Hello, I have a question for the webmaster of the Gambiansonline website. I would email them, but I having trouble accessing the site. I am sorry for taking up list space with this, but I thought that this would be the best way of getting in touch with the webmaster. I want to go tot he Gambiansonline site, but am having trouble. Everything is fine until I click on the Enter link. Then, my system gets sluggish. I think that I'm having the problem because I am using a screen reader (aJAWS for Windows, it is for people who are blind or visually impaired). And I think JFW is having trouble reading the site. I wanted to know if there was a text-only version if the site I can access. Also, I thought that my problem was because the site was written in JAVA? Anyway, please do not feel that I am asking you to make drastic changes or anything like that, I just wanted to see the site, and was having trouble and didn't know why. Thanks. Please email me privately, so we don't clutter up the list anymore... Thanks. Ginny Quick ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dampha Kebba" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000 8:07 PM Subject: Re: FWD:Disgruntle Police Officers React,AS National Guard Takes Over > Beran, thanks for forwarding this. Talk about slimy characters. Do we expect > this government to effectively oversee the dispensation of justice in our > country when it is continuously moving the goalpost each time it is > cornered? No wonder that Yaya supporter that came here over the weekend > peddling ideas about giving the guards police powers did not return when we > asked him about the effective date of the grant and the reasoning behind > that choice of date. If Pap Cheyassin Secka thinks that he can use this > piece of legislation to absolve the soldiers that partook in the massacre of > our children, then he must be out of his mind. This law would be repugnant > to natural justice if its effect would be to deny the victims of the > massacre their day in court. Therefore any court in which they wave this > piece of thrash should treat it as toilet paper. Knowing how incompetent and > sinister the AG and his gang are, I would not be surprised if they still try > to go to court and embark on another futile attempt to defend the > indefensible. Every one (including the ordinary Samba in the street) is > watching them. We know what they are up to. Again, if the AG keeps changing > the laws and denying people justice, people will just take things into their > own hands. So the AG should muster courage and tell Yaya that some of these > positions they are taking will just lead to disaster. The Press should put > the AG on the spot and ask him to interpret the legislation for them and > guarantee them that it is not going to be used in any future trial against > the perpetrators of the April massacre. People should also continue to put > them on the spot about the role of this force in the coming campaign season. > Do we want to unleash brutal thugs (armed with the law and heavy weaponry) > on the political supporters of opposition parties? > This latest shenanigan coupled with reports that the AG is planning to hoist > Darboe back to court should be another wake up call to Darboe supporters. > They should insist that the charges against him and his supporters be > dropped forthwith. They should not put all their trust in the legal system. > Try and find political solutions to the problem by rallying around your > leader and not permitting the government to railroad him. If the need > arises, attack any police station they wish to illegally incarcerate him or > any court that wish to railroad him. We also respectfully urge Darboe's > legal team to explore following forensic avenues to have these charges > dropped without a full-blown trial. Even if they do not succeed in court, > they would help in showcasing the brutality and sliminess of this regime. > KB > > > > > >From: "Jeng, Beran" <[log in to unmask]> > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list > ><[log in to unmask]> > >To: [log in to unmask] > >Subject: FWD:Disgruntle Police Officers React,AS National Guard Takes Over > >Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 16:34:49 -0400 > > > >Disgruntled police officers react, as National Guard Takes Over > >The Independent <http://www.qanet.gm/Independent/independent.html> > >(Banjul) > >June 26, 2000 > >Banjul - A number of police officers have expressed dismay over > >government's > >decision to have the National Guards assume police duties, describing it as > >a > >move to undermine the integrity of the police. > >The disgruntled police officers who spoke to The Independent Wednesday > >complained that giving the National Guards police duties simply indicated > >that > >they are being stripped off their original functions. They noted that when > >they > >learnt about the issue at first they thought it was 'just a mere rumour.' > >They > >said that to their disbelief and dismay it was implemented. > >The police officers stressed that if the National Guards are charged with > >the > >responsibilities of controlling riot, combating drug-trafficking, cattle > >rustling, money laundering, counterfeiting and service crimes it is > >'useless to > >have police officers around.' > >'Let them just simply dissolve the police. If the function of the police is > >taken away from them only because of malice then it is better for the > >police to > >leave,' one of them suggested. > >The officers also complained that from colonial times to date, the police > >have > >been effectively carrying out their functions, developing a cordial > >relationship > >between them and the civilian population. They feared that if the National > >Guards are given police duties, civilians will suffer the consequences and > >may > >be denied their fundamental human rights and freedom. > >The officers called on the authorities concerned to reconsider the decision > >and > >treat the police accordingly. 'This is totally upsetting and frightening. > >We are > >a competent force. Our CID officers are among the best in the sub-region, > >so the > >authorities should definitely revoke the decision,' another officer mused. > >The police officers who said they serve in various sections of the Police > >Force > >appealed to the government to change their opinion to that effect. > >The department of State for Defence recently issued a statement, entrusting > >the > >Gambia National Guards with limited police duties, which was reported to > >have > >taken effect on April 7 - a date before the student demonstrations. > >The statement indicated that the approval of the said memorandum > >necessitated an > >amendment to the relevant section of the Gambia Armed Forces act to cater > >for > >these responsibilities. > >A cross-section of the general public have also criticised the statement as > >not > >being in accordance with the rule of law and the spirit of the country's > >constitution. > >Bakary Janneh of Bakoteh, a local human rights activist told this reporter > >that > >everyone was surprised at the statement. They accused the government of > >trying > >to vindicate the security forces whom they held responsible for the student > >killings of April 10 and 11. > >When contacted, ex-Inspector General of Police Rex King directed this > >reporter > >to the Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Abdoulie Sanyang who said > >he > >couldn't comment on the issue. > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- - > > > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- - > > ________________________________________________________________________ > 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------