In Gambia, a different beast in its own right, that is not the case. The Judiciary is not functional and one man and one man alone rules - Yaya. He says you stay and you not only stay but the enablers will intepret that you rot in there. So, if Yaya dictates D15,000,000 then that it will be. Remember Hassan Touray of Pristine? When the original bail amount was easily tendered, it got jerked up. For what its worth, that is why America and its claims of democracy, loves to deal with Dictators - they are One Stop Shop, all you cand carry.

Now transitioning to Mamburay. As an associate of Yaya for a long while, he has seen many people in his current shoes and some rotted or died in jail. Did he feel their pain? Did he stand up to defend their rights? Did he protest the many murders, abductions, mutilations, ect.? Did he quit in protest? Injustice by Yaya on Gambians did not just start when Mamburay was in jail, oh no. Our people lived with it the last 18 years and he was aware of it, yet he continued to collect a pay check. Now that he is in, must Gambians break their lunch for a heavy heart? A people that take the daily bread so serious that not even the murder of their loved one will stop a family from seeking benovelence (crumbs) from their murderer - Yaya. I don't think so. I have noticed a pattern with our folks. Mambaray being a likeable guy as a youngster and may be ran the streets with some in Banjul and Sere Kunda, folks tend to paint a rosy picture of him and even go to the extent of absolving him of anything that is wrong with Yaya and his gang. Folks, Mamburay is not a worthier son than Chief Manneh, the students, and the countless that perished in the hands of his former friend. Yes, an injustice to one Gambian is an injustice to all Gambians. As they say, Mamburay warronaa soraleh neh besam di nah nyow. He also knew that if his friend took him in all will be about their business, Com Nagne Kor Dan Defeh Rek Bam Nekeh Chi Kerr You Baaxhi, as Ndoe Secka used to quib.

Disclosure - Do I know Mamburay? Without a doubt. We played soccer together and against each other and I know the family very well and it pains me like many Gambians to see his rights abused. However, others rights were abused too when he was in a position to have the ear of their Abuser. Did he do anything about the countless things that happened while he was there? It is an irony that Imam Baba Leigh's brother hung with Mamburay and today the brother lost both a brother and a friend at the hands of a common abuser - Yaya. No one could have predicted that in the lives of these people. Life does not owe any of us zilch. Things are temporal. Will Mamburay's faith persuade others behind to wake up, not a fat chance. As we speak, Uncle Nana (to some) have stepped up his game on the brownies. Lamin, this is between friends - Yaya and Mamburay and am sure Kelifa Yhi are doing their rounds scheming a baalou ceremony. What else is going on that we need to talk about?

Joe