DOM BAI, Here is the story on the attack on women from the daily observer.It is very troubling that this pattern of thuggery continues to take place in the Gambia.The time has definitely come for people to stand up to this criminals.The blame should definitely be placed on Jammeh and his facist government,for the hatred that he has been and continues to preach such as seding people six feet deep,is just what is being manifested by this thugs. PASAMBA JOW Wednesday, November 1, 2000 Following Monday's attack 64 arrested Isatou Touray condemns attack on 'sex workers' By Pa Nderry M'Bai, & Sheriff Bojang Mrs Isatou Touray, a leading gender activist, has condemned the mistreatment meted out to women suspected of being sex workers by armed attackers who vandalised pubs and motels in the Kanifing municipality early Monday. Speaking at the Gamcotrap office, yesterday, Mrs Touray urged the government to bring the perpetrators to book. "The attack was on women. There was a woman who was beaten. Some women were stripped and apparently up to the time I am talking to you, what they are saying is that the police are doing something, but there is nothing definite yet that has come out," said Mrs Touray. Mrs Touray deplored that the women were subjected to mental and physical torture, which she said was a gross violation of their fundamental rights. "Something has to be done. They are part of the state, they have a right, and being single does not mean you are a sex worker. You have a freedom to live and entertain and enjoy your life as and when you like it. That does not mean you are doing sex work and in any case, it takes both men and women to do sex work," Mrs Touray charged. She decried "the mistreatment and other inhuman treatment" meted out to Gambian women. "I think there are certain things that are going on in this country with regards to women's lives. That is, any group or vigilante group, can just get up and say these women are X, these women are involved in bleaching, these women are putting on short dresses, these women are this and that. I think it is unfair to women. Their individual rights, their sexual rights, their individuality is being undermined, their existence is being eroded," she queried. Mrs Touray complained that Gambian women are being marginalised even though they constitute 51 per cent of the population. She said women have been contributing to all aspects of the socio-economic development of the country. She also complained about the slow pace of justice in cases involving women. "There are certain things that are happening, which if they happen to a specific group who are not women, will prompt immediate response. In this case, since... we have not heard any statement yet neither from people who matter excepts the police who have been interviewed by the BBC or whatever, giving out the state of the issue. Women are being threatened and I am telling you that every Gambian women for that matter is threatened and is actually thinking of some other things. I wonder if this will not be translated into negative votes in the next coming elections, because women have right to self-determination," Mrs Touray said. 'What should not happen Should not happen' Contacted for comments on the Monday attacks, the Vocal State House imam, Alhaji Abdoulie Fatty, said, "I do not want to comment at the moment because I do not have any idea about what happened. " However, Imam Fatty said, "We all want peace and stability in this country. We all want to go to bed in peace and wake up in peace and live with our family. Nobody wants to be a refugee. That has really scared me a lot, but being government or individuals, we should all try and do our work. We should ensure that what should happen should happen, what should not happen should not happen." But Imam Fatty said he totally condemns prostitution in the country. Bar owner In a separate development, Ajaratou Mansaray Conteh, a Sierra Leonean refugee and owner of All Ice International, said the Monday attackers vandalised her bar. She added that the attackers also went to her apartment and threatened to kill her after vandalising the apartment. She explained, "The boys said they have a message from the authorities that they should burn the motels and the bars, because this country is a Muslim country. I said we are paying tax. The boys said you are a foreigner, we will kill you. You are making money on our heads. I said no problem." Update Meanwhile, at least 64 people have been arrested in connection with the rampage. Among them were 20 non-Gambians. Most of the detainees have been held at Kairaba police station. Police insiders said they are looking for more people and that their investigations were progressing well. The police insider said their investigations revealed that although the attacks were an organised crime, there was no link to any religious movement as speculated by many people. The police source also confirmed those 13 bars and motels were attacked; three were burnt down, six seriously vandalise _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. 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