Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue Issue No.104/2006, 27-28 November, 2006 Editorial Women’s Protocol Another Step Required As gender activists commemorate 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women, the state of the Protocol to The African Charter on Human and People’ s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Women’s Protocol) comes to the fore. Violence against women is still perpetrated all over the continent in all its forms and in various circumstances. It takes the form of rape, wife battering, FGM, psychological violence and so on and so forth. It happens in the homes, at offices, in war situations, etc, etc. The Women’s Protocol defines “Violence Against Women” as “all acts perpetrated against women which cause or could cause them physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm, including the threat to take such acts; or to undertake the imposition of arbitrary restriction on or deprivation of fundamental freedoms in private or public life in peace time and during situations of armed conflicts or of war.” Gender Activists have to give attention to Article 4 of the Protocol in their review during the 16 Days of Activism in their evaluation of progress made since the coming into force of the Protocol in November 2005 and, especially, since its ratification by The Gambia in May this year. (See page 10). The Government on its own part has to take cognisance of Article 26 of the Protocol which reads: “1.State Parties shall ensure the implementation of this Protocol at national level, and in their periodic reports submitted in accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter, indicate the legislative and other measures undertaken for the full realisation of the rights herein recognised.” “2. State Parties undertake to adopt all necessary measures and in particular shall provide budgetary and other resources for the full and effective implementation of the rights herein recognized.” “Integrate the protocol into the national law”, that’s the demand of the time. GPU President Receives Prestigious Award The president of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) and General Manager of the Independent, Mr. Madi Ceesay, on Tuesday 21st November received the prestigious Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPS) International Press Freedom Award at Waldorf – Astoria in New York City, U.S.A. Mr. Ceesay is also Deputy President(s) of the West African Association of Journalists (WAAJ). The USA in their press release on the occasion noted that the award “is indeed a fitting award to an independent and deserving journalist.” We publish below the full text of the speech delivered by Mr. Ceesay at the occasion: In the name of all the journalists back home in the Gambia, I would first like to thank the Committee to Protect Journalists, and all those who contributed to my nomination. I would also like to thank my family for all the support they have given me. Today is a great day in my life as a journalist. I would like to accept this prestigious award in the name of all independent journalists in the Gambia who continue to work hard despite a very hostile media environment. Ladies and gentlemen, let me describe to you the sad climate in which we work. In the past few years, we have seen repeated arson attacks on journalists and their media houses, without a single suspect being brought before the courts. Four media houses have been shut down by government, including my own newspaper. In December 2004, our colleague Deyda Hydara, editor of The Point newspaper, was murdered in a drive-by shooting. It was a shock to all journalists in the Gambia, who felt a great loss and also a sense of fear that such a thing could happen in our country. Government investigators have not brought anyone to justice so far. They produced a report that seemed to blame Deyda for his own death… and did not address the question of who killed him. After my newspaper was shut down and I was imprisoned in March this year, several other journalists were also detained, and one journalist has been missing for more than three months. One of my colleagues from the Independent is being tried for publishing false information, under a law which could bring a possible jail sentence. Ladies and gentlemen, the Gambia is a small country, and some of you may not be familiar with it. But our problems are typical of many African countries, where the independent press is struggling to hold governments accountable… governments which may profess to be democratic but violate democratic principles such as press freedom. Ladies and gentlemen, Gambia’s embattled independent media desperately needs support. I call on you to help us by speaking up when abuses occur. We also need practical support to strengthen the Gambian media, so that we will be better able to investigate abuses and report on issues of vital public interest Once again, thanks to CPJ for this great honor, and thank you all for your attention. Farmers’ Association Support End To Credit Buying By Bubacarr K. Sowe The Commodity Traders’ Association’s (CTA’s) decision to end the buying of groundnuts on credit basis has triggered a firm support by the National Farmers’ Platforms. In an interview with Foroyaa, Musa Jawneh, the Platform’s president, described the move as positive. He noted that CTA is constituted by people who have a wealth of experience on groundnut marketing and their intervention would remedy the ills that farmers faced in the past years. Mr. Jawneh said if the groundnut trade is professionally handled, its market can yield a minimum of 800 million dalasis in a year. He pointed out that that would create employment and boost the country’s revenue earnings. Jawneh also opined that farmers in every district can form an association which will be delivering the groundnuts to the buying station and buyers will pay on the spot. Tribute To Mamadi Jabai A True Servant of The People By Suwaibou Touray Mamadi Jabai, alias Mamadi Kalleh Jabai, has passed away. He died on the 20th day of November 2006, at the M.R.C Headquarters in Fajara. Mr. Jabai’s body was transported to Sutukoba Village in the Wuli East District of the URD, on the same day by the MRC staff. Mr. Jabai will be remembered for his hard work, his patriotism and love for people whom he served with abnegation. This indefatigable man worked for the department of education as a teacher from 1976 to 1979. He also worked for the department of agriculture from 1979 to 1996. From early 1996, Mr. Jabai became a staff of the Medical Research Council, MRC, as a field staff. Up to the time of his death, he served the MRC as a field staff. Mamadi was also a blood donor for several years. During his funeral, people expressed their sorrow for the demise of one of the most illustrious sons of not only Wuli but of the whole of the Gambia. They talked of his kind heartedness, his love for people and the endless help he rendered to the sick and the needy. Honourable Sidia Jatta, the National Assembly Member for Wuli West, gave a solemn speech. He indicated that he usually does not like to speak at funerals but that Mamadi’s was a unique one. He said that there are two types of human beings, i.e. one that lives and works for oneself and the one that lives and works for others. He said that Mamadi was one who lived and worked for others selflessly; that he used his time and resources to serve the people. He said that that is what we consider to be a good human being who will live in the hearts and minds of the people forever and ever. He posited that those who live and work for themselves alone cannot be considered good human beings or there is nothing of significance they leave behind for which they would be remembered. He said that Mamadi is not really dead; he is more living than some of those who are still living. Mr. Kandakasse Juwara, the Chief of Wuli East District, spoke of Mamadi as indeed a man of the people. He said that Mamadi did not discriminate. He served them all irrespective of political affiliation, tribe, or place of origin. He said Mamadi did not keep grudge in him against anybody; that he was never angry with anybody or kept any ill feeling against anybody. He said that the people of Wuli and indeed the people of The Gambia have really lost a good human being who will be hard to replace. He called on people to forgive Mamadi. Hundreds of people who converged at the funeral prayed for Mamadi and he was buried in one of the cemeteries in Sutukoba. Mamadi was the National Assembly candidate for the PDOIS in the Wuli East Constituency in the 2002 elections. He is survived by two wives and seven children. His sickness was unknown to many people until his death. He was first admitted at the MRC Health Post in Basse before being transferred to Fajara. That is why the announcement of his death struck people like a thunder bolt from the blue. They cried and fainted as the news of his death reached Wuli. Some ask themselves whether they would ever have a replacement for Mamadi. Fire Ravages Shop By Musa Krubally The shop of one Ebrima Njie was gutted by fire on Friday, 17th November. The said shop is situated at Jobe Street in Serrekunda. The owner sells second hand clothes in the said shop. According to eyewitnesses, the fire started between 9 and 9.30pm. They said they noticed brightness inside the shop, and this was followed by smoke from the roof. They said they rushed to break the door, but it took time for them to break the lock. They indicated that while they were making effort to open the door, one Badou Jobe drove to the Service Department. People from the neighbourhood managed to break the lock and took out some of the goods before they caught fire at the scene. Asked what caused the fire, Sackou Manneh who is residing in the compound told me that it was caused by faulty electric wires. The owner of the shop Ebrima Njie disclosed to me that the damaged items are estimated to cost one hundred and twenty thousand dalasis. Anyone who wishes to assist can contact him on his mobile at 9985639. Sackings, Promotions And Arrests By Yaya Dampha An official statement from the office of the President on Wednesday informed the nation of the arrest and detention of the former Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Works and Infrastructure Mr. Lamin Sanneh and Karamo Jaiteh the Managing Director of Gambia Road Authority. According to the release, the two were arrested for economic crimes. It is purported that Mr. Sanneh was found with over four hundred and forty-nine thousand four hundred dalasis which was concealed in a steel cabinet found under his table and Mr. Karamo Jaiteh was also allegedly found with twenty-seven thousand four hundred and twenty dalasis, also hidden in a safe. In a separate development, Messr. Kebba Faye, Sarana Hydara, Ebou Secka, Ansuma Fadera, Lamin Keita,. Ouranic Barry and Momodou Senghore who work at the aforesaid Department were all arrested by the security forces and are currently being detained at the state Central Prison for alleged economic crimes. According to the same statement the Secretary of State for the Interior, Rtd. Colonel Babucarr Jatta was relieved of his duties on Wednesday, 2006. According to the report, Jatta is replaced by Major Ousman Sonko, the former Inspector General of Police. I.G.P Sonko is also replaced by Musa Mboob who was the Director General of Immigration who was recently arrested and detained is now the Director General of Immigration Department. Major Ousman Sonko confirmed his appointment as the new SoS for the Interior. Musa Mboob has also confirmed his appointment as the IGP. Rtd. Colonel Babucarr Jatta could not be reached for comments. NIA Diamond Case Suffered Setback By Fabakary B. Ceesay The protracted legal case involving the state and six ex-officers of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has yet again suffered another setback due to the appointment of the then presiding Magistrate Kebba Sanyang, to the position of Attorney General. The six ex-officers are in the persons of Lamin Drammeh, Basiru Jabang, Lamin Sanneh, Kajali Jawara Fabakary Barrow and Salimina Drammeh. They have been dragged to court by the state for allegedly robbing two Germans of their properties and money. These properties are two mobile phones, eight diamond pieces and cash amounting to 206,000 US dollars. According to judicial officers the matter is deferred until a new magistrate is appointed to take up the case. Women’s Protocol: A New Dawn for African Women By Modou Nyang The entry in to force of the AU Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa heralds a new dawn in the lives of African women, the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies ACDHRS, said. In a media briefing in commemoration of the 1st anniversary of the entering in to force of the protocol of the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa at it’s headquarters in Kerr Sereign, the ACDHRS indicated that the protocol enforces the realisation of women’s rights in Africa disregarding gender stereotypes and other forms of discrimination against women. Mrs. Hannah Forster the Executive Director of the African Centre in her speech said governments should put in place laws that are enshrined in the protocol, noting that it is a big challenge to ensure ratification and domestication; adding that women and men should be able to live in harmony. Commissioner Angelo Melo special rapporteur on the rights of women in Africa in a statement said that African women now have a legal instrument to claim for justice. The Gambia ratified the protocol in September 2005 with reservations but with the engagement of civil society groups in the dissemination of its contents, the reservations were withdrawn in May this year. However 20 countries out of the 53 member states of the African Union have ratified the protocol that took effect on 25th November last year. The commemoration of the coming into force of the Women’s protocol coincides with the commencement of the 16days activism against gender-based violence, which will run to the 10th of next month. To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask]