A Pro-Gov’t. Court Banks Yahya Jammeh US$12,000
BY TIJAN NIMAGA, New York Bureau Chief
It has always been said that “justice delayed is justice denied” and nothing can be further from the inherent truth in that profound statement. Since the libel trial against Fatou Jaw Manneh, a U S based Gambian journalist began a year ago; almost everyone in The Gambia knew that the verdict in her case would never be fair. The verdict on Fatou’s case has provoked the most basic tenets of our Constitutional foundations and threatens our way of life especially, us journalists. Here, Yaya Jammeh is considered the winner as the Chief Magistrate banks him with US$ 12,000 while Fatou is considered the looser. But as the saying goes “the best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.” But Time will tell who is wrong. The constitutionally and ethically wanting Magistrate Buba Jawo who has breached Fatou’s Constitutional rights to satisfy President Yaya Jammeh will be a witness against himself when the dictator turns his demons on him. It is not far and we will report it here.
However, the most important thing today is closing the final chapter on the long awaited trial. Just as we have been witnessing for the past decade, Yaya Jammeh’s press intimidation machine that continued to haunt members of the press for the past decade, remains relentless only to keep him in power. The end of Fatou Jaw Manneh’s trial is another chapter in Gambian history. It will remind every Gambian especially, members of the media, how justice could be abusive by a dictator. The US$12,000 fine or four years in prison was the verdict on Fatou’s case, an amount that was paid the same day August 18, 2008. Fatou is now free and that was our major concern and her pride has earned her a special accolade among Gambian female Journalists.
The Principal Magistrate, Buba Jawo who imposed this charge on Fatou will be a witness against himself when the dictator himself will one day be brought to face justice. Magistrate courts in The Gambia have been facing both judicial and extra-judicial trials since Yaya Jammeh seized power and the victims are mainly journalists and politicians who speak their minds. Today we thank God that Fatou did not suffer physical intimidation, and disappearance as in the case of many other journalists such as Ebrima Manneh who is still in custody at an undisclosed area in The Gambia. His fate is still unknown many feared he might have been executed.
Finally, bravo Fatou for your courageous efforts to proof to the world that The Gambia lacks press. The long journey that was prolonged by injustice has finally ended. My message to president Yaya Jammeh, is you can bank of Fatou’s US$ 12,000 but you can’t stay in power forever. Long Live Justice! Like or hate it, we’ll overcome your regime one day.