Photo: President (Photo credit Culled from Facebook).

Editorial

Migration From Tension To Solution

Sometimes, for years on end, young African men and women risk everything, including their lives, to take on the perilous trip across dozens of borders and the treacherous waves of the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better life in Europe.

Some die along the way, some are turned back and some who finish the journey realize that life may not be easier across the frontier. But with few jobs and dim prospects at home, millions of youths and young adults in Africa still chooses to migrate, often clandestinely.

Such movements of people pose numerous questions for many governments and for the international community.

One of the most pressing concerns of governments and citizens in industrialized countries are irregular migration:

Photo: Migrant Boat (Credit Culled from Mamos Tv Web)

One amongst the reasons why youths in this country migrate is the level of youth unemployment.

The ratio of youths unemployment is getting higher and higher while our population is increasing day-in-day-out.

Majority of the youths in this country wants to leave the country to go somewhere else to look for greener pasture is because they are not convinced that they will find a better life in their own country.

 

Our government is putting its resources on technology and technology is expanding nowadays where countries are hiring fewer and fewer people.

Communication is not the main employer in the country, because it contributes 66 percent to our GDP.

One of the greatest threats to national development is the lacks of national development plans that will enable us to the productive base of our economy so its absorptive capacity to increase to be able to host you so that you can get the decent employment that you require being able to live a decent life.

Why can't Gambians take charges of their own destiny, we have all it takes to develop this country we have our rivers, where are our fishing vessels, those vessels fishing on our waters how did it happen?

In Batokunku and Sanyang where miming was taking place is still taking place and we have might’s minerals in these places and they are zeal icons and eliminates.

These minerals I am informed can be used in the manufacturing of our local telephone system, mobile phone systems, etc.

These minerals could serve as a source of weather for the nation.

There's a propose of oil in these minerals. Our country is endowed with waft.

Let nobody tells you there is no solution to our problems that our economy is being deterred by the former ruling.

A society that has already destroyed by a political system has been transformed in such a way that is no longer manageable and as a result we find it difficult to make progress.

Youths, on the other hand, should plow back to the land so that there would be enough food self-sufficient.

There are high hopes and sooner or later we will start processing our oil well and if it is well properly managed the Gambia would be its own self-sufficient without depending on foreign aids.

  

PHOTO: Yanks Darboe Speaking to journalists

International Lawyer Says There Is NO Democracy in The Gambia

By Ousman A. Marong

Yankuba Darboe; Gambia's UK born International lawyer has said that there is no democracy in The Gambia.

"They want to tell us that President Barrow is a democratic leader. A democratic leader who does not want to be heard by his people’s grievances. And you know what he does? He sent us in the bush so that we can be heard by; birds; crabs; mangroves; fishes in the pond. This is a mockery to Ecowas;" he remarked.

He made the revelation during the massive anti-government protest held at Sting Corner in Bakau up to Denton Bridge in “Saro”.

The protest was organized by a group of people who referred to themselves as #Operation “3-years jonta".

The Mass anti-government protest began on yesterday with thousands of people who took to the streets rising for President Adama Barrow to honor his 3-years agreement with coalition members.

"This is the government whose people are asking for a permit to protest and he is sending them into the bush. This shows there is no democracy in The Gambia;" said the renowned lawyer.

Asked why did they agree to protest in the bush, he replied in the affirmative, "If we fail to honor to protest in the vicinity designated to us the world wouldn't know and they (the government) would say we have given them (the protesters) the permit in which they refused to honor and we (the government) are democratic."

The international lawyer argued that the Gambia is not a democratic country and that should be clear to the International Community by now.

"The government of the Gambia is fooling the International community particularly the European Union (EU). What I have to tell the EU is for them to stop funding the Gambia;" he asserted.

He alleged that the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) is the replica of former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and their mode of Operandi remain the same.

"You know what they call a threat to National security; quizzed: the International lawyer. You know what they describe as the best interest of the National security;" he further quizzed.

He described the best interest of the National security to be "repression; operation; suppression; stifling of decent."

He said this is what he refers to as the best interest of National security.

"We told them exactly where we want to be heard and that's in the city. There is a lot of people who would have turned up in the city, but you know why they don't want the world to see and this was part of their brotherly agenda to stifle us;" he related.

He outlined that they #Operation "3-years jotna" movement are not backed by any political party.

"We are backed by our own patriotism and our citizenship. We don’t want any leader to make a fool of our people. No leader should make a fool of our people; not anymore;" he intimated.

He described the protest in what he refers to as Gambians success story.

"This is what the Gambian government is taken Myanmar to the International criminal justice for violation of human rights; but this is where they sent their own protesters to be heard by birds; crabs; mangroves and fishes in the pond. Yet still, they want to go before the world and begged for money and tell those countries we are a democratic country we respect the rule of law; we respect democracy and we respect the dignity of our people; “he echoed.

In his part Honorable Madi MK Ceesay National Assembly member for Serekunda West said he joined the thousands of protesters in order to show his dissatisfaction about the way and manner in which the MoU and the political manifesto was about to be violated by President Barrow.

"I am here as Member of Parliament. I am not representing my party. I am here representing my vote; because I am an electorate. I have voted in for Adama Barrow on the bases of the 3-years;" he asserted.

He said since the 3-years is coming to an end, he joined the thousands of protesters to remind President Barrow that he should respect the 3-year agreement.

Other speakers include Dodou Kassa Jatta who said he also joined the thousands protesters in order to put pressure on President Barrow for him to honor his 3-years agreement.

"He (Adama Barrow) should step down and if he failed to do so come January 19 we will show him that power belongs to the people;" he poised.

Ebrima Krubally; a representative from the North Bank Region (NBR) was amongst the speakers and he echoed similar sentiments.

However there was an hour stand-off between the protesters and the government spokesman Ebrima G. Sankareh.

Mr. Sankareh was the one to collect the letter on behalf of the government and to tender it to President Adama Barrow.

Sankareh was earlier quoted saying that the “3-years jotna” movement are 6 member groups and therefore they (the government) didn’t recognize them.

He uttered the words on yesterday during a radio program called "coffee time with Peter Gomez" on West Coast radio.

Upon his arrival at Denton Bridge to collect the letter Sankareh asked the protesters to meet him to hand over their letter.

The movement refused and stood their ground demanding that he (Sankareh) should come down to collect the letter himself.

PHOTO: Lamin Jobarteh (Photo Credit TRRC)

Abducted at 16 Traumatized Victim Branded wizard

By Ousman A. Marong

Lamin Jobarteh, a survivor victim of former president Yahya Jammeh’s witch-hunting exercise was abducted at the age of 16 and was branded a wizard.

Traumatized Lamin appeared before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC) during the commissions' community hearings about the dehumanizing treatment meted out to innocent people in 2009 when hallucinogenic concoction was given to many in the name of hunting for witches and wizards in the country.

The 26-year-old said he is a native of Aljamdu village in Upper Nuimi District. He said he was aspiring in becoming a lawyer upon completing his schooling. 

His aspiration in becoming a lawyer shattered at a time he was abducted and branded as a wizard by former President Yahya Jammeh's witch-hunters.

He informed the commission that he was abducted in his home while laundering his school uniform.

He like many others before abduction were told are going to be cured by the witch-hunters.

Jobarteh, become a school dropout while in grade 9 due to social stigmatization.

In February 2009 the witch-hunters invaded Essau and Barra wherein they abducted many people including Jobarteh and took them away.

The 26-year-old explained how he was abducted and branded as a wizard.

“I was in junior secondary school in 2009. The witch-hunters appeared before me in my home while laundering my school uniform. They held my hand and placed it in the mirror and asked me to follow them. They said they were going to cure me,” he explained.

He made the pronouncement in Essau village, testifying before the commission in the maiden ongoing regional hearing.

“I was told by one of the Green Boys to wear better clothing because the place I was going to is cold. They stood outside and waited for me to go and change clothes. I was so terrified,” he remarked.

He said after changing his cloth, he came out and refused to follow them.

“They asked me to come with them and I insisted. One of the Green, Youths slapped me and I became more frightened and I began to follow them,” he asserted.

He said their yard owner in the person of Alagie Biji Sonko was also abducted.

He added that he was taken to the bus where he sat for some minutes waiting for the witch-hunters who were going round abducting people.

“I was afraid and I felt embarrassed. People were standing looking at us while branding us as witches and wizards, “said the witness.

He further informed the Commission that he was the youngest among those abducted in Essau.

He stated that they were temporary taken to Fort Bullen before finally been transported to Kololi.

                                                                

“I was not happy. I was the youngest. I was been put in the midst of the elders and we were referred to witches and wizards. I was very sad and if I had the chance to escape I could have,” he said.

He said the witch-hunters called him upstairs and asked him to pay D500 for the medicine but when he indicated to them that he had no money on him, he was asked to join the queue to drink the concoction.

He stressed that he was being bathed by the witch-hunters and after bathing him he was again given the concoction to drink.

He alleged that the Green Boys together with some of the soldiers were beating the abducted for misbehaving after drinking the concoction.

He confirmed seeing soldiers with some Green Boys beating Alajie Biji Sonko.

He said his release came about after he speaks to his abductors about his intention of going back to school.

“My abductees ask me to give them D500 or else they won’t release me. I told him that I was a student and I have no money on me. I asked them to keep me as long as they could that I was not with money. I told them I was missing my class test,” said jorbateh.

“I found my mother crying. I was worried too what she might be talking to society about me. I was also worried too about how society was going to perceive me. My mother was worried and when I sat down, I also cried. I used to shout at night because of bad nightmares and dreams. I used to have a very painful headache. I couldn’t go to school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,” said the traumatized witness.

He said in his nightmares and dreams it appears as if he was under attack by red-red.

He said when he resumed school on the following Monday, his colleague students were pointing at him and referred to him as the wizard.

“I was not concentrating on my educations. After doing my exams I knew I was not going to make it. I was traumatized by the stigma of my colleague students. Witch-hunting exercise destroyed my educational career. anytime I flash-back on the incident I cry over it. I still have the nightmares. I still have the stress of my victimization,” he said.

He noted that his mother passed away and currently he is the breadwinner of the family through driving.

PHOTO: TRRC Commissioners 

TRRC Communications Unit Accused of Interfering in the Selection of Journalists to Cover Regional Hearings

By Ousman A. Marong

The TRRC Communications Unit has been criticized by a section of the Gambian journalists covering its proceedings for allegedly interfering in the selection of journalists to be covering the regional outreach hearings as well as its decision to select few journalists for the coverage without letting others know.

Speaking to this reporter, Adama Makasuba, a freelance journalist covering the TRRC proceedings openly criticized the TRRC Communications Unit's decision on the selection of a few journalists, leaving others behind.

He said: "I believe the whole issue was a breach of communication on the side of the TRRC Communications Unit. It is fine for the UNDP to demand few journalists to be covering the regional hearings. The TRRC Communications Unit could have communicated the issue to us all."

Makasuba made it clear that he is not complaining, because of the money given to the journalists selected by the TRRC to cover the regional hearings, but because of the unfair selection process.

He added that they (the affected journalists) are expressing their dismay at the unfair selection process by the TRRC Communications Unit.

"They are entitled to do their job accordingly and we have no problem with that. But we should be critically looking at issues and be listening to one another as colleagues, rather than to be making decisions on our own," he stressed.

Malick Saine, a senior journalist with Youth Daily Africa Press and Block TV Gambia, said the selection process was undone. "The only journalists they selected are those from the print media. This shows that they are seeing the other media organizations be less important. The UNDP does not own the TRRC, the TRRC is for The Gambia and Gambians," he added.

When contacted to shed light on the allegations, Modou Dem, a Communications officer at the TRRC, said: "We (TRRC) did not sideline anyone. It was the UNDP that directly contacted the Media Houses. They are the agency funding the event and did not consult us to do the selection of the journalists to be covering the regional hearings."

  

On his part, Essa Jallow, head of the Communications Unit at the TRRC, said in a heated debate on the TRRC Whatsapp group: "I didn't want to comment but I think I have to make certain things clear to everyone here. I am the head of Communications Unit and it's my job to take the decision on such matters. I have selected from the broadcast and print media to cover the regional community hearings without consulting anyone, just as I did with the training programme. I will continue to do that as long as it's my job to do so."

However, this reporter got access to other information regarding the communication between Momodou Dem of the TRRC and Mr. Kah, Block TV's CEO.     

Mr. Kah's message reads:

"Bro Nakam, we at Block TV are not happy with the way the TRRC is treating us. We were told you only give money to those streaming the TRRC proceedings live. We are not doing this for money, but free and our followers. You are the right person to talk to and I believe I should put this to you."

Dem's response:

"Good evening Mr. Kah, how are you doing? As far as I know, no broadcast media other than our partners, QTV is paid for streaming. What happened was the UNDP being the sole funder of the regional hearings, decided to contact only three Newspapers without even informing our unit (TRRC). I have already intimated to some journalists that because of my background in the media, I am not happy with the way things were done but it is beyond me."

Julien Attakla-Ayinon, UN Senior Adviser, Rule of Law and Transitional Justice Project Coordinator, also told this reporter that he is not privy to the information regarding the UNDP providing funds to the TRRC regional hearings.

"I am not aware of any issue related to the support that the UNDP has provided to the TRRC so far and particularly in the framework of the ongoing regional hearings.

Should you or any TRRC staff have a cause of concern or dissatisfaction, I advise such staff or yourself to channel it directly to the TRRC which, I believe, has trained a number of journalists and has its own mechanisms of accreditation of media houses or journalists," he concluded.

PHOTO: Neneh Babou (Photo credit TRRC Media team).

Witness Conjugates Babys Demise Consumption Of Hallucinogenic Concoction

By Ousman A. Marong

Neneh Babou, a resident of Barra in North Bank Region (NBR) has Thursday, 5th December 2019 told the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparation Commission (TRRC) that she lost her 8 – month baby as a result of the concoction she was been given by the former President Yahya Jammeh's sponsored witch-hunters sometime in 2009.

According to her, she was just 8 months pregnant before her abduction by former President Yahya Jammeh's witch-hunters.

Neneh 36 said two of the witch-hunters known as the witch-doctors were under the escort of soldiers. 

she informed the Commission that the witch-hunters appeared before her informing her that they were going to cure her simply because her pregnancy was affected.

She further informed the Commission that a witch-hunter pointed his mirror on her stomach and told her that her 8-month pregnancy has a problem.

“They told me that my pregnancy had a problem together with the child I conceived. They said they were going to cure me. I told them that I was ok but they insist I must follow them. They whisked me away with my in-law,” she explained.

She made the revelation in Essau, testifying before the Commission on the ongoing regional hearing.

The Essau born said when she arrived at the bus all those captured were referred to as witches and wizards by those standing while watching.

She said she was asked to board the bus and wait for the marabout to give her the medicine.

“When the marabout came I asked him about the medicine, he said I have to go with them and I will be given the medicine. I refused and they forced me,” she remarked.

She said the soldiers were armed mixed with former president Yahya Jammeh’s “Green Boys”.

She stated that they were taken to a place in the Kombos were they arrived around sunset.

She retorted that before her turn, she observed that all those who drank the concoction were falling down while others unconscious mood.

She further informed the Commission that she drank a cup filled with a concoction thrice in which she later vomited.

She recalled seeing her in-law after drinking the concoction.

“I was released the following day together with my in-law. My in-law began to suffer from pain and we were moving from one hospital to another. She is currently mad,” said the witness.

She stressed that they were not given any food upon their abduction until she left.

She said her stomach continued to give her a problem where she frequently visits the hospital and later give birth.

“When I deliver at the Essau health center for the first three days my baby was not suckling. I was referred to Royal Victorial Teaching Hospital (RVTH) now Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH). I have spent another three days there and still, my baby was not suckling my breast,” she said.

She said after spending days at EFSTH upon her return to Essau the baby began to develop sickness.

“She was in a moveable condition. Her hands and legs were immobile. She died while she was eight months,” said tearful mother.

She said after the witch-hunting exercise, she gave birth to quadruple, but three died.

“I have two miscarriages. My in-law is still alive, but still suffering from the hallucination pain. Some of the people I was arrested together with died as a result of the concoction,” he concluded.