I urge the Alternative leaders to continue to work together and not be intimidated. Please continue to fight for the release of Waa. An injustice to Waa is an injustice to all of us. Chi Jaama Joe Sambou As NDAM March Into 21st Century With Rekindled Optimism "We Will Not Submit to Intimidation" The Independent (Banjul) PRESS RELEASE October 10, 2003 Posted to the web October 13, 2003 Banjul following the continuous detention of NDAM's Secretary General, Lamin Waa Juwara, the external wing of the party in the diaspora, released a statement condemning the action as outrageous and unjustifiable. Below we reproduce the full text of the release: As the old age goes: repression breeds resistance. The crises ridden AFPRC-APRC in its terminal stage of comatose is trying their desperate best to breath life into a system that has no support base among the people by reawakening their monster of arrest, torture and indefinite detention without charges or trial. The writing is clearly on the wall; the decisive and vigorous resistance by the Gambian people under the leadership of NDAM will not abate until FREEDOM and LIBERATION come. ON September 30, 2003, the notorious gang of thugs-National Intelligence Agency (NIA) arrested Waa Juwara at his compound in Brikama and "charge" him with seditious intentions based on an interview published in the Independent newspaper, calling on the opposition parties to organise a peaceful demonstration in protest against the miserable living conditions in the Gambia. For the past seventy- two hours, following Waa Juwara's detention, the three "strong arms" of the state (NIA, police and the courts) exhibit the debt of the crisis within the regime. This case is being handled like a hot potato and neither "arm" of the state wants to get burn because of the absurdity of the charges. It is quite obvious that the self-proclaimed emperor, Jammeh is the puppeteer of the NIA, police and the courts to set an example for the rest of us. But Jammeh is in for a rude awakening. A bizarre episode took place on Friday October 3, 2003 as Juwara was expecting to be released when events took a turn at Juwara's disfavor. The police, obviously under instructions stalled the process of Juwara's release. The police concocted a scenario of technicality, that by "law" they can only detain an accused individual for seventy-two hours and if the courts did not decide on the accused fate, he must be remanded to await further proceedings. This is how Juwara ended in remand at the mile two prisons. To show how "things have fallen apart", that the "center cannot hold" and that "mere anarchy is loose upon" Gambia, is when Borry Touray, the lawyer for Juwara was refused access to his client after being remanded. We are aware of their game and of their victory. For the record, an earlier attempt to quiet Juwara and run NDAM asunder happened on February 20, 2003 surrounding the ban on "nawetan" (the seasonal soccer tournaments). He was released forthwith because of the militant stance of our youth wing and supporters. Conditions have changed for the worse since the last attempt, now that the insecurity of the Jammeh regime has increased tenfold following the coup d'etat in Guinea Bissau. This time they intend to make these charges to bear weight on Juwara and NDAM. But all these charges are grounded in air, a clear indication of the fall of Jammeh regime; their well has run dry. We will continue to assert our position, that NDAM has zero tolerance for the bullies and any intentions to inflict harm by torture on Juwara, any NDAM member or for that matter any Gambian will be met maximum retaliation. Jammeh has abrogated every democratic right of the Gambian people with total disregard for the "construction"; therefore Jammeh makes no laws that we are bound to respect. The Gambian people have been overly patient with this regime's feudal tendencies, it's time to take "POSITIVE ACTION" and arrest Jammeh's madness. NDAM is "sick and tired of being sick and tired" of Jammeh's tyranny, therefore, we call on the great Gambian people to rise with NDAM and reclaim our national dignity. The AFPRC-APRC ship is on the brink about to sink, this is the moment to withdraw your loyalties to Jammeh and join the Gambian people to build a proud-future Gambia. DARE TO INVENT THE FUTURE! UNTIL VICTORY ALWAYS! FREE WAA JAWARA! FREE DUMO SAHO AND ALL PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE! _________________________________________________________________ Send instant messages to anyone on your contact list with MSN Messenger 6.0. 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