Gambia Affairs:Gambia:State Determine To Secure Nanama’s Presence in Court

Nanama said he fled for his life

The state prosecutor Monday, 26 September 2011 told the Banjul Magistrate court presided over by Magistrate Sheriff Tabally that efforts are underway to secure the attendance of the accused- Mr Nanama Keita in court, who is believed to have fled out of the court jurisdiction fortnight ago.

"I was informed by Superintendent Sainey Joof through telephone conversation this morning to apply for fortnight adjournment," Assistant Superintendent Manneh told the court, without any objection from defense counsel Nenneh Cham Chokan.

Nanama Keita, former Daily Observer newspaper Sports editor is standing trial for writing to the Office of the President sometime in May 2011, claiming wrongful dismissal as the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Head of Sports, and alleged financial malpractices by the Managing Director of the Daily Observer Newspaper.

According to sources, the allegations raised in the petition letter resulted in state security agents mounting investigations, and consequently, Mr Keita was instead arrested and charged for giving false information to public officer. GPU formed a three man delegation to visit Mr Keita after receiving tipoff that he was detained by the police. Upon arrival, one of the executive members offered his passport to bail Mr Keita at the tune of D100,000 (about. US$3571). GPU also lobbied for financial assistance for the legal service.

He however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred on him.
Two prosecution witnesses, the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and News Editor of the pro-government Daily Observer newspaper has so far testified in the case. During the court proceedings, Mr Keita complained of receiving text messages threatening his life. The complains were reported to the police for further investigations into the matter.

On the 12 September 2011 the Banjul Magistrates' court issued an arrest warrant on Mr Keita after the prosecution applied that they wanted the accused who was believed to be out of jurisdiction to be back in court.
In a letter to the MFWA, Mr Keita "September 7, 2011, was when I received a tip-off from a sympatizer within the security ranks that attempts are being made to have me arrested immediately on a reason the informant would not let me know.

 

"Upon getting this tip-off, on a rather pretty serious tone, I then decided to gather a few things before fleeing to neighbouring Dakar and finally, New York, to take refuge," said Mr Keita.

Meanwhile, the case is adjourned to 10 October 2011 for continuation of hearing.

Gambia Affairs:Gambia:Massive Prostitution By Zimbabwean Women in South Africa

By Collen Makumbirofa
Foundation of Reason & Justice


Prostitute looking for customer in the street
Due to destitution, poverty and oppression many Zimbabwean women have
turned to prostitution in South Africa.

Brothels, mini-hotels and other places of adult entertainment are
occupied by Zimbabwean women. Both married and unmarried women are
resorting to prostitution. In Johannesburg, Places of Adult
entertainment such as Hilbrow Inn, Little Rose, Maxim, Ambassador and
the Diplomat are all occupied by women from Zimbabwe. Thousands are
earning living by prostitution.

These businesses are parasites getting profit on human souls. They are
using human bodies to get wealth. This is serious human trafficking of
Zimbabwean women. The South African government should pass laws to
outlaw prostitution and enforce such laws by closing down such
business as mentioned above.

How Zimbabwean women end up in such places? Some have fled political
persecutions at home, some came to South Africa to look for jobs and
end up into prostitution because they have failed to get good means of
living. Some are invited by sisters, boyfriends and other relatives
when they arrive in South Africa the relatives abandon them.

Zimbabweans we are not a blessed people or a blessed nation. We are
tolerating oppression and state slavery which is destroying and
eroding every value. Family institution is failing. I place the major
blame on the ruling government which has destroyed means of live hood
for millions of Zimbabweans.

We have lost our pride ness as a nation. Why should we be proud while
for fear of death we allow the evil ZANU PF government to continue in
power causing unbearable suffering on women, children, and the
disabled? Care about our names and dignity should drive us to take
risk and do anything that remove ZANU PF from power. If we really care
about women, children and other weak members of the society we should
prioritize removing ZANU PF from power.

Now is the time that we rise up against oppression and destroy it
because it is destroying many souls and precious lives. The immature
do not recognize loss of freedom. Those with a slave mentality will
live in perpetual oppression from their government.

You may ask so what can l do? (1). Join us to campaign for human
rights in Zimbabwe. (2).Help to make our reports & commentaries known.
(3) Donate financial to the Foundation of Reason & Justice we want to
reach to the poor & suffering with needs.
As for our background lam a Zimbabwean human rights campaigner and
writer who has won awards.

Join Foundation of Reason and Justice on Facebook or
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http://groups.google.com/group/zimbabwe-crisis-news?pli=1

Gambia Affairs:Gambia:The Gambia Bar Association Condemns Moses Richards Conviction in A Press Release

Sheriff Tambadou President of Gambia Bar Association

"This Monday, the 19th day September 2011 at approximately 11 am at the Banjul Magistrates Court, Moses B. J Richards, a legal practitioner was convicted and sentenced to serve a term of 2 years with hard labour at Mile II Central State Prisons. The alleged crimes for which he was convicted were giving false information to a public servant contrary to section 114(a) of the Criminal Code and sedition contrary to Section 52(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
"The prosecution, conviction and sentencing was presided over and carried out by Magistrate T. A. Alagbe."
The Gambia Bar Association noted that the incarceration of their colleague puts the Gambian Legal profession on trial and puts the Independence of their profession and the bar into question.
According to them, "It is a universally accepted principle of all civilized societies that an advocate must be allowed to represent his or her client without fear or favour. In this instance the charges against Mr Richards related to a letter he had written to the Sheriff of the High Court in the course of his duties as a lawyer and while under the direct instruction of his client. The letter made reference to the executive branch of the government. Mr Richard's client appeared in court and swore under oath that he did indeed instruct Mr Richards to write the said letter. These are the 'crimes' for which Mr Richards is being punished."
They observed that , "once again The Gambia is portrayed as a nation where the mere mention of the Office of the President is risky. The Gambia Bar Association urges the executive branch of the government to take note" and requested that it does not allow a wedge to be driven between it and the people. They claimed that the incarceration of their colleague may smear the international reputation of the Country and weaken their resolve to prevent the further weakening of the Gambian legal system.
They claim that the principles that seek to protect and safeguard the integrity of the profession is under threat and call on the Executive branch of Government to pay heed to the Legal sector. The Gambia Bar calls on the Government of the Gambia to step in and protect its citizens, prevent the degradation of the Constitution and the legal profession and free Moses Richards.
The bar puts all relevant authorities on notice that the Gambia Bar Association will actively seek the institution of disciplinary action against lawyers that seek to visit terror and humiliation on innocent people. They concluded by openly inviting the executive to a dialogue for the interest of all.
The press release was sent to Gambia Affairs by a senior member of the  Bar Association.

Gambia Affairs:Gambia:Press Freedom Vital To Credible Burmese Reform

Bangkok, September 20, 2011—The Burmese government's internationally lauded reform rhetoric is contradicted by heavy censorship tactics that continue to make the country's media among the most restricted in the world, a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists has found.

 

"The government's promise of reform is welcome, yet censorship in Burma remains arbitrary, intensive, and highly restrictive," said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative and the author of the report. "Legal reform to ensure press freedom would lend much-needed credibility to the government's claims of democratic change in Burma. Draconian laws restricting reporting must be abolished, and imprisoned journalists must be immediately released."

 

The report, based on CPJ interviews with journalists in Burma and those working for Burmese exile media, found that banned topics are still wide-reaching and that, to date, the new government has not acted to abolish or amend the highly arbitrary laws that restrict press freedom and punish deviation from official dictates. Since last year's elections, two journalists have been sentenced to prison terms of almost 20 years, and more than a dozen publications have been suspended for their news reporting.

 

A veneer of press freedom evident in the proliferation of privately owned and -run news publications is shattered by the fact that the newspapers are heavily censored and regularly forced to publish state-prepared news and commentary presenting government policies in a glowing light, local editors told CPJ. In November 2010, authorities forced some 500 Internet cafés—typically used by undercover exile reporters to file their news, pictures, and videos to outside media—to install closed-circuit cameras, screen-capture programs, and keystroke-logging software to monitor and store users' online activities. A ban on the use of flash drives in Internet cafés was imposed in May, two months after the current government took office.

 

CPJ's report includes recommendations to the Burmese government, the European Union, the United Nations, the United States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Norway. Burma, which is vying for chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014, should be deemed unqualified to lead the organization if it fails to make progress on press freedom. CPJ also urged the establishment of a U.N.-led commission of inquiry into war crimes, including the jailing and torture of journalists.

 

"Uncensored reporting from within Burma is crucial for assessing whether the government's promise of democratic reform is rhetoric or reality," said Crispin. "Until new freedoms take hold, exile media continues to serve as a vital source of credible, independent information on developments within Burma and should not be abandoned by donor countries."

 

The historically military-run Southeast Asian country held its first democratic elections in more than two decades in November 2010 and installed a nominally civilian government in March 2011. Since then, President Thein Sein has sought international recognition for the transition, urging the United States and European countries to drop their economic sanctions maintained in response to the country's abysmal human rights record.

 

The Burmese government's recent informal call for exiled dissidents to return was met with great skepticism by journalists interviewed by CPJ, precisely due to the lack of reforms. Nearly all of the Burma-based reporters and editors interviewed for CPJ's report requested anonymity due to fears of possible reprisal if their names appeared in a report critical of the government. Two staff members and a freelance reporter working for CPJ were denied visas to enter Burma to conduct research for this report. No reasons were given for the denials.

 

###

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.

 

Note to Editors: CPJ's full report, a video report, and additional features, can be accessed here:

§  CPJ full report and recommendations

§  EU Engagement

§  Role of Burma's exile media

§  List of imprisoned Burmese journalists

§  Video report

Gambia Affairs:Gambia:The Gambia Government Diplomatic Sensitivities And The Tourist Season

Foroyaa editorial


President Wade postulates a new role for President Jammeh in Cassamance
The Gambia is a country full of ironies. It is not uncommon for the leadership of the ruling party to accuse the British and other foreign governments of providing material support to the opposition in the Gambia.
On the other hand, foreign governments consider the opposition in the Gambia to be disunited and are even predicting the victory of the ruling party. Strangely enough, despite all the accusation of the APRC of collaborating with the opposition no institution or country has committed itself to finance the Presidential Elections. The registration of voters also did not attract any external funding. The whole international community has adopted a wait and see approach with regards to the coming Presidential elections.

The ruling party should tell the Gambian people which opposition party is receiving funding from Western Governments. If it does not give evidence of funding by a western power then its leaders should be seen to be engaged in a mere propaganda exercise. The facts on the ground reveal that no foreign power will help the Gambian people to Change the Gambia. It is the Gambian people themselves who would have to be their own saviours. The Gambian opposition has nothing to gain whether the Gambia Government establishes a cordial relation with a foreign Government or develops a hostile relationship. It is the Gambian people who stand to be disadvantaged if embassies transfer to other countries and if tourists do not feel welcomed because of bad publicity. The Gambia stands to lose a great deal if the opposition fails to come up with one voice and if the ruling party continues to give the impression that foreign governments are using the opposition to undermine the Government. They should try to maintain amicable relations with all governments in order to promote the interest of the Gambian people.