Demba Jawo,s piece regarding the constant dissmissals and re- appointments of civil servants is a serious subject that needxs not only be explored and deplored but be nipped so that the pain and anguish of uncertainty be vanquished once and for all. Obviously a government that resopects it,s citizens will desist from behaving the way the APRC does, hiring and firing of people at will without any legal basis is the ultimate abuse of power. Demba Jawo is right to say that they as media people can only highlight the rights of the people and it is left to the ordinary people to assert their rights. This true as may be does not only challenge the working people, for me much more than that it shifts the onus of action on to the labour movement, at the beggining of the transition people like Pa Modou Faal were at the fore front of events writing and advocating for waht was just for the workers, but it has been a while since any labour union leader is heard taking a peroactive posture defending and denouncing the daily injustices being perpetuated by the government, I think it is about time for the Labour unions to call a congress unify all the labour forces and start being pr-active. These are time when people in positions of respionsibility should raise their heads abovwe the parapet and be ready to plunge in defence of the rights of the workers. Gambian workers have long suffered ibn silence and the labour movement has never for once taken a universal stance that would earn it the respect it deserves, this area of civic society has long been monopolised by a bunch inactive none eventful leaders, gone are the days when the JALLOW JALLOW spirit was imbued in the working people. The Gambia labour force was once a political force that had a respectable voice, but since it has been controlled by a force that is not ready to advocate challenge it position as an important social institution is undermined. In these times of transition and the blatant abuse of labour rigths, it should have been common to hear the labour movement at constant loggerheads with the government with it,s pattern of dismissals. But going by the recorsd there are no cases now or impending whicvh challenges the goverments arbritary use of might against civils servants constantly. Am not saying that governmentr would comply if instructed to act in a way, because government,s records reagrding the courts leaves a lot to be desired, nonetheless, it should be challenged and exposed, otherwise this trend of hiring and firing at will with no repercussions will continue unabated. I hope the labour movement will renew it, dedication and commitment to not only making the workers aware but also satnd firm and defend them when the need arises, after all the tools the exist for them are immense, they can easily withdraw their labour call for demonstrations and a host other activities that will make the sate think twice before acting in a way tha will harm the workers. _________________________________________________________________ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~