THE ROLE OF STDG MEMBERS: RESPONDING TO JOE SAMBOU

http://www.thegambiajournal.com/sambanner/spacialplayer2.php?sid=327 LISTEN TO STDG MEMBER WITH ML SILLAH:

Joe, my head is always up, I never put any interest in the work of STDG, hence I don't know who is who in there. When i came across the Pasamba forward, I took the opportunity to listen. To my chagrin, there i heard you talking. I know Joe speak as he sees it, however, when one is involve in diplomatically bringing together diverse political groups, one should remember his/her public comments.This is why, in all sensitive dialogues, even the media is sideline until a breakthrough is achieve. The Northern Ireland political situation is a classic example.

From what I heard yesterday, you didn't say anything bordering on favouring your party (PDOIS) as against the rest. Where you guys are still missing the point is that, Halifa is not a politician who will accept the invitation of Ousainou. You guys are looking at him as if you don't know how Halifa operates. We all know from Halifa's past write-ups , the STDG is the last group he gives any credence to. I can provide his own written proof to that effect. The STDG's efforts are commendable, but it is my strong belief that, its members need to be aware of the ramifications of their public individual statements.

What Joe says in an open and frank manner, can be a serious hindrance through your involvement in apolitical movement.I am not in any way trying to stop the good members here benefiting from your honest opinions. However, so far as partisan politics is concern, we need to have confidence in your neutrality, if not all you say will bounce of concrete walls. Joe's views equals Halifa's party line, and that will only come clear whenever you try your best hammering Ousainou and UDP.I can handle your criticism of Ousainou, and so can Ousainou, this is why, I don't get bog down in bitter exchanges. But the STDG cannot be complaining of people turning on each whilst many of its members sympathise openly with Halifa. I respect the views of Sika Jagne, sorry sister for spelling your name wrongly. She said some good stuffs, and I for one can trust her brokeage.

Banka too express sound opinions, however he too seems to have place the burden of the work on UDP. We accept the reasoning, but he fail also to know that, Halifa is not a politician who thinks others should invite him for dialogue. The Agenda 2011 is a proof of that. And Banka by the way, the Agenda 2011 is only being sold to guys in the cyberspace, not to Gambians on the ground. And that Agenda is Halifa certificate, telling us all that, only through bargaining with it will he agree to the selection of a flagbearer. A process that will take only those who agree with the content of the document, which will in short be PDOIS members.The rest of the UDP, NRP, and others are left out.The final analysis meaning, Halifa will be voted in as the NADD flagbrearer, resulting in what happen the last time.

From the get go, all the party leaders should have trust and confidence in STDG. STDG should be bold as to say, we propose a party led alliance, with the bigger party leading the coalition. Then the parties on that basis can sit down and agree on how the modalities will work. Any other option of saying, the party leaders should talk directly, it will not work that way according to my observation. Trust and confidence in each other is the problem.
All the opposition leaders must solemnly agree to keep the negotiation proceeding secret. A chosen person should be selected to write down all sides of the story. And then, where they agree or disagree, the public can then be informed. If individuals wish to talk to the press whilst talks are ongoing, making themselves look stronger, there will never be any agreement. STDG as i said is in a pivotal position to rekindle a delicate deadlock. None of our leaders will lie down for the other. Trust and confidence is the key.

PROTEST PHOTOS AND STATEMENT

CHECK out the London protest photos and statement here:
http://lawyerdarbo.blogspot.com/2010/04/in-matter-of-femi-peters-historic.html

Thanks
Suntou

IN DEFENSE OF PA NDERRY MBYE

The editor of www.freedomnewspaper.com have celebrated his graduation few days ago. The picture galore seems to have offended a section of the readership. Below is my response to the

critics:

Haruna, your Ndokeh is pulling on fragile legs again. Going by the headline, 'all about me' is enough testimony that Pa meant the pictures in a humorous way. However, some have started getting a wee bit agitated over an innocent self-portrait. I believe a little exhibition is no crime, after all the best and worst thing a man can utter is the praise he heaps on himself.The Arabs do say that, the most dangerous harm a man can do is exaggerate his abilities, since that will mean, no way back.

Another ancient Arab warrior was once question as to why he always won in fighting completion's, his answer is as follows: He told the questioner," It is easy to demonstrate the difference between me and you when we try an endurance test." They agreed on biting each other's finger.Here Haruna, there is no unequal advantage, both men have sharp Darboe kunda like teethes. The battle began, fingers in mouth together and they began biting each other, in a split second, the challenger pull out. The warrior wrestler then said, "why did you pull out", the challenger said, i can't bear the pain, there the wrestler concluded his wisdom in battles."I won fights because i can endure more than many, on the pain, i felt pain just like you do no question, but i can go the extra mile whilst you can't." The wisdom here Haruna is that, your Ndokeh over the years has done remarkable things for the media. This is not to say he hasn't trespass againt some people. The media sometimes comes with such hazards. Pa is moving on, although he still needs to stay on course to perfecting his art.Many lambast him on mere competitive grounds. His paper is undoubtedly the most widely read, and for that some of his rivals will come after him.Pa is ahead of some of the media moguls in terms detachment.

Some of the mega ego editors can't afford publishing an article they show else where. Their compliant is that, the quality of editorial is starkly different. This is true, however, why can't they go ahead and publish the item thereby demonstrating their abilities?Pa is also very much independent than some of the editors. Some editors would ask friends or confide in others before publishing items. If their more dominant friend gives a tombs down, then they wouldn't bother. Pa on the other hand is his own man.

The big headed men in our media circles can't stand Pa on his unconventional style. Can we say hands on heart that, the countries whose democracy, civil liberty and advance social reasoning we hope to emulate don't have papers that goes by the style they think give them a competitive advantage?The Freedom newspaper needs room for improvement. This is also true for all the grammatical perfect (so they say) editors. Pa's editorials might not be palatable to everyone, but should that cause us heart attack? Pluralism is a dogma we all run to, and hardlyy spend any tangible second waiting for a cup of tea.

By the way, i don't work for Pa and neither did I ever see him. Should he also trespass against Gambians, I will equally have my say. Pa is also politically independent. He has his go at all the leaders whilst others can't. They will more or less use alter egos to attack Ousainou for instance whilst heaping praise on their chosen candidates.

Even the Former NADD leader is a regular comtributor there now and for us at the UDP, we have always been at all the papers. It is your day Pa, one can attain any qualification now a days without seeing a single professor, life is much advance. Let us embrace technology, people can publish books by themselves, etc

The Price of Duty: Retired Col. Chongan's book

The Price of Duty, A most Read memoir:
Alpha Ibrahim Chongan’s record of his security career and eventual imprinsoment by the military junta of Yahya Jammeh is an educative and emotional book. The magnitude of the intolerable inhumane maltreatment meted out on them by fellow servicemen is both unbelievable and revolting.
Chogan’s overall rise in the Gambia Gendarmerie, later co-opted into the police force to the rank of deputy inspector General with the relative prestige, to a bereaved prisoner expose a sharp contrast.
The career of retired Major Chongan exhibit dedication, courage and servitude to the nation of the Gambia. Born into a family of highly respectable linage, bordering on Fulbe and Wollof ethnicity, his father a former senior police officer, Chongan wore the shirt of the Gambia gendarmerie and later police force with pride and honesty. His career was sadly cut short by the marauding buffoon of the semi-illiterate junta.
The good thing for young Gambians like me in the writing of the book is the shear level of historical facts loaded in a personal account of a courageous Gambian. Young Gambians will undoubtedly benefit immensely by reading the book and reflecting over the accounts. It makes us wonder, how easy men among us can inflict harm on fellow countrymen on truncated charges and cooked up malicious allegations.
The memoir also recounts the courage of former magistrate Bory Touray who bravely throw out the charges against Chongan and his co-conspirators. The Junta at their behest were merciless and lacking care. Bory by all accounts acted diligently for an inexperience magistrate.
The general experience of Alpha Ibrahim Chongan and co were gruesome to say the least. The tails of September the 6th mock execution alone is enough to cause harden men nervous breakdown and panic attacks.
Interestingly the initiator of that scandal, the infamous Sana Sabally himself later run occupied a notorious prison cell.
The paranoia and state of fear inflicted on innocent service men is shameful and requiring a public enquiry if decency prevails.
The book equally revealed that, Yahya Jammeh exploit torture techniques in demoralising and vilifying detainees after Sabally’s arrest. This fact proof that President Jammeh authorises and is aware of human rights violations against defenceless Gambians.
Mr Ibrahim Chongham should be commended for his efforts in setting the records straight, correcting certain misinformation, and bringing to light the incidences non-servicemen weren’t aware of. The false charges of November 11 coup, the alleged coup plots of Sabally and Hydara, the death of Hydara, the deaths of Lt. Basiru Barrow and others and the general prison lives in particular bears testimony to the need in writing the book.
Finally, the experiences of Chongan have toughened him in facing any difficult situation encountered. Arriving in the U.K, he completed a law undergraduate and later a post-graduate degree sealing it by been called to the Bar in London.
Chongan’s life story is a ray of hope for all people across national boundaries that are today facing dilapidating conditions under dictatorships.
I for one highly recommend this memoir.
Suntou Bolonba Touray

Shorter observation
A snap comment: the Price of Duty: A memoir of Ibrahim Chongan
Retired Major Alpha Ibrahim Chongan’s (Balangba) book provides a solid and sordid tails of utter brutality, crude barbarism and lack care in the hands of his captures. True to the spirit of gallantry and dedication to national service, he expose to us vital detail accounts of flagrant incidences of human rights abuses and cooked up charges against flawless servicemen. His long detention, truncated show trials, torture and betrayals by men he once serve with, placed him at an advantageous position to convey to us the truth about the July 22 1994 coup deta’ by Yahya Jammeh. The tears, uncertainity, anxiety and emotional overcharge made this book a breath of fresh air in the long narratives of July 22 1994. A most read memoir.
I enjoyed the book so much, i finished it in one night.
The authou i believe could have avoided labelling some few officers as using tribal connection to get promotion whilst not consistently using the same tag against other officers who belong to lesser tribes. The author experience a transformation in terms of spirituality. A man who pride himself in teethering on both pre-islamic paganism and Islamic scholarly heritage, became religious reading the bible and long chapters of the Qur'an.
Prison do indeed change people, and Chongan was no different.

UDP U,K TO PROTEST AT THE GAMBIAN AND NIGERIAN EMBASSY ON THE 15TH APRIL

The permit to protest at the Gambian and Nigerian embassy is out. We are hereby calling on concern Gambians and people of conscience to join us in the noble cause.

Our party campaign manager has been arrested. Femi Peters must be free.

Yahya Jammeh's dictatorship should end now. We cannot allow him to continue tormenting defenseless Gambians.

Come and join us, have your say.

We have prepared placards, caps, the whole lot.

We will take a petition to the British Prime Minister's residence after the election God-Willing. The U.K is the biggest donor to the Gambia, the commonwealth office is base here. We have to make them hear us.

No one will alleviate our political problems for us. Enough of our silence in the safety of Europe, America etc.

Our Pan-Africanist brothers must also realise that, attacking and criticising the west unending is not the solution of our nightmares. We have to talk about our own manic dictators and their supporters.

Long live freedom in the Gambia.

Free Femi Peters now.

Date for demonstration: Femi Peters case

Very soon the UDP U.K and the Coalition for Human Right will announce a date for the plan demonstration at the Nigerian and Gambian embassy in London.
Please join us this endevour.

Femi Peters Is Jailed Against All Legal Wisdom

UDP Executive members at the Magistrate court indeed confirmed that, the errand boy Nigerian hustler have sentenced Femi Peters to one imprison for using a loud speaker and D10,000 fine for unlawful gathering. This sick Magistrate who careless about Gambia's democracy have given the tyrant another avenue to pardon Peters on compassionate grounds. We all know Yahay is playing prank, all he would do is just like he did with the Seven Journalist brothers.The sad President enjoy doing God.

UDP will appeal, but as usual, he will release Peters before such date on false compassionate grounds.We will plan to stage a demonstration at the Nigerian embassy, in association with Liberal parties in London very soon. The world have to know about this disgraceful Nigerians.

Yahya Jammeh is remote controlling all this mercenary magistrates, but it is up to Gambians to say enough is enough. This has to be done before our opposition leaders can stand up to the tyrant. The ball is in our court