An editorial by the pro-government Gambian Daily Observer posted on the web 18th June 2007, commented that members of The Gambia National Assembly voiced out their concerns over some Gambian dissidents abroad, trying to destabilize the nation with supports from the Senegalese authorities. That move by the National Assembly and the Daily Observer itself is like a nationwide bombshell that even the blind and the deaf can hear without visual and hearing aid. The misleading story itself which was featured in two publications of the Daily Observer, captioned: “Gambian Dissidents Regroup In Senegal” and “Senegal Continues To Destabilize The Gambia” respectively, are an insult to all Gambians who lost their love ones since Yaya Jammeh came to power; and a slap in the face of all those Gambian elites currently in President Yaya Jammeh’s warehouse, the filthy jails of Mile II. The Mile II Prisons itself in recent years is no better that the German Nazi Concentration camps. Gambian dissidents abroad are voices of the voiceless- people with their God given constitutional rights to comment on what they believe must come in the nearest future. What is happening in The Gambian and Cassamance border is no secret to The Gambian and the Senegalese authorities as well as the civilians along our porous border. In this case, it should be clear to any patriotic citizen that the Gambian dissidents abroad are trying to ensure that this unwanted government is booted out to give way to a democratic dispensation. In the new arrangement, there will be no room for the establishment of a killing field for journalists and political opponents. Gambian dissidents abroad are not a threat to the nation, the main threat to the nation is the current regime, which everyone in the country hates, but most are afraid to criticize. As long as the rebels continue to fight along the Cassamance corridor into The Gambia, the inevitable is far from over.

     During the cowardly debate over the issue, one Abba Sanyang of Foni Kansala (based on the Daily Observer commentary), described the reports as disturbing and urged that they be given high consideration. He described Gambians as people that take matters that affect their lives lightly. He said that “they”, meaning the underground security forces of the President would take the story seriously. He continued to accuse Gambians collaborating with the Cassamance rebels in an effort to enter the Gambia. He proceeded to blame Gambians for failing to take stock of all the developments taking place under President Yaya Jammeh. Here I think Abba Sanyang was talking about the development in Kanilai or perhaps the recent painting of Forth Bullen. Or did he mean the negative developments such as the numerous executions of innocent citizens? Other than that, any ordinary citizen if given the chance could do whatever development took place in the country under President Yaya Jammeh. Talking about development rudely reminds me of the money the World Bank gives to countries to rebuild their infrastructure including transportation, good roads and many other vital societal needs. Abba Sanyang is one of those Gambians that does not even know what is going on in Banjul or behind the walls of State House .The approved total 34 IDA credits, which was given to The Gambia since 2006, remains unaccounted for. The 296 million that should be used to rebuild the nation with the already approved amount of US 86.9 million must be accounted for one day Mr. Sanyang. So Abba Sanyang is wrong in accusing Gambians of being blind of Yaya Jammeh’s developments. If President Yaya Jammeh were a kind of president that the Gambian people wanted as a leader, there would not have been endless murders and disappearances of politicians and journalists. If Gambians are selfish and ungrateful to President Yaya Jammeh’s government as alleged by Abba Sanyang of Foni Kansala, I wonder what the people of Barajalley, the birthplace of Alhagi Sir Dawda Jawara, the nation’s first President would say?

In a related case one Hon. Cherno Cham of Lower Nuimi also added that the breaking news has created a wide panic among The Gambian people. The Speaker of the House, Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay described the current regime as a peaceful one forgetting the innocent citizens that are dying everyday at Mile II Central Prisons. So Fatou is oblivious of the horrendous murder of journalists and the harassment of political opponents in recent years? Really? It is high time that you representatives see dissidents’ comments not as words of hate but as a genuine concern for the blatant lack of the Rule of Law, which is of great concern to every Gambian today.

  Chapter IV line 25 of the Gambian Constitution eloquently promotes the PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. However the very government that established it does not respect those constitutional rights.  The Constitution of The Gambia states that ‘’every person shall have rights to,

[A] Freedom of speech and expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media

[b] Freedom of though, conscience and the belief which shall include academic freedom

[c] Freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practices

[d] Freedom to assembly and demonstrate peaceably and without arms

[e] Freedom of association, which shall include freedom to form and join associations and unions, including political parties and trade unions

[f] Freedom to Petition the Executive for redness of grievances and to resort to the courts for the protection of his or her rights.

            Yet every sane Gambian citizen can agree that none of these rights were carried out in Fatou Jaw Manneh’s case and many other political and extra-political trials of political opponents of the current regime. The trial of Fatou Jaw Manneh itself according to this very Constitution is one of the most unconstitutional trials. If it were in the United State, Fatou’s case would have been just nothing but a civil rights case of enormous proportion and media frenzy. The hundreds of young Gambians that could contribute to the nations ailing economy are serving unlawful jail terms in Gambia’s Mile II; potentially volatile issues that the President is well aware. Hon.Baba Job who is currently serving a nine-year jail term and the numerous managers of national economic corporations such as GAMTEL on corruption charges all contribute to our nation’s current economic disaster. Compatriots, it is time for everyone in The Gambia to come together and speak truth to Yahya Jammeh’s corrupt and callous regime. I salute all patriotic Gambian dissidents especially, to our comrades in Cassamance to continue to press hard for the restoration of democratic governance in The Gambia. The struggle continues!!