The Bones of Executed Gambians

A poet once said "you can kill me, throw away my bones, scatter them, bury them, but one day, my bones will ride against you" Rest in peace all slain Gambian...Your bones will ride against your killers, One day. Remembering the late Deyda Hydara and others.

Deyda Hydara's killing occurred whilst I was a two weeks holiday to the Gambia. I was busy travelling from place, running errands, but along the way, grabbing newspapers. I read some brief accounts of Deyda's material on the media bill. A week before returning back to England, Deyda Hydara was murdered by an assassin bullets. 

Whoever ordered the killing will one day, taste his own medicine. Callous and cowardly at best. 

The Slow death of Gambia's Marxist-Socialism

“History calls those men the greatest who have ennobled themselves by working for the common good; experience acclaims as happiest the man who has made the greatest number of people happy.” Marx, Letter to His Father in (1837)

By Suntou Touray

Momodou Dumo Sarho

Sidia Jatta

The initial tilt of post-colonial African nations toward Socialism and Marxism did not spare the Gambia. Though the Gambia’s successive national governments have all steered clear of the two sister ideologies, a relatively small segment of the literate urban youth population did openly flirt with Socialism and Marxism for a long time. Whether this was purely out of youthful rebellion against authority is open to debate. This is especially true of the 70s and 80s when Socialist and Marxist ideas seemed to have gained traction in the Gambia. One could say that Socialism especially penetrated the Gambia in the 70s and 80s in that local Marxists (who like to call each other “Comrades”) traversed Gambian soil, quietly preaching their peculiar gospel of politics, subversion, equality, and social justice to impressionable youth. At this junction, the Gambia began to feel their presence in different forms.

But the proponents of the ideologies didn’t sit down on their laurels; they started to widen their constituency by conducting lectures in tiny enclaves in colleges, high schools and vocational campuses, formal workplaces, and at vous all around the Gambia’s urban areas. The universal ideologies of political economic management of Socialism and Marxism soon became the sound bites of self-described Freedom Fighters across Africa as they did further afield in South America, and Asia. The symbolism of sacrificing oneself for a higher secular cause as epitomized by the likes of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in Cuba, and Chairman Mao in his cultural revolution in China, were models Gambian Marxists looked up to.

Naturally, the existing political class in the Gambia at the time (the PPP) became the target of these sometimes overzealous young men, who are of mixed orientation and social origin. While many are semi-literate with scant understanding of the political ideologies they purportedly espouse, some of the youths had University or college education. Again, while some are genuinely unconnected to the ruling class, some are close relatives of important members of the establishment they loudly rant against. The one thing Socialist-Marxists had in common was their resentment against what they perceived as “elitism and patronage of the political class.”

While they lacked the numbers to pose a serious political threat to the PPP government, nonetheless they were worried enough about their corrupting influence on the generality of Gambian youths to initiate a close surveillance of their activities. This became particularly imperative after like-minded youth took over power in Liberia in April 1980 through a bloody coup d’état. The Liberia experience was a wake-up call for the PPP government that a small number of “Leftist” could pose dangers to the Gambia’s peace and stability.

Consequently, the most visible of the Marxist-Socialist band of brothers of the Movement for Justice in Africa Gambia (MOJA-G) was quickly proscribed. However, as often happens in such cases, the banning of their organization only served to give the Marxist-Socialists a higher profile than they hitherto had. Until their banning, most Gambians had never even heard of the group. But the effect of the group’s banning turned several of its members into high profile status. These people included Abdoulie Jobe, Koro Sallah, Momodou Dumo Sarho, Sedia Jatta, Halifa Sallah, Sam Sarr, Sarjo Jallow, Ousman Manjang, among others.

My brief comment here is not in any way or form a scholarly discourse of the dying breed of ex-Marxist activists, but merely a short commentary on the slow death of the Socialist-Marxist ideas in the Gambia. Some of the individuals cited here may reject the claim that they are communist or socialist in orientation, thereby wholly rejecting my comments about them. However, it is undisputable that the currency of alternative political activism in contrast to free market capitalist democracy is socialism (championed by PDOIS) or Marxism (espoused by MOJA-G) in our case.

The most prominent members of Gambia’s Marxist MOJA group have all largely settled in Europe for decades now. The result of which is the departure of their Marxist ideals. The remaining underground members (Halifa, Sam Sarr, and Sedia) changed course by entering mainstream politics. As the Marxist forerunners to enter politics, they trekked villages and towns, leafleting and pamphleteering. They sold and distributed preacher-like political sermons on magnetic cassette tapes. The messages on the cassette tapes – themed to portray the Socialists as the “caring lot” organized to champion the courses of “ordinary people” – were similar and consistent. Always implicit in their message is the notion that they’re different from other educated Gambians. Yet, the two ideologies have not fared well in Gambia despite their laudable claims. So one may ask: what triggered the demise of Marxism in the Gambia? While there are undoubtedly many factors, it is reasonable to state that decades of the Socialist-Marxists’ unsuccessful bid for power has proven to be a dis-incentivizing agent for both the leaders and the masses they seek to enlighten. The failure of the resident Marxists in the Gambia especially to expand their following even after a quarter century of openly canvassing the populace, is particularly glaring.

Many keen observers are perplexed and confused by the unending downturn of the resident Marxist-Socialists’ political fortunes. Even the areas one might expect Gambians to follow them in – the simple dress code, personal modesty, etc, has not worked out for them. Some believe that is because the Socialists’ humility-façade masks an intense anger and disappointment at the refusal of Gambians to entrust them with our country. Many believe it’s that anger that is behind the Socialists’ reticence to work with others to end our Nation’s trauma expeditiously.

For the one thing that has now become commonplace during every Opposition negotiation cycle is the news of the Marxist-Socialist “Old boys” holding onto inflexible positions that scuttle any chances of achieving opposition unity. Further, they seem to imply that they’re the only genuine alternative to the monster that regime in the Gambia – thus the contemptuous and dismissive attitude towards other Gambians in pursuit of other solutions to our common problem. It seems they would rather stick to hardened uncompromising stances than working towards malleable positions that could realistically help end the tyranny in the Gambia. Why they continue to regard such behavior as a wise and viable option is something many Gambians cannot figure out.

Allow me to end this short note with a few words from Karl Max: “If we have chosen the position in life in which we can most of all work for mankind, no burdens can bow us down, because they are sacrifices for the benefit of all; then we shall experience no petty, limited, selfish joy, but our happiness will belong to millions, our deeds will live on quietly but perpetually at work, and over our ashes will be shed the hot tears of noble people.” Marx, Letter to His Father (1837)

Ends

the attachments to this post: 

 
Momodou Dumo Sarho

The Importance of Islamic New Year

THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM

By Sheikh Mufti Taqi Uthmaani (Hafidhahullah)

Sheikh Taqi Uthmani/Criticalppp

Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar Hijrah Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which the Holy Quran says, “The number of the months according to Allah is twelve months (mentioned) in the Book of Allah on the day in which He created heavens and the earth. Among these (twelve months) there are four sanctified”. These four months, according to the authentic traditions are the months of Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators of the Holy Quran are unanimous on this point, because the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) in his sermon on the occasion of his last Hajj, has declared: One year consists of twelve months, of which four are sanctified months, three of them are in sequence; Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab.

The specific mention of these four months does not mean that any other month has no sanctity, because the month of Ramadhan is admittedly the most sanctified month in the year. But these four months were specifically termed as sanctified months for the simple reason that their sanctity was accepted even by the pagans of Makkah. In fact, every month, out of the twelve, is originally equal to the other, and there is no inherent sanctity which may be able which may be attributed to one of them in comparison to the other months. When Allah Almighty chooses a particular time for His special blessings, the same acquires sanctity out of His grace. Thus, the sanctity of these four months was recognized right from the days of Sayyidina Ibrahim (Alayhis salaam). Since the Pagans of Makkah attributed themselves to Sayyidina Ibrahim (Alayhis salaam) they observed the sanctity of these four months and despite their frequent tribal battles, they held it unlawful to fight in these months. In the Shariah of our Noble Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) the sanctity of these months was upheld and the Holy Quran referred to them as the “sanctified months”. The month of Muharram has certain other characteristics peculiar to it which are specified below.

Fasting During The Month: The Noble Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said: ‘The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadhan are those of the month of Muharram.”

Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, yet, the one who fasts in these days out of his own will and choice is entitled to a great reward by Allah Almighty. The Hadith cited above signifies that the fasts of the month of Muharram are most rewardable ones among the Nafl fasts i.e. the fasts one observes out of his own choice without being obligatory on him. The Hadith does not mean that the award promised for fasts of Muharram can be achieved only by fasting for the whole month. On the contrary, each fast during this month has merit. Therefore, one should avail of this opportunity as much as he can.

The day of ‘Ashurah’

Although the month of Muharram is a sanctified month as a whole, yet, the 10th day of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named ‘Ashurah’. According to the Holy Companion Ibn ‘Abbas (Radhiallaahu Anhu). The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), when migrated to Madinah, found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which the Holy Prophet Musa (Moses) (Alayhis salaam) and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its waters. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “We are more closely rotated to Musa (Alayhis salaam) than you” and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of ‘Ashura’. (Abu Dawood) It is also reported in a number of authentic traditions that in the beginning, fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ was obligatory for the Muslims. It was later that the fasts of Ramadhan were made obligatory and the fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ was made optional. Sayyidina ‘Aisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) has said: “When the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of ‘Ashura’ and directed the people to fast it. But when the fasts of Ramadhan were made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramadhan and the obligatory nature of the fast of ‘Ashura’ was abandoned. Whoever so desires should fast on it and any other who so likes can avoid fasting on it.” (Sunan Abu Dawud) However, the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ even after the fasting in Ramadhan was made obligatory. Abdullah ibn Musa (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) preferred the fast of ‘Ashura’ on the fasts of other days and preferred the fasts of Ramadhaan on the fast of ‘Ashura’. (Bukhari and Muslim) In short, it is established through a number of authentic Hadiths that fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ is Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and makes one entitled to a great reward. According to another Hadith, it is more advisable that the fast of ‘Ashura’ should either be prefixed or suffixed by another fast. It means that one should fast two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th of it. 

The reason of this additional fast as mentioned by the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is that the Jews used to fast on the day of ‘Ashura alone, and the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) wanted to distinguish the Muslim way of fasting from that of Jews. Therefore, he advised the Muslims to add another fast to that of ‘Ashura’. Some traditions signify another feature of the day of ‘Ashura. According to these traditions one should be more generous to his family by providing more food to them on this day as compared to other days. These traditions are not very authentic according to the science of Hadith. Yet, some Scholars like Baihaqi and Ibn Hibban have accepted them as reliable. What is mentioned above is all that is supported through authentic sources about Ashura. However, there are some legends and misconceptions with regard to ‘Ashura’ that have managed to find their way into the minds of the ignorant, but have no support of authentic Islamic sources, some very common of them are these: This is the day in which Adam (Alayhis salaam) was created. 

This is the day in which Ibrahim was born. This is the day in which Allah accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Adam (Alayhis salaam) This is the day on which the Qiyaamah (doomsday) will take place. Whoever takes bath in the day of ‘Ashura’ will never get ill. All these and other similar whims and fancies are totally baseless and the traditions referred to in this respect are not worthy of any credit. Some people take it as Sunnah to prepare a particular type of meal in the day of ‘Ashura’. This practice, too, has no basis in the authentic Islamic sources. Some other people attribute the sanctity of ‘Ashura’ to the martyrdom of Sayyidina Husain (Radhiallaahu Anhu) during his battle with the Syrian army. No doubt, the martyrdom of Sayyidina Husain (Radhiallaahu Anhu) is one of the most tragic episodes of our history. Yet, the sanctity of ‘Ashura’ cannot be ascribed to this event for the simple reason that the sanctity of ‘Ashura’ was established during the days of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) much earlier than the birth of Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallaahu Anhu). On the contrary, it is one of the merits of Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallaahu Anhu) that his martyrdom took place on the day of ‘Ashura’.

 Another misconception about the month of Muharram is that it is an evil or unlucky month, for Sayyidna Husain was killed in it. It is for this misconception that people avoid holding marriage ceremonies in the month of Muharram. This is again a baseless concept which is contrary to the express teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. Such superstitions have been totally negated by the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). If the death of an eminent person in a particular day renders that day unlucky for all times to come, one can hardly find a day, free from this bad luck, out of 360 days of the whole year, because each and every day has a history of the demise of some eminent person. The Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) have made us free from such superstitious beliefs, and they should deserve no attention.

Another wrong practice related to this month is to hold the lamentation and mouming ceremonies in the memory of martyrdom of Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallaahu Anhu). As mentioned earlier, the event of Karbala is one of the most tragic events of our history, but the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) has forbidden us from holding the mourning ceremonies on the death of any person. The people of jahiliyyah (ignorance) used to mourn over their deceased through loud lamentations, by tearing their clothes and by beating their cheeks and chests. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) stopped the Muslims from doing all this and directed them to observe patience by saying “Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon”. A number of authentic Ahaadith are available on the subject. To quote only one of them: “He is not from our group who slaps his checks, tears his clothes and cries in the manner of the people of jahiliyyah“. (Sahih Bukhari) All the authentic jurists are unanimous on the point that the mourning of this type is absolutely impermissible.

Even Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallaahu Anhu) at shortly before his demise, had advised his beloved sister Sayyidah Zainab (Radhiallaahu Anha) at not to mourn over his death in this manner. He said, “My dear sister, I swear upon you that you, in case I die, shall not tear your clothes, nor scratch your face, nor curse anyone for me or pray for your death”. (Al-Kamil, ibn Kathir vol. 4 pg. 24) It is evident from this advice of Sayyidna Husain, (Radhiallaahu Anhu) that this type of mourning is condemned even by the blessed person for the memory of whom these mourning ceremonies are held. Every Muslim should avoid this practice and abide by the teachings of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and his beloved grand child Sayyidna Husain (Radhiallaahu Anhu).

-Mufti Taqi Uthmaani

the attachments to this post: 

 
Sheikh Taqi Uthmani

'I' is the Terminology

I return home

From where?

The Neighboring country

I told them everything

About our dilemma

I said that, I am the answer to all the problem

And I am ready and now willing

To be seen and heard

I have stood up and wrote about it all

I am the only one who can bring sanity

I have demonstrated it over and over

That, without me, nothing will work

I have abundantly said it

I will not allow anyone to take my chances

All the press statements I did are to highlight my position

People should stop focusing on the dictator

And rather look at Me

I am the problem and the solution

I will continue to reinvent myself

Over and over

Until all of you take me seriously

I don't care how long it takes

But I will not end my stance to be in command

At every gathering of my peers

Because, I am who I am

I interview myself and pass it off

I am a scholar, a politician, a writer, a talker, orator

I am all in one and I will never be irrelevant

So Gambians, you cannot ignore me

And even you try to do, I will remind you

That, the problem and solution all lies

With me...And so it shall be

"Message by A wise Gambian who is too focus on himself)

All His Excellency's Imams and Priests

By Suntou Bolonba Touray
To God will be our return
Them and us
As guardians and overlords
The Imams and Priest swore to stand for our God's people
Yet the bare bottom ruler overturn it without breaking wind!
Even as some Imams get laid, The others look away
Hoping their hands will be free from blood and innocent sufferings
Yet the puppet scream in joy, claiming "god is him" and the Imams and
Priests are his drummers
Fear no more unprepared masses, the day of account giving is nigh
That day all his Excellency's Imams and Priests will wish they can be
swallowed for licking the blood of comrades and the ordinary
Sermon no more, we know your lips are for the Dalasis and the Cameras.
" In Allah, let the believers put their trust"

The Brutalisation of Critics in the Gambia

Confirmed reports from NIA detension and interogation units reveals that, non-Gambians are hired to torture Gambian black and blue. An eye witness state that, if you look closely at the scene of some hidden places, you can see human remains. Anybody who report a Gambian to people for him or her to be brutalise is lower than a wild beast and yet some people live on income from working as secret agents, yet they claim to be praying and fasting. I wonder for what purpose? In Tunisian, certain people are punish in prison by depriving them of their prayers. It is said that, beating this political prisoners does not affect them, the prison torturers resort to urinating in the place of worship of the prisoners during the old regime. Now any person who will do that, just to do his maters work is not worth been called a human being.

The Blacksmith Prince and the Tyrant

Suntou Touray
The torturing subject making tongues waking is simply that, will they finally marry or will it not happen. The self anointed Prince of the Gambia, residing in Deutschland has done all Princely overtures to attract the attention of the tyrant but the Tyrant remains muted.
The Prince showed off his illusionary wealth, grandeur, notoriety, devilish cavaliers, and many more elongated trash-self-serving commentaries, yet the Tyrant remain disinterested.
How do we quicken the nuptial of our Prince with the indelible wannabe King, Abdul Aziz Of Kanilia? I for one feel ashamed seeing endless big statements from the Prince. “I am willing to offer my service for free, only if the President gives me the green light” Doh!!!
The Prince ten years ago ran away from the Gambia claiming that, he is a wanted man, wanted by the beast of Banjul. The sympathetic German immigration authorities granted the exile Prince Asylum. Like many European country, after a couple of years, the asylum status can be converted into nationality. I guess this is what the Prince did.
The Prince forgot that, the man he ran away from is still the same person, only wiser in disposing off his enemies and friends. Ask Edward Singhteh, Yanks Touray, Abdoulie kujabi, Lang Tombong, Edu Gomez, Fatou Jahumpa etc etc. However, like many new recruits to self-destruction, they think they have the wisdom to escape the crawling claws of the Tyrant. Good luck.
As of today, no one knows the number of Gambians incarcerated for expressing contrary political opinion to the President. With many dead and many imprison, and a further sizeable number in exile, including the Prince. One wonders why the Prince wishes to associate himself with the tormentor of many.
The Prince has now started abusing and cursing the opponents of the Tyrant, he calls them “fools and stuffs”. He cracks many jokes to be among the Gambian masses. The Prince after all wants attention and adulation, but does the Tyrant care?
Like any Prince, Jesuits would ably employ the service of tandem flattery and unfunny jokes. But since the Prince is in no position to have court jesters, he unashamedly jests himself...
The big question is naturally that, is the Prince with many titles and portfolios wise enough to enter the cage of a man he sort asylum from? The Prince repeatedly bombards Gambian readers with very lengthy personal opinions. In them, he claims to be a Film director, Film Producer, Cinematographer, Nollywood-connected, Rich, and many more grand skills.
Sadly, the Prince has demonstrated the symptom of loneliness syndrome. With no one to verify his loud claims, let us leave him to his big and noisy claims.
My personal message to the tyrant is marry our only Blacksmith Prince before he change heart. Keeping a grown man waiting can be hazardous. His jokes aren’t funny anymore. I wish him well. Yahya shake the hand of our Prince, and do what Yahya does best. Goodbye.

Our home: Free-For-All House

The house was build to serve the people. To welcome everybody with both ears. To unearth the mess that is tyranny. Free-for-all house, welcome visitors indiscriminately. It want to be the home of truth, fair play and justice for all. The urge is to allow all sides to enter the house and have a decent conversation.       

 But as it happens, free-for-all house owner got drunk with attention and the eagerness to hear himself. Instead of following the motto it was built for, it became a home of  vengeance and retribution for no just cause. The house owner became Mr One Big ear. He twirl and abuse people without verification. He insults at the top of his voice using mega phones and a cyber voice.
In fact, the owner keep falling out with people. Yet ironically. he is terrified of allowing decent people a voice! He thunders, "I will not allow   X Y and Z on my set. No one will seek fame on my mega phone." Aah he became the self- consuming little tyrant. This is my home,  Audacity.

The audacious owner, close and former associates fears has turn the house into a Free-dump-House. He now routinely take sides, disbarred certain people, scream at some and make the House inhabitable to others. Some even claim he doesn't listen to advise, because He believes, his privilege position in hearing secret conversations puts him an advantage position to finish anybody who fall on his wrong side. No friendship is permanent to him, no one is beyond his attacks. So the house stands, and we wait. Will it change cause and hear everyone before taking sides, will he restrain himself and allow cutesy and fairness to lead the way? Time will tell.

Healing The Hearts Of Gambian Opposition

The few steps taken to heal the hearts and aspiration of the opposition is in gear. Let us supporters don't try to make the issue at hand a point scoring or a saint crowning. Over the weekend, whilst an array of Gambians came together for over five hours in a marathon conference call, seeking to find a pathway in helping the boycott get a meaning and yield tangible result. Some people want to hang a badge of honour for their efforts.
As the dictator is sitting pretty, he is still there doing his thing. No single Gambian today alive can take credit for anything or be crown for anything. Let us stop trying to divide the camps.

There is hardly any body amongst us who can be deceive with cheap propaganda. The opposition's hearts need healing just like we online. If we fail to see that, then we will be missing something serious. When Hamat pipped the Leadership in the last elections, some thought, that will change him to be serious, but it never did. The remaining opposition parties going ahead with the boycott should the election not be postponed deserve our commendations. Yes, there will be missed-parliamentary salaries for some, but that is the prize. And we outside should understand the prize others are paying with their comfort.
I called on UDP supporters, PDOIS supporters, GMC supporters, Henry Gomez supporters to lay off tit-for tat criticism and focus on bridging the gaps. We should be bold enough to understand that, a divided society is a difficult terrain to operate in. Unless the rule of law rule supreme, no one is safe, no one is beyond the long arms of the lawless gangsters.
We the partisans should let the leaders work hand in hand to find a common ground. This is not easy, but we can play our part. Our elders have spend a good part of their lives finding solutions against the organised system of Jammeh who is helped by our graduate brothers. So let us not underestimate Jammeh or his clownish comport.
Let us recognise that, the activist community is very small. Any organisation wishing to be an umbrella outfit must contact all the activist by private email or their organisation email, and we talk as Gambians.
A Gambian with a broad shoulder and a big head cannot be ignored and then you expect to have your way on him. It will not happen. We have one man organisation been taken seriously than several member groups. Let us open our minds, hearts and give each the respect deserve.

The solution is easy. UDP, GMC, PDOIS, and others should have regular meetings now, work a plan of action, meet the opposition supporters, tell them to stay home, or do as the joint parties advise and then a continuous action plan be in motion. No one single opposition figure can take credit for anything, because Gambians are sick and tired of glory seeking whilst the battle is raging. We have seen and read big pronouncements, agendas and way ahead coming to nothing but division and further causing polemicist posturing. Let be serious and tackle the menacing despot.

The Idle Mind Who Wants Attention From Gambians

When a self-glory seeking individual want attention so badly and he can't get it because people understand him as a pompous empty barrel. He ventures into writing stuffs only an idle mind conceives. Whilst there will always be a perversion in the hearts of certain minority in any community, to associate bisexuality as an issue to the Gambia is not provocation Sankanu, it is plain lies and stupidity.
You can provoke a debate with something tangible, credible, evident. And with the right attitude and intellectual acumen, you may just about trigger a sensible debate. But since you lack all of that, no Gambian takes you seriously and if you think by writing idiotic stuff it will generate a debate, you are wrong.
The average Gambian who reads is far more aware than you are. They are may be self-centered, but unaware is out of the question. If you want to be taken seriously, write seriously, or else, keep singing back to yourself, because you offend nobody. Even if you say, you slept with your sister, it will be mere comedy bro. No Mullah cares about your quest for outrage. The more you write, the more you unveil for what you are. Keep writing.

In America, Germany, Britain etc, sexual perversion is practice amongst the minority of people, this is why, the majority of societies find it hard to make it acceptable as normal life style. If consenting adults want to practice some kind perversion, ie away from the normal relationship, it is up to them. The Gambia like other nations don’t have an issue with sexuality.
There will always be those who will take exemption to the norm, to what your Mother and Father understands as the way human being should cohabit. However, this is not enlightenment; it is someone who has a perversion to the rule.
Where two grown up men feel they rather want to sleep with each other, so long as they don’t practice their desires in public, many human being will leave them to it. But where you want to make people accept that, such a behavior is normal and right, there you are wrong. This doesn’t mean people are unenlightened, it means they just don’t accept that particular life style.
As for religious people who adhere to their teachings and scriptures and belief that, same sex relationship is evil, such is their belief. Does it mean not accepting a certain concept, culture one suddenly becomes barbaric? If so, then we are all one way or the other backward.

Those who don't know anything about religion misunderstood it for standing on the way of enlightenment. However, the concept of learning, creativity and deeper thinking was introduce by religious people. The idea of University, learning circle which is the bypoduct of enlightenment and human consciousness came out the works of religious people across the spectrum. From the Sufi gatherings among the muslims, to the circles of the different kalifs, to the scholastics in the western nations.
It was the Monks (scholarstics) who gave us a university. Modern enlightenment borrowed its core ideas from this institutions. Yet, a perverted misunderstanding of human condition by certain individuals whose thinking capacity are at best inept and vain try to lecture us on what is enlightenment? Great.

Dr Scattared Janneh conviction case link

http://www.judiciary.gov.gm/images/Judgement/hon_justiceNkea/judgment%20the%20state%20vs%20dr%20amadou%20scattred%20janneh%20and%20ors.pdf

The Big Question: What Next After the Disappointing Presidential Election

My response to brother Joe Sambou who asked, 'why am I saying something on the debacle at Foroyaa, instead of the past Presidential elections.' Below is my response to him. The fact is, I have had many say on the stolen elections, I went out on a demonstration in London, wrote an article on it and still working in private consultation to device ways we can put an end to the tyranny.

The Presidential election is gone, never to come back for another five years. What is Suntou and Joe going to do about that? In my part I had my say on it in many other platforms, may be Joe missed out on them, because I did not say much about it here.In the case at hand, this is nothing about Halifa, Sam or Foroyaa, it is about the employees. And they too has rights like others we always wrote about.I am sure, you will not say, I have been unwilling to stake my opinion in the affairs of the Gambia. In as much has we may disagree on the ways to tackle our problems, Suntou has never been silent or inactive. If any, the few of us who stake our opinions here might have been too active.
The Presidential election did not effect the desired outcome and that's not a surprise, considering the fact that, the troops where disunited because of obvious reasons. And untangling those reasons will therefore take much more than discussions here. We have had many discussions on how to change direction for the future and in difficult struggles that is what matters. There are certain things that only those who see the change in a particular way will consult and discuss. This is what we are doing. Suntou and others you had in mind with your comments have done a lot, just like you and we will continue to do much more.

We in the UDP Diaspora had several inter-continental meetings and our final statements or take on issues have been long dispatched to those on the ground. Yes, some may want us speaking out important issues here (Gambia L), but that is the very wrong way to do any systematic political dialogue. We are still consulting and discussing.
The political activist on the ground made their position clear and they are sticking to that. Which is, they will not accept the election result, because of the fraud and many other reasons. And we backed that. What is clear is that, UDP activist in Diaspora overwhelmingly backed a strong reaction to the result and many in the Gambia also do, up to tomorrow. What is relevant now is the decision of many elders whose evaluation is crucial. And we accept their evaluations on the main, whilst many other avenues are been considered.

A singular political party action can still unrattle the cages of the tyrant, it may be at the cost of the lose of some lives, and that is a fundamental deciding factor.What everybody in Diaspora in all opposition camps will love to see, is an uncompromising street protest until the dictator falls, and believe it or not, the opposition leaders will love to be able to see such an eventuality.

The question is, how far will people be willing to join such a cause? How daring will the opposition leaders be in doing something out of character? Will new opposition leaders leave the perturbing moral question of 'what if many innocent people die, how will I answer to God for that'? Since the old guards have all done their best, will we young guns take the fight to the dictator or will we also be miles away with our tangible opinions?
So Joe, we are not quiet neither avoiding discussing anything, but we are formulating just like our dictator is, it will be foolish is to let him in on our strategies, because this platform here is a Bantaba, an open arena. In good time, we will find a way ahead, after all, this is our Baby we are talking about, Our Gambia. May God bless it. Thank you Suntou

Tribute To the Jailed Dr Janneh and co today

Tribute to Dr Janneh and co. Lalo Keba Drammeh. Allah Laake (it is the doing of God) "Whatever God intends, no man can change that. We cannot predict tomorrow. There is nothing in this live but to be patient. This is so sad. Haven't you seen that, this live is between ease and hardship. Be mindful of enemies, among friends, neigbours, companions and colleagues. Human beings live between living and dying".Lalo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0B-WeDkkDY