxy." This description of Halifa Sallah's writing is a fair > characterization. Halifa Sallah is a very "dry Intellectual" who is > sometimes dishonest in presenting his views on a particular issue; and this > kind of approach tends to throw readers off. Ever since I was in high in the > 1980s, when Foroyaa was at its highest point in shaping the political debate > in the country at the time, I could hardly consolidate or even understand > what they were highlighting about the Jawara Administration. Foroyaa's > writings sometimes resembles a day-dreamer's dream, which is solely based on > images cultivating in the mind and not realities. > > His(Halifa Sallah) writings are absolutely weird, with a weird name hair and > look and personality, no wonder his organization and arrangements of ideas > are also weird. And in writing about the Coroners Inquest and the so-called > Commission of Inquiry, Halifa took a may-we-go-round before coming to the > central question. What I don't understand is the weirdness in the writings > of an intellectual like Halifa, someone whom to my judgement is also fit to > run for the highest Office of the Land; but yet, judging by his recent > writings, it seems as if he is indirectly campaigning for the monster child > murderer President. Is Halifa being paid by the child murderer, or is he > just advancing his honest ideas? That should be a course of concern for all > Intellectuals in the Country. Or should we put forward the question that > there is vacancy for prudent and seasoned Intellectuals in the Country? I > don't so. We only happened to have the "Dry Intellectuals" like Halifa who > only gives us empty bones in their writings, instead of giving us meat. I > think, taking into account the prevailing precarious circumstances in our > beautiful country, The Gambia, we humbly deserve honest, well-thoughtful, > well-organized and seasoned intellectual contributions, and not a sheer dry, > pathetic and bizarre writings. In conclusion, I do however commend every > body, including Halifa for their valuable contributions. Keep Hope Alive. > > Ansumana Kujabi > Concerned citizen > ________________________________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------