By Ebrima G. Sankareh Editor in- Chief

Unimpeachable sources from State House reveal the brutal stabbing to death of captain Lamin Jarjue, Thursday 28 December, 2006. Captain Jarjue 34, a student at the National Aviation Unstitute in Kiev, Ukraine hails from Brikama in The Gambia's Western Division. He was a memebr of the defunct Gambia National Gendermerie and later the Tactical Support Group in the PPP regime. 

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**Floyd W. Hayes, III, Ph. D.

John Hopkins university

In April 1983, more than two decades ago, the National Commission on Excellence in Education of the U. S. Department of Education issued a report, which stated unambiguously that “The educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people.”

The report, entitled A Nation at Risk, likened the devastation of public education to “an act of war.”  “We have in effect,” the report warned, “been committing an act of unthinking, unilateral educational disarmament.”  Many Americans seemed shocked for a time by the report’s findings.  However, they were not a new discovery.

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                           By Mathew K. Jallow

            Delusional Magistrate Mbakeh

They could not be more different and poles apart, one shunned the limelight; a quite and reserved person whose face lights up and his smiles come easily; the other puts on an air of an intellectual, and despite his quite demeanor, courts the limelight and attracts attention to himself. Yet, Ebrima K. Sarr of Lamin Village, Kombo North, and Magistrate Abdoulie Mbakeh from Mbakeh Kunda in the Sami District, will forever be joined to the hip, not for something they did, rather, something they both said. Ebrima K. Sar

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Slowly but surely the real story behind the July 22, 1994 coup that toppled the PPP regime is coming to light. Numerous soldiers among them our most credible OX had told me over and over that Yahya Jammeh had nothing to do with the grand plan that ousted Jawara. That Sabally and the late Almamo Manneh were central to the operation. Well, it now appears that Sana Sabally is about to come out with the "naked truth about Tom Boy"  to paraphrase an old story. In the piece below Sabally concurs with journalist M.K. Jallow that Yahya Jammeh's choosing was a historical  accident ordained by God. 

Gambia's Historical Accident - Jammeh

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It was the great American Civil  Rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who once told his followers that while ordinarily no one wanted to go to prison but given the circumstances in the struggle it was inevitable. Therefore, he said, those who go to jail should try and transform prison from a dongeon of hopelessness to one of hopefulness; a place where some good can come from. Certainly, neither Sabally nor Hydara is a Dr. King, but the lyrics, the prosaic prose and the poetic prose that Sabally graduated with from Mile Two is evidence aplenty, that he was really studying and he is well read. Below we publish a piece he co-authored with the late Cpt. Sadibou Haidara while in jail at Africa's Hell on Earth-Gambia's  Mile Two Prisons.The piece is dated February 18th.1995. Haidara died mysteriously and Sabally who live to tell the tale, went on to serve a nine-year jail sentense by a clandestine court martial. 

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MERRY XMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR, & HAPPY TOBASKI.

By Sana B. Sabally

“Bismillah-ir--Rahman-ir--Raheem,

Al-Hamdu  Lillahi  Rabbil-‘Alamin.

Allah!-Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne!”

First and foremost, to The Gambia and The Gambians, I’m saying, “As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakaatuhu,  ---I am, at present quite well, and hope I shall continue so for a long time. I hope you (Gambians) are (all) quite well; I, at present, am blessed with that inestimable treasure, i.e. Good Health;

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Ever since we published the eye-catching narrative of a soldier of The Gambia National Army, ( GNA)  on the circumstances of November 11, 1994 reactions have been pouring in. One of the protagonists of the November events, Ex- Vice Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council- the junta that toppled the PPP regime in July of that year, Captain Sana B. Sabally now adds dimension to the raging debate. In an article captioned  "REWRITING  HISTORY" he began thus:

Mr.Editor: Good Day!!! 

 Last evening, I  received an E-Mail captioned: "Nov. 11 1994- IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS PLOT!!! IT WAS SUICIDAL!!! from  an anonymous officer of the GNA....

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Echo News Analysis

On the occasion of his third and hopefully last inauguration, Yahya Jammeh’s remarks were true to form. First, his twenty minutes message was by every indication, an empty and meaningless tirade: talking loud, but saying absolutely nothing.  If anything, it was an occasion for his usual boastful and condescending propaganda, and his appeal for forgiveness from Gambians was preceded by his promise to “forgive us.” His forgiveness of us seemed like a clear, threatening reminder of his beneficence.  Forgive us? What? In what world is Yahya Jammeh living in? Forgive us!

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In the raging and often tense debate about the exact circumstances of November 11, 1994 where numerous soldiers of The Gambia National Army were brutally crushed, another soldier who only identifies himself/herself as a Gambian on active military duty has written a rather arresting view of the events.The writer claims to have knowledge of the planning and execution of the plot and says that their plan was to wipe out the entire AFPRC junta and its family members. The views expressed here are not in any way, shape or form those of The Gambia Echo.   

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STOP The Hypocrisy: Prostitution is Part of Our Society!

By Bubacarr Sankanu, Berlin, Germany

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By Ebrima G. sankareh

According to our Yundum Barracks informer who goes by the pen name "OX "( Officer X) Captain Baboucarr Sanyang has been moved to Kanilai as Guards Commander of that Presidential palace nestled in the thick bushes of Foni in close proximity to southern Senegal. 

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Below we reproduce President Jammeh's innaguration speech at the Independence Stadium, Friday December, 15, 2006 following his victory in the September 22nd. Presidential election. The absence of his usual bellicosity is a welcome development, albeit, very lately.He now calls for national unity.

Your Excellencies, Members of the diplomatic and consular core; My Lord, the Chief Justice; Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly; Secretaries of State; Members of the Public and Private Bench; Permanent Secretaries and heads of parastatal organisations; Service Chiefs; Governors; religious leaders and traditional leaders; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

 

Jammeh takes the third oath of office as President of the Republic of The Gambia.Chief Justice Abdou Karim Savage  in legal regalia.  First Lady Madam Zeineb Jammeh looks on. (Photo: courtesy of State House archives)

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Analysis

By Mathew K Jallow

     Shake Up At The NIA

What happened last week at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) could only be described as an earthquake in terms of its gravity and social ramifications.  With a single spell of emotion and unreasonable judgment, thirty-four employees of The Gambia's equivalent of the notoriously deadly and feared East German Stazi were shown the door and left to their own devices.  A few strokes of his pen is all it took for the emotionally unstable Yahya Jammeh to sent thirty-four of his former enforcers to face a public that they so gleefully terrorized over the past months and years. 

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The 15th Reporters Without Borders - Fondation de France prize was awarded to a journalist, a media, a press freedom defender and a cyber-dissident. The 2006 laureates are: U win Tin Mr. U Win Tin, 79 is serving 20 years in jail since 1989.

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As the two year anniversary of the gruesome execution of prominent Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara draws nearer, our colleague and dean of the Gambian press corps Demba Ali Jawo reflects on the mysterious circumstances and the Gambia government's willy nilly attitude towards any attempt at investigating Deyda Hydara's death.Deyda Hydara, slain Point Editor

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By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-in-chief

In what The Point Newspaper's award-wining editor Pap Saine calls a bombshell, 34 officers of the all too powerful Gambia  National Intelligency Agency (NIA) have been sacked over the weekend.Says the Point's lead story published in its Monday Edition, the high profile sacking is aimed at injecting new blood, a sense of professionalism and potentially, a restoraion of the agency's dwindling image.    APRC supporters in jubilation for the new generator while accompanying President Jammeh to the Kotu Power Station.

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                           GUEST EDITORIAL

        THOSE WHO LIVE BY THE GUN WILL DIE BY THE GUN.  

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PA SULAYMAN GAYE DIES IN MECCA

The death has been announced of Alhaji Pa Sulayman Gaye of Dippa Kunda, Serekunda. Pa Gaye as he was affectionately called, died last night in Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while performing the Hajj.

            A veteran politician, youth leader, parent, philanthropist and humanist, Pa Gaye was first elected in 1979 as a Councilor in the defunct Kanifing Urban District Council and continued to represent his Dippa Kunda Ward with honour and distinction until the July 22^nd. coup when the PPP government was toppled and the entire democratic dispensation swept away. He served in various committees and organizations

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AZZIZ TAMBA TUMBLES

By Ebrima G. Sankareh Editor-in-Chief

Predictably, like many before him, mighty Azziz Tamba; the all too powerful Assistant Deputy National Youth Mobiliser of the ruling APRC government who created so much confusion in the run-up to the September presidential election, has been convicted on two felony offences by Principal Magistrate Moses Richards of the Bundung Courts. He now faces eight years in jail at Gambia’s hellish Janjangbureh Prisons and may even face more serious charges pending the conclusion of on-going investigations reveals the Chief Police Prosecutor, OC Kinteh of the Bundung Station.

 Tamba is Guilty!!!

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Ex- Gambian Vice Chairman to the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council that toppled the PPP government of Sir Dawda K. Jawara, Cpt. Sana B. Sabally has written a lenghty piece asking President Jammeh to use the Prerogative of Mercy powers vested in him by the Gambian Constitution to pardon most of the prisoners languishing at Mile Two Central Prisons. Sabally, himself  a graduate of the Mile Two Prisons ( Africa's Hell on Earth) where he served for nine years, now resides in Dakar, Senegal  an asylee. 

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Posted By: GAMBIA EMBASSY   on December 05, 2006

The Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture, Honorable Angela Bernadette Colley, has said that The Gambia is world renowned for her hospitality, charm, and cultural diversity. The Secretary of State made these remarks in Washington DC on Tuesday during a keynote address at a meeting with Tour Operators and Travel Agencies from the Metropolitan Washington DC area.

Source:GAMBIA EMBASSY

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Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue

Issue No.106/2006, 29-30 November, 2006

Editorial

Freedom Of Expression Cannot Be Suppressed

The fundamental right of freedom of expression cannot be suppressed. This fundamental rights is enshrined in our constitution and contained in many international instruments such as the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the African charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Section 25, subsection (1) of the Constitution states unequivocally “Every person shall have the right to- (a) freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media;”

Article 19 of Universal Declaration on Human rights also states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this rights includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” 

This local man uses culture to express his freedom 

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Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue

Issue No. 108/2006, 4-5 December, 2006

Editorial

Who Will Advice The President?

The state media has been broadcasting the remarks of the President during his meeting with President Abdoulaye Wade’s envoy and the swearing in of new cabinet members. In each case the remarks went far in excess of what is demanded by the situation.

In terms of the swearing in of new cabinet members what is best is always to focus on the constitutional requirements, the qualification of the appointee and then can give advice on how the person can help to promote the ideal of collective responsibility.

In short, section 72 of the Constitution states that

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Gambian, Iranian presidents meet for talks in Tehran


According to  The Iranian News Agency, "President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and his Gambian counterpart, President Yahya Jammeh, here on Saturday called for further expansion of ties between the two states.

During a meeting held after the official welcoming ceremony for the Gambian president, the Iranian president pointed to the amicable ties enjoyed by the two countries in various areas."

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Below we reproduce the contributions of one our numerous readers who choses to be called only JB- Concerned Senegambian. This piece is a sequel to the one  captioned Senegal- Gambia: Sleeping Time Bomb ( you can click our archives to access past stories).

  Mr. Idrissa Seck, former Prime Minister of Senegal arrived in Banjul on Wednesday, 29 November under cover of darkness by crossing in a dug-out canoe from the Saloum Islands off the town of Foundiougne.  Idy as he is commonly known in Senegal arrived with an entourage of his closest aides including members of Parliament from his former party PDS - the political party he later abandoned to form 'Rewmi' (in wolof meaning 'the Nation') after he was .

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Erstwhile Gambian Secretary General Mr. Mambureh Njie who was relieved of his duties in the wake of the recent Cabinet dissolution is reportedly helping the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) with current investigations.

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