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T O P I C R E V I E W |
Momodou |
Posted - 19 Jun 2021 : 15:52:42 GAMBIA-L Digest 61
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) New member by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) 2) Swiss deputies move to freeze Mobutu billions of $$$$ (fwd) by Senessie Turay <9210077@talabah.iiu.my> 3) SUMMER JOBS in Africa/Brazil by mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) 4) Sissoko: Clinton Invitee by ASJanneh@aol.com 5) Re: Sissoko: Clinton Invitee by mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) 6) New member by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) 7) New Member by ABALM@aol.com 8) RE:PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT by Olafiaklinikken Olafia <olafia@online.no> 9) New Member by ASJanneh@aol.com 10) New members by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) 11) Woman wages one person war on FGM by mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) 12) Fwd: Jammeh Names Vice-President by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net> 13) RE: Fwd: Jammeh Names Vice-President by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net> 14) (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> 15) Update on The Observer Online Survey by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net> 16) RE:PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT by Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU> 17) New member by sarian@osmosys.incog.com (Sarian Loum) 18) Re: Update on The Observer Online Survey by "Heidi Skramstad" <heidis@amadeus.cmi.no> 19) (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> 20) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> 21) (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> 22) Re: THE SECRET OF LIVING by "SISSOHO EM" <E.M.Sissoho@icsl.ac.uk> 23) Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION by "M'BAI OF" <O.F.M'Bai@icsl.ac.uk> 24) by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> 25) Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION by "SISSOHO EM" <E.M.Sissoho@icsl.ac.uk> 26) Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION by BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> 27) Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISI by "M'BAI OF" <O.F.M'Bai@icsl.ac.uk> 28) Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISI by "Ousman G." <gajigoo@wabash.edu> 29) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT by Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU> 30) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT by Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU> 31) Update on getting Observer On-line by "Numukunda Darboe" <ndarboe@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu> 32) Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT by mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) 33) Coalition for the development of urban Africa by mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) 34) Re: Update on getting Observer On-line by Tamsir Mbai <mba4224@etbu.edu> 35) New member by sheriff@imf128049.fzk.de 36) Re: Update on getting Observer On-line by Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no> 37) Re: New member by Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no> 38) TEMPORARY STOP FOR MAILING by Olafiaklinikken Olafia <olafia@online.no> 39) Re: Update on getting Observer On-line by Francis Njie <francis_njie@il.us.swissbank.com> 40) Re: TEMPORARY STOP FOR MAILING by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) 41) Re: Self intruduction. by "Solomon P. Sylva" <ssylva@emory.edu> 42) UNSUBSCRIBE by Muwanaidi Syonya Abdalla <9420057@talabah.iiu.my> 43) Fwd: FW: [EE] FW: computer virus by Mbk007@aol.com 44) Re: Fwd: FW: [EE] FW: computer virus by "William O'Donnell" <billod@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> 45) UDP PRESS RELEASE by "Numukunda Darboe" <ndarboe@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu> 46) Gambian Education by Andrea Klumpp <klumpp@kar.dec.com> 47) Re: UDP PRESS RELEASE by Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu> 48) Senegalese students clash again with police (fwd) by "A. Loum" <tloum@u.washington.edu> 49) Re: Gambian Education by binta@iuj.ac.jp 50) Re: Gambian Education by Raye Sosseh <gt8065b@prism.gatech.edu> 51) Re: Gambian Education by binta@iuj.ac.jp 52) Re: Gambian Education by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) 53) observer online 1st issue Part 3 by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) 54) observer online 1st issue part 1 by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) 55) observer online 1st issue part 2 by momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) 56) Re: Gambian Education by Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU> 57) Fwd: observer online 1st issue by ASJanneh@aol.com 58) Re: Gambian Education by Cherno Waka Jagne <C_JAGNE@tuna.stmarys.ca> 59) Francis Njie; the Observer by ASJanneh@aol.com 60) Re: Francis Njie; the Observer by binta@iuj.ac.jp 61) FWD: THE RISE AND FALL OF MOBUTU by Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net>
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Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 17:29:19 +0000 From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: New member Message-ID: <19970323162928.AAA23772@LOCALNAME>
Gambia-l, Philippe Lafage has been added to the list and as a custom, we expect to have an introduction from him. Welcome to the Gambia-l Philippe, please send an introduction of yourself to the list.
Best regards Momodou Camara
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Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 17:40:47 +0800 (SGT) From: Senessie Turay <9210077@talabah.iiu.my> To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Swiss deputies move to freeze Mobutu billions of $$$$ (fwd) Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.970323174035.23705D-100000@talabah.iiu.my> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: 21 Mar 97 14:15:05 EST From: Dr. S. G. Kamara <73244.2701@CompuServe.COM> To: GAMBIA-L: , The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> ; Subject: Swiss deputies move to freeze Mobutu billions of $$$$
Forwarding from LEONENET FYI.
Kamara.
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: Yusuf Bangura, INTERNET:Bangura@UNRISD.ORG TO: "LEONENET", INTERNET:LEONENET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU DATE: 3/21/97 6:43 AM
RE: Swiss deputies move to freeze Mobutu billions of $$$$
________________________ Forward Header __________________________________
Swiss-Zaire-assets : Swiss deputies move to freeze Mobutu millions BERNE, March 20 (AFP) - A Swiss deputy has called on the government to freeze assets deposited by President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire in unnamed accounts. Socialist deputy Christian Grobet put forward a motion proposing that the accounts of those believed to have enriched themselves at the expense of their people be immediately blocked and the identity of the accounts revealed. He called on the government to keep an eye on the funds deposited in Switzerland by Mobutu to stop them disappearing, in the hope that they might be used to rebuild Zaire. The motion was recorded, but the government will not give its reply untilthe next parliamentary session.
Mobutu is thought to have salted away vast sums at his country's expense during more than 30 years' rule. He has admitted keeping accounts in Switzerland, but the value of the deposits is not known. The Swiss press has speculated that his Swiss fortune may total four billion dollars.
The Swiss government would be happy to avoid further controversy over Mobutu, after being criticised for according the dictator a visa last summer to receive treatment for prostate cancer and convalesce in a luxury hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva. The reputation of the Swiss banking system has also taken a serious knock following allegations that Jewish gold stolen during World War II is still tucked away in Swiss vaults. "In the curerent circumstances, international public opinion will not forgive the Swiss another Marcos affair," said Grobet. The late Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos, deposed in 1986, held some 500,000 dollars in Swiss accounts. The cash is still frozen pending efforts to recover it by the current Manila administration and those persecuted under Marcos's regime. Switzerland has also provided a haven to the hived-off millions of other rulers, including Haiti's Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, the executed Romanian despot Nicolae Ceaucescu, the former Malian dictator Moussa Traore and General Manuel Antonio Noriega of Panama.
gl/cm/mro
Earlier Story | Later Story | Back to Contents
19:07 GMT, 20 March 1997 =A9AFP 1997
Zaire-Mobutu : Mobutu urges ceasefire, reconciliation as heads home
(new series)
ROQUEBRUNE-CAP-MARTIN, France, March 20 (AFP) - Zaire's ailing President Mobutu Sese Seko called Thursday for a ceasefire and talks between all sides in Zaire on the eve of his expected return to the crisis-hit central African country. Speaking from his French Riviera villa where he is recovering from cancer, Mobutu made no specific reference to armed rebels who have seized a huge swathe of territory in the east of the country, but called on all who love Zaire "to come together." "As I prepare to return to my country and rejoin my people, I invite all Zaireans to make a national restart," he said in his first official statement for weeks, confirming he is to return to Kinshasa on Friday. "I call on all those who have responsibility and who love their country to come together immediately to resolve this crisis," he said in a statement.
Mobutu's 32-year-old grip on power has been shaken by the uprising, launched last October, which has seen Tutsi-led rebels sweep westwards, seizing key towns including the strategic centre of Kisangani, and sending ill-disciplined government troops fleeing.
"A ceasefire must be implemented to end the suffering which our people are enduring and to allow humanitarian aid to be transported securely to those who need it," the beleaguered Zairean strongman said. "A national council representing the various strands and sensibilities, the army, parliament, must be able to meet rapidly to find, with all our brothers without exception, the appropriate path to end this situation which is afflicting our country so severely," he added.
Mobutu and his embattled prime minister Kengo wa Dondo were preparing to head home in a last-ditch effort to save their crumbling regime from collapse at the hands of rebel forces. Kengo, who had represented Zaire at a mini-summit of African leaders on the Zairean crisis in Nairobi, returned from the Kenyan capital to Kinshasa earlier Thursday afternoon.
Mobutu, 66, who has spent most of the past five months recuperating in France following prostate cancer surgery, is due to leave from Nice airport Friday morning, his son and spokesman Mobutu Nzanga said earlier. "The important thing for him is his return to the capital. For the good of the people, it is urgent to find a diplomatic, and not a military solution to the conflict," he said. He said that after arriving home, the Zairean president would meet representatives of his country's main institutions "and will talk with the military and diplomats in Kinshasa to try to find a rapid solution to the situation." "The political process, decided for a long time, must be set in motion without delay to give our country stable institutions and designate representatives who are freely chosen by the people," Mobutu concluded.
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Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 21:13:35 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: SUMMER JOBS in Africa/Brazil Message-ID: <9703240213.AA12254@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
This might be of interest to some who are in the process of making summer plans. Deadline is nearing.... >___________________________FORWARDED_________________________________ > > C O U N T R I E S: Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Eritrea, Ivory Coast > Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe > Malawi, Ethiopia, Namibia, Guinea Bissau, Namibia > and Brazil (in South America) > _____________________________________________________________________ > > > > S U M M E R J O B A N N O U N C E M E N T > > A F R I C A & B R A Z I L > > > > Position: P r o j e c t D i r e c t o r / G r o u p L e a d e r > > [Also, accepting Intern/Volntr Applications-college-age & up/all welcome] > > Director 25 years or more; with experience related to > Requirements: a Crossroads project > > Professionals, Faculty, Staff, Adv'd Students and others > are welcome to apply > > Location: 18 Countries in Africa, plus Brazil > > Duration: June 16 - August 12 > > Director Pay: All travel and living expenses will be covered, > plus you will receive an honorarium/stipend > > DEADLINE: Application cut-off is pending; must apply NOW > > Organization: Operation Crossroads Africa > 475 Riverside Dr., Suite 1366 > NY, NY 10027 > A Non-Profit 501(C)(3) Organization > > Co-Sponsors: Various UN Programs, NGO's, Ministries [Health, Education, > etc.], WHO, Int'l Econ Dev Orgs, Medical Schools, Local > Hospitals, Clinics & Grassroots Organizations > > Contact: Diaspora Programs > International Projects > 212-870-2106 > > E-mail: <African_Diaspora_Studies@juno.com> & <GriotS@juno.com> > > OnLine Info: E-Mail to <GriotS@juno.com> & in the Subject Fireld, > type either: > > 1- "SEND DIRECTOR/LEADER PACKET" [25 yrs & up w/ leader skill] > or > 2- "SEND PACKET FOR VOLs/INTERNS" [all welcome; college-age & up] > Crossroads helps Volunteers/Interns raise needed funds > Early application, essential. > > ======================================================================== > P R O J E C T D I R E C T O R S / L E A D E R S > ======================================================================== > > If you are 25 or over with experience in a field related to a Crossroads > project, and with a strong interest in Africa and team work, please contact > LaVerne Brown. > > As a Project Director/Group Leader, you will be in charge of a project with > 10 to 14 Volunteers/Interns, usually in a rural community or village. This > is an intense living and learning experience. > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > Multi-disciplinary Projects > > Nursing * Medicine * Clinical * Primary Care * Rainforest * Ecology > Health * Social Sciences * Nutrition * Education * Econ & Comm Dev > Gender Issues * Wildlife * Anthropology * Water & Sanitation * Folklore > Agriculture * Dist Lrng * Ethnomusicology * Dance * Computer Literacy > Construction of Clinics, Libraries, Homes * Traditional Medicine > > 200 - 250 Volunteers & 20 - 25 Projects > __________________________________________________________________________ > > > Group leaders are at least 25 years old and have some combination of > the following: > > - experience in an area related to a Crossroads project > > - skill in interpersonal relations, group facilitation and dynamics > > - (not mandatory) work and travel experience in Africa > > - considerable ingenuity and creativity to bring to bear in insuring the > success of the project > > - flexibility and adaptability > > - group- and team-oriented; skill in facilitating group work > > - ability to relate well, live and work with a cross-section of > personalities and individuals, some of whose basic assumptions and > views may be very different from -- even in stark contrast with -- > your own > > - Volunteers/Interns often arrange to earn credit for participation; job > may entail supervision of research or independent study > > - time off for 7 or 8 weeks from mid-June to mid-August (dates are > not yet fixed) > > - a healthy sense of humor and an ability to "connect" easily with others > > _________________________________________________________________________ > > BRAZIL > > << B A H I A >> > > > This project with multiple objectives is in the Mata Atlantica (Coastal > Forest) area in the Southern Cone of the State of Bahia. This is where > local poor communities are struggling to gain access to land via articulated > political effort. > > There are over a dozen officially recognized Land Reform Settlemnts in this > region, and the former landless peasants are willing now to promote efforts > to save the remnants of this unique patch of rich, bio-diverse forest, as > well as to secure their access to land by changing the situation of Land > Tenure in that area. > > We have been contacted by leaders of these communities (through Edmundo > Lopes) seeking help with the various projects they deem vital. These > projects will deal with Reforestation, Human Rights, Youth Development, > Education & Training, Primary Care and Health, as well as Ecological issues. > _________________________________________________________________________ > Celebrating 40 yrs of service by 10,000 Volunteers/Alumni > A Non-Profit Organization [501(C)(3)] Since 1957
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Good Luck!
Regards, Moe S. Jallow
=============================================================================== mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * No one may kill a man. Not for any purpose. It cannot be condoned. * -- Kirk, "Spock's Brain," stardate 5431.6. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 23:52:29 -0500 (EST) From: ASJanneh@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Sissoko: Clinton Invitee Message-ID: <970323235229_382375026@emout04.mail.aol.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/mixed; boundary="PART.BOUNDARY.0.23968.emout04.mail.aol.com.859179149"
--PART.BOUNDARY.0.23968.emout04.mail.aol.com.859179149 Content-ID: <0_23968_859179149@emout04.mail.aol.com.7344> Content-type: text/plain
I guess Jammeh isn't the only one coaxing Sissoko!
--PART.BOUNDARY.0.23968.emout04.mail.aol.com.859179149 Content-ID: <0_23968_859179149@emout04.mail.aol.com.7345> Content-type: text/plain; name="CLINTON" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<HTML><PRE><I>.c The Associated Press</I> =
=0D NEW YORK (AP) - An African multi-millionaire had to pass up dinner with P= resident Clinton because he was being extradited that night from Geneva t= o Miami, The New York Times reported today. =
=0D The newspaper said that a week before the Sept. 6 dinner, Foutanga Dit Ba= bani Sissoko was arrested on a U.S. warrant for allegedly trying to smugg= le two military helicopters to Africa and give a $30,000 bribe to a U.S. = Customs agent. =
=0D When he arrived in Florida, he tried to use the presidential dinner as an= excuse for his release from jail, the report said. The unimpressed judge= set bail at $20 million. =
=0D Sissoko, 52, quickly met the bail and pleaded guilty to one reduced count= of offering a ``gratuity'' - not a bribe - to the Customs agent. The smu= ggling charge was dropped, the report said. =
=0D Next month, Sissoko is to begin serving a four-month sentence in federal = prison followed by four months of house arrest in Miami, the newspaper sa= id. =
=0D John A. Catsimatidis, a fund-raiser for the Democratic National Committee= , invited Sissoko - a dual citizen of Gambia and Mali - to dinner in hope= s that he would donate money to the party, the report said. Sissoko never= donated, Catsimatidis said. =
=0D Sissoko owns a majority interest in Negoce International, a New York affi= liate of his multinational corporation with diamond mines, casinos and ot= her ventures in Africa and the Middle East. Federal law allows political = contributions from domestic subsidiaries of foreign companies. =
=0D AP-NY-03-22-97 0649EST =
=0D <FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D2><I>Copyright 1997 The Associated Press.= The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, = broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written aut= hority of The Associated Press.<FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" SIZE=3D3></I> =
</PRE></HTML>
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Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 01:15:21 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Sissoko: Clinton Invitee Message-ID: <9703240615.AA29522@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Hey...,
It seems to like this guy is really in for a good treat. I think it is safe to say that Sissoko may be an African millionaire but he is viewed as just another rich guy by the Americans.I have been following the news about this man since his arrest and as far as I can say, everything about him is the reminder of big money that springs from his riches. He is simply a man that has come alive and made things happen even though he is far from immune to the problems that haunt the african continent.
As the saying goes, "A fool and his money are soon parted". But is he a fool or is he just fooling his adversaries? The best way to escape from a problem is to actually solve it. It is my belief that he is simply exploring a territory in which the rich simply walks away. With the kind of money he has, I think that he can walk away a free man just like that. As far as he is concerned, he seems to be playing his cards right by including in his qualities to success sicererity, Integrity, wisdom and charity.
As far as the Americans are concerned, they would definitely want to know what kind of man he really is. After all, curiousity is what made America great. They invested so much time and effort to bring to America the greatest scientists of the world. Boy, did that pay out?
If you make your money your god, it will plague you like the devil. Sissoko is no fool, he is simply playing a winning game of "In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current."
Regards, Moe S. jallow =============================================================================== mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * As a general rule, nobody has money who ought to. * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 07:58:23 +0000 From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: New member Message-ID: <19970324065838.AAA51534@LOCALNAME>
Gambia-l, Theophilus George has been added to the list and as a custom, we expect to have an introduction from him. Welcome to the Gambia-l Mr. George, please send an introduction of yourself to the list.
Best regards Momodou Camara
******************************************************* http://home3.inet.tele.dk/mcamara
**"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible"***
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Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 02:34:54 -0500 (EST) From: ABALM@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: New Member Message-ID: <970324023454_-1002141323@emout14.mail.aol.com>
Dear List-server !
Could you please sign Dawda Sighnateh up to gambia-I. His e-mail address is dawdas@u.washington.edu.
thank you
ABBA
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Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 10:27:16 +0100 (MET) From: Olafiaklinikken Olafia <olafia@online.no> To: <Gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: RE:PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT Message-ID: <199703240927.KAA10962@online.no> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
MUSA SOWE
Thanks once again for your efforts. Sure i will go by The Gambia College when i am in The Gambia to get the first hand information you required. Since i will be leaving in four days time i would like to clarify the following with you.
1. Could i get a name or the the name of the contact person you were in touch with, to refer to you as reference in getting the first hand= account.
2. Don=B4t you think it will be wise of you to give me hints on what first hand account you needed since you have been in touch with The Gambia College. Sure that enable me to furnish you with the adequate info. and facts.
MOMODOU CAMARA
Your efforts were highly appreciated and many, many thanks brother. I made a phone call today and did talk to Per Hausmann. He was very nice and willing over the phone. He gave me his fax number to inform him as soon as i send the materials. MOE just keep it up.
Kind regards to you all
Omar S. Saho Ullevaal University Hospital Dept. for STD & HIV-Olafia Clinic Postuttak GRonland P.K. N-O133 Oslo Norway
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Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 09:03:25 -0500 (EST) From: ASJanneh@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: New Member Message-ID: <970324090324_545648888@emout07.mail.aol.com>
Gambia-l:
Dawda Singhateh is our newest member. An informal introduction is expected from him soon! Enjoy the Spring Break (even if you don't have one now)!
Amadou Scattred Janneh
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Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 16:32:42 +0000 From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: New members Message-ID: <19970324153258.AAA21910@LOCALNAME>
Gambia-l, Both George Christensen and Suvi Johanna Pekonen have been added to the list and as a custom, we expect to have introductions from them. Welcome to the Gambia-l George and Suvi, please send your introductions to the list and we look forward to your contributions.
Best regards Momodou Camara
******************************************************* http://home3.inet.tele.dk/mcamara
**"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible"***
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Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 13:26:41 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Woman wages one person war on FGM Message-ID: <9703241826.AA43306@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
WASHINGTON (March 24) - Meserak Ramsey wages a one-woman campaign, wandering from one African or Middle Eastern store to another, beseeching immigrants to spare little girls the painful price their cultures require - mutilation of their genitals.
She pleads with immigrants not to mutilate their daughters. But in California and the Washington area, she finds she is often too late.
''Some men say it's a good thing. They say American women jump from man to man because their sexual organs are driving them to have sex,'' she said, anger filling her voice. ''I put up a fight with them. I tell them, 'Let me cut you, too.'''
Ramsey speaks from experience. She had the surgery as a youngster in her native Ethiopia.
''I walk like a woman, but I'm not a complete woman because of what they did to me,'' she said in a recent interview.
Soon she will not have to fight alone. A law passed by Congress last September and taking effect this Saturday outlaws genital mutilation in women under age 18.
The measure, sponsored by former Rep. Pat Schroeder, D-Colo., makes the procedure a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.
The law also requires the Immigration and Naturalization Service to give immigrants information discouraging female circumcision. But it does not make the threat of such mutilation a basis for an asylum claim.
The procedure drew national attention last spring when a young woman from the African nation of Togo was granted U.S. asylum as a refugee fleeing the procedure.
An estimated 100 million women have had the procedure in dozens of African and Middle Eastern nations where the centuries-old custom is observed by Muslims, Christians and others.
The procedure can range from cutting the hood of the clitoris to more drastic removal of the clitoris and tissue at the entrance to the vagina. In some cases, the remaining tissue is joined together in a process called infibulation.
The Department of Health and Human Services estimates about 160,000 females in the United States have had the procedure or will have it done. But David Smith, associate director of the office that oversees HHS programs helping refugees, concedes the estimate may be high.
Schroeder, who now works with the Institute for a Civil Society in Boston, said it was hard to win support for the law in Congress because some legislators did not believe the procedure was being done in this country and because some Orthodox Jews feared it would lead to criticism of male circumcision.
''It's not like circumcision for men. It's much like Lorena Bobbitt,'' said Schroeder, referring to the woman who severed her husband's penis with a knife after a domestic dispute.
But Dr. Michael Rich, who specializes in adolescent medicine at Boston's Children's Hospital, said the new law is more a political statement - that Americans disapprove of this procedure - than an answer to the problem.
''If someone is performing (the operation) in this country they're probably not terribly concerned about U.S. laws,'' Rich said. ''The community is going to close off and protect the people who are performing it. This is not something that people are forced to do. This is something that people want to do.''
Rich said Americans accept cosmetic surgery as part of their culture even though the benefits do not warrant the risks of general anaesthesia.
''Yet, we are applying a double standard in the sense of (genital mutilation) because we don't buy the traditional piece of it or understand what goes into it,'' he added.
Schroeder disagreed, saying those who have cosmetic surgery are adults to begin with.
''Obviously some people are very angry and want to say these are big Anglo white people trying to step all over our culture,'' she added. ''But I say ... almost every woman on the planet is horrified by this if they have time to think about it.''
Ramsey, 43, is also angry at those who criticize the law, saying they are not aware of the psychological and physical effects of the procedure.
She recalled that when she married an American she did not know she was different until her husband asked what was wrong.
''At that time I didn't know what was taken from me. I told him I was involved in a car accident,'' she said.
Regards, Moe S. Jallow
============================================================================= mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- * It would seem that evil retreats when forcibly confronted. * -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 10:50:36 -0800 (PST) From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net> To: gambia-l <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Fwd: Jammeh Names Vice-President Message-ID: <859240440@mail.earthlink.net>
Copyright 1997 Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved.
BANJUL, March 21 (Reuter) - Gambia's president, Yahya Jammeh, has completed his first government appointments as a civilian leader, naming a woman as his vice-president. State radio said on Thursday that Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 army coup and won disputed elections in September, had named Mrs Isatou Njie Saidy to the post. Mrs Saidy, 45, is also Secretary of State for Health, Social Welfare and Womens Affairs. She is a former teacher of English and French. Opposition leader Ousainou Darboe had accused Jammeh of acting unconstitutionally on March 7 by appointing a cabinet without a vice-president. The cabinet has 13 members, including three women. Darboe, a top lawyer who was Jammeh's main rival in the presidential poll in September, said the post of vice-president was enshrined in the constitution. Political analysts had said former vice-president Edward Singateh, named to the new post of Secretary of State in the president's office, would effectively remain vice-president. Singateh, a former army captain and one of the young officers who staged the 1994 coup with Jammeh, was too young to meet the 30-plus age requirement for vice-president. Jammeh toppled Sir Dawda Jawara, the independence leader of the aid-dependent former British colony, alientating its Western backers. He has since built up ties with Taiwan, Libya and Cuba.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 11:35:21 -0800 (PST) From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net> To: Gambia-L <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: RE: Fwd: Jammeh Names Vice-President Message-ID: <859243126@mail.earthlink.net>
I am very happy to see that our President has in the end respected the constitution made the appropriate appointment. Now that this chapter seems to have come to a decent close perhaps we can now move forward.
As we have seen in earlier, there are some difficult problems to tackle, namely the poor ground nut harvest and it's repercussions but with all this behind them I believe both the National Assembly and the Administration are now in a much better position to help the country.
I sincerely wish them well.
Peace.
Lat
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Mar 1996 23:12:51 +0300 From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> To: "GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU" <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU> Subject: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION Message-ID: <3155ACC3.34F@QATAR.NET.QA> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
MR.E.JAWARA & MIS. E.JANNEH!!
The Foundation of every state is the Education of Its youths"
DIOGENES
"African Religions,more or less forgotten,were in the process of atrophying and being emptied of their spiritual content, their former deep metaphysics.The jumble of empty forms they had left behind could not compete ......."
Prof. CHIEKH ANTA DIOP
Every organized human grouping has a culture and civilization and every organized human grouping has a form of instituition through which its culutre and civilzation would be transmitted from one generation to another on a fairly regular basis.And any culture that cannot device such a system or has lost it as a result of whatever reason will sooner or later end up,like the Black People Of Sumer, as a footnote in a dusty page of an unknown history book .
There is something we humans should perhaps envy our lower cousins about: much of their 'culture',if we can ascribe culture to them,is programmatically transmitted from one generation to another,so that the duration and amount of instruction their young need from them is both short and minimal respectively.That is partly because it takes them so short a period of time to grow up and become adults.It takes a dog,for instance,only a few months for it to grow up and master all the skills that a dog needs to know inorder to live a reasonably happy dog life. But humans are totally different.First of all,it takes us about eighteen to twenty years to grow up physically like an average adult human being.And ,secondly,we don't have skills programmed in us in the sense that dogs have them.And even the few things that are programmed in us like language,for instance,it is only the capacity to learn a language,any language,that is programmed and not the language itself.That is why every human infant must be taught by its mother,or mother substitute,the language of its people for at least five consecetive years before it could acquire the minimum amount of language skills necessary for intelligible communication in that society. So we can now see why the chances of things going wrong for the human child,in its long and complex struggle to become an informed,sane,mature and productive adult in the human community,are much more higher than for its lower cousins.
We were not quite correct in ascribing Culture to dogs.Dogs don't really have culture.The things that they learn either through the programmes in them or from their mothers are directly related to their Physical and Biological survival,hunting,running,mating etc.The very definition of Culture by the Thesaurus excludes dogs and oher animals completely.According to it, CULTURE is that body of ideas,customs,skills, arts etc. of a people or group that is transferred,communicated or passed along to succeeding generations.So that a Cultured or Cultivated person is a person whose intellect,emotions,interests,manners and tastes are developed,improved,refined in a particular way that makes him/her think, talk , and act very much like the people in his/her group.Perhaps this is why each and everyone of us has, at one time or another, heard the stories of the proverbial Gambian man who had spent many years studying overseas,in the White Man's World,but when he came back,instead of going to stay with his family, he went straight from Yundum Airport to stay in a hotel and continued doing that until he was able to secure a well paid and respectable job with the state,after which he built himself a huge villa at Pipe Line transferred there,put a big and vicious dog at the gate and made it a requirement for anyone wanting to visit him to have an appointment first,and that includes his own parents.There many versions of such stories,but in almost all of them,we see that the our proverbial Gambian Man ends up losing everything,his job,his villa,his wife and his place in society.Maybe these stories never had any bases in reality,or at least not all of them ended in tragedy.But that is not the point.The point is our popular culture forcibly put bad endings to all of them as a warning to our future elites that the spirits of our ancestors,the guardians of our culture, would not hesitate to revenge by puncturing the prosperity of anyone who betrays or runs away from our collective way of life.The fear of rebels or subversives is by no means a monopoly of traditional societies like ours.The word MAINSTREAM in the U.S. simply means people whose behavoral patterns are more or less consistent with what the establishment considers to be the core values of American culture and way of life;a subtle warning to non-conformists!
So,the instituition through which black culture ensures its own survival is circumcision.We will use here a few Mandinka words to be able to capture the true spirit of this unique instituition.There are three words that are used interchangeably to mean Circumcision.The first one is KASSEYO.It means to cut off or cut loose.The former is the most obvious meaning,which is the physical cutting of part of the genital, and the latter is to snatch the young person away from his/her family and seclude(cut)her from the spoiling influences of the parents for a lengthy period of time.The second word is JUJUYO.And JUYO means the stem,the base,the core or the essence without which Society would not stand.And the repetition here is for emphasis.JUYO also means the private parts of a person,and that is self-explanatory.The third word is Wulloo which means forest or bush.Because those are the places where all initiates are secluded and kept for about three months.The initiate himself is called NGHANSINGHO which means the person who waits for his turn,which means basically a deciplined person.Because ,as long as he is in there,he can never do anything before his turn comes.He can never eat,drink,use anything,sleep or go to the toilet without being given the green light by at least one of the teachers.And it also means that group of young people whose turn has now come to be accepted as fully fledged members of the community. Another important word in the circumcision vocabular is KINTANGHO and it means teacher.And this category includes every circumcised person from the teenagers right to the village chief and priest.And even though the village elders select a given number of people as the official teachers of the circumcision,it is nonetheless incumbent upon everyone else in the village to volunteer a few days of their time to pass on to the new initiates whatever circumcision experience they could remember.And almost everyone volunteers,if for nothing else,it provides everyone with the opportunity to re-learn all the little things one has forgotten about the culture,since it sometimes takes as long as ten years between two circumcisions.And ,finally,the word SOLIMAH.It is used to refer to anyone who is either not actually circumcised or behaves like someone who has not gone through that experience,and that means he is immature,rude and ignorant of the ways the society works.Sometimes outrageously rude and badly behaved youngmen who, even though have actually been circumcised, may be sent back with the next batch of initiates for remedial courses in the social mores.
So,just by glancing at the circumcision vocabular we have just defined,we can see very clearly that,contrary what the reductioinists say,circumcision is much more huge and complex than just severing of part of the genital.It is indeed a lenghty process during which the initiates are instructed in the etiquette,arts,folklore of their community.In the case of the men,they are subjected to intense physical ordeals of various kinds to instill in them values such as endurance,perseverance,courage respect for authority.All these is to help prepare the young person for both the sweet and the bitter aspects of full adult life.It also helps both boys and the girls resolve thier conflicts about sexual identity,so that they would be able to establish clear attitudes not only towards their mothers and fathers but towards the opposite sex in general which,as we saw in the Black Cosmogony,is of central concern of black culutre.The need to kill the man in the woman and the woman in the man can in no way be overstated in our culture!
Some of the things that are specifically taught are: 1) SINGING. By the end of the process,even the dumbest initiate will have memorised at least fifty of the two hundred or so of the songs that will be taught and tested.One doesn't have to memorise all of them.However,everyone is required and vigorously tested for understanding not only of the meaning of each song in general but also of the idiomatic expressions in them and to be able to explain in detail the occasion of each song and its social significance.The expert singers among the teachers would give special help to those initiates who,like myself, have shown no talent for singing or those who have problems with voice or breath control .So much attention and so much time and energy is given to singing in this process,because our culuture is basically an oral culture.And there is no aspect of our life that has not got a song for it,and the more songs you memorise and understand their meanings the closer you at mastering our culture in its entirety.And in addition to singing,there are also sessions for the wise sayings of the ancestors and elders plus word puzzles.
2) Hunting & Swimming are taught once a week each.These are for the male initiates;and they begin around the end of the third week.this is the time when the wounds of most of the initiates will have been healed sufficiently enough to allow them to participate and benefit from such activities.Most initiates will have already been good swimmers and hunters by the the time they are circumcised,but its the socialisation aspect of them:participating in a group of two hundred hunting men,for instance,is always a rare and exciting experience.
3) Etiquette.In a culture in which age means experience,integrity and respectabiliy,a lot of emphasis is put on how one approches,talks to,sits and stands with,looks at and deals with other people in the different age categories.So,the initiates are taught not only how to be civil and show respect for others,but also how to earn other people's respect by respecting oneslef,which can be achieved only through respecting the rules.
4) Sex & Sexuality.Clear knowledge and a healthy attitude towards sex is necessary for the initiates now that they are about to enter the world of adults and will soon get married.Experienced grownups would teach details of sex,especially sex within the confines of marriage.In our traditional culture,there is nothing wrong with sex per se,either inside or outside of marriage;however,there is something seriously wrong with bringing babies before being officially blessed(married)by the community,even if the couple is engageg.That is why even though the joy and excitement of sex is celebrated,its made abundantly clear to the initiates that the social price to be paid for getting a child out of wedlock is so huge that it would be wiser on their part to exercise self control and be contented with kissing and fondling.Male initiates are taught about the mysterious world of women;how to court them,understand both their sound and body language and impress and win their love or how to politely resist their advances without causing offence when not interested.And female initiates in addition to learning facts about sex,mensuration,pregnancy and childbirth,they also learn about men.How to catch them,retain and disorient them and make them do what they(women)want them to do without seeming to be doing so.
4)Magic & the spiritual world.No magic,No music, no black culture, of course!The best Magician of community is called upon once in a while to perform.He would during his performance do all the incredible things that black magic is capable of:stabbing himself with a sharp instrument here;cutting his tongue there or sometimes cutting leaves and instantaneously changing them into money.And a lot more!!
So,now that we are on a much more solid ground after having provided the Historical,Cosmological,Philosophical and Educational bases of Circumcision in our Culture,we can now look our critics straight in the eye and respond to them.And that is precisely what we will do in our NEXT and FINAL installment on circumcision.So,we will end this article by invoking the memories of the spirits of our ancestors so that they would provide us with the appropriate words to end this very spiritual subject and to protect us from the evil spirits that try to still our culture from us,and so we say: "...KUMMA HAMMA YONI WON; NAA DAAN NJULLI NJAI; DAAN TUMMA NJULLI NJAI; MAGGAM NJULLI FARRMA DAAN; KUMMA KHOLL DAMMAN; YALLA BUMMA GANDERR; CHI NBARR NJAI; BILAI, SIPAI,LIPAI,KHOLLIWO; BILAHATI,SPAHATI,LIPAHATI,KHOLLIWO ..."
TO BE CONTINUED ......
REGARDS BASSSS!!
..
-- SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 12:21:00 -0800 (PST) From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net> To: Gambia-L <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Update on The Observer Online Survey Message-ID: <859245865@mail.earthlink.net>
Gambia-L,
Just a quick note. Since the survey was issued on Friday morning, 33 members have responded.
Again, if you still have not received the questionnaire in your mailbox please contact me.
FYI, I have also been informed that prior to the survey, the last count of interested members was 64. Hopefully the survey will reveal even more interest.
Please note that the closing date is this Friday, March 28 and that results will be posted by the following Monday. The technical and steering committees will then make the necessary changes to make the proposed 'Observer Online' accessible to most of us so again I urge you respond.
Thank you.
Latir Gheran Downes-Thomas latir@earthlink.net Steering Committee
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 16:13:24 -0500 (EST) From: Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU> To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: RE:PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970324161221.12905B-100000@panther.Gsu.EDU> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
OMAR AND EVERYONE :
The first day I called Gambia College, the principal was not in. I got Dr. Bojang, the vice-principal. He was very enthusiastic and has been my contact person since then. I will mention to him, when I talk to him tommorow morning, that you will be coming and I am sure he will be happy to meet with you. I suggest that you also talk to the principal. Basically, what I suggest is: 1. Try to get info on their programs and the needs in each area. .....Get a list of the titles of required text books and publishers. ......Find out what their plans are (as much as they would like to talk about) and what areas they would like to collaborate. He plans to send me this and other info, but because you will be there, you will be able to hold longer conversations with them.
2. I understand that they had links with Nova Scotia and Bristol. These have now expired. Find out how those were set up.
3. Also, I think it will be useful to talk to as many students in the various programs as possible to get their perspective. You may also want to visit the college library and see for yourself in what state it is. 4. Also, get as much related information (how many suppliers of notebooks, pens, pencils, other literature etc........) as possible.
AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT.
I have emphasized to Dr. Bojang that these inquiries are very preliminary and that as of now nothing should be expected to come out of them. I have, ofcourse, committed myself as an individual to do what ever little I can.
AYONE ELSE HAS ANY MORE SUGGESTIONS FOR OMAR?
THANKS OMAR Musa
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 21:31:56 -0800 From: sarian@osmosys.incog.com (Sarian Loum) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: New member Message-ID: <199703250531.VAA24909@thesky.incog.com>
All,
Francis Njie has been added to the list. If you are different from the Francis we already have on board then please send in your intro to the list and welcome aboard.
Sarian
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 08:23:59 GMT+1 From: "Heidi Skramstad" <heidis@amadeus.cmi.no> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Update on The Observer Online Survey Message-ID: <32FD1FD6E8A@amadeus.cmi.no> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Latir, maybe it will be good to move the closing date to 2nd of April. Here in Norway we have half public holiday on Wednesday (26th), full public holiday rest of the days including Monday 31st. Many people have not been in their offices since Friday, when you posted your questions. I believe that people go away for Easter holidays in other countries too (although I believe that you Gambians are not so particular about skiing as we Norwegians are..........).
Heidi Skramstad
> Please note that the closing date is this Friday, March 28 and that results will be posted by the following Monday. The technical and steering committees will then make the necessary changes to mak > > Thank you. > > Latir Gheran Downes-Thomas > latir@earthlink.net > Steering Committee > > >
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 12:51:14 +0300 From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> To: "GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU" <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU> Subject: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION Message-ID: <31566C92.3CAB@QATAR.NET.QA> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
MR.E.JAWARA & MIS. E.JANNEH!!
The Foundation of every State is the Education of Its youths"
DIOGENES
"African Religions,more or less forgotten,were in the process of atrophying and being emptied of their spiritual content, their former deep metaphysics.The jumble of empty forms they had left behind could not compete ......."
Prof.CHIEKH ANTA DIOP
Every organized human grouping has a culture and civilization and every organized human grouping has a form of instituition through which its culuture and civilzation would be transmitted from one generation to another on a fairly regular basis.And any culture that cannot device such a system or has lost it as a result of whatever reason will sooner or later end up,like the Black People Of Sumer, as a footnote in a dusty page of an unknown history book .
There is something we humans should perhaps envy our lower cousins for : much of their 'culture',if we can ascribe culture to them,is programmatically transmitted from one generation to another,so that the duration and amount of instruction their young need from them is both short and minimal respectively.That is partly because it takes them so short a period of time to grow up and become adults.It takes a dog,for instance,only a few months for it to grow up and master all the skills that a dog needs to know inorder to live a reasonably happy dog life. But humans are totally different.First of all,it takes us about eighteen to twenty years to grow up physically like an average adult human being.And ,secondly,we don't have skills programmed in us in the sense that dogs have them.And even the few things that are programmed in us like language,for instance,it is only the capacity to learn a language,any language,that is programmed and not the language itself.That is why every human infant must be taught by its mother,or mother substitute,the language of its people for at least five consecetive years before it could acquire the minimum amount of language skills necessary for intelligible communication in that society. So we can now see why the chances of things going wrong for the human child,in its long and complex struggle to become an informed,sane,mature and productive adult in the human community,are much more higher than for its lower cousins.
We were not quite correct in ascribing Culture to dogs.Dogs don't really have culture.The things that they learn either through the programmes in them or from their mothers are directly related to their Physical and Biological survival:hunting,running,mating etc.The very definition of Culture by the Thesaurus excludes dogs and other animals completely.According to it, CULTURE is that body of ideas,customs,skills, arts etc. of a people or group that is transferred,communicated or passed along to succeeding generations.So that a Cultured or Cultivated person is a person whose intellect,emotions,interests,manners and tastes are developed,improved,refined in a particular way that makes him/her think, talk , and act very much like the people in his/her group.Perhaps this is why each and everyone of us has, at one time or another, heard the stories of the proverbial Gambian man who had spent many years studying overseas,in the White Man's World,but when he came back,instead of going to stay with his family, he went straight from Yundum Airport to stay in a hotel and continued doing that until he was able to secure a well paid and respectable job with the state,after which he built himself a huge villa at Pipe Line, transferred there,put a big and vicious dog at the gate and made it a requirement for anyone wanting to visit him to have an appointment first,and that includes his own parents.There are many versions of such stories,but in almost all of them,we see that our proverbial Gambian Man ends up losing everything:his job,his villa,his wife and his place in society.Maybe these stories never had any bases in reality,or at least not all of them ended in tragedy.But that is not the point.The point is that our popular culture forcibly put bad endings to all of them as a warning to our future elites that the spirits of our ancestors,the guardians of our culture, would not hesitate to revenge by puncturing the prosperity of anyone who betrays or runs away from our collective way of life.The fear of rebels or subversives is by no means a monopoly of traditional societies like ours.The word MAINSTREAM in the U.S. simply means people whose behavoral patterns are more or less consistent with what the establishment considers to be the core values of American culture and way of life;a not so subtle warning to non-conformists!
So,the instituition through which black culture ensures its own survival is circumcision.We will use here a few Mandinka words to be able to capture the true spirit of this unique instituition.There are three words that are used interchangeably to mean Circumcision.The first one is KASSEYO.It means to cut off or cut loose.The former is the most obvious meaning,which is the physical cutting off of part of the genital, and the latter is to snatch the young person away from his/her family and seclude(cut)her from the spoiling influences of the parents for a lengthy period of time.The second word is JUJUYO.And JUYO means the stem,the base,the core or the essence without which Society would not stand.And the repetition here is for emphasis.JUYO also means the private parts of a person,and that is self-explanatory.The third word is Wulloo which means forest or bush.Because those are the places where all initiates are secluded and kept for about three months.The initiate himself is called NGHANSINGHO which means the person who waits for his turn,which means basically a deciplined person.Because ,as long as he is in there,he can never do anything before his turn comes.He can never eat,drink,use anything,sleep or go to the toilet without being given the green light by at least one of the teachers.And it also means that group of young people whose turn has now come to be accepted as fully fledged members of the community. Another important word in the circumcision vocabular is KINTANGHO and it means teacher.And this category includes every circumcised person from the teenagers right to the village chief and priest.And even though the village elders select a given number of people as the official teachers of the circumcision,it is nonetheless incumbent upon everyone else in the village to volunteer a few days of their time to pass on to the new initiates whatever circumcision experience they could remember.And almost everyone volunteers,if for nothing else,it provides everyone with the opportunity to re-learn all the little things one has forgotten about the culture,since it sometimes takes as long as ten years between two circumcisions.And ,finally,the word SOLIMAH.It is used to refer to anyone who is either not actually circumcised or behaves like someone who has not gone through that experience,and that means he is immature,rude and ignorant of the ways the society works.Sometimes outrageously rude and badly behaved youngmen who, even though have actually been circumcised, may be sent back with the next batch of initiates for remedial courses in the social mores.
So,just by glancing at the circumcision vocabular we have just defined,we can see very clearly that,contrary what the reductioinists say,circumcision is much more huge and complex than just severing of part of the genital.It is indeed a lenghty process during which the initiates are instructed in the etiquette,arts,folklore of their community.In the case of the men,they are subjected to intense physical ordeals of various kinds to instill in them values such as endurance,perseverance,courage respect for authority.All these is to help prepare the young person for both the sweet and the bitter aspects of full adult life.It also helps both boys and the girls resolve thier conflicts about sexual identity,so that they would be able to establish clear attitudes not only towards their mothers and fathers but towards the opposite sex in general which,as we saw in the Black Cosmogony,is of central concern of black culutre.The need to kill the man in the woman and the woman in the man can in no way be overstated in our culture!
Some of the things that are specifically taught are: 1) SINGING. By the end of the process,even the dumbest initiate will have memorised at least fifty of the two hundred or so of the songs that will be taught and tested.One doesn't have to memorise all of them.However,everyone is required and vigorously tested for understanding not only of the meaning of each song in general but also of the idiomatic expressions in them and to be able to explain in detail the occasion of each song and its social significance.The expert singers among the teachers would give special help to those initiates who,like myself, have shown no talent for singing or those who have problems with voice or breath control .So much attention and so much time and energy is given to singing in this process,because our culuture is basically an oral culture.And there is no aspect of our life that has not got a song for it,and the more songs you memorise and understand their meanings the closer you at mastering our culture in its entirety.And in addition to singing,there are also sessions for the wise sayings of the ancestors and elders plus word puzzles.
2) Hunting & Swimming are taught once a week each.These are for the male initiates;and they begin around the end of the third week.This is the time when the wounds of most of the initiates will have been healed sufficiently enough to allow them to participate and benefit from such activities.Most initiates will have already been good swimmers and hunters by the the time they are circumcised,but its the socialisation aspect of them:participating in a group of two hundred hunting men,for instance,is always a rare and exciting experience.
3) Etiquette.In a culture in which age means experience,integrity and respectabiliy,a lot of emphasis is put on how one approches,talks to,sits and stands with,looks at and deals with other people in the different age categories.So,the initiates are taught not only how to be civil and show respect for others,but also how to earn other people's respect by respecting oneslef,which can be achieved only through respecting the rules.
4) Sex & Sexuality.Clear knowledge and a healthy attitude towards sex is necessary for the initiates now that they are about to enter the world of adults and will soon get married.Experienced grownups would teach details of sex,especially sex within the confines of marriage.In our traditional culture,there is nothing wrong with sex per se,either inside or outside of marriage;however,there is something seriously wrong with bringing babies before being officially blessed(married)by the community,even if the couple is engageg.That is why even though the joy and excitement of sex is celebrated,its made abundantly clear to the initiates that the social price to be paid for getting a child out of wedlock is so huge that it would be wiser on their part to exercise self control and be contented with kissing and fondling.Male initiates are taught about the mysterious world of women;how to court them,understand both their sound and body language and impress them and win their love or how to politely resist their advances without causing offence when not interested.And female initiates, in addition to learning facts about sex,mensuration,pregnancy and childbirth,they also learn about men.How to catch them,retain and disorient them and make them do what they(women)want them to do without seeming to be doing so.
4)Magic & the spiritual world.No magic,No music, no black culture, of course!The best Magician of community is called upon once in a while to perform.He would during his performance do all the incredible things that black magic is capable of:stabbing himself with a sharp instrument here;cutting his tongue there or sometimes cutting leaves and instantaneously changing them into money.And a lot more!!
So,now that we are on a much more solid ground after having provided the Historical,Cosmological,Philosophical and Educational bases of Circumcision in our Culture,we can now look our critics straight in the eye and respond to them.And that is precisely what we will do in our NEXT and FINAL installment on CIRCUMCISION.So,we will now end this article by invoking the memories of the spirits of our ancestors so that they would provide us with the appropriate words to end this very spiritual subject and to protect us from the evil spirits that try to steal our culture from us,and so we say: "...KUMMA HAMMA YONI WON; NAA DAAN NJULLI NJAI; DAAN TUMMA NJULLI NJAI; MAGGAM NJULLI FARRMA DAAN; KUMMA KHOLL DAMMAN; YALLA BUMMA GANDERR; CHI NBARR NJAI; BILAI, SIPAI,LIPAI,KHOLLIWO; BILAHATI,SPAHATI,LIPAHATI,KHOLLIWO;ASSMAALI NJAI KAI FEYLI NBARR!! ..."
TO BE CONTINUED ......
REGARDS BASSSS!!
=20
--
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|
2 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
Momodou |
Posted - 19 Jun 2021 : 15:55:22 Date: Thu, 27 Mar 97 08:09:05 CST From: "Numukunda Darboe" <ndarboe@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu> To: "The Gambia and Related Issues Mailng List" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: UDP PRESS RELEASE Message-ID: <ndarboe.1209859385A@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu>
PRESS RELEASE The United Democratic Party (UDP) welcomes the appointment of a Vice = President in conformity with the requirements of the constitution. = Whilst we welcome the recent development, the UDP continues to be = particularly concerned about the persistent violations of the rule of = the law which undermine the very essence of democratic rule, good = governance and the respect for human rights.
The recent arrest and charging of 15 UDP supporters in Jarra West is the = latest in a series of actions perpetrated by the authorities against UDP = supporters and sympathisers. It will be recalled that similar waves of = politically motivated arrests had followed both the Presidential and the = National Assembly Elections. We consider these and similar actions a = serious violation of the right of the citizen to participate freely in = the political activities of this country.
In another case the police recently attacked and brutalised innocent = civilians in "Greenland" (behind old customs building) for no apparent = reason. It will be recalled that similar Police attacks on UDP = supporters who arrived to Welcome the Party Leader on his arrival from = Botswana took place on 2nd. March, 1997. We are particularly concerned = about the level of highhandedness of the security forces particularly = the police in this and similar cases. We call on the authorities to = have these and other incidents of police brutality thoroughly = investigated and those responsible be brought before the law. The = report of any such investigation should be made public.
We continue to witness arbitrary dismissals and demotions of government = employees, acts that are very much reminiscent of the era of military = dictatorship. The UDP candidate for Jimara constituency Mr. SAIHOU = MBALLOW was dismissed from his job after the National Assembly Election = even though he had obtained a leave of absence inorder to contest the = elections. The recent case involving some police officers Messrs Juju = Fadera, Kutubo Suburu and others, once again reflects the complete lack = of respect for the rights of Government employees. The punishments in = the form of demotions and transfers taken against these officers relate = to the nomination of UDP candidate for Jarra West Constituency, = Honourable Kemeseng Jammeh.
We find these actions unacceptable and request that Government = reinstates all those who have been wrongfully dismissed from service = forthwith, restore ranks to those who have been demoted in the interest = of justice and respect for the dignity and the reputation of the = victims. We urge the Government in the interest of justice to desist = from such practices in the future.
There are a number of cases involving people whose travel documents has = been seized during the transition. Attempts to obtain these has proven = futile. This deliberate restriction on the free movement of the = citizens is in flagrant violation of their rights. These people have = committed no crime and some of them who had to pass through the = commissions have done so. The continued retention of travel documents = is unwarranted and can only be interpreted as another attempt to = frustrate their efforts to start a new life. We urge Government to put = an end to this practice so that citizens can go about their business = without undue restriction.
Similarly there are cases of people whose bank accounts have been frozen = since 1994. Some of these people have not been found guilty by any of = the Commissions of Inquiry. We find the continued freeze on their bank = accounts completely unjust and unjustifiable: we call on the authorities = to lift the order so that these people can have access to their = accounts.
Finally there is the retrogressive decision of centralising the issuance = of permits for political meetings. Contrary to previous practice, all = permits will now have to be approved by the Inspector General of Police = in Banjul. We consider this decision unacceptable as it can only = undermine and frustrate the citizens right to mobilise and take = effective part in the political process.
In the interest of peace, justice and progress we call on the Government = to address these violations of the rights of the Gambian people. The = UDP remains fully committed to ensuring that deviations from the = constitution and abuse of the rights of the citizen are fully exposed to = ensure proper remedial actions by the Government.
SECRETARIAT 25th. March, 1997
******NOTE*****
I tried to reproduce this text as accurately as possible. Any errors = are solely mine and not that of the UDP leadership.
-YAMA
----- End of Forwarded message -----
********************************************************************************
Numukunda Darboe Chemistry Dept. University of Mississippi (601) 232 5143 Lab ndarboe@olemiss.edu Home Page at: http://members.tripod.com/~ndarboe/
OLEMISS REBELS 1997 SEC WEST BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS GO REBELS!!!!!!!
********************************************************************************
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Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 15:30:10 +0100 From: Andrea Klumpp <klumpp@kar.dec.com> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Gambian Education Message-ID: <333A8472.2893@kar.dec.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hello GambiaLers,
the list is very quiet at the moment - hope you are all enjoying your easter break!
I tried to figure out the people who expressed their wish to join the group dealing with support for Gambian education:
Abdou Oujimai Al Mballow Andrea Klumpp Francis Njie Haddijatou Secka J. Gaye Malanding S. Jaiteh Momodou Jagana Musa Sowe Nkoyo ...(?) Pa-Mambuna O. Bojang
Please let me know, if you are interested but don't find your name on the list or if I added you falsely.
Momodou Camara, what about your joining the group? Thanks for your invaluable information on the possibility to ship medical/schooling material through Gambias venner, Per Hausmann of Denmark. I hope that at least we people residing in Europe can make use of it in future.
A friend of mine is leaving for The Gambia on Saturday 29 and will take the stuff I collected. I arranged with Omar S. Saho to pick it up and bring it to The Gambia College, such that this one-time donation is on its way.
I'm looking forward to the further development of this initiative of ours, wishing you all a happy Easter.
Andrea
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 09:32:25 -0800 (PST) From: Ylva Hernlund <yher@u.washington.edu> To: Numukunda Darboe <ndarboe@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu> Cc: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>, ; Subject: Re: UDP PRESS RELEASE Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95b.970327093157.27000B-100000@dante04.u.washington.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Does anyone on the list have more information about the "Greenland" incident?
On Thu, 27 Mar 1997, Numukunda Darboe wrote:
> > > PRESS RELEASE > The United Democratic Party (UDP) welcomes the appointment of a Vice = > President in conformity with the requirements of the constitution. = > Whilst we welcome the recent development, the UDP continues to be = > particularly concerned about the persistent violations of the rule of = > the law which undermine the very essence of democratic rule, good = > governance and the respect for human rights. > > The recent arrest and charging of 15 UDP supporters in Jarra West is the = > latest in a series of actions perpetrated by the authorities against UDP = > supporters and sympathisers. It will be recalled that similar waves of = > politically motivated arrests had followed both the Presidential and the = > National Assembly Elections. We consider these and similar actions a = > serious violation of the right of the citizen to participate freely in = > the political activities of this country. > > In another case the police recently attacked and brutalised innocent = > civilians in "Greenland" (behind old customs building) for no apparent = > reason. It will be recalled that similar Police attacks on UDP = > supporters who arrived to Welcome the Party Leader on his arrival from = > Botswana took place on 2nd. March, 1997. We are particularly concerned = > about the level of highhandedness of the security forces particularly = > the police in this and similar cases. We call on the authorities to = > have these and other incidents of police brutality thoroughly = > investigated and those responsible be brought before the law. The = > report of any such investigation should be made public. > > We continue to witness arbitrary dismissals and demotions of government = > employees, acts that are very much reminiscent of the era of military = > dictatorship. The UDP candidate for Jimara constituency Mr. SAIHOU = > MBALLOW was dismissed from his job after the National Assembly Election = > even though he had obtained a leave of absence inorder to contest the = > elections. The recent case involving some police officers Messrs Juju = > Fadera, Kutubo Suburu and others, once again reflects the complete lack = > of respect for the rights of Government employees. The punishments in = > the form of demotions and transfers taken against these officers relate = > to the nomination of UDP candidate for Jarra West Constituency, = > Honourable Kemeseng Jammeh. > > We find these actions unacceptable and request that Government = > reinstates all those who have been wrongfully dismissed from service = > forthwith, restore ranks to those who have been demoted in the interest = > of justice and respect for the dignity and the reputation of the = > victims. We urge the Government in the interest of justice to desist = > from such practices in the future. > > There are a number of cases involving people whose travel documents has = > been seized during the transition. Attempts to obtain these has proven = > futile. This deliberate restriction on the free movement of the = > citizens is in flagrant violation of their rights. These people have = > committed no crime and some of them who had to pass through the = > commissions have done so. The continued retention of travel documents = > is unwarranted and can only be interpreted as another attempt to = > frustrate their efforts to start a new life. We urge Government to put = > an end to this practice so that citizens can go about their business = > without undue restriction. > > Similarly there are cases of people whose bank accounts have been frozen = > since 1994. Some of these people have not been found guilty by any of = > the Commissions of Inquiry. We find the continued freeze on their bank = > accounts completely unjust and unjustifiable: we call on the authorities = > to lift the order so that these people can have access to their = > accounts. > > Finally there is the retrogressive decision of centralising the issuance = > of permits for political meetings. Contrary to previous practice, all = > permits will now have to be approved by the Inspector General of Police = > in Banjul. We consider this decision unacceptable as it can only = > undermine and frustrate the citizens right to mobilise and take = > effective part in the political process. > > In the interest of peace, justice and progress we call on the Government = > to address these violations of the rights of the Gambian people. The = > UDP remains fully committed to ensuring that deviations from the = > constitution and abuse of the rights of the citizen are fully exposed to = > ensure proper remedial actions by the Government. > > SECRETARIAT > 25th. March, 1997 > > > ******NOTE***** > > I tried to reproduce this text as accurately as possible. Any errors = > are solely mine and not that of the UDP leadership. > > -YAMA > > > ----- End of Forwarded message ----- > > > > > > > ******************************************************************************** > > Numukunda Darboe > Chemistry Dept. > University of Mississippi > (601) 232 5143 Lab > ndarboe@olemiss.edu > Home Page at: http://members.tripod.com/~ndarboe/ > > > OLEMISS REBELS 1997 SEC WEST BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS > GO REBELS!!!!!!! > > ******************************************************************************** >
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 10:41:24 -0800 (PST) From: "A. Loum" <tloum@u.washington.edu> To: Gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Senegalese students clash again with police (fwd) Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.95.970327104109.25287B-100000@saul6.u.washington.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 8:11:59 PST From: Reuters <C-reuters@clari.net> Newsgroups: clari.world.africa.western, clari.news.protests, clari.news.education.higher, clari.news.education Subject: Senegalese students clash again with police
DAKAR, Senegal (Reuter) - Students at Senegal's Dakar university clashed again Thursday with police they want to oust from the university campus, witnesses said. Students joined by high school pupils dragged tires into several streets in the capital and set them ablaze after pulling off the main gate to the university. Riot police using tear gas moved in but no serious violence was immediately reported. Students, boycotting classes since last week for better working and living conditions, are demanding the departure of police from the campus. The students, who clashed with police last week, are backed by university teachers who went on strike Thursday for housing grants. ``We think that the right place of the police should be outside the campus not inside,'' Abdoulaye Sow, a second-year law student said.
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Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 04:25:27 JST +900 From: binta@iuj.ac.jp To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Gambian Education Message-ID: <199703271918.EAA21039@mlsv.iuj.ac.jp> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Andrea,
I hope I could be of some use to the 'education group'. Please, count me in.
Lamin Drammeh (Japan).
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Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 17:41:44 -0500 (EST) From: Raye Sosseh <gt8065b@prism.gatech.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Gambian Education Message-ID: <199703272241.RAA14544@acmez.gatech.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Andrea, You can add me to the list.
************************************************************** * Raye Sosseh * * George Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering * * Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 * * Internet: gt8065b@prism.gatech.edu * * * * Quote of the week * * ----------------- * * "If at first you succeed, don't take any more * * stupid chances." * **************************************************************
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 1996 13:26:42 JST +900 From: binta@iuj.ac.jp To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Gambian Education Message-ID: <199703280426.NAA24409@mlsv.iuj.ac.jp> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Andrea,
I hope I could be of some use to the 'education group'. Please, sign me on.
Lamin Drammeh Japan.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 09:53:43 +0000 From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Gambian Education Message-ID: <19970328085430.AAA16668@LOCALNAME>
Andrea, Please add me to the list.
Momodou Camara
******************************************************* http://home3.inet.tele.dk/mcamara
**"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible"***
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Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 22:05:39 +1000 From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: observer online 1st issue Part 3 Message-ID: <19970328210631.AAA23820@LOCALNAME>
The Band was hit by financial problems and could not record for the next 12 years. Luck came in 1985 when they released the best - selling double album for SARRO AND SAMALA.<BR> In 1995 the new Sedhiou Band left for a promotional tour of Europe, to Spain, France, Italy and Germany. From Europe, they flew direct to Banjul for what was initially going to be a 21 day stay. The band was based in Banjulinding Village. The 21 day stay lasted 12 months. Sedhiou Band made contacts and new friends. These 12 months won them thousands of fans all over The Gambia. It has signed a contract with Ousman Ceesay of Kerewan sounds production and distribution for the recording and marketing of a 12 track double album, volumes 1 and 2. They have already finished recording the cassette at Studio 2000 in Dakar. According to Lamin Sawaneh and D.J Focks of Kerewan Distribution, the album will be out in a few weeks.<BR> Good Friday Is Good: Let Us Appreciate It<BR> <P> by Lawrence Kweku Yamuah<BR> <P> Good Friday is a day that Christians mourn their Saviour who was crucified on the cross. In those days, to be crucified was suggestive of the fact that one was a thief. So the Saviour was maltreated just as they will do a thief. If such an inhuman and disrespectful treatment was meted to the King of kings one should wonder why that day is still remembered generation after generation as "Good Friday." But it is a very historic day in our salvation as Christians.<BR> It is very important to remember this day because the Lord of lords laid down His life for us at a time when we were still hard core sinners. He did not wait for us to make up our minds to be holy before he decided to save us. That is one reason why Good Friday is good.<BR> On this important and Good Friday, our Saviour Jesus Christ did things that no one has ever done before; He overcame. Until that time, every soul was scared stiff of that dreadful and awful thing called death. Because the concept of life after death was not well understood, the fear of death was even deepened. That costly death of Christ however made a very big difference or impact on life after death. He Himself has said again and again that death is not the end of life, but the beginning of another life of bliss. Saint Paul in his letter to the Corinthians wrote that "death is destroyed; victory is complete. Where death, is your power to hurt."<BR> <P> But as He conquered death going through the bitter shame and sorrow that has never happened before, what did we do and what are we doing. We rather make the Saviours pity plea in vain by showing Him through our sins that we are more interested in "all of ourselves and none of Him." Irrespective of that, He still went ahead and found us. We all beheld Him bleeding on the accursed tree and heard Him pray: forgive them, Father. It is at the remembrance of this that for some of us our wistful hearts say faintly: "Some of self, and some of the Lord." But we all know from, the teachings that some of us is really not enough to go by.<BR> As His tender mercy is shown to us day by day through healing, helping full and free, sweet and strong, prosperity, protection and guidance, health and strength, let us take a bold and complete step forward. As we do that let us lower ourselves and whisper to the Lord: "Less of ourselves and more of Thee." And considering the fact that His love shown to us is higher than the highest heavens and deeper than the deepest sea, let us try to be grateful and thankful and try to do more of His will. Again, since His love has at last conquered every sinful and troubling aspect of life, let us pray that He grants us our supplication so that we can make a bold step towards: "None of ourselves, and all of the Lord." In His confiding love, let us seek His face, worship and adore Him for His wondrous grace.<BR> For forty days and forty nights, the good Lord fasted in the wilderness, was tempted though undefiled just to save us from our sins. That is why Good Friday is good and should be perceived that way. As He fasted all the days through scorching sunbeams, chilly drops of dew in the night, prowling beasts, perhaps using the earth as His bed and stones as His pillow, our father looked on and did nothing when He was being persecuted for our sake.<BR> I hope now we can appreciate His suffering for us, we will be able and willing to share the endurance and abstain from our earthly greed. And whether Satan be angry with us or not, we should be able to stand firm and not fail.<BR> When you are put down by disappointments or when everything you wanted fails don't give up. The devil will want to keep you down, but God will lift you up. If you want to make a fool of somebody, you have to think twice. Do you really know what you will be doing? If we really and truly appreciate what Christ did for us, there is one of many ways that we can show it. And that is to love Him and love one another; one of the conditions for being Jesus' friend.<BR> It is my fervent prayer, that the all merciful Lord who cares for the dying will rescue those of us who are perishing, and snatch us in pity from sin and the grave as well as lifting up those who are falling. Now that there is victory over satan's power, let all the ransomed sing and triumph in the dying hour through Christ the Lord our King, because He had made Good Friday a good day. for all this and the beauty of the earth and skies and for the love which from our birth have been over and around us, let us raise our sacrifice of praise unto our Gracious God. Because He is kind and His mercies are forever faithful and sure, let us praise the Lord with a gladsome mind.<BR> Apart form everything else, by carrying our shame on the cross, he has made Good Friday good. Let us therefore, with joyful voices give glory to His grace. We should also remember that He now stands knocking at the fast-closed door of every sinners heart. Sinners like me and you do not need to keep Him out any more or force Him to depart. In lowly patience and tears on His face, He is still knocking and waiting and with a gentle voice still pleading more than ever before that we let Him into our hearts. In meek and lowly accents he pleads that He died for us so why can't we with shame and sorrow open the door for the Saviour and ask Him never to leave us. If nothing else, let us remember His grief and pain as He died for us with love that passeth all knowledge and understanding making Good Friday good.<BR> <P> 35 Youths Stand Trial For Allegedly Causing Damage To <BR> Stadium<BR> <P> by Momodou .L. Jaiteh<BR> <P> Thirty-five young men on Wednesday, 26 March, 1997 re-appeared before the Kanifing magistrates' court charged with various offences, including damage to the Independence Stadium.<BR> In adducing evidence, Police Prosecutor Ceesay of Serekunda Police Station said the accused persons, on Sunday 23 February, 1997 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, during Youssou N'dour's show, jointly conducted themselves in a manner that could lead to public disorder, thereby violating the Laws of The Gambia. He added that the accused persons also wilfully and jointly obstructed the police Intervention force by stoning them while they were executing their lawful duties. They were further accused of causing damage to the stadium.<BR> When the charges were read in court during the last sitting, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty.<BR> In testifying before the court, prosecution witness, Cadet Inspector Alhagi Nouha Manneh, told how he and his colleagues were on guard when the accused started misbehaving. He said he had advised everybody to be in the queue before getting inside. <BR> <P> "Some people followed the instructions while the accused persons did not," he alleged. Instead, he said the accused, most of whom he said were without tickets, broke the gate near the score board and attempted sneaking in.<BR> Upon seeing them, Mr. Manneh said he personally approached them to ask them out but they started uttering all sorts of words. He said at that point, he called his colleagues to come so that the situation could be contained. <BR> However, Mr. Manneh added, the accused went to the extent of throwing stones at them and as a result, some of them sustained injuries.<BR> During cross-examination, some of the accused persons put it to Mr. Manneh that they were not arrested by him personally and that they were not involved. Others said they were arrested even though they bought tickets to get in. <BR> Mr. Manneh, however, maintained that all those arrested must have been involved, which was the reason why they were brought to court.<BR> The case, which was presided over by Magistrate Sulayman Batchilly, was adjourned to April 3,1997 for further hearing.<BR> <P> STARS FOR MARCH 27<BR> ARIES<BR> (March 21 to April 20)<BR> Following hot on the heels of yesterday's transforming Sun/Pluto ray the heavens offer up the star of love, Venus, in divine alignment with the planet of sex, Pluto. The effects of this can be perfectly devastating for your affairs of the heart in the nicest possible way.<BR> <P> TAURUS<BR> (April 21 to May 21)<BR> The chances of fate intervening in your love life is more likely due to the power of Venus and Pluto. It is hard to predict how it will precisely happen, but be prepared for anything like a chance meeting or something extraordinary to throw you into somebody special's arms.<BR> <P> GEMINI<BR> (May 22 to June 21)<BR> You are about to come under the influence of a pretty incredible woman, who will take your life by the scruff of the neck and turn your future into something super special. The force of this female is subtle but nonetheless transforming for you. She is a fiercely faithful friend.<BR> <P> CANCER<BR> (June 22 to July 23)<BR> A complete and utter head to toe metamorphosis of your image is required to bring you the success you crave for. Power dressing is very much in fashion for you now, as the first impressions you create in your career spell the difference between success and failure.<BR> <P> LEO<BR> (July 24 to Aug. 23)<BR> You have more luck in the heavens than you can handle but the most important thing is to be aware it is there! Your destiny us about to change gear and throw your situation and set ups that will alter your world making it unrecognisable in the future, Just don't fight fate.<BR> <P> VIRGO<BR> (Aug. 24 to Sept. 23)<BR> If you thought yesterday's vibes were pretty sexy, then today's are even more seductive and sensual. Of course you may not be aware that you are hot stuff but the vibes you give out will leave folk transfixed in your passionate presence. Make love whilst Venus and Pluto shine!.<BR> <P> LIBRA <BR> (Aug. 24 to Oct. 23)<BR> What becomes of the broken hearted? According to your stars they get mended again! No, this is not some frivolous statement it is a fact that whether you get back together with the love of your life or you meet somebody new and fascinating, you won't lose anything now Libra.<BR> <P> SCORPIO<BR> (Oct. 24 to Nov. 22<BR> Your personal allure is always something to burn holes in the heart of those who love you and adore you. But this time the magic can work in unexpected areas like employment. In other words you can mesmerise folk around you professionally giving you great powers over all.<BR> <P> SAGITTARIUS<BR> (Nov. 23 to Dec. 21)<BR> When it comes to having an enchanting and sexy personality you take some beating today! You exude an enigmatic charm and incredible passion that will take people's breath away. If you are clever you will use this potent power to progress and advance your self interests.<BR> <P> CAPRICORN<BR> (Dec. 22 to Jan. 20)<BR> A female relative is a tower of strength and will help you out of a large emotional hole, possibly one you have dug yourself. You need the advice and guidance of a person who is totally in control so yield to this woman's greater force and let her take your life in hand.<BR> <P> AQUARIUS<BR> (Jan. 21 to Feb. 19)<BR> The power and influence you have over other folk with your ideas and hypnotic presence puts you in the driving seat in more ways than you can imagine. You have the ear of people who can help your cause so communicate your thoughts as someone, somewhere is listening just to you.<BR> <P> PISCES<BR> (Feb. 20 to March 20)<BR> Whether you are about to win some money on the lottery, pools or at bingo cash does seem to have an irresistible and magnetic quality towards you today. Because fate plays such funny tricks it's hard to know how it will land in your lap but prepare for a windfall of some kind.<BR> <P> YOU BORN TODAY <BR> Your image and personality is out of this world! Use this year to make something of yourself and just watch offers flood in in love, career and money.<BR> <P> </BODY> </HTML>
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Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 22:05:40 +1000 From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: observer online 1st issue part 1 Message-ID: <19970328210631.AAB23820@LOCALNAME>
This message is in three parts ********************************************************************* Date sent: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 15:27:31 -0500 From: sankung sawo <sankungsawo@compuserve.com> Subject: observer online 1st issue To: "A S. Janneh" <ASJanneh@aol.com> Copies to: "Camara, Momodou" <momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk>
<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE> type_Document_Title_here </TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> Reshuffle The Cabinet<BR> <P> Hamat Bah Urges President Jammeh<BR> <P> by Sheriff Bojang<BR> <P> The leader of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), Hamat Bah, has called on President Jammeh to reshuffle his cabinet and appoint a new one, "that will suit the current needs of the country".<BR> Mr Bah stated his party's displeasure at the appointment of Isatou Njie-Saidy as the new vice president on the grounds that "given the President's unfamiliarity with economic matters, he should appoint a vice president who is fine-tuned to monetary and financial matters, up to international level". He therefore called on the President to effect an immediate cabinet re-shuffle, drawing from the "vast" pool of able Gambian technocrats and taking cognisance of regional and ethnic considerations.<BR> At a press conference yesterday afternoon, the NRP leader said the key concern of the current administration should be the "restructuring and reshaping of the economy". But this, he opined, cannot be achieved in the absence of technocrats of a high calibre in the Cabinet. "With the exception of the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, there is no one in the current Cabinet who is versed in high level economic and financial matters," he alleged.<BR> Quizzed as to whether he is calling for a blanket reshuffle, Mr Bah replied: "Some Cabinet members are good. I am pleased that Dominic Mendy and Musa Mbenga are retained". He also countenanced the retention of Edward Singhatey, Satang Jow, Yankuba Touray, "though he may not be very popular", and Isatou Njie-Saidy, "other Secretary of State portfolio."<BR> He however criticised the re-appointment of the Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture. Asked to explain, Mr Bah retorted, "her handling of the Aquasun saga, which led to the death of Dutch tourism in this country is enough reason to replace her." <BR> Hamat Bah averred that the leverage for the President to freely appoint the Cabinet, is premised on the discretion of his wisdom to select the best people suited to the various tasks. He urged the President to reshuffle the Cabinet and effect the new "wise" changes, choosing "independent" people.<BR> The NRP leader also urged President Jammeh to commission a "national reconciliation committee" which will be singularly charged with "bringing back peace, unity and reconciliation in this country".<BR> As a further measure to encourage "national reconciliation" he appealed to Government to re-instate civil servants who were dismissed "because they worked with Jawara". He also called for a halt to the "destruction" being allegedly wrought on Gambian businesses by the commissions of enquiry.<BR> "Rather than killing Gambian companies, Government should give encouragement to businesses." He cited the success of Amadou Samba and Gamsen and the "excellent work" they did on the airport as the trend Government should adopt towards Gambian companies, although he maintained the project was "costly".<BR> On the country's foreign policy direction he said: "It is too pro-Arab. We need to look West too, because even the Arabs depend on the West. I am not saying that we become slaves to the West. I am simply stating that we need balance...and re-direction in our international relationships".<BR> Digressing on the recent hike in the fee for National Identity cards, he tersely described it as "state robbery" of the citizens. Mr Bah also called for a tumble down of the institution of chieftaincy with a view to making the office elective on party political basis.<BR> The press conference was attended by NRP officials.<BR> <BR> <P> Belgian Theologian Preaches At Retreat<BR> <P> by T.G.G Senghore<BR> <P> A distinguished Belgian theologian, the Rev. Fr. Herman De Vriendt, C.I.C.M., was in The Gambia over the last week-end to preach at a Retreat organised by the members of the St. Anthony of Padua Prayer Group of St. Therese's Parish, Kanifing.<BR> Fr. Herman, who is Flemish (Dutch) speaking, is a member of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Presently, he resides in Dakar, Senegal, and is the local Provincial (Head) of his order which has 13 priests serving in Senegal - mainly in the suburbs of Dakar and in the Diocese of St Louis in the towns of Podor and Matam, on the River Senegal, and in the city of St. Louis itself.<BR> An accomplished Linguist, Fr. Herman, who is 56 years old, speaks eight languages - Dutch, English, French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Wollof and Lingala - spoken in Zaire and Congo.<BR> The Retreat was conducted entirely in Wollof and very good Wollof at that. Virtually all the participants were amazed at Fr. Herman's diction. His intonation is so good that one could scarcely realise that it is a European speaking without actually seeing him. Fr. Herman, who has so far spent 10 years in Senegal, undertook Wollof courses in Dakar University and says that he received tremendous assistance from the catechists, especially in the area of liturgical vocabulary. Presently, he is heading a "PROJECT WOLLOF" secretariat which is translating devotional works into wollof.<BR> <P> The Retreat, which focused on the nature of the church and its role in the light on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), was a great success. Some of the documents of the Council were examined and those pertaining to relations with other Christians and peoples of Non-Christian faiths generated a lot of interest. <BR> Participants were divided into syndicates to examine specific issues and report back to the plenary.<BR> A useful outcome of the visit was the introduction to Gambians of a new form of the Stations of the Cross in Wollof. This version bases the commentary for each Station on the scriptural texts. There are four variants based on texts from the Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Another Novel feature is that several people (actors) perform the different roles assigned to them. The participants at the Retreat performed the devotion last Friday in the garden of the St Joseph's Convent, Kanifing, where the Retreat was held. I must say that it was great and very well received.<BR> Fr. Herman was accompanied by Mr Gontran Mendy - a member of the "Project Wollof" Secretariat and Choirmaster of the parish church at Diamaguene. He taught the participants some new hymns in Wollof and English. Mr Mendy is evidently a great musician.<BR> The Retreat ended last Sunday evening and Fr. Herman and party returned to Dakar on Monday.<BR> <P> Red Cross Volunteers Need Training<BR> - D.S. Kamara<BR> <P> by Ebrima Fatty<BR> <P> The programme coordinator of The Gambia Red Cross Society, D.S. Kamara, has said that Red Cross volunteers need to be trained to enable them to effectively face up to their responsibilities.<BR> Mr Kamara was speaking during the closing ceremony of a three-day workshop recently held at the Greater Banjul Junior Secondary School.<BR> In his speech, Mr Kamara said the workshop was an indication that the training of volunteers was not only confined to the Red Cross Headquarters, but also to members of Red Cross in schools. He promised that such training workshops would continue in other schools.<BR> Speaking during the closing ceremony, the acting branch officer of the KSMD branch, Momodou Lamin Jobe, reiterated the importance of training. He called on the participants to take the workshop seriously.<BR> Several members of the school's Red Cross Society took part in the workshop. Among those present were the deputy headmaster of the Greater Banjul Junior Secondary School, Mr Colley, and a group of Peace Corps Volunteers who attended as volunteers.<BR> <P> Farato Alkalo's Son Sentenced For Illegal Tree Felling<BR> <P> by Sheikh Omar Joof<BR> <P> The Brikama Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, March 19, 1997 convicted and sentenced, one Nfally Bojang, said to be the son of the Alkalo of Farato, to one year's imprisonment for illegal tree felling.<BR> According to the charge sheet, Nfally Bojang on February 3, 1997, trespassed the government's forest park at Kabafita without license or permission and therein illegally fell down Gmelina trees which he later converted into fencing posts.<BR> Prosecution witnesses Momodou Badjie, Yusupha Sampha, and Mr Saidy the forest scouts, all testified before the court that Nfally Bojang fell some logs from the Kabafita forest which he sold to one Mr Njie, a soldier, to be used as fence posts.<BR> Prosecution witness Badjie said that after seeing the logs in Mr Njie's compound and confirming who brought them there, he went to the Alkalo's compound to ask for Nfally Bojang where he also found some more logs standing around the compound. "I asked the Alkalo who brought the logs standing round the compound?," he added.<BR> The Alkalo, he further said, replied that it was his son (Nfally) who brought the logs to fence the compound. "However, all the logs including the ones standing round the compound have been recovered," Mr Badjie said.<BR> Presiding Magistrate Musa Y. Gassama, in passing judgement, asked the Alkalo if he knew where his son Nfally got the logs from, the Alkalo replied 'yes' but said his (son) said he found the logs in the bush.<BR> The magistrate also asked the Alkalo if he had reported the matter to the forest scouts to which he replied in the negative and added that he advised Nfally not to do it again.<BR> At this juncture, Magistrate Gassama said that the forest belongs to the Gambians and therefore we should take great care of it rather than destroying it without any reason. He therefore convicted and sentenced accordingly without any fine.<BR> <P> Accused Stands Trial For Drug Charges<BR> <P> by Alhagie Abdoulie Fatty<BR> <P> One Joe Tijan Gibba, a 31-year old man recently appeared before the Brikama magistrates' court for allegedly being in possession of 8kg 574g 020mg of cannabis sativa commonly known as 'Jamba."<BR> The prosecution said that on December 12, 1996 at about 2:45pm ,Yaya Sanneh of Brikama police station and a colleague, 1107 Bojang were going to Banjul in their station vehicle and while at the Gambia College area, they saw a vehicle with registration number G2A 0094 coming towards Brikama. "We stopped on the highway to stop the said vehicle but the driver made a U-turn and took the route to the bush," he said.<BR> <P> He added that they chased the suspected vehicle through the Bafuloto road and from a distance, they saw the vehicle stop and one of the boys in the vehicle ran away into the bush.' I went to the driver of the vehicle and asked him where he was driving to and why he was avoiding us."<BR> Yaya told the court that he asked for the driver's licence and the name of the boy who ran away. "I asked him to allow me to search the vehicle and when I opened the booth, I saw 11 wraps of suspected cannabis sativa in a blue bag and another white bag containing 5 wraps of the said suspected substance.The prosecutor added that thereafter, the accused was reprimanded and taken to the Brikama police station with the seized items.<BR> The bags were tendered in evidence and were marked and admitted as exhibits.<BR> In his testimony ,the accused pleaded not guilty. The case was adjourned to March 25 ,for further hearing.<BR> <P> THREE WOMEN APPEAR IN COURT FOR AFFRAY<BR> <P> By Rowland Secka<BR> <P> Three women, Jarra Demba, Mariama Sohna and Mariama Sowe, all of Bakau Senehaba, were on Monday March 24, 1997 charged with affray and arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrates Court.<BR> In adducing evidence against them, the prosecutor PC 489 Jaharteh, said that Sohna's husband, had a child with Mariama Sowe and that for sometimes,they had been quarelling and fighting each other. PC Jaharteh added that their complaint is always lodged by either one of them. He also stated that on March 2 ,1997, Mariama Sowe, went to report at the Bakau Police Station that both Jarra Demba and Mariama Sohna jointly assaulted her.<BR> However, P.C. Jaharteh said that when the Police investigated the matter, it was discovered that all of them fought and were consequently charged with affray and fighting in public places.<BR> When the charges were read to them, all of them pleaded guilty, but denied that they fought in a public place. Due to the fact that they denied fighting in a public place, the Magistrate O.N. Brisibi, adjourned the case till April 1, 1997 for further hearing.<BR> All three were granted bail in the sum of D200 each and their behaviour was described as "rude" by the magistrate.The case was presided over by Magistrate O.N. Brisibi.<BR> <P> Fire Destroys Imam's Compound in Siwoll Village<BR> <P> by M.L. Drammeh<BR> <P> The entire Compound of the Imam of Siwoll Village in Foni Bintang-Karanai Constituency, Ansumana Gibba, was destroyed in a recent fire disaster in which he sustained burns on parts of his body.<BR> Disclosing this to the Daily Observer during an interview on Friday, the Imam explained in an emotional mood that all his household items had been completely Burnt. <BR> "Nothing! nothing absolutely! was left of my belongings, or the belongings of a single member of my entire family," he lamented.<BR> According to the Imam, there was not a single person left in his compound when he was going to lead the Magrib prayers at the mosque. It was on his way back home, he narrated, that he saw thick smoke and flames coming from the top of the roof of his house, "then I immediately ran to the scene; before I arrived, the fire was out of control." He further narrated how he helplessly stood watching the fire destroy his house, all efforts to try to save some of his belongings proved futile, as a result of this, he sustained some serious burns on parts of his body. It was then he ran out shouting and before a good turnout of people in the village could come to his aid, it was too late as everything in the house had been burnt to ashes.<BR> "At the time of the incident, my wife Fatou Badjie had gone to attend a 40-day charity of a relative at a village called Batabut Kantora, while the children had also gone to their peers in the neighbourhood not knowing what was happening at that moment," the Imam sorrowfully said. Imam Gibba disclosed that the accountable loss included items such as foodstuff, beds, clothes, cooking utensils, farming implements, and an amount of D1,700 in cash which was supposed to be used to purchase corrugated iron sheets for his house. He said that presently, he and his family are being squeezed into a very congested house by the villagers who are even feeding there.<BR> As a result of the disaster, the Imam is pleading for assistance from all relief agencies and organisations, mosque groups, especially the Islamic Ummah, and any concerned individual philanthropist either in cash or kind, so to enable him to take care of the maintenance of his family, reconstruct his compound and move over, to be able to perform his religious obligations. <BR> <P> Worker Accused of Stealing From Employer<BR> <P> by Alhagie Abdoulie Fatty<BR> <P> One Abdoulie Trawally recently appeared before the Brikama Magistrates' Court accused of stealing building and household materials from his employee, one Saikou Jatta.<BR> The complainant, Saikou Jatta, said he employed the accused on March 6, 1996 to bend irons for the construction of a building he (the complainant) was erecting. He however added that on January 18, 1997, he discovered a theft in his compound.<BR> <P> He disclosed that when he noticed some of his building and household materials were missing, he investigated on his own and asked the accused whether he had any knowledge of the theft. He alleged that "the accused said it was the plumber, one Lamin Jammeh,, who stole the materials".<BR> The next day, he further alleged, the accused took his key and opened the store and stole the remaining items. "Later, I went to his (Trawally's) house and therein I found my wife's knife and two cupboard elbows," he alleged. He further disclosed that he then went and called the C.I.D. who came along with him to the accused's house and therein, they found some of the employer's items, but the other materials were not recovered.<BR> He said he then made a statement at the Yundum Police Station. <BR> In his plea, the employee Trawally, pleaded 'not guilty'. He was granted bail in the sum of D5,000. The case was adjourned to March 24, 1997. <BR> <P> LETTERS FOR MARCH 27<BR> <P> "Man And His Environment"<BR> <P> Mr Editor,<BR> <P> Man was not born with the purpose to destroy but to construct. When you think constructively, then there is a liability that you will build constructively. Truly speaking nobody will come down to build our nation for us. We should all stand up readily together as one at all times for the development and maintenance of our nation. Always development goes with maintenance. <BR> It is a fact that we are the very ones who make the streets dirty but who are the ones to maintain it clean? Thanks to those who concerned themselves on Environmental sanitation work, which is geared toward preventing our Environment from pollution of all sorts of things. When you go out in town you see with your eyes the situation of our Environment. <BR> Cleansing departments cannot do all the work, so something else must be done. When you imagine the size of the town particularly Serrekunda, it needs the support of the people in one way or the other. <BR> The truth is that, we must take care of nature through which man was created and for which man was created, and in which man is living. Nature has provided mankind with everything he needs for his life. Nature provides for us the food we eat. It also provides us the oxygen we breathe. Nature provide us the oil we use for industrial purposes. So , mankind must respect nature for all the provisions. Let us avoid polluting and destroying; otherwise we will end up poisoning our life and finally kill ourselves. <BR> An Environmental Sanitation work that is geared or directed toward preventing our health condition is very essential in mankind's daily life. We all need natural fresh air to breathe but when this environment in which air circulates, is polluted, it becomes dangerous to our life, so let us try to keep our surroundings clean and free from contamination. <BR> I remain your reader.<BR> <P> Mamat Cham<BR> <P> Please Let Sleeping Dogs Lie<BR> <P> Mr Editor<BR> <P> Please let me express my sincere concerns about the interview with the APRC General Secretary, Saihou Sanyang which appeared in your Spotlight Column with Sheriff Bojang on March 21-23, 1997.<BR> My main purpose for writing this letter is to advise Mr Sanyang and any other person who may be granted interviews like these to be very careful not to create an atmosphere of debates or commotions especially at this time of reconciliation in our dear nation.<BR> Mr Sanyang, a very respectful figure in the society, without even thinking what it might cause, went all the way in making examples to say: "For example you (the Daily Observer) put the UDP leader's return from a summit in Botswana on the front page, while you put the appointment of a State Secretary, Lamin Bajo on the back page." My God! I still shudder in thinking of this serious allegation. What if the UDP leader had reacted to this? Would that not create a state of commotion or debates? After all the Daily Observer know their job, how they work and what might sell their paper, and besides, although it is there for the public, it is their own newspaper! I thought they once told us how they work and what might sell their paper. Don't create commotion to gain a name/recognition. As Pa Modou Faal said, "This is not the time". <BR> I advise 'Let sleeping dogs lie very very low'.<BR> <P> Ibra Gaye<BR> Kaur Wharf Town<BR> <P> Choice of Music<BR> <P> Mr Editor<BR> <P> I wish to express my dissatisfaction on the choice of music shown on Gambia Television on Saturday, March 22, which was presented by Jainaba Nyang. I think such music should not shown on TV, it is a bad example for little kids/teenagers to watch women rolling their hips and bottoms to the rhythm of Zairean music in such a provocative manner. Whatever children see they tend to copy and for a programme like week-end magazine much is expected in terms of choice of music. There are loads of other music that could have been used instead.<BR> In future when selecting music for programmes please keep in mind that children are watching, remember its the weekend and most kids stay up till late watching TV.<BR> <P> Please lets be seen doing what we preach. Our children must be taught good morals and not be seen copying the Western culture or lifestyle.<BR> No hard feeling Jainaba.<BR> Hamida Kamara<BR> <P> Well done, Darboe, Jatta<BR> <P> Mr Editor<BR> <P> I write to commend UDP leader Ousainou Darboe and Sidia Jatta, PDOIS member of the National Assembly for Wuli, on their positive response on the appointment of the new Vice President, Isatou Njie-Saidy.<BR> Contrary to what sceptics predicted, these two gentlemen of our vibrant opposition minced no words in saying that Isatou Njie-Saidy is a good choice. This indicates a level of political maturity that is very admirable and is another feather to the cap of Gambian politics. Indeed, this is the level of political maturity we expect from all our politicians, both of the ruling and opposition parties. If someone is good or does something good, we must be honest enough to appreciate it.<BR> Of course, public fears that our new VP is simply symbolic are well founded, but yet to be proved. We hope our new VP will live up to our expectations of her, which are very high.<BR> Ousman Drammeh<BR> Bakau<BR> <P> Tobacco Docked : Inhumanity Looms<BR> <P> Within the law and with due regard for the rights of others, there is the freedom to choose, to act and to be. That freedom is the crying paradox associated with the booming worldwide trade in tobacco products. Despite the claims and counterclaims, the accusations and denials vis-a-vis the effects of tobacco smoking on health, the habit continues unabated.<BR> Sighs of relief are interspersed with spells of concern. While the anti-tobacco campaigners go on their relentless drives, and, leaving no stone unturned in the process, the tobacco lobby continues to retain support, and, the tobacco industry with their millions, even billions, go on to use the aid of sophisticated advertising techniques to keep in business, to keep many hooked and exposed to whatever the inevitable consequences of that association.<BR> There is the view that some four hundred and twenty thousand deaths occur annually in the United States as a result of tobacco related ailments. No doubt other countries have their own statistics. In the nature of the reactions to tobacco, figures cannot be sacrosanct, nor are they agreed points of departure.<BR> For us in The Gambia, Alex Haley's revisit of a past in his Roots is a vivid reminder of our compatriots' traumatic and dehumanising involvement in the tobacco fields of the Southern United States. That tobacco should still be a significant crop there testifies to an entrenched engagement, and, implies the economics of continuity and the rationalisation of the irrational there. Of course, tobacco grows elsewhere and that adds to the variations on the theme. Hence Cuba can revel in her prized cigars.<BR> News of the tobacco company Legate's admission that "nicotine is addictive and causes cancer", has come as a stunning blow and a stab in the back to the large tobacco companies and the pre-tobacco lobby. Legate's willingness to set aside twenty-five percent of profits to support smoking related health care is evidence of its unequivocal stand. Naturally, and true to form, others are not taking this lying down. They are exploring avenues to seeing that activated threat to survival countered. For, to bow to what some are beginning to sense as the inevitable, will be the creeping death of the industry, and, of the livelihood of the very many which derive from it.<BR> That research evidence had been pointing to adverse effects of smoking on health, which evidence had in many instances been suppressed and not reacted to positively, leaves much to be desired. That whilst thousands were said to be dying from tobacco related ailments, the products were being aggressively advertised and pushed, beat the imagination. Are jobs and profit morally justifiable objects against human suffering and lingering death?<BR> Efforts made to sensitise people about the possible dangers to health that might derive from smoking, the ban placed on smoking by airlines and in public places, but above all, the stance taken and the example given by Legate, deserve commendation. May good sense deriving from reverence for life go on to prevail.<BR> <P> Speaking Out<BR> <P> One of the world's most powerful and aloof leaders, Indonesia's Suharto offers a rare and vibrant defense of his reign - the longest of any leader in Asia. <BR> <P> by Ron Moreau<BR> <P> When president Suharto speaks, he generally holds forth from on high - a lofty speech from the presidential podium. Indonesia's proud patriarch is one of the world's most powerful and least accessible rulers. Yet there is so much to ask, as the 75-year-old president approaches his 33rd year in office. In a rare interview with NEWSWEEK, Suharto answered the sporadic questions about his health just by his appearance. Dressed in a dark Western suit, he looked fit and relaxed, and offered a confident and spirited defense of his reign - the longest of any leader in Asia.<BR> <P> Suharto's is an epic story, and a tricky one. Most leaders who rule so long are autocrats who ultimately run their countries into the ground; Suharto yanked the world's fourth most populous nation out of poverty and political chaos, a record for which he is widely admired. But by last summer rising incomes had created a new middle class - and rising hopes that the "father of development," as Suharto is known, would loosen his political grip. Rallies for opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri dissolved, under pressure of a police crackdown, into the worst rioting Jakarta had seen in decades. In his comments to NEWSWEEK, Suharto warned that such riots "must not happen again." A few days later, as if to drive home the point, authorities jailed opposition politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas for advocating a boycott of May parliamentary elections.<BR> Suharto was accused last summer of failing even to listen to his people - yet clearly he's listening now. He declared himself "fully aware of the dangers of corruption" - a main wellspring of middle-class discontent. He volunteered a vigorous rebuttal to what Indonesian political analyst Juwono Sudarsono calls "the popular perception that the income gap is wide and will last a long time." In recent months, this perception has helped fuel deadly riots in poor ethnic communities of the Indonesian hinterlands, particularly West Kalimantan, and Suharto made clear his concern. Though he defended his administration against charges that it is too cozy with big business, he emphasised that big business would be made to help alleviate the woes of the poor. And he proudly touted a "national family-prosperity" program that (unlike China's more draconian efforts) has succeeded in controlling an immense population without coercion.<BR> Indonesia's transformation has been so dramatic, it could hardly have avoided upheaval. Consider even the bright side. Just in the last two years, the number of middle-class families (defined as those making more than $500 a month) has increased by two thirds and now makes up 21 percent of the urban population. As these newly minted consumers enter the shopping class, sales skyrocket; the number of people who own motorcycles has gone up 83 percent since 1995. Moreover, many of these urban workers are sending money back to relatives in the countryside, where one can now see cement houses and satellite dishes sprouting among the huts. Having more, however, has not stopped Indonesians from demanding more from Suharto. It is the children of prosperity, says Sudarsono, who are most critical of Suharto, most impatient for "political liberalisation."<BR> The question that dogs any septuagenarian leader is the succession question, and watching Suharto's next move has become a global cottage industry. Many Indonesians would like Suharto to step aside for a younger man, but those who know him well are convinced he'll stand for yet another five-year term in 1998. Suharto has not tipped his hand, but he did tell NEWSWEEK that "this generation of leaders has played its role in ensuring Indonesia's stability." Among Suharto watchers, the use of the past tense will be enough to trigger a new round of conjecture. Was it a hint that he's getting ready to pass on the reins of power?<BR> Culled from Newsweek<BR>
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Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 22:05:41 +1000 From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: observer online 1st issue part 2 Message-ID: <19970328210631.AAC23820@LOCALNAME>
he's getting ready to pass on the reins of power?<BR> Culled from Newsweek<BR> <P> Yeltsin Puts Brave Face On Helsinki Summit<BR> <P> MOSCOW, (Reuter) <BR> Boris Yeltsin, accused by opponents of capitulating over NATO expansion during last week's summit with Bill Clinton, said on Wednesday that cooperation with the West was the only sensible way forward.<BR> "Will the danger be reduced if we return to the way of mutual threats? No, on the contrary, it will grow! We do not intend to return to that path. Our choice is cooperation and mainly economic," Yeltsin said in a nationwide radio address.<BR> The Kremlin leader acknowledged that he had been unable to persuade the U.S. president that NATO's plan to take in some of Moscow's former communist allies was a mistake.<BR> But he said Russia had made important gains at the two-day summit in the Finnish capital on March 20 and 21.<BR> These included a NATO pledge not to move nuclear weapons on to the territory of new members, not to threaten Russian security with military movements to the East and agreement to produce a future binding document on relations between NATO and Russia, he said.<BR> More controversially, Yeltsin said Clinton had made concessions on anti-ballistic missile defences and promised that Russia "will become a full member" of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations.<BR> Analysts have said it was Russia which made concessions on the missile defences issue and U.S. officials have said that, although the next G7 summit will be called "the Summit of the Eight," Russia will still be excluded from some discussions.<BR> On the economic side, Yeltsin noted that Clinton had agreed to help press for Russia to join the World Trade Organisation in 1998, helping to lower customs barriers against Russian goods.<BR> <P> "This year Russia will join the Paris Club. It will help us get back money which many countries owe to Russia," he said.<BR> Economists say Russia is some way away from WTO membership, but negotiations with the Paris Club of creditor nations are under way and membership is possible later this year, if the two sides can agree terms.<BR> "I know my opponents will tell me our position in the negotiations was not tough enough," said Yeltsin, who had already come under fire from his communist and nationalist critics before his plane even touched down in Moscow on Saturday from Helsinki.<BR> "We could of course have angrily knitted our brows and banged our boots on the table as in the Cold War years. But what would have been the result? Again irreconcilable enmity, again Russian isolation," he said.<BR> Yeltsin's comments contrasted sharply with the aggressive tone of his statements before the summit, indicating that, despite continuing official opposition to NATO expansion, Moscow had come to terms with the fact that it cannot prevent it.<BR> "Despite the importance of the problem of responding to NATO expansion, it's not the only direction of our external policy. We will, as before, develop and deepen our friendly relations with our traditional partners," Yeltsin said.<BR> He cited China and India, as well as the 12 former Soviet republics who make up the Commonwealth of Independent States, but did not hint at any partnerships directed against the West.<BR> CIS leaders meet for a summit in Moscow on Friday.<BR> <P> Basse Hosts Influx Of People<BR> As 15th "Safra" Conference Opens<BR> <P> The 15th Edition of the annual sub-regional youth and sports conference, SAFRA, opened at the high level park in Basse on Tuesday evening. <BR> The one week programme took its unique but usual character - a convivial and brotherly meeting. All participating countries of the SAFRA Zone except one, turned up with large numbers of participants all of whom took part in a pre-opening march past watched by a solid 10,000 people.<BR> In his opening address, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Lamin (Kaba) Bajo, firmly impressed on the gathering that the occasion must not only focus on sports and cultural activities, but should also provide the youths with an opportunity for meaningful dialogue particularly on the many problems affecting youths in the subregion.<BR> "These problems include unemployment, drug abuse, prostitution and under employment, and since the youths themselves are the principal actors in the drive to eradicate these vices, you must use this occasion to review the policy base and orientation of this subregional meeting, drawing lessons of your experience of the past 18 years," he told participants.<BR> The secretary of state further stated that there is a strong need to intensify the concept of regular exchanges to enable our youths to live and work together and exchanging ideas on matters of common concern. "In this way, we will be promoting positive change among our youths by exposing them to our national and subregional realities which will also assist in orienting them especially for skills development, cultural awareness and take on their rightful roles in the development process," he said.<BR> Mr. Bajo said in order to achieve the desired goals of socio-economic development, we cannot fail to make maximum use of the energies and dynamism of this potential important segment of our population - the youths.<BR> This, he said, "is why our grassroots approach to youth mobilisation and motivation, through SAFRA, deserves our full support". In fact, according to Mr. Bajo, the general approach to the question of youths should go beyond the mere rhetoric of participation and promotion of youths as subjects rather than objects of economic and social development. "I therefore call on you to re-examine your operations and suggest ways and means of improving them as we have a serious challenge ahead of us," Mr Bajo said.<BR> Other speakers at the occasion included the Commissioner, URD Major Momodou Badjie, who in his speech stressed the importance of youth in society. "As youths, we must see ourselves as people called upon to propel the society towards a new horizon." He further stated that what the present day situation in the subregion requires is for greater understanding of our historical past. "Before Colonial days, we were one people and the concern of every youth today should be how effectively we should participate towards the unification of our subregion in general," he said.<BR> The occasion, which attracted great attention from the local people, also recorded the highest number of participants in recent history. Indeed, the local organising committee immediately ran into trouble. "We have made plans as neatly as possible, but the unexpected number of participants from some of our visitors far exceeds the number usually allowed for SAFRA," said Charles Baldeh, head of the press committee. Guinea Bissau alone is reported to have turned up with some 400 (four hundred) participants, instead of the 120 allowed.<BR> <P> Indeed, the problem was so acute that by the start of the opening ceremony (delayed from 3pm to 6pm), the whole coordinating procedure seemed to have collapsed. Scores of people arrived to wait for hours without accommodation. All lodges are booked to the brim. Although 21 heads of cattle were obtained, many people, including members of the press who were promised catering, stayed without it for days not to talk about accommodation. One youth representative from Lower River Division was spotted at the night cultural show hanging his bag in frustration. "I arrived here since 10am but I have neither eaten nor have a place to sleep," he later told Observer Sports. Indeed, up to the second day of the programme, these problems persisted.<BR> However, many people seemed to be sympathetic to the local organising committee. "This situation is unexpected and so no one could take blame. The committee is overwhelmed with the sudden unprecedented massive turn out and so these problems should be expected," said one delegate. The local committee <BR> meanwhile, says the minor hitches would soon be history as everything is being done to get things under control. If that happens, the ground would be cleared for a colourful sporting and cultural display as each participating country registered abundance of athletes and dancers.<BR> <P> THREE ALKALOLU DISMISSED FOR "INEPTITUDE" AND "INSUBORDINATION"<BR> <P> by Sheriff Bojang<BR> <P> Three village Alkalolu of Kafuta, Sohm and Faraba-sutu were recently removed from their posts for alleged "ineptitude" and "insubordination".<BR> The removal of the alkalolu was contained in letters from the Commissioner's Office Brikama, dated March 10th, 1997. The letters did not elaborate as to reasons prompting the termination of the alkalolu.<BR> Efforts to get comments from the Commissioner's Office and from the acting head chief of Kombo East district were unsuccessful. The octogenarian alkalo of Kafuta, Sulayman Bojang, was replaced by Alhagi Ya-Faye Bojang, Malang Sanyang of Faraba Sutu was replaced by Omar Darbo, while Nyabai Jarju was replaced by Baring Jarju.<BR> Speaking to the Daily Observer, on Tuesday, the new alkalo of Kafuta, Alhagi Ya Faye Bojang, said he was jolted by news of his appointment, but resolved to "loyally and diligently execute" his trust. "I have already formed advisory, development and peace committees to help me tackle the social, developmental and administrative needs of the village", alkalo Bojang explained. Kafuta is one of the largest villages in Kombo East district. One week since his appointment he was able to collect D2,493 in unpaid taxes: "By next week I hope to collect the rest of the unpaid rates," he vowed.<BR> On his immediate priority intervention areas, the new alkalo cited "promotion of unity, encouragement of agriculture and upgrading of the village skill training centre," as first.<BR> Ya-Faye Bojang, a former forestry employee, is reputed to be one of the most successful farmers in Kombo. He is married with four wives and several children.<BR> The dismissal of the three Kombo East alkalolu is reportedly linked to the recent sacking of several alkalolu in Sami, Niani, Bansang, Yona Musa, Lamin Koto and Kuntaur.<BR> <P> ROC's Industrial Experts Drop Hints On Gambian's Investments<BR> <P> Mercy Eze<BR> <P> Two investors from Taisun Enterprise Company Limited, a private sector in the Republic of China (ROC) have concluded their one-week feasibility studies in The Gambia, not without dropping economic advice to the government.<BR> The investors, Lin, Wen-Hsiang Vincent, chief Executive Officer and Jeng, Jiann-Yih, Director, Techniques Division of Taisun company arrived in the country recently, following President Jammeh's beckon to investors during his last year's visit to Taipei. He mentioned that The Gambia has abundant fruits such as mangoes, tomatoes and others for exportation.<BR> The investors feel there are prospects in canning and bottling of tomatoes, mangoes, and grapes but their studies revealed they have problems in the process of tomato paste.<BR> They mentioned some bottlenecks like cans and bottles, which according to them have to be imported since there are no such manufacturing industries here for these items as "it entails hiring large vessels to bring them (bottles and cans) here and this involves a lot of money", one of them confirmed.<BR> The ROC's investors compared economically the prices of processed/and non-processed fruits and found out that tomato paste sells for D7.00 while fresh ones sell for D3.00.<BR> On mangoes, they recommended that The Gambia should export directly, fresh mangoes to Europe since according to their claim, the world market on juice is dominated by orange/grape/apple, thereby rendering mango market non-competitive.<BR> The visiting investors however announced they have found prospects in the nation's groundnuts and promised buying up all the produce irrespective of the quality produced.<BR> The experts had during their visit met with a number of authorities at the Central Bank, Gambia Ports Authorities (GPA), GAMTEL, Department of Immigration, Ministries of Works', Agriculture, Finance, Trade, NAWEC, IBAS, Labour Department, Chamber of Commerce and a host of other sectors.<BR> <P> At a dinner party organised in their honour at Bungalow Beach Hotel by the ROC embassy, Jeng, Jiann-Yih who is also the president of a Rotary Club in ROC, thanked The Gambia authorities, ambassador Francias C. R. Lee and his fellow Rotarians, president Jones and secretary Drammeh of Rotary Club of Banjul for the hospitality throughout their stay.<BR> The experts left on Saturday 21st March for Taipei.<BR> <P> Unicef Decries Child Abduction By Ugandan Rebels<BR> <P> The executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has issued an urgent appeal to world governments and international organisations to apply pressure on the Lord's Resistance Army fighters in Uganda to stop "their continuing abduction of children".<BR> A release from the UNICEF office in Banjul quoted Carol Bellamy as accusing the LRA soldiers of "deliberate killing and for the abduction of thousands of school children". These soldiers, active around northern Uganda, have been accused by Human Rights groups including Amnesty International, of torture of captives and sexual abuse of girls. Thousands of boys captured are forced to take part in armed attacks. But despite the escalating nature of the problem, the UNICEF boss expressed hope that "the problem is neither too big nor too complex to solve".<BR> "We have to identify, beyond a shadow of doubt, those from whom the LRA are drawing support for their despicable campaign of terror and abuse," said Bellamy. Bellamy averred that "concerted international pressure in the right places could put an end to the abductions of children, if not to the war itself".<BR> The campaign of terror waged by the LRA in the fields and villages of northern Uganda, has now brought the area to the brink of famine. "The lives of an entire generation of children are being shattered in the contagion of violence consuming the Great Lakes Region." Carol Bellamy provokes world conscience querying "How long before the world hears the silent screams of children in Eastern Zaire, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda? "These children," notes Bellamy, "are victims not only of war, but of the lamentable failure of adults to protect the lives of their children". Bellamy said whatever the origins and complexities of these intricate and tragic crises, there is no "just cause" for the death or torture of a child. Therefore, the world must take responsibility instead of taking cover.<BR> <P> Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) <BR> <P> by Abraham C. Olungwe BSN, MPH.<BR> <P> The history of vitamin C is linked with that of scurvy. Scurvy was known long before the vitamin era; the ascorbutic effects of certain foods were described several centuries ago. In those early days, scurvy was a particular scourge of sailors who went for many weeks without fresh food. <BR> It was not until 1747, however, that James Lind of Scotland demonstrated that scurvy could be cured or prevented by the consumption of citrus fruit. Well before the discovery of vitamins, Lind's discovery led to the inclusion of certain fresh foods and fruits in sailors' diets.<BR> In the 19th century, scurvy began to occur among infants who were being fed newly introduced canned and powdered milks, instead of the usual breast milk or fresh cow's milk. The vitamin C had been destroyed during the time these milk products were heated to make them better than breast milk. In spite the value attributed to ascorbic acid, the substance was not isolated until 1928 and was finally synthesised in 1932.<BR> Our bodies cannot store large amounts of vitamin C, so blood levels of the vitamin reflect recent intake and are measurements of the white crystal L - ascorbic acid; the chemically active form of vitamin C storage occurs in the adrenal cortex and generally is sufficient for 90 days according to some sources. If no vitamin C is ingested in that period, scurvy symptoms develop. Excess vitamin C is excreted in the urine.<BR> Vitamin C is the most active reducing agent in living substances and therefore plays an important role in the body's nutritional processes. The acid in the vitamin maintains irons in ferrous form, increasing iron absorption. Vitamin C similarly facilitates calcium absorption and so enable adequate calcification of the teeth and bones. It serves an essential role in converting folic acid from its inactive to active form. Vitamin C is necessary in synthesising two of the neurotransmitters that transmit nerve impulses between cells such that the deficiency of those two neurotransmitters result in fatigue and weakness characteristic of vitamin C deficiency.<BR> Deficiency of Ascorbic Acid<BR> <P> A deficiency in vitamin C can initiate the symptoms of scurvy. These include fragile blood vessels that rupture easily, resulting in diffuse tissue bleeding, pinpoint type of haemorrhage (petechial), and bleeding in the joints and gums. Since collagen is a primary part of our skin, wound healing is adversely affected by vitamin C deficiency. Individuals with scurvy, especially children, develop bone fractures and malformations, since bone adversely affects collagen synthesis.<BR> <P> Food Sources Of Vitamin C<BR> The best sources of absorbic acid are citrus fruits, tomatoes, and green vegetables. Although certain foods are high in vitamin C content, the vitamin is highly unstable, and its benefit is easily lost. For example, cooking destroys 50 to 80 percent of this vitamin in foods. Since the vitamin is water-soluble, it can be leached by water. It is sensitive to air, heat, and light, and therefore easily oxidised.<BR> Major Functions<BR> Since there are much claims about how vitamin C can cure almost all the diseases, let us look at the general characteristics of vitamin C again.<BR> 1. Utilisation of other nutrients: Vitamin C facilitates calcium absorption and thus enable adequate calcification of our bones. It also converts folic acid from its inactive to active form; and increases iron absorption.<BR> 2. Body metabolism: Ascorbic acid is the most active reducing agent in living substances, thus playing an important role in the body's nutritional processes.<BR> 3. Collagen formation: The major role of vitamin C occurs in relation to cellular connective tissue. Collagen is an insoluble protein within connective tissue and is found in skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones, teeth, and blood vessels. Vitamin C enables the synthesis of two major amino acids in collagen, and collagen holds cells and tissue together in an organised manner. This is a reason why vitamin C is also referred to as the cement of the body. When vitamin C is not present for this major role in collagen synthesis, scurvy results. Again, the healing of wounds associated with Vitamin C, may be due to the synthesis of two major amino acid in collagen.<BR> Some Health Claims About Vitamin C <BR> Most of the claims about vitamin C as the "cure-all vitamin" come from experiences with scurvy. Since the clinical manifestation of the disease are numerous, it seems only logical that vitamin C deficiency can result in bleeding, fatigue, tooth loss, anaemia, fever, convulsions, bone, breakdown, skin disorders, ingrown hairs, shock, and death, vitamin C supplement should benefit our bodies in many ways in addition to curing scurvy.<BR> In the seventies, a great deal of support developed for the concept that large doses of vitamin C can prevent the common cold. It was further suggested that massive doses could terminate a cold even after the appearance of symptoms. Dr Linus Pauling, a Scientist, even theorised that human diet may at one time have involved ascorbic acid levels as great as fifty times the presently recommended levels. However, Dr Pauling reported studies have been criticised because of the methods involved in his studies. Other investigators have undertaken studies that failed to produce clinical significant results.<BR> Again, vitamin C is experiencing increasing popularity as a potential cancer treatment. Such treatment involves megodose therapy, and has its theoretical basis in anecdotal findings and in successful animal studies. Although it is hoped that such hypotheses proves true, no clinical trial has yet been conducted to verify these hypotheses.<BR> Toxicity from Vitamin C Overdosage<BR> There is a potential harm from overdosage of vitamin C. Excessive supplement may result in the following problems: Diarrhoea, nausea, cramps, formation of excess oxalic acid in the body, acidification of urine, interference with the use of therapeutic drugs, intestinal obstruction, and false positive urine diabetic test.<BR> Since vitamin C is generally required by our bodies in small quantities, upholding the recommended dosage that will support human life, will be a focus in the right direction.<BR> <P> ARTS & CULTURE<BR> <P> Multi-Culture Music Meeting in <BR> The Gambia<BR> As Migell Tamba and Eiko take the Centre-Stage<BR> <P> by Obiozor williams<BR> <P> Trying to describe the feeling one gets from watching six gifted music talents across Africa and Europe converging in one place - a tourist nation, the smiling coast, doing what they know best, is like trying to write a television documentary on an age-long traditional heritage of a community. No superlative is too much for that aesthetic, frenzy and thrilling enthusiasm and at once, rapport and friendly satisfactory feeling and memories that lingers after such event.<BR> Perhaps it's not too surprising when you discover that Gambia's tourism industry is having a 'swell' time with a quality entertainment sector. The effort boosts the morale of tourists from different parts of the world, thus encouraging more visits from others.<BR> And so, Sunday March 14, 1997 was quite a day to remember by tourists in The Gambia, when all roads led to Sir William restaurant, Kotu for a special music carnival packaged by entertainment guru Willie Meurer as part of the restaurant's contribution to the promotion of unity, peaceful co-existence and co-operation between African and European artists/tourists in The Gambia.<BR> On band-stand was the Real Beat Band led by Patrick Veneye supported by his Ragga Toaster Wales. The Band made up of Gambians and other nationals kicked off the concert with some popular oldies times, followed by the performance of Swedish-born Catherial - tourist on holidays and also rock melodies from self-styled 'Everly Brothers of the Gambia' made up of UK based Tony and Keith. Another artist, Isaac Rom, who sings Calypso tunes, mounted the stage and gave an explosive performance with his "Lover Mama" tune and dancing steps. <BR> <P> As the night progressed, a German-born deadlocks guitarist, Eiko Falckenberg, came on stage with a thrilling rendition of late Bob Marley's rythms, "No woman No Cry", "Jamming", "One Love", "Redemption Song", all sang by Patrick and Wales. The ace guitarist took the crowd along with his expertise on the Solo guitar, skanking all over the stage.<BR> The climax of the five hour concert was the introduction of the special guest star of the night, Migell Tamba, who gave a good account of his several years of experience in music. Aside from doing a native Gambian song "Mama Tamba", he rendered more thrilling and explosive rhythms like "La Bamba", "Guantamela", etc to the delight of Gambians and tourists that besieged the Sir William restaurant.<BR> The more he performed, singing and dancing energetically, his age <BR> notwithstanding (he's 61), the audience sang along with him. The Swedish Star, who is billed to perform next month in a bigger concert with Gambia's Kora prince Tatadinding, received a standing ovation at the end of the show.<BR> Arts and Culture learnt from the show organiser, Willie Meurer that special events like this are packaged on a regular basis attracting both indigenous and foreign stars "just to add glamour in our efforts to make the tourists enjoy their stay in The Gambia as well as create opportunities for cultural and musical exchanges among the audience," he concluded. <BR> <P> CASAMANCE BAND CHANGES NAME<BR> As it records double album for Gambian producer<BR> <P> by Buju Boots <BR> <P> The oldest music group in Senegambia have officially changed name from UCAS BAND DE SEDHIOU to SEDHIOU BAND. In an exclusive interview with Senegalese Radio SUD F.M, Abou Kunta, the manager for Sedhiou Band and one of the founding members of the band said "a change of name from Ucas Band to Sedhiou Band is necessary because Ucas refers to a sporting association. "Now that the band is no longer part of that association, it is absolutely necessary for us to rename the band," he said. "Ucas was formed to entertain mainly the people of Sedhiou; now that we see ourselves as an international band, the change of name is more than necessary," said Saidu Ndure a founding member and lead vocalist. Ucas Band de Sedhiou has come a long way, crossing many rivers and jumping many hurdles since its inception in January, 1959 in the Casamance province of Sedhiou. In spite of the change in name, the 15-member multi-talented Cultural band maintains not only four of its original members but its unique style for 38 long
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Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 17:42:10 -0500 (EST) From: Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU> To: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Gambian Education Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970328171853.3852A-100000@panther.Gsu.EDU> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
On Thu, 27 Mar 1997, Andrea Klumpp wrote:
> Hello GambiaLers> > I tried to figure out the people who expressed their wish to join the > group dealing with support for Gambian education: > > Abdou Oujimai > Al Mballow > Andrea Klumpp > Francis Njie > Haddijatou Secka > J. Gaye > Malanding S. Jaiteh > Momodou Jagana > Musa Sowe > Nkoyo ...(?) > Pa-Mambuna O. Bojang > > Please let me know, if you are interested but don't find your name on > the list or if I added you falsely > ON MARCH 17, I SENT THE FOLLOWING MAIL TO THOSE LISTED BELOW. HERE I HAVE OMMITED THE EXCERPTS MENTIONED BECAUSE IT IS A HUGE FILE. I WILL FORWARD IT TO THOSE LISTED ABOVE AND ANY OTHER NAMES THAT MAY BE ADDED (OR TO EVERYONE) SO THAT WE CAN PUT THINGS TOGETHER. IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO MAY NOT BE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING TAT HUGE FILE PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THANKS MUSA
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 20:35:48 -0500 (EST) From: Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU> To: "Inqs." <nfaal@is2.dal.ca> Cc: "Klumpp, Andrea -- Andrea Klumpp" <klumpp@kar.dec.com>, Francis Njie <francis_njie@il.us.swissbank.com>, "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <msjaiteh@mtu.edu> Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT (update)
WHAT I HAVE DONE HERE IS TO COPY EXCERPTS OF MOST OF THE DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO THIS TOPIC SINCE IT WAS PROPOSED. I MIGHT HAVE MISSED A COUPLE, IF I HAVE AND ANYONE ELSE HAS THEM PLEASE ADD THEM TO THE LIST. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO GO BACK AND REVISIT HOW EVERYONE INTERESTED IN THIS SUBJECT THINKS ABOUT IT. THIS, WITH CONTINUOSLY INCOMING IDEAS WILL HELP HOPEFULLY.I HAVE NOT INCLUDED SOME RECENT IDEAS ESPECIALLY MY LAST MAIL ON GAMBIA COLLEGE BECAUSE HOPEFULLY EVERYONE STILL HAS IT OR IT IS FRESH IN MY LAST MAIL ON GAMBIA COLLEGE BECAUSE HOPEFULLY EVERYONE STILL HAS IT OR IT IS FRESH IN EVERYONE'S MIND. I SUGGEST WE ALL TAKE TIME TO GO THROUGH ALL THE IDEAS IN THESE EXCERPTS CAREFULLY SINCE OUR OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE TO HAVE MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY WE DID NOT INCOORPORATE IDEA X AND INSTEAD WENT WITH IDEA Y.I ALSO SUGGEST THAT WE SET A TIMELINE : WHEN DO WE OFFICIALLY START; WHEN DO WE OFFICIALLY PRESENT A DRAFT PROPOSAL.....ETC. THIS WILL HELP TO FOCUS THE DISCUSSION.
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Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 19:20:12 -0500 (EST) From: ASJanneh@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Fwd: observer online 1st issue Message-ID: <970328192010_-636418321@emout06.mail.aol.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: multipart/mixed;
sorry for the previous posting.
--------------------- Forwarded message: From: sankungsawo@compuserve.com (sankung sawo) To: ASJanneh@aol.com (A S. Janneh) CC: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) Date: 97-03-28 15:28:23 EST
[Only the first 2K of this message is displayed, as it is too long to view through AOL. The entire message has been turned into a text attachment, which you can retrieve by selecting Download. Once downloaded, open it with a word processor or text editor for reading.]
<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE> type_Document_Title_here </TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> Reshuffle The Cabinet<BR> <P> Hamat Bah Urges President Jammeh<BR> <P> by Sheriff Bojang<BR> <P> The leader of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), Hamat Bah, has called on President Jammeh to reshuffle his cabinet and appoint a new one, "that will suit the current needs of the country".<BR> Mr Bah stated his party's displeasure at the appointment of Isatou Njie-Saidy as the new vice president on the grounds that "given the President's unfamiliarity with economic matters, he should appoint a vice president who is fine-tuned to monetary and financial matters, up to international level". He therefore called on the President to effect an immediate cabinet re-shuffle, drawing from the "vast" pool of able Gambian technocrats and taking cognisance of regional and ethnic considerations.<BR> At a press conference yesterday afternoon, the NRP leader said the key concern of the current administration should be the "restructuring and reshaping of the economy". But this, he opined, cannot be achieved in the absence of technocrats of a high calibre in the Cabinet. "With the exception of the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, there is no one in the current Cabinet who is versed in high level economic and financial matters," he alleged.<BR> Quizzed as to whether he is calling for a blanket reshuffle, Mr Bah replied: "Some Cabinet members are good. I am pleased that Dominic Mendy and Musa Mbenga are retained". He also countenanced the retention of Edward Singhatey, Satang Jow, Yankuba Touray, "though he may not be very popular", and Isatou Njie-Saidy, "other Secretary of State portfolio."<BR> He however criticised the re-appointment of the Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture. Asked to explain, Mr Bah retorted, "her handling of the Aquasun saga, which led to the death of Dutch tourism in this country is enough reason to replace her." <BR> Hamat Bah averred that the leverage for the President to freely appoint the Cabinet, is pre
--PART.BOUNDARY.0.12500.emout06.mail.aol.com.859594810 Content-ID: <0_12500_859594810@emout06.mail.aol.com.7492> Content-type: text/plain; name="observer.txt" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>From sankungsawo@compuserve.com Fri Mar 28 15:28:17 1997 Return-Path: sankungsawo@compuserve.com Received: from hil-img-3.compuserve.com (hil-img-3.compuserve.com [149.17= 4.177.133]) by emin30.mail.aol.com (8.8.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id PAA12481 for <ASJanneh@aol.com>; Fri, 28 Mar 1997 15:28:14 -0500 (EST) Received: by hil-img-3.compuserve.com (8.6.10/5.950515) id PAA12164; Fri, 28 Mar 1997 15:28:08 -0500 Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 15:27:31 -0500 From: sankung sawo <sankungsawo@compuserve.com> Subject: observer online 1st issue To: "A S. Janneh" <ASJanneh@aol.com> Cc: "Camara, Momodou" <momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk> Message-ID: <199703281527_MC2-136A-7F1F@compuserve.com> =0D <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE> type_Document_Title_here </TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> Reshuffle The Cabinet<BR> <P> Hamat Bah Urges President Jammeh<BR> <P> by Sheriff Bojang<BR> <P> The leader of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), Hamat Bah, has ca= lled on President Jammeh to reshuffle his cabinet and appoint a new one, = "that will suit the current needs of the country".<BR> Mr Bah stated his party's displeasure at the appointment of Isatou Njie-S= aidy as the new vice president on the grounds that "given the President's= unfamiliarity with economic matters, he should appoint a vice president = who is fine-tuned to monetary and financial matters, up to international = level". He therefore called on the President to effect an immediate cabin= et re-shuffle, drawing from the "vast" pool of able Gambian technocrats a= nd taking cognisance of regional and ethnic considerations.<BR> At a press conference yesterday afternoon, the NRP leader said the key co= ncern of the current administration should be the "restructuring and resh= aping of the economy". But this, he opined, cannot be achieved in the abs= ence of technocrats of a high calibre in the Cabinet. "With the exception= of the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, there is no = one in the current Cabinet who is versed in high level economic and finan= cial matters," he alleged.<BR> Quizzed as to whether he is calling for a blanket reshuffle, Mr Bah repli= ed: "Some Cabinet members are good. I am pleased that Dominic Mendy and M= usa Mbenga are retained". He also countenanced the retention of Edward Si= nghatey, Satang Jow, Yankuba Touray, "though he may not be very popular",= and Isatou Njie-Saidy, "other Secretary of State portfolio."<BR> He however criticised the re-appointment of the Secretary of State for T= ourism and Culture. Asked to explain, Mr Bah retorted, "her handling of t= he Aquasun saga, which led to the death of Dutch tourism in this country = is enough reason to replace her." <BR> Hamat Bah averred that the leverage for the President to freely appoint = the Cabinet, is premised on the discretion of his wisdom to select the be= st people suited to the various tasks. He urged the President to reshuffl= e the Cabinet and effect the new "wise" changes, choosing "independent" p= eople.<BR> The NRP leader also urged President Jammeh to commission a "national reco= nciliation committee" which will be singularly charged with "bringing bac= k peace, unity and reconciliation in this country".<BR> As a further measure to encourage "national reconciliation" he appealed t= o Government to re-instate civil servants who were dismissed "because th= ey worked with Jawara". He also called for a halt to the "destruction" b= eing allegedly wrought on Gambian businesses by the commissions of enquir= y.<BR> "Rather than killing Gambian companies, Government should give encouragem= ent to businesses." He cited the success of Amadou Samba and Gamsen and t= he "excellent work" they did on the airport as the trend Government shoul= d adopt towards Gambian companies, although he maintained the project was= "costly".<BR> On the country's foreign policy direction he said: "It is too pro-Arab. W= e need to look West too, because even the Arabs depend on the West. I am = not saying that we become slaves to the West. I am simply stating that we= need balance...and re-direction in our international relationships".<BR>=
Digressing on the recent hike in the fee for National Identity cards, he = tersely described it as "state robbery" of the citizens. Mr Bah also call= ed for a tumble down of the institution of chieftaincy with a view to mak= ing the office elective on party political basis.<BR> The press conference was attended by NRP officials.<BR> <BR> <P> Belgian Theologian Preaches At Retreat<BR> <P> by T.G.G Senghore<BR> <P> A distinguished Belgian theologian, the Rev. Fr. Herman De Vriendt, C.I.C= =2EM., was in The Gambia over the last week-end to preach at a Retreat or= ganised by the members of the St. Anthony of Padua Prayer Group of St. Th= erese's Parish, Kanifing.<BR> Fr. Herman, who is Flemish (Dutch) speaking, is a member of the Congregat= ion of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Presently, he resides in Dakar, Sen= egal, and is the local Provincial (Head) of his order which has 13 priest= s serving in Senegal - mainly in the suburbs of Dakar and in the Diocese = of St Louis in the towns of Podor and Matam, on the River Senegal, and in= the city of St. Louis itself.<BR> An accomplished Linguist, Fr. Herman, who is 56 years old, speaks eight l= anguages - Dutch, English, French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Wollof and Linga= la - spoken in Zaire and Congo.<BR> The Retreat was conducted entirely in Wollof and very good Wollof at that= =2E Virtually all the participants were amazed at Fr. Herman's diction. = His intonation is so good that one could scarcely realise that it is a E= uropean speaking without actually seeing him. Fr. Herman, who has so far= spent 10 years in Senegal, undertook Wollof courses in Dakar University = and says that he received tremendous assistance from the catechists, espe= cially in the area of liturgical vocabulary. Presently, he is heading a = "PROJECT WOLLOF" secretariat which is translating devotional works into w= ollof.<BR> <P> The Retreat, which focused on the nature of the church and its role in th= e light on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), was a g= reat success. Some of the documents of the Council were examined and tho= se pertaining to relations with other Christians and peoples of Non-Chris= tian faiths generated a lot of interest. <BR> Participants were divided into syndicates to examine specific issues and = report back to the plenary.<BR> A useful outcome of the visit was the introduction to Gambians of a new f= orm of the Stations of the Cross in Wollof. This version bases the comme= ntary for each Station on the scriptural texts. There are four variants = based on texts from the Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. = Another Novel feature is that several people (actors) perform the differ= ent roles assigned to them. The participants at the Retreat performed th= e devotion last Friday in the garden of the St Joseph's Convent, Kanifing= , where the Retreat was held. I must say that it was great and very well= received.<BR> Fr. Herman was accompanied by Mr Gontran Mendy - a member of the "Project= Wollof" Secretariat and Choirmaster of the parish church at Diamaguene. = He taught the participants some new hymns in Wollof and English. Mr Men= dy is evidently a great musician.<BR> The Retreat ended last Sunday evening and Fr. Herman and party returned t= o Dakar on Monday.<BR> <P> Red Cross Volunteers Need Training<BR> - D.S. Kamara<BR> <P> by Ebrima Fatty<BR> <P> The programme coordinator of The Gambia Red Cross Society, D.S. Kamara, h= as said that Red Cross volunteers need to be trained to enable them to ef= fectively face up to their responsibilities.<BR> Mr Kamara was speaking during the closing ceremony of a three-day worksho= p recently held at the Greater Banjul Junior Secondary School.<BR> In his speech, Mr Kamara said the workshop was an indication that the tra= ining of volunteers was not only confined to the Red Cross Headquarters, = but also to members of Red Cross in schools. He promised that such train= ing workshops would continue in other schools.<BR> Speaking during the closing ceremony, the acting branch officer of the KS= MD branch, Momodou Lamin Jobe, reiterated the importance of training. He= called on the participants to take the workshop seriously.<BR> Several members of the school's Red Cross Society took part in the worksh= op. Among those present were the deputy headmaster of the Greater Banjul= Junior Secondary School, Mr Colley, and a group of Peace Corps Volunteer= s who attended as volunteers.<BR> <P> Farato Alkalo's Son Sentenced For Illegal Tree Felling<BR> <P> by Sheikh Omar Joof<BR> <P> The Brikama Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, March 19, 1997 convicted and= sentenced, one Nfally Bojang, said to be the son of the Alkalo of Farato= , to one year's imprisonment for illegal tree felling.<BR> According to the charge sheet, Nfally Bojang on February 3, 1997, trespas= sed the government's forest park at Kabafita without license or permissio= n and therein illegally fell down Gmelina trees which he later converted = into fencing posts.<BR> Prosecution witnesses Momodou Badjie, Yusupha Sampha, and Mr Saidy the fo= rest scouts, all testified before the court that Nfally Bojang fell some = logs from the Kabafita forest which he sold to one Mr Njie, a soldier, to= be used as fence posts.<BR> Prosecution witness Badjie said that after seeing the logs in Mr Njie's c= ompound and confirming who brought them there, he went to the Alkalo's co= mpound to ask for Nfally Bojang where he also found some more logs standi= ng around the compound. "I asked the Alkalo who brought the logs standin= g round the compound?," he added.<BR> The Alkalo, he further said, replied that it was his son (Nfally) who bro= ught the logs to fence the compound. "However, all the logs including th= e ones standing round the compound have been recovered," Mr Badjie said.<= BR> Presiding Magistrate Musa Y. Gassama, in passing judgement, asked the Alk= alo if he knew where his son Nfally got the logs from, the Alkalo replied= 'yes' but said his (son) said he found the logs in the bush.<BR> The magistrate also asked the Alkalo if he had reported the matter to the= forest scouts to which he replied in the negative and added that he advi= sed Nfally not to do it again.<BR> At this juncture, Magistrate Gassama said that the forest belongs to the = Gambians and therefore we should take great care of it rather than destro= ying it without any reason. He therefore convicted and sentenced accordi= ngly without any fine.<BR> <P> Accused Stands Trial For Drug Charges<BR> <P> by Alhagie Abdoulie Fatty<BR> <P> One Joe Tijan Gibba, a 31-year old man recently appeared before the Brika= ma magistrates' court for allegedly being in possession of 8kg 574g 020mg= of cannabis sativa commonly known as 'Jamba."<BR> The prosecution said that on December 12, 1996 at about 2:45pm ,Yaya Sann= eh of Brikama police station and a colleague, 1107 Bojang were going to B= anjul in their station vehicle and while at the Gambia College area, they= saw a vehicle with registration number G2A 0094 coming towards Brikama. = "We stopped on the highway to stop the said vehicle but the driver made = a U-turn and took the route to the bush," he said.<BR> <P> He added that they chased the suspected vehicle through the Bafuloto road= and from a distance, they saw the vehicle stop and one of the boys in t= he vehicle ran away into the bush.' I went to the driver of the vehicle = and asked him where he was driving to and why he was avoiding us."<BR> Yaya told the court that he asked for the driver's licence and the name o= f the boy who ran away. "I asked him to allow me to search the vehicle an= d when I opened the booth, I saw 11 wraps of suspected cannabis sativa in= a blue bag and another white bag containing 5 wraps of the said suspecte= d substance.The prosecutor added that thereafter, the accused was reprim= anded and taken to the Brikama police station with the seized items.<BR> The bags were tendered in evidence and were marked and admitted as exhibi= ts.<BR> In his testimony ,the accused pleaded not guilty. The case was adjourned = to March 25 ,for further hearing.<BR> <P> THREE WOMEN APPEAR IN COURT FOR AFFRAY<BR> <P> By Rowland Secka<BR> <P> Three women, Jarra Demba, Mariama Sohna and Mariama Sowe, all of Bakau Se= nehaba, were on Monday March 24, 1997 charged with affray and arraigned b= efore the Kanifing Magistrates Court.<BR> In adducing evidence against them, the prosecutor PC 489 Jaharteh, said t= hat Sohna's husband, had a child with Mariama Sowe and that for sometimes= ,they had been quarelling and fighting each other. PC Jaharteh added that= their complaint is always lodged by either one of them. He also stated = that on March 2 ,1997, Mariama Sowe, went to report at the Bakau Police S= tation that both Jarra Demba and Mariama Sohna jointly assaulted her.<BR>=
However, P.C. Jaharteh said that when the Police investigated the matter,= it was discovered that all of them fought and were consequently charged = with affray and fighting in public places.<BR> When the charges were read to them, all of them pleaded guilty, but denie= d that they fought in a public place. Due to the fact that they denied f= ighting in a public place, the Magistrate O.N. Brisibi, adjourned the cas= e till April 1, 1997 for further hearing.<BR> All three were granted bail in the sum of D200 each and their behaviour= was described as "rude" by the magistrate.The case was presided over by = Magistrate O.N. Brisibi.<BR> <P> Fire Destroys Imam's Compound in Siwoll Village<BR> <P> by M.L. Drammeh<BR> <P> The entire Compound of the Imam of Siwoll Village in Foni Bintang-Karanai= Constituency, Ansumana Gibba, was destroyed in a recent fire disaster in= which he sustained burns on parts of his body.<BR> Disclosing this to the Daily Observer during an interview on Friday, the = Imam explained in an emotional mood that all his household items had been= completely Burnt. <BR> "Nothing! nothing absolutely! was left of my belongings, or the belonging= s of a single member of my entire family," he lamented.<BR> According to the Imam, there was not a single person left in his compound= when he was going to lead the Magrib prayers at the mosque. It was on h= is way back home, he narrated, that he saw thick smoke and flames coming = from the top of the roof of his house, "then I immediately ran to the sce= ne; before I arrived, the fire was out of control." He further narrated h= ow he helplessly stood watching the fire destroy his house, all efforts t= o try to save some of his belongings proved futile, as a result of this, = he sustained some serious burns on parts of his body. It was then he ra= n out shouting and before a good turnout of people in the village could c= ome to his aid, it was too late as everything in the house had been burnt= to ashes.<BR> "At the time of the incident, my wife Fatou Badjie had gone to attend a 4= 0-day charity of a relative at a village called Batabut Kantora, while th= e children had also gone to their peers in the neighbourhood not knowing = what was happening at that moment," the Imam sorrowfully said. Imam Gibb= a disclosed that the accountable loss included items such as foodstuff, b= eds, clothes, cooking utensils, farming implements, and an amount of D1,7= 00 in cash which was supposed to be used to purchase corrugated iron shee= ts for his house. He said that presently, he and his family are being sq= ueezed into a very congested house by the villagers who are even feeding = there.<BR> As a result of the disaster, the Imam is pleading for assistance from all= relief agencies and organisations, mosque groups, especially the Islamic= Ummah, and any concerned individual philanthropist either in cash or kin= d, so to enable him to take care of the maintenance of his family, recons= truct his compound and move over, to be able to perform his religious obl= igations. <BR> <P> Worker Accused of Stealing From Employer<BR> <P> by Alhagie Abdoulie Fatty<BR> <P> One Abdoulie Trawally recently appeared before the Brikama Magistrates' C= ourt accused of stealing building and household materials from his employ= ee, one Saikou Jatta.<BR> The complainant, Saikou Jatta, said he employed the accused on March 6, 1= 996 to bend irons for the construction of a building he (the complainant)= was erecting. He however added that on January 18, 1997, he discovered = a theft in his compound.<BR> <P> He disclosed that when he noticed some of his building and household mate= rials were missing, he investigated on his own and asked the accused whet= her he had any knowledge of the theft. He alleged that "the accused said= it was the plumber, one Lamin Jammeh,, who stole the materials".<BR> The next day, he further alleged, the accused took his key and opened the= store and stole the remaining items. "Later, I went to his (Trawally's)= house and therein I found my wife's knife and two cupboard elbows," he a= lleged. He further disclosed that he then went and called the C.I.D. who= came along with him to the accused's house and therein, they found some = of the employer's items, but the other materials were not recovered.<BR> He said he then made a statement at the Yundum Police Station. <BR> In his plea, the employee Trawally, pleaded 'not guilty'. He was granted= bail in the sum of D5,000. The case was adjourned to March 24, 1997. <= BR> <P> LETTERS FOR MARCH 27<BR> <P> "Man And His Environment"<BR> <P> Mr Editor,<BR> <P> Man was not born with the purpose to destroy but to construct. When you= think constructively, then there is a liability that you will build cons= tructively. Truly speaking nobody will come down to build our nation for= us. We should all stand up readily together as one at all times for the= development and maintenance of our nation. Always development goes with= maintenance. <BR> It is a fact that we are the very ones who make the streets dirty but who= are the ones to maintain it clean? Thanks to those who concerned themse= lves on Environmental sanitation work, which is geared toward preventing= our Environment from pollution of all sorts of things. When you go out = in town you see with your eyes the situation of our Environment. <BR> Cleansing departments cannot do all the work, so something else must be d= one. When you imagine the size of the town particularly Serrekunda, it = needs the support of the people in one way or the other. <BR> The truth is that, we must take care of nature through which man was crea= ted and for which man was created, and in which man is living. Nature ha= s provided mankind with everything he needs for his life. Nature provides= for us the food we eat. It also provides us the oxygen we breathe. Nat= ure provide us the oil we use for industrial purposes. So , mankind must= respect nature for all the provisions. Let us avoid polluting and destr= oying; otherwise we will end up poisoning our life and finally kill ourse= lves. <BR> An Environmental Sanitation work that is geared or directed toward preven= ting our health condition is very essential in mankind's daily life. We = all need natural fresh air to breathe but when this environment in which = air circulates, is polluted, it becomes dangerous to our life, so let us = try to keep our surroundings clean and free from contamination. <BR> I remain your reader.<BR> <P> Mamat Cham<BR> <P> Please Let Sleeping Dogs Lie<BR> <P> Mr Editor<BR> <P> Please let me express my sincere concerns about the interview with the A= PRC General Secretary, Saihou Sanyang which appeared in your Spotlight Co= lumn with Sheriff Bojang on March 21-23, 1997.<BR> My main purpose for writing this letter is to advise Mr Sanyang and any o= ther person who may be granted interviews like these to be very careful n= ot to create an atmosphere of debates or commotions especially at this ti= me of reconciliation in our dear nation.<BR> Mr Sanyang, a very respectful figure in the society, without even thinkin= g what it might cause, went all the way in making examples to say: "For e= xample you (the Daily Observer) put the UDP leader's return from a summit= in Botswana on the front page, while you put the appointment of a State = Secretary, Lamin Bajo on the back page." My God! I still shudder in thi= nking of this serious allegation. What if the UDP leader had reacted to = this? Would that not create a state of commotion or debates? After all = the Daily Observer know their job, how they work and what might sell the= ir paper, and besides, although it is there for the public, it is their o= wn newspaper! I thought they once told us how they work and what might s= ell their paper. Don't create commotion to gain a name/recognition. As= Pa Modou Faal said, "This is not the time". <BR> I advise 'Let sleeping dogs lie very very low'.<BR> <P> Ibra Gaye<BR> Kaur Wharf Town<BR> <P> Choice of Music<BR> <P> Mr Editor<BR> <P> I wish to express my dissatisfaction on the choice of music shown on Gamb= ia Television on Saturday, March 22, which was presented by Jainaba Nyang= =2E I think such music should not shown on TV, it is a bad example for l= ittle kids/teenagers to watch women rolling their hips and bottoms to the= rhythm of Zairean music in such a provocative manner. Whatever children= see they tend to copy and for a programme like week-end magazine much is= expected in terms of choice of music. There are loads of other music th= at could have been used instead.<BR> In future when selecting music for programmes please keep in mind that ch= ildren are watching, remember its the weekend and most kids stay up till = late watching TV.<BR> <P> Please lets be seen doing what we preach. Our children must be taught go= od morals and not be seen copying the Western culture or lifestyle.<BR> No hard feeling Jainaba.<BR> Hamida Kamara<BR> <P> Well done, Darboe, Jatta<BR> <P> Mr Editor<BR> <P> I write to commend UDP leader Ousainou Darboe and Sidia Jatta, PDOIS memb= er of the National Assembly for Wuli, on their positive response on the a= ppointment of the new Vice President, Isatou Njie-Saidy.<BR> Contrary to what sceptics predicted, these two gentlemen of our vibrant o= pposition minced no words in saying that Isatou Njie-Saidy is a good choi= ce. This indicates a level of political maturity that is very admirable a= nd is another feather to the cap of Gambian politics. Indeed, this is the= level of political maturity we expect from all our politicians, both of = the ruling and opposition parties. If someone is good or does something g= ood, we must be honest enough to appreciate it.<BR> Of course, public fears that our new VP is simply symbolic are well found= ed, but yet to be proved. We hope our new VP will live up to our expectat= ions of her, which are very high.<BR> Ousman Drammeh<BR> Bakau<BR> <P> Tobacco Docked : Inhumanity Looms<BR> <P> Within the law and with due regard for the rights of others, there is the= freedom to choose, to act and to be. That freedom is the crying paradox= associated with the booming worldwide trade in tobacco products. Despit= e the claims and counterclaims, the accusations and denials vis-a-vis the= effects of tobacco smoking on health, the habit continues unabated.<BR> Sighs of relief are interspersed with spells of concern. While the anti-= tobacco campaigners go on their relentless drives, and, leaving no stone = unturned in the process, the tobacco lobby continues to retain support, a= nd, the tobacco industry with their millions, even billions, go on to use= the aid of sophisticated advertising techniques to keep in business, to = keep many hooked and exposed to whatever the inevitable consequences of t= hat association.<BR> There is the view that some four hundred and twenty thousand deaths occur= annually in the United States as a result of tobacco related ailments. = No doubt other countries have their own statistics. In the nature of the= reactions to tobacco, figures cannot be sacrosanct, nor are they agreed = points of departure.<BR> For us in The Gambia, Alex Haley's revisit of a past in his Roots is a v= ivid reminder of our compatriots' traumatic and dehumanising involvement = in the tobacco fields of the Southern United States. That tobacco should= still be a significant crop there testifies to an entrenched engagement,= and, implies the economics of continuity and the rationalisation of the = irrational there. Of course, tobacco grows elsewhere and that adds to th= e variations on the theme. Hence Cuba can revel in her prized cigars.<BR= > News of the tobacco company Legate's admission that "nicotine is addictiv= e and causes cancer", has come as a stunning blow and a stab in the back = to the large tobacco companies and the pre-tobacco lobby. Legate's willi= ngness to set aside twenty-five percent of profits to support smoking rel= ated health care is evidence of its unequivocal stand. Naturally, and tr= ue to form, others are not taking this lying down. They are exploring av= enues to seeing that activated threat to survival countered. For, to bow= to what some are beginning to sense as the inevitable, will be the creep= ing death of the industry, and, of the livelihood of the very many which = derive from it.<BR> That research evidence had been pointing to adverse effects of smoking on= health, which evidence had in many instances been suppressed and not rea= cted to positively, leaves much to be desired. That whilst thousands wer= e said to be dying from tobacco related ailments, the products were being= aggressively advertised and pushed, beat the imagination. Are jobs and = profit morally justifiable objects against human suffering and lingering = death?<BR> Efforts made to sensitise people about the possible dangers to health tha= t might derive from smoking, the ban placed on smoking by airlines and in= public places, but above all, the stance taken and the example given by = Legate, deserve commendation. May good sense deriving from reverence for= life go on to prevail.<BR> <P> Speaking Out<BR> <P> One of the world's most powerful and aloof leaders, Indonesia's Suharto o= ffers a rare and vibrant defense of his reign - the longest of any leader= in Asia. <BR> <P> by Ron Moreau<BR> <P> When president Suharto speaks, he generally holds forth from on high - a = lofty speech from the presidential podium. Indonesia's proud patriarch i= s one of the world's most powerful and least accessible rulers. Yet ther= e is so much to ask, as the 75-year-old president approaches his 33rd yea= r in office. In a rare interview with NEWSWEEK, Suharto answered the spo= radic questions about his health just by his appearance. Dressed in a da= rk Western suit, he looked fit and relaxed, and offered a confident and s= pirited defense of his reign - the longest of any leader in Asia.<BR> <P> Suharto's is an epic story, and a tricky one. Most leaders who rule so l= ong are autocrats who ultimately run their countries into the ground; Suh= arto yanked the world's fourth most populous nation out of poverty and po= litical chaos, a record for which he is widely admired. But by last summ= er rising incomes had created a new middle class - and rising hopes that = the "father of development," as Suharto is known, would loosen his politi= cal grip. Rallies for opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri dissolved,= under pressure of a police crackdown, into the worst rioting Jakarta had= seen in decades. In his comments to NEWSWEEK, Suharto warned that such = riots "must not happen again." A few days later, as if to drive home the= point, authorities jailed opposition politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas fo= r advocating a boycott of May parliamentary elections.<BR> Suharto was accused last summer of failing even to listen to his people -= yet clearly he's listening now. He declared himself "fully aware of the= dangers of corruption" - a main wellspring of middle-class discontent. = He volunteered a vigorous rebuttal to what Indonesian political analyst J= uwono Sudarsono calls "the popular perception that the income gap is wide= and will last a long time." In recent months, this perception has helpe= d fuel deadly riots in poor ethnic communities of the Indonesian hinterla= nds, particularly West Kalimantan, and Suharto made clear his concern. T= hough he defended his administration against charges that it is too cozy = with big business, he emphasised that big business would be made to help = alleviate the woes of the poor. And he proudly touted a "national family= -prosperity" program that (unlike China's more draconian efforts) has suc= ceeded in controlling an immense population without coercion.<BR> Indonesia's transformation has been so dramatic, it could hardly have avo= ided upheaval. Consider even the bright side. Just in the last two year= s, the number of middle-class families (defined as those making more than= $500 a month) has increased by two thirds and now makes up 21 percent of= the urban population. As these newly minted consumers enter the shoppin= g class, sales skyrocket; the number of people who own motorcycles has go= ne up 83 percent since 1995. Moreover, many of these urban workers are s= ending money back to relatives in the countryside, where one can now see = cement houses and satellite dishes sprouting among the huts. Having more= , however, has not stopped Indonesians from demanding more from Suharto. = It is the children of prosperity, says Sudarsono, who are most critical = of Suharto, most impatient for "political liberalisation."<BR> The question that dogs any septuagenarian leader is the succession questi= on, and watching Suharto's next move has become a global cottage industry= =2E Many Indonesians would like Suharto to step aside for a younger man,= but those who know him well are convinced he'll stand for yet another fi= ve-year term in 1998. Suharto has not tipped his hand, but he did tell N= EWSWEEK that "this generation of leaders has played its role in ensuring = Indonesia's stability." Among Suharto watchers, the use of the past tens= e will be enough to trigger a new round of conjecture. Was it a hint tha= t he's getting ready to pass on the reins of power?<BR> Culled from Newsweek<BR> <P> Yeltsin Puts Brave Face On Helsinki Summit<BR> <P> MOSCOW, (Reuter) <BR> Boris Yeltsin, accused by opponents of capitulating over NATO expansion d= uring last week's summit with Bill Clinton, said on Wednesday that cooper= ation with the West was the only sensible way forward.<BR> "Will the danger be reduced if we return to the way of mutual threat= s? No, on the contrary, it will grow! We do not intend to return to that = path. Our choice is cooperation and mainly economic," Yeltsin said in a n= ationwide radio address.<BR> The Kremlin leader acknowledged that he had been unable to persuade = the U.S. president that NATO's plan to take in some of Moscow's former co= mmunist allies was a mistake.<BR> But he said Russia had made important gains at the two-day summit in= the Finnish capital on March 20 and 21.<BR> These included a NATO pledge not to move nuclear weapons on to the t= erritory of new members, not to threaten Russian security with military m= ovements to the East and agreement to produce a future binding document o= n relations between NATO and Russia, he said.<BR> More controversially, Yeltsin said Clinton had made concessions on a= nti-ballistic missile defences and promised that Russia "will become a fu= ll member" of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations.<BR> Analysts have said it was Russia which made concessions on the missi= le defences issue and U.S. officials have said that, although the next G7= summit will be called "the Summit of the Eight," Russia will still be ex= cluded from some discussions.<BR> On the economic side, Yeltsin noted that Clinton had agreed to help = press for Russia to join the World Trade Organisation in 1998, helping to= lower customs barriers against Russian goods.<BR> <P> "This year Russia will join the Paris Club. It will help us get back= money which many countries owe to Russia," he said.<BR> Economists say Russia is some way away from WTO membership, but nego= tiations with the Paris Club of creditor nations are under way and member= ship is possible later this year, if the two sides can agree terms.<BR> "I know my opponents will tell me our position in the negotiations w= as not tough enough," said Yeltsin, who had already come under fire from = his communist and nationalist critics before his plane even touched down = in Moscow on Saturday from Helsinki.<BR> "We could of course have angrily knitted our brows and banged our bo= ots on the table as in the Cold War years. But what would have been the r= esult? Again irreconcilable enmity, again Russian isolation," he said.<BR= > Yeltsin's comments contrasted sharply with the aggressive tone of hi= s statements before the summit, indicating that, despite continuing offic= ial opposition to NATO expansion, Moscow had come to terms with the fact = that it cannot prevent it.<BR> "Despite the importance of the problem of responding to NATO expansi= on, it's not the only direction of our external policy. We will, as befor= e, develop and deepen our friendly relations with our traditional partner= s," Yeltsin said.<BR> He cited China and India, as well as the 12 former Soviet republics = who make up the Commonwealth of Independent States, but did not hint at a= ny partnerships directed against the West.<BR> CIS leaders meet for a summit in Moscow on Friday.<BR> <P> Basse Hosts Influx Of People<BR> As 15th "Safra" Conference Opens<BR> <P> The 15th Edition of the annual sub-regional youth and sports conference, = SAFRA, opened at the high level park in Basse on Tuesday evening. <BR> The one week programme took its unique but usual character - a convivial = and brotherly meeting. All participating countries of the SAFRA Zone exce= pt one, turned up with large numbers of participants all of whom took par= t in a pre-opening march past watched by a solid 10,000 people.<BR> In his opening address, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Lami= n (Kaba) Bajo, firmly impressed on the gathering that the occasion must n= ot only focus on sports and cultural activities, but should also provide = the youths with an opportunity for meaningful dialogue particularly on th= e many problems affecting youths in the subregion.<BR> "These problems include unemployment, drug abuse, prostitution and under = employment, and since the youths themselves are the principal actors in t= he drive to eradicate these vices, you must use this occasion to review t= he policy base and orientation of this subregional meeting, drawing lesso= ns of your experience of the past 18 years," he told participants.<BR> The secretary of state further stated that there is a strong need to inte= nsify the concept of regular exchanges to enable our youths to live and w= ork together and exchanging ideas on matters of common concern. "In this = way, we will be promoting positive change among our youths by exposing th= em to our national and subregional realities which will also assist in or= ienting them especially for skills development, cultural awareness and ta= ke on their rightful roles in the development process," he said.<BR> Mr. Bajo said in order to achieve the desired goals of socio-economic dev= elopment, we cannot fail to make maximum use of the energies and dynamism= of this potential important segment of our population - the youths.<BR> This, he said, "is why our grassroots approach to youth mobilisation and = motivation, through SAFRA, deserves our full support". In fact, according= to Mr. Bajo, the general approach to the question of youths should go be= yond the mere rhetoric of participation and promotion of youths as subjec= ts rather than objects of economic and social development. "I therefore c= all on you to re-examine your operations and suggest ways and means of im= proving them as we have a serious challenge ahead of us," Mr Bajo said.<B= R> Other speakers at the occasion included the Commissioner, URD Major Momod= ou Badjie, who in his speech stressed the importance of youth in society.= "As youths, we must see ourselves as people called upon to propel the so= ciety towards a new horizon." He further stated that what the present day= situation in the subregion requires is for greater understanding of our = historical past. "Before Colonial days, we were one people and the concer= n of every youth today should be how effectively we should participate to= wards the unification of our subregion in general," he said.<BR> The occasion, which attracted great attention from the local people, also= recorded the highest number of participants in recent history. Indeed, t= he local organising committee immediately ran into trouble. "We have made= plans as neatly as possible, but the unexpected number of participants f= rom some of our visitors far exceeds the number usually allowed for SAFRA= ," said Charles Baldeh, head of the press committee. Guinea Bissau alone = is reported to have turned up with some 400 (four hundred) participants, = instead of the 120 allowed.<BR> <P> Indeed, the problem was so acute that by the start of the opening ceremon= y (delayed from 3pm to 6pm), the whole coordinating procedure seemed to h= ave collapsed. Scores of people arrived to wait for hours without accommo= dation. All lodges are booked to the brim. Although 21 heads of cattle we= re obtained, many people, including members of the press who were promise= d catering, stayed without it for days not to talk about accommodation. O= ne youth representative from Lower River Division was spotted at the nigh= t cultural show hanging his bag in frustration. "I arrived here since 10a= m but I have neither eaten nor have a place to sleep," he later told Obse= rver Sports. Indeed, up to the second day of the programme, these problem= s persisted.<BR> However, many people seemed to be sympathetic to the local organising com= mittee. "This situation is unexpected and so no one could take blame. The= committee is overwhelmed with the sudden unprecedented massive turn out = and so these problems should be expected," said one delegate. The local c= ommittee <BR> meanwhile, says the minor hitches would soon be history as everything is = being done to get things under control. If that happens, the ground would= be cleared for a colourful sporting and cultural display as each partici= pating country registered abundance of athletes and dancers.<BR> <P> THREE ALKALOLU DISMISSED FOR "INEPTITUDE" AND "INSUBORDINATION"<BR> <P> by Sheriff Bojang<BR> <P> Three village Alkalolu of Kafuta, Sohm and Faraba-sutu were recently remo= ved from their posts for alleged "ineptitude" and "insubordination".<BR> The removal of the alkalolu was contained in letters from the Commissione= r's Office Brikama, dated March 10th, 1997. The letters did not elaborat= e as to reasons prompting the termination of the alkalolu.<BR> Efforts to get comments from the Commissioner's Office and from the actin= g head chief of Kombo East district were unsuccessful. The octogenarian = alkalo of Kafuta, Sulayman Bojang, was replaced by Alhagi Ya-Faye Bojang,= Malang Sanyang of Faraba Sutu was replaced by Omar Darbo, while Nyabai J= arju was replaced by Baring Jarju.<BR> Speaking to the Daily Observer, on Tuesday, the new alkalo of Kafuta, Alh= agi Ya Faye Bojang, said he was jolted by news of his appointment, but r= esolved to "loyally and diligently execute" his trust. "I have already = formed advisory, development and peace committees to help me tackle the s= ocial, developmental and administrative needs of the village", alkalo Boj= ang explained. Kafuta is one of the largest villages in Kombo East distr= ict. One week since his appointment he was able to collect D2,493 in un= paid taxes: "By next week I hope to collect the rest of the unpaid rates= ," he vowed.<BR> On his immediate priority intervention areas, the new alkalo cited "promo= tion of unity, encouragement of agriculture and upgrading of the village = skill training centre," as first.<BR> Ya-Faye Bojang, a former forestry employee, is reputed to be one of the m= ost successful farmers in Kombo. He is married with four wives and sever= al children.<BR> The dismissal of the three Kombo East alkalolu is reportedly linked to th= e recent sacking of several alkalolu in Sami, Niani, Bansang, Yona Musa, = Lamin Koto and Kuntaur.<BR> <P> ROC's Industrial Experts Drop Hints On Gambian's Investments<BR> <P> Mercy Eze<BR> <P> Two investors from Taisun Enterprise Company Limited, a private sector in= the Republic of China (ROC) have concluded their one-week feasibility st= udies in The Gambia, not without dropping economic advice to the governme= nt.<BR> The investors, Lin, Wen-Hsiang Vincent, chief Executive Officer and Jeng,= Jiann-Yih, Director, Techniques Division of Taisun company arrived in th= e country recently, following President Jammeh's beckon to investors duri= ng his last year's visit to Taipei. He mentioned that The Gambia has abu= ndant fruits such as mangoes, tomatoes and others for exportation.<BR> The investors feel there are prospects in canning and bottling of tomatoe= s, mangoes, and grapes but their studies revealed they have problems in t= he process of tomato paste.<BR> They mentioned some bottlenecks like cans and bottles, which according to= them have to be imported since there are no such manufacturing industrie= s here for these items as "it entails hiring large vessels to bring them = (bottles and cans) here and this involves a lot of money", one of them co= nfirmed.<BR> The ROC's investors compared economically the prices of processed/and non= -processed fruits and found out that tomato paste sells for D7.00 while f= resh ones sell for D3.00.<BR> On mangoes, they recommended that The Gambia should export directly, fres= h mangoes to Europe since according to their claim, the world market on j= uice is dominated by orange/grape/apple, thereby rendering mango market n= on-competitive.<BR> The visiting investors however announced they have found prospects in the= nation's groundnuts and promised buying up all the produce irrespective = of the quality produced.<BR> The experts had during their visit met with a number of authorities at th= e Central Bank, Gambia Ports Authorities (GPA), GAMTEL, Department of Imm= igration, Ministries of Works', Agriculture, Finance, Trade, NAWEC, IBAS,= Labour Department, Chamber of Commerce and a host of other sectors.<BR> <P> At a dinner party organised in their honour at Bungalow Beach Hotel by th= e ROC embassy, Jeng, Jiann-Yih who is also the president of a Rotary Club= in ROC, thanked The Gambia authorities, ambassador Francias C. R. Lee an= d his fellow Rotarians, president Jones and secretary Drammeh of Rotary = Club of Banjul for the hospitality throughout their stay.<BR> The experts left on Saturday 21st March for Taipei.<BR> <P> Unicef Decries Child Abduction By Ugandan Rebels<BR> <P> The executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), ha= s issued an urgent appeal to world governments and international organisa= tions to apply pressure on the Lord's Resistance Army fighters in Uganda = to stop "their continuing abduction of children".<BR> A release from the UNICEF office in Banjul quoted Carol Bellamy as accusi= ng the LRA soldiers of "deliberate killing and for the abduction of thous= ands of school children". These soldiers, active around northern Uganda= , have been accused by Human Rights groups including Amnesty Internationa= l, of torture of captives and sexual abuse of girls. Thousands of boys c= aptured are forced to take part in armed attacks. But despite the escala= ting nature of the problem, the UNICEF boss expressed hope that "the prob= lem is neither too big nor too complex to solve".<BR> "We have to identify, beyond a shadow of doubt, those from whom the LRA a= re drawing support for their despicable campaign of terror and abuse," sa= id Bellamy. Bellamy averred that "concerted international pressure in th= e right places could put an end to the abductions of children, if not to = the war itself".<BR> The campaign of terror waged by the LRA in the fields and villages of nor= thern Uganda, has now brought the area to the brink of famine. "The live= s of an entire generation of children are being shattered in the contagio= n of violence consuming the Great Lakes Region." Carol Bellamy provokes = world conscience querying "How long before the world hears the silent scr= eams of children in Eastern Zaire, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda? "These chi= ldren," notes Bellamy, "are victims not only of war, but of the lamentabl= e failure of adults to protect the lives of their children". Bellamy sai= d whatever the origins and complexities of these intricate and tragic cri= ses, there is no "just cause" for the death or torture of a child. There= fore, the world must take responsibility instead of taking cover.<BR> <P> Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) <BR> <P> by Abraham C. Olungwe BSN, MPH.<BR> <P> The history of vitamin C is linked with that of scurvy. Scurvy was known= long before the vitamin era; the ascorbutic effects of certain foods wer= e described several centuries ago. In those early days, scurvy was a par= ticular scourge of sailors who went for many weeks without fresh food. <= BR> It was not until 1747, however, that James Lind of Scotland demonstrated = that scurvy could be cured or prevented by the consumption of citrus frui= t. Well before the discovery of vitamins, Lind's discovery led to the in= clusion of certain fresh foods and fruits in sailors' diets.<BR> In the 19th century, scurvy began to occur among infants who were being f= ed newly introduced canned and powdered milks, instead of the usual breas= t milk or fresh cow's milk. The vitamin C had been destroyed during the = time these milk products were heated to make them better than breast milk= =2E In spite the value attributed to ascorbic acid, the substance was no= t isolated until 1928 and was finally synthesised in 1932.<BR> Our bodies cannot store large amounts of vitamin C, so blood levels of th= e vitamin reflect recent intake and are measurements of the white crystal= L - ascorbic acid; the chemically active form of vitamin C storage occur= s in the adrenal cortex and generally is sufficient for 90 days according= to some sources. If no vitamin C is ingested in that period, scurvy sym= ptoms develop. Excess vitamin C is excreted in the urine.<BR> Vitamin C is the most active reducing agent in living substances and ther= efore plays an important role in the body's nutritional processes. The a= cid in the vitamin maintains irons in ferrous form, increasing iron absor= ption. Vitamin C similarly facilitates calcium absorption and so enable = adequate calcification of the teeth and bones. It serves an essential ro= le in converting folic acid from its inactive to active form. Vitamin C = is necessary in synthesising two of the neurotransmitters that transmit n= erve impulses between cells such that the deficiency of those two neurotr= ansmitters result in fatigue and weakness characteristic of vitamin C def= iciency.<BR> Deficiency of Ascorbic Acid<BR> <P> A deficiency in vitamin C can initiate the symptoms of scurvy. These inc= lude fragile blood vessels that rupture easily, resulting in diffuse tiss= ue bleeding, pinpoint type of haemorrhage (petechial), and bleeding in th= e joints and gums. Since collagen is a primary part of our skin, wound h= ealing is adversely affected by vitamin C deficiency. Individuals with s= curvy, especially children, develop bone fractures and malformations, sin= ce bone adversely affects collagen synthesis.<BR> <P> Food Sources Of Vitamin C<BR> The best sources of absorbic acid are citrus fruits, tomatoes, and green = vegetables. Although certain foods are high in vitamin C content, the vi= tamin is highly unstable, and its benefit is easily lost. For example, = cooking destroys 50 to 80 percent of this vitamin in foods. Since the vi= tamin is water-soluble, it can be leached by water. It is sensitive to a= ir, heat, and light, and therefore easily oxidised.<BR> Major Functions<BR> Since there are much claims about how vitamin C can cure almost all the d= iseases, let us look at the general characteristics of vitamin C again.<B= R> 1. Utilisation of other nutrients: Vitamin C facilitates calcium absorpti= on and thus enable adequate calcification of our bones. It also converts= folic acid from its inactive to active form; and increases iron absorpti= on.<BR> 2. Body metabolism: Ascorbic acid is the most active reducing agent in li= ving substances, thus playing an important role in the body's nutritional= processes.<BR> 3. Collagen formation: The major role of vitamin C occurs in relation to= cellular connective tissue. Collagen is an insoluble protein within con= nective tissue and is found in skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones= , teeth, and blood vessels. Vitamin C enables the synthesis of two major= amino acids in collagen, and collagen holds cells and tissue together in= an organised manner. This is a reason why vitamin C is also referred to= as the cement of the body. When vitamin C is not present for this major= role in collagen synthesis, scurvy results. Again, the healing of wound= s associated with Vitamin C, may be due to the synthesis of two major ami= no acid in collagen.<BR> Some Health Claims About Vitamin C <BR> Most of the claims about vitamin C as the "cure-all vitamin" come from e= xperiences with scurvy. Since the clinical manifestation of the disease = are numerous, it seems only logical that vitamin C deficiency can result = in bleeding, fatigue, tooth loss, anaemia, fever, convulsions, bone, brea= kdown, skin disorders, ingrown hairs, shock, and death, vitamin C supplem= ent should benefit our bodies in many ways in addition to curing scurvy.<= BR> In the seventies, a great deal of support developed for the concept that = large doses of vitamin C can prevent the common cold. It was further sug= gested that massive doses could terminate a cold even after the appearanc= e of symptoms. Dr Linus Pauling, a Scientist, even theorised that human = diet may at one time have involved ascorbic acid levels as great as fifty= times the presently recommended levels. However, Dr Pauling reported stu= dies have been criticised because of the methods involved in his studies.= Other investigators have undertaken studies that failed to produce clin= ical significant results.<BR> Again, vitamin C is experiencing increasing popularity as a potential can= cer treatment. Such treatment involves megodose therapy, and has its the= oretical basis in anecdotal findings and in successful animal studies. A= lthough it is hoped that such hypotheses proves true, no clinical trial h= as yet been conducted to verify these hypotheses.<BR> Toxicity from Vitamin C Overdosage<BR> There is a potential harm from overdosage of vitamin C. Excessive supple= ment may result in the following problems: Diarrhoea, nausea, cramps, for= mation of excess oxalic acid in the body, acidification of urine, interfe= rence with the use of therapeutic drugs, intestinal obstruction, and fals= e positive urine diabetic test.<BR> Since vitamin C is generally required by our bodies in small quantities, = upholding the recommended dosage that will support human life, will be a = focus in the right direction.<BR> <P> ARTS & CULTURE<BR> <P> Multi-Culture Music Meeting in <BR> The Gambia<BR> As Migell Tamba and Eiko take the Centre-Stage<BR> <P> by Obiozor williams<BR> <P> Trying to describe the feeling one gets from watching six gifted music ta= lents across Africa and Europe converging in one place - a tourist nation= , the smiling coast, doing what they know best, is like trying to write a= television documentary on an age-long traditional heritage of a communit= y. No superlative is too much for that aesthetic, frenzy and thrilling e= nthusiasm and at once, rapport and friendly satisfactory feeling and memo= ries that lingers after such event.<BR> Perhaps it's not too surprising when you discover that Gambia's tourism i= ndustry is having a 'swell' time with a quality entertainment sector. Th= e effort boosts the morale of tourists from different parts of the world,= thus encouraging more visits from others.<BR> And so, Sunday March 14, 1997 was quite a day to remember by tourists in = The Gambia, when all roads led to Sir William restaurant, Kotu for a spec= ial music carnival packaged by entertainment guru Willie Meurer as part o= f the restaurant's contribution to the promotion of unity, peaceful co-ex= istence and co-operation between African and European artists/tourists in= The Gambia.<BR> On band-stand was the Real Beat Band led by Patrick Veneye supported by h= is Ragga Toaster Wales. The Band made up of Gambians and other nationals= kicked off the concert with some popular oldies times, followed by the p= erformance of Swedish-born Catherial - tourist on holidays and also rock = melodies from self-styled 'Everly Brothers of the Gambia' made up of UK b= ased Tony and Keith. Another artist, Isaac Rom, who sings Calypso tunes,= mounted the stage and gave an explosive performance with his "Lover Mama= " tune and dancing steps. <BR> <P> As the night progressed, a German-born deadlocks guitarist, Eiko Falckenb= erg, came on stage with a thrilling rendition of late Bob Marley's rythms= , "No woman No Cry", "Jamming", "One Love", "Redemption Song", all san= g by Patrick and Wales. The ace guitarist took the crowd along with his = expertise on the Solo guitar, skanking all over the stage.<BR> The climax of the five hour concert was the introduction of the special g= uest star of the night, Migell Tamba, who gave a good account of his seve= ral years of experience in music. Aside from doing a native Gambian song= "Mama Tamba", he rendered more thrilling and explosive rhythms like "La = Bamba", "Guantamela", etc to the delight of Gambians and tourists that be= sieged the Sir William restaurant.<BR> The more he performed, singing and dancing energetically, his age <BR> notwithstanding (he's 61), the audience sang along with him. The Swedis= h Star, who is billed to perform next month in a bigger concert with Gamb= ia's Kora prince Tatadinding, received a standing ovation at the end of t= he show.<BR> Arts and Culture learnt from the show organiser, Willie Meurer that speci= al events like this are packaged on a regular basis attracting both indig= enous and foreign stars "just to add glamour in our efforts to make the t= ourists enjoy their stay in The Gambia as well as create opportunities fo= r cultural and musical exchanges among the audience," he concluded. <= BR> <P> CASAMANCE BAND CHANGES NAME<BR> As it records double album for Gambian producer<BR> <P> by Buju Boots <BR> <P> The oldest music group in Senegambia have officially changed name from UC= AS BAND DE SEDHIOU to SEDHIOU BAND. In an exclusive interview with Sene= galese Radio SUD F.M, Abou Kunta, the manager for Sedhiou Band and one of= the founding members of the band said "a change of name from Ucas Band t= o Sedhiou Band is necessary because Ucas refers to a sporting association= =2E "Now that the band is no longer part of that association, it is abso= lutely necessary for us to rename the band," he said. "Ucas was formed t= o entertain mainly the people of Sedhiou; now that we see ourselves as an= international band, the change of name is more than necessary," said Sai= du Ndure a founding member and lead vocalist. Ucas Band de Sedhiou has c= ome a long way, crossing many rivers and jumping many hurdles since its i= nception in January, 1959 in the Casamance province of Sedhiou. In spite= of the change in name, the 15-member multi-talented Cultural band mainta= ins not only four of its original members but its unique style for 38 lon= g years. Exactly eight years after its formation, Ucas Band de Sedhiou h= as won three gold medals at St Louis, at the Festival de la Musique et Sp= orts organised by the Government of Senegal. In 1970, the band recorded = it's first album 'Setajuwo' (Baobab tree) with financial assistance of th= e Senegalese Government. In 1973 it made it's first official trip outsid= e Senegal to France and Spain. Upon return, the band went on yet another= tour of West Africa - Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and Ivory Coast.<BR>=
The Band was hit by financial problems and could not record for the next= 12 years. Luck came in 1985 when they released the best - selling doubl= e album for SARRO AND SAMALA.<BR> In 1995 the new Sedhiou Band left for a promotional tour of Europe, to Sp= ain, France, Italy and Germany. From Europe, they flew direct to Banjul = for what was initially going to be a 21 day stay. The band was based in = Banjulinding Village. The 21 day stay lasted 12 months. Sedhiou Band ma= de contacts and new friends. These 12 months won them thousands of fans = all over The Gambia. It has signed a contract with Ousman Ceesay of Ker= ewan sounds production and distribution for the recording and marketing o= f a 12 track double album, volumes 1 and 2. They have already finished re= cording the cassette at Studio 2000 in Dakar. According to Lamin Sawaneh= and D.J Focks of Kerewan Distribution, the album will be out in a few we= eks.<BR> Good Friday Is Good: Let Us Appreciate It<BR> <P> by Lawrence Kweku Yamuah<BR> <P> Good Friday is a day that Christians mourn their Saviour who was crucifie= d on the cross. In those days, to be crucified was suggestive of the fact= that one was a thief. So the Saviour was maltreated just as they will do= a thief. If such an inhuman and disrespectful treatment was meted to the= King of kings one should wonder why that day is still remembered generat= ion after generation as "Good Friday." But it is a very historic day in o= ur salvation as Christians.<BR> It is very important to remember this day because the Lord of lords laid= down His life for us at a time when we were still hard core sinners. He = did not wait for us to make up our minds to be holy before he decided to = save us. That is one reason why Good Friday is good.<BR> On this important and Good Friday, our Saviour Jesus Christ did things th= at no one has ever done before; He overcame. Until that time, every soul = was scared stiff of that dreadful and awful thing called death. Because t= he concept of life after death was not well understood, the fear of death= was even deepened. That costly death of Christ however made a very big d= ifference or impact on life after death. He Himself has said again and ag= ain that death is not the end of life, but the beginning of another life = of bliss. Saint Paul in his letter to the Corinthians wrote that "death i= s destroyed; victory is complete. Where death, is your power to hurt."<B= R> <P> But as He conquered death going through the bitter shame and sorrow that = has never happened before, what did we do and what are we doing. We rathe= r make the Saviours pity plea in vain by showing Him through our sins tha= t we are more interested in "all of ourselves and none of Him." Irrespect= ive of that, He still went ahead and found us. We all beheld Him bleeding= on the accursed tree and heard Him pray: forgive them, Father. It is at = the remembrance of this that for some of us our wistful hearts say faintl= y: "Some of self, and some of the Lord." But we all know from, the teachi= ngs that some of us is really not enough to go by.<BR> As His tender mercy is shown to us day by day through healing, helping fu= ll and free, sweet and strong, prosperity, protection and guidance, healt= h and strength, let us take a bold and complete step forward. As we do th= at let us lower ourselves and whisper to the Lord: "Less of ourselves and= more of Thee." And considering the fact that His love shown to us is hig= her than the highest heavens and deeper than the deepest sea, let us try = to be grateful and thankful and try to do more of His will. Again, since = His love has at last conquered every sinful and troubling aspect of life,= let us pray that He grants us our supplication so that we can make a bol= d step towards: "None of ourselves, and all of the Lord." In His confidin= g love, let us seek His face, worship and adore Him for His wondrous grac= e.<BR> For forty days and forty nights, the good Lord fasted in the wilderness, = was tempted though undefiled just to save us from our sins. That is why G= ood Friday is good and should be perceived that way. As He fasted all the= days through scorching sunbeams, chilly drops of dew in the night, prowl= ing beasts, perhaps using the earth as His bed and stones as His pillow, = our father looked on and did nothing when He was being persecuted for our= sake.<BR> I hope now we can appreciate His suffering for us, we will be able and wi= lling to share the endurance and abstain from our earthly greed. And whet= her Satan be angry with us or not, we should be able to stand firm and no= t fail.<BR> When you are put down by disappointments or when everything you wanted fa= ils don't give up. The devil will want to keep you down, but God will lif= t you up. If you want to make a fool of somebody, you have to think twic= e. Do you really know what you will be doing? If we really and truly appr= eciate what Christ did for us, there is one of many ways that we can show= it. And that is to love Him and love one another; one of the conditions = for being Jesus' friend.<BR> It is my fervent prayer, that the all merciful Lord who cares for the dyi= ng will rescue those of us who are perishing, and snatch us in pity from = sin and the grave as well as lifting up those who are falling. Now that t= here is victory over satan's power, let all the ransomed sing and triumph= in the dying hour through Christ the Lord our King, because He had made = Good Friday a good day. for all this and the beauty of the earth and skie= s and for the love which from our birth have been over and around us, let= us raise our sacrifice of praise unto our Gracious God. Because He is ki= nd and His mercies are forever faithful and sure, let us praise the Lord = with a gladsome mind.<BR> Apart form everything else, by carrying our shame on the cross, he has ma= de Good Friday good. Let us therefore, with joyful voices give glory to H= is grace. We should also remember that He now stands knocking at the fast= -closed door of every sinners heart. Sinners like me and you do not need = to keep Him out any more or force Him to depart. In lowly patience and te= ars on His face, He is still knocking and waiting and with a gentle voice= still pleading more than ever before that we let Him into our hearts. In= meek and lowly accents he pleads that He died for us so why can't we wit= h shame and sorrow open the door for the Saviour and ask Him never to lea= ve us. If nothing else, let us remember His grief and pain as He died for= us with love that passeth all knowledge and understanding making Good Fr= iday good.<BR> <P> 35 Youths Stand Trial For Allegedly Causing Damage To <BR> Stadium<BR> <P> by Momodou .L. Jaiteh<BR> <P> Thirty-five young men on Wednesday, 26 March, 1997 re-appeared before the= Kanifing magistrates' court charged with various offences, including dam= age to the Independence Stadium.<BR> In adducing evidence, Police Prosecutor Ceesay of Serekunda Police Statio= n said the accused persons, on Sunday 23 February, 1997 at the Independen= ce Stadium in Bakau, during Youssou N'dour's show, jointly conducted them= selves in a manner that could lead to public disorder, thereby violating = the Laws of The Gambia. He added that the accused persons also wilfully a= nd jointly obstructed the police Intervention force by stoning them while= they were executing their lawful duties. They were further accused of ca= using damage to the stadium.<BR> When the charges were read in court during the last sitting, all the accu= sed persons pleaded not guilty.<BR> In testifying before the court, prosecution witness, Cadet Inspector Alha= gi Nouha Manneh, told how he and his colleagues were on guard when the ac= cused started misbehaving. He said he had advised everybody to be in the = queue before getting inside. <BR> <P> "Some people followed the instructions while the accused persons did not,= " he alleged. Instead, he said the accused, most of whom he said were wit= hout tickets, broke the gate near the score board and attempted sneaking = in.<BR> Upon seeing them, Mr. Manneh said he personally approached them to ask th= em out but they started uttering all sorts of words. He said at that poin= t, he called his colleagues to come so that the situation could be contai= ned. <BR> However, Mr. Manneh added, the accused went to the extent of throwing sto= nes at them and as a result, some of them sustained injuries.<BR> During cross-examination, some of the accused persons put it to Mr. Manne= h that they were not arrested by him personally and that they were not in= volved. Others said they were arrested even though they bought tickets to= get in. <BR> Mr. Manneh, however, maintained that all those arrested must have been in= volved, which was the reason why they were brought to court.<BR> The case, which was presided over by Magistrate Sulayman Batchilly, was a= djourned to April 3,1997 for further hearing.<BR> <P> STARS FOR MARCH 27<BR> ARIES<BR> (March 21 to April 20)<BR> Following hot on the heels of yesterday's transforming Sun/Pluto ray the = heavens offer up the star of love, Venus, in divine alignment with the pl= anet of sex, Pluto. The effects of this can be perfectly devastating for = your affairs of the heart in the nicest possible way.<BR> <P> TAURUS<BR> (April 21 to May 21)<BR> The chances of fate intervening in your love life is more likely due to t= he power of Venus and Pluto. It is hard to predict how it will precisely= happen, but be prepared for anything like a chance meeting or something = extraordinary to throw you into somebody special's arms.<BR> <P> GEMINI<BR> (May 22 to June 21)<BR> You are about to come under the influence of a pretty incredible woman, w= ho will take your life by the scruff of the neck and turn your future int= o something super special. The force of this female is subtle but nonethe= less transforming for you. She is a fiercely faithful friend.<BR> <P> CANCER<BR> (June 22 to July 23)<BR> A complete and utter head to toe metamorphosis of your image is required = to bring you the success you crave for. Power dressing is very much in fa= shion for you now, as the first impressions you create in your career spe= ll the difference between success and failure.<BR> <P> LEO<BR> (July 24 to Aug. 23)<BR> You have more luck in the heavens than you can handle but the most import= ant thing is to be aware it is there! Your destiny us about to change gea= r and throw your situation and set ups that will alter your world making = it unrecognisable in the future, Just don't fight fate.<BR> <P> VIRGO<BR> (Aug. 24 to Sept. 23)<BR> If you thought yesterday's vibes were pretty sexy, then today's are even = more seductive and sensual. Of course you may not be aware that you are h= ot stuff but the vibes you give out will leave folk transfixed in your pa= ssionate presence. Make love whilst Venus and Pluto shine!.<BR> <P> LIBRA <BR> (Aug. 24 to Oct. 23)<BR> What becomes of the broken hearted? According to your stars they get mend= ed again! No, this is not some frivolous statement it is a fact that whet= her you get back together with the love of your life or you meet somebody= new and fascinating, you won't lose anything now Libra.<BR> <P> SCORPIO<BR> (Oct. 24 to Nov. 22<BR> Your personal allure is always something to burn holes in the heart of th= ose who love you and adore you. But this time the magic can work in unexp= ected areas like employment. In other words you can mesmerise folk around= you professionally giving you great powers over all.<BR> <P> SAGITTARIUS<BR> (Nov. 23 to Dec. 21)<BR> When it comes to having an enchanting and sexy personality you take some = beating today! You exude an enigmatic charm and incredible passion that w= ill take people's breath away. If you are clever you will use this potent= power to progress and advance your self interests.<BR> <P> CAPRICORN<BR> (Dec. 22 to Jan. 20)<BR> A female relative is a tower of strength and will help you out of a large= emotional hole, possibly one you have dug yourself. You need the advice = and guidance of a person who is totally in control so yield to this woman= 's greater force and let her take your life in hand.<BR> <P> AQUARIUS<BR> (Jan. 21 to Feb. 19)<BR> The power and influence you have over other folk with your ideas and hypn= otic presence puts you in the driving seat in more ways than you can imag= ine. You have the ear of people who can help your cause so communicate yo= ur thoughts as someone, somewhere is listening just to you.<BR> <P> PISCES<BR> (Feb. 20 to March 20)<BR> Whether you are about to win some money on the lottery, pools or at bingo= cash does seem to have an irresistible and magnetic quality towards you = today. Because fate plays such funny tricks it's hard to know how it will= land in your lap but prepare for a windfall of some kind.<BR> <P> YOU BORN TODAY <BR> Your image and personality is out of this world! Use this year to make so= mething of yourself and just watch offers flood in in love, career and mo= ney.<BR> <P> </BODY> </HTML>
--PART.BOUNDARY.0.12500.emout06.mail.aol.com.859594810--
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Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 22:43:03 -0300 (ADT) From: Cherno Waka Jagne <C_JAGNE@tuna.stmarys.ca> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Gambian Education Message-ID: <15C75054D1F@tuna.stmarys.ca> Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
On Thu, 27 Mar 1997, Andrea Klumpp wrote: > > > Hello GambiaLers> > > I tried to figure out the people who expressed their wish to join the > > group dealing with support for Gambian education: > > > > Abdou Oujimai > > Al Mballow > > Andrea Klumpp > > Francis Njie > > Haddijatou Secka > > J. Gaye > > Malanding S. Jaiteh > > Momodou Jagana > > Musa Sowe > > Nkoyo ...(?) > > Pa-Mambuna O. Bojang > > > > Please let me know, if you are interested but don't find your name on > > the list or if I added you falsely > >
Yep, I'm interested, even though I've been silent... Please count me in. ===================== Cherno Waka Jagne St. Mary's University Halifax, N.S.
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Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 01:47:48 -0500 (EST) From: ASJanneh@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Francis Njie; the Observer Message-ID: <970329014748_-602825675@emout04.mail.aol.com>
Gambia-l:
Sankung is working very hard to give us access to the "Observer." He and the many others who have been toiling for us all deserve our commendation.
Francis Njie: please contact Sankung ASAP regarding the "Observer." His e-mail: sankungsawo@compuserve.com
Amadou Scattred Janneh
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Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 20:10:30 JST +900 From: binta@iuj.ac.jp To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Francis Njie; the Observer Message-ID: <199703291108.UAA02639@mlsv.iuj.ac.jp> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
I was thrilled to see that first version of 'Observer Online'. When shall we finalise the fee issue?
Lamin Drammeh.
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Date: Sat, 29 Mar 1997 16:51:50 -0800 (PST) From: Latir Downes-Thomas <latir@earthlink.net> To: Gambia-L <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: FWD: THE RISE AND FALL OF MOBUTU Message-ID: <859694114@mail.earthlink.net>
THE RISE AND FALL OF MOBUTU
By MORT ROSENBLUM
AP Special Correspondent
PARIS (AP) - Marshal Mobutu must have been mortified, slinking into his collapsing capital to jeers and whistles to watch three decades of triumph recede like a film running in rapid rewind.
In hilltop seclusion, with an army of dissipating loyalty, he awaits a coming judgment. Will virulent prostate cancer cut him down before his archenemy Laurent Kabila drives him from power?
Or will the convoluted politics of Zaire deliver some other fate entirely?
Rebels who daily control more of the mineral-laced east hold the upper hand, refusing to cease fire against a crumbling army until Mobutu takes a step backward. Kinshasa, the capital, is thick with coup rumors.
Humbling comeuppance is an amazing sight to those who knew him when. But no one who has dealt with Mobutu Sese Seko, a master at reversal of bad fortune, believes it is over until it is over.
Mobutu's strength is his ability to pit factions against one another in bitter free-for-all while he hovers above the fray. For this he needs little real power. He only has to stay alive.
His rabble of an army may not be able to defend his capital, but the jungle might. Long neglect of the interior has left Zaire with no roads between Kinshasa and the rebels' widening territory.
Now a haggard 66, Mobutu winces when he walks, a sharp contrast to the fire-eater who inflamed followers in his early years.
CIA operatives were quick to see leadership in the young colonel with hollow cheeks and hungry eyes, a former journalist. With their help, in 1965, he seized control of the chaotic Congo.
Mobutu imposed his power the old way: He betrayed friends, coopted enemies, and made pacts he did not keep.
He used white mercenaries to crush rebels and then discreet American help to quell a revolt by the mercenaries. Outside help put down repeated assaults on Katanga province (now Shaba), Kabila's next target.
He excoriated racist South Africans with flaming rhetoric that enhanced his standing at summit meetings, but he accepted their secret support.
``We must isolate them,'' Mobutu thundered to a young reporter. ``Buy nothing! Sell nothing!'' The journalist then noticed what the president had offered him to drink: South African grape juice.
After the reporter transferred from Kinshasa, he kept tabs through a courageous local editor named Baudouin Kayembe. But, like many other Zairians, Kayembe ended up in prison where he mysteriously died.
Mobutu pardoned rebel leader Pierre Mulele and embraced him when he came home. Mulele then faced a long secret trial, with regular news bulletins on its progress. In fact, he was shot before it began.
Year after year, more opponents were murdered, and the amounts diplomats said Mobutu stole rose toward $6 billion. Yet U.S. officials privately insisted that only he could hold together Zaire and prevent bloody madness at the heart of Africa.
The answer was similar in Paris. President Francois Mitterrand welcomed Mobutu's Zaire to the club of former French African colonies, even though it had been owned by Belgium.
Justified or not, the pragmatism had a purpose.
>From independence in 1960 until Mobutu ended a string of coups and rebellions - from the short reign of the martyred Patrice Lumumba to Moise Tshombe's Katanga war with the United Nations - Congo was a five-letter synopsis of Africa's worst nightmares.
Zaire's 40 million people break down into 250 tribes spread in clusters across an area as big as Europe, with little communication among them. A handful of dominant tribes have been at odds forever.
Vast wealth is dispersed in pockets: diamonds in Kasai, copper in Shaba, gold in the east, oil in Kongo territory near the coast.
Rather than trying to detribalize Zaire, Mobutu simply made sure that leaders of each power faction had a share of the riches, while he skimmed off the top. He himself is from a tiny minority.
Ordinary people have fallen below any measurable poverty line, and most families survive by what was already known in the 1960s as the ``Congolese miracle'': a blend of barter, theft and suffering.
Kinshasa erupts on occasion. In 1991 and 1993, unpaid soldiers joined tumultuous mobs, and waves of looters picked the city clean. Yet again, France and Belgium sent troops to rescue their own.
And, yet again, Mobutu survived. He promoted commanders from different regions, whose foreign bank accounts enforced practical loyalty. He gave opponents a little rope and guarded leeway.
When the going gets tough, Mobutu takes the high road to safety.
His son and spokesman, Mobutu Nzanga, protested when a reporter wrote that Mobutu was responsible for economic calamity in the country he had ruled for 32 years.
``That is the prime minister's responsibility,'' Nzanga said. ``The president only looks after the army and the overall situation.''
As cancer advanced, he settled into his French Riviera estate, from which he makes periodic forays to Zaire. He made his latest return March 21, arriving too ill for the habitual staged welcome.
>From the start, Mobutu worked magic with symbols in a country long used to strong chiefs and superstitution. He kept leopards at Mount Stanley, his first plush armed camp above Kinshasa. Then he took to wearing a leopardskin cap.
In a push for authenticity, he renamed the country and its majestic river, illogically replacing the African name Congo with an old Portuguese name: Zaire. Along with everyone else's, he changed his own name.
In the end, it may be the title he chose that spells his final humiliation.
Mobutu's full name translates to ``the all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, will go from conquest to conquest leaving fire in his wake.''
Nothing is yet clear about the future of such a wily survivor. But with every passing day, those who know him say, the glorious epithet could come back to haunt him.
AP-NY-03-29-97 1137EST Copyright 1997 The Associated Press.
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End of GAMBIA-L Digest 61 ************************* |
Momodou |
Posted - 19 Jun 2021 : 15:55:01 Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 13:12:13 +0300 From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> To: "GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU" <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU> Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT Message-ID: <3156717D.1CD3@QATAR.NET.QA> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Musa Sowe wrote: > > OMAR AND EVERYONE : > > The first day I called Gambia College, the principal was not in. I got > Dr. Bojang, the vice-principal. He was very enthusiastic and has been my > contact person since then. I will mention to him, when I talk to him > tommorow morning, that you will be coming and I am sure he will be happy > to meet with you. I suggest that you also talk to the principal. > Basically, what I suggest is: > 1. Try to get info on their programs and the needs in each area. > .....Get a list of the titles of required text books and > publishers. > ......Find out what their plans are (as much as they would like to > talk about) and what areas they would like to collaborate. > > He plans to send me this and other info, but because you will be > there, you will be able to hold longer conversations with them. > > 2. I understand that they had links with Nova Scotia and Bristol. These > have now expired. Find out how those were set up. > > 3. Also, I think it will be useful to talk to as many students in the > various programs as possible to get their perspective. You may also want > to visit the college library and see for yourself in what state it is. > 4. Also, get as much related information (how many suppliers of > notebooks, pens, pencils, other literature etc........) as possible. > > AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT. > > I have emphasized to Dr. Bojang that these inquiries are very preliminary > and that as of now nothing should be expected to come out of them. I > have, ofcourse, committed myself as an individual to do what ever little I > can. > > AYONE ELSE HAS ANY MORE SUGGESTIONS FOR OMAR? > > THANKS OMAR Musa
MOSES!! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM A PERSON OF AUTHORITY FROM THE COLLEGE THE TYPES OF COMPUTERS AND THEIR SPECIFICATIONS (RAM,HDD,SPEED ETC) AND THE NAMES AND DETAILS OF ALL THE SOFTWARE THEY NEED.THAT IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A GAMBIAN HERE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO,WHO HAD COME HERE FOR A CONFERENCE.AND I WAS GOING TO GIVE HIM SOME PROGRAMMES TO TAKE TO THE COLLEGE,SINCE THIS WAS TO ME WAS TOO GOLDEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS UP.BUT THIS GUY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT RASH TO SEND PROGRAMMES JUST LIKE THAT WITHOUT FIRST GETTING SOME SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLEGE'S MACHINES AND COMPUTER CURRICULUM.SO I AM A LITTLE BIT SAD THAT THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS LOST!
SO,LET MR.SAHO TRY TO GET MORE INFORMATION FOR ME FROM THERE,PLEASE!!
REGARDS BASSSS!! -- SZDDˆð'3Af¨
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Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 13:30:16 +0300 From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> To: "GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU" <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU>, MOMODOU.CAMARA@POST3.TELE.DK Subject: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION Message-ID: <315675B7.4975@QATAR.NET.QA> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Electronic Postmaster wrote: > > Re: ? EMDRNF - Mail Delivery Failure. Receiver not found. 75523,3247 > (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION > > Your message could not be delivered as addressed. > > --- Returned message --- > > Sender: GAMBIA-L-owner@u.washington.edu > Received: from lists3.u.washington.edu (lists3.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.3]) by arl-img-7.compuserve.com (8.6.10/5.950515) > id EAA02227; Tue, 25 Mar 1997 04:53:00 -0500 > Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13]) > by lists3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW96.12/8.8.4+UW97.03) with SMTP > id BAA16825; Tue, 25 Mar 1997 01:51:26 -0800 > Received: from mx2.u.washington.edu (mx2.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.7]) > by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW96.12/8.8.4+UW97.03) with ESMTP > id BAA35942 for <gambia-l@lists.u.washington.edu>; Tue, 25 Mar 1997 01:51:13 -0800 > Received: from denmark.it.earthlink.net (denmark-c.it.earthlink.net [204.119.177.22]) > by mx2.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW96.12/8.8.4+UW97.03) with ESMTP > id BAA21891 for <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU>; Tue, 25 Mar 1997 01:51:12 -0800 > Received: from qatar.net.qa (qatar.net.qa [194.133.33.11]) > by denmark.it.earthlink.net (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id BAA20367 > for <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU>; Tue, 25 Mar 1997 01:51:01 -0800 (PST) > Received: from qatar.net.qa.qatar.net.qa by qatar.net.qa (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) > id MAA20131; Tue, 25 Mar 1997 12:48:11 -0300 > Message-Id: <31566C92.3CAB@QATAR.NET.QA> > Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 12:51:14 +0300 > Reply-To: KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA > Sender: GAMBIA-L-owner@u.washington.edu > Precedence: bulk > From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> > To: "GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> > Subject: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > X-To: "GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU" <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU> > X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.0b2 (Win95; I) > X-Priority: 3 (Normal) > X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by lists3.u.washington.edu id BAA16825 > > MR.E.JAWARA & MIS. E.JANNEH!! > > The Foundation of every State is the Education of Its youths" > > DIOGENES > > "African Religions,more or less forgotten,were in the process of > atrophying and being emptied of their spiritual content, their former > deep metaphysics.The jumble of empty forms they had left behind could > not compete ......." > > Prof.CHIEKH ANTA DIOP > > Every organized human grouping has a culture and civilization and every > organized human grouping has a form of instituition through which its > culuture and civilzation would be transmitted from one generation to > another on a fairly regular basis.And any culture that cannot device > such a system or has lost it as a result of whatever reason will sooner > or later end up,like the Black People Of Sumer, as a footnote in a dusty > page of an unknown history book . > > There is something we humans should perhaps envy our lower cousins > for : much of their 'culture',if we can ascribe culture to them,is > programmatically transmitted from one generation to another,so that the > duration and amount of instruction their young need from them is both > short and minimal respectively.That is partly because it takes them so > short a period of time to grow up and become adults.It takes a dog,for > instance,only a few months for it to grow up and master all the skills > that a dog needs to know inorder to live a reasonably happy dog life. > But humans are totally different.First of all,it takes us about eighteen > to twenty years to grow up physically like an average adult human > being.And ,secondly,we don't have skills programmed in us in the sense > that dogs have them.And even the few things that are programmed in us > like language,for instance,it is only the capacity to learn a > language,any language,that is programmed and not the language > itself.That is why every human infant must be taught by its mother,or > mother substitute,the language of its people for at least five > consecetive years before it could acquire the minimum amount of language > skills necessary for intelligible communication in that society. > So we can now see why the chances of things going wrong for the human > child,in its long and complex struggle to become an informed,sane,mature > and productive adult in the human community,are much more higher than > for its lower cousins. > > We were not quite correct in ascribing Culture to dogs.Dogs don't really > have culture.The things that they learn either through the programmes in > them or from their mothers are directly related to their Physical and > Biological > survival:hunting,running,mating etc.The very definition of Culture by > the Thesaurus excludes dogs and other animals completely.According to > it, > CULTURE is that body of ideas,customs,skills, arts etc. of a people or > group > that is transferred,communicated or passed along to succeeding > generations.So that a Cultured or Cultivated person is a person whose > intellect,emotions,interests,manners and tastes are > developed,improved,refined in a particular way that makes him/her think, > talk , and act very much like the people in his/her group.Perhaps this > is why each and everyone of us has, at one time or another, heard the > stories of the proverbial Gambian man who had spent many years studying > overseas,in the White Man's World,but when he came back,instead of going > to stay with his family, he went straight from Yundum Airport to stay in > a hotel and continued doing that until he was able to secure a well paid > and respectable job with the state,after which he built himself a huge > villa at Pipe Line, transferred there,put a big and vicious dog at the > gate and made it a requirement for anyone wanting to visit him to have > an appointment first,and that includes his own parents.There are many > versions of such stories,but in almost all of them,we see that our > proverbial Gambian Man ends up losing everything:his job,his villa,his > wife and his place in society.Maybe these stories never had any bases in > reality,or at least not all of them ended in tragedy.But that is not the > point.The point is that our popular culture forcibly put bad endings to > all > of them as a warning to our future elites that the spirits of our > ancestors,the guardians of our culture, would not hesitate to revenge by > puncturing the prosperity of anyone who betrays or runs away from our > collective way of life.The fear of rebels or subversives is by no means > a monopoly of traditional societies like ours.The word MAINSTREAM in the > U.S. simply means people whose behavoral patterns are more or less > consistent with what the establishment considers to be the core values > of American culture and way of life;a not so subtle warning to > non-conformists! > > So,the instituition through which black culture ensures its own survival > is circumcision.We will use here a few Mandinka words to be able to > capture the true spirit of this unique instituition.There are three > words that are used interchangeably to mean Circumcision.The first one > is KASSEYO.It means to cut off or cut loose.The former is the most > obvious meaning,which is the physical cutting off of part of the > genital, > and the latter is to snatch the young person away from his/her family > and seclude(cut)her from the spoiling influences of the parents for a > lengthy period of time.The second word is JUJUYO.And JUYO means the > stem,the base,the core or the essence without which Society would not > stand.And the repetition here is for emphasis.JUYO also means the > private parts of a person,and that is self-explanatory.The third word is > Wulloo which means forest or bush.Because those are the places where all > initiates are secluded and kept for about three months.The initiate > himself is called NGHANSINGHO which means the person who waits for his > turn,which means basically a deciplined person.Because ,as long as he is > in there,he can never do anything before his turn comes.He can never > eat,drink,use anything,sleep or go to the toilet without being given the > green light by at least one of the teachers.And it also means that group > of young people whose turn has now come to be accepted as fully fledged > members of the community. Another important word in the circumcision > vocabular is KINTANGHO and it means teacher.And this category includes > every circumcised person from the teenagers right to the village chief > and priest.And even though the village elders select a given number of > people as the official teachers of the circumcision,it is nonetheless > incumbent upon everyone else in the village to volunteer a few days of > their time to pass on to the new initiates whatever circumcision > experience they could remember.And almost everyone volunteers,if for > nothing else,it provides everyone with the opportunity to re-learn all > the little things one has forgotten about the > culture,since it sometimes takes as long as ten years between two > circumcisions.And ,finally,the word SOLIMAH.It is used to refer to > anyone > who is either not actually circumcised or behaves like someone who has > not gone through that experience,and that means he is immature,rude and > ignorant of the ways the society works.Sometimes outrageously rude and > badly behaved youngmen who, even though have actually been circumcised, > may be sent back with the next batch of initiates for remedial courses > in the social mores. > > So,just by glancing at the circumcision vocabular we have just > defined,we > can see very clearly that,contrary what the reductioinists > say,circumcision > is much more huge and complex than just severing of part of the > genital.It is indeed a lenghty process during which the initiates are > instructed in the etiquette,arts,folklore of their community.In the case > of the men,they are > subjected to intense physical ordeals of various kinds to instill in > them values such as endurance,perseverance,courage > respect for authority.All these is to help prepare the young person for > both the sweet and the bitter aspects > of full adult life.It also helps both boys and the girls resolve thier > conflicts about sexual identity,so that they would be able to establish > clear attitudes not only towards their mothers and fathers but towards > the opposite sex in general which,as we saw in the Black Cosmogony,is of > central concern of black culutre.The need to kill the man in the woman > and the woman in the man can in no way be overstated in our culture! > > Some of the things that are specifically taught are: 1) SINGING. By the > end of the process,even the dumbest initiate will have memorised at > least fifty of the two hundred or so of the songs that will be taught > and tested.One doesn't have to memorise all of them.However,everyone is > required and vigorously tested for understanding not > only of the meaning of each song in general but also of the idiomatic > expressions in them and to be able to > explain in detail the occasion of each song and its social > significance.The expert singers among the teachers would give special > help to those initiates who,like myself, have shown no talent for > singing or those who have problems with voice or breath control .So much > attention and so much time and energy is given to singing in this > process,because our culuture is basically an oral culture.And there is > no aspect of our life that has not got a song for it,and the more songs > you memorise and understand their meanings the closer you at mastering > our culture in its entirety.And in addition to singing,there are also > sessions for the wise sayings of the ancestors and elders plus word > puzzles. > > 2) Hunting & Swimming are taught once a week each.These are for the male > initiates;and they begin around the end of the third week.This is the > time when the wounds of most of the initiates will have been healed > sufficiently enough to allow them to participate and benefit from such > activities.Most initiates will have already been good swimmers and > hunters by the the time they are circumcised,but its the socialisation > aspect of them:participating in a group of two hundred hunting men,for > instance,is always a rare and exciting experience. > > 3) Etiquette.In a culture in which age means experience,integrity and > respectabiliy,a lot of emphasis is put on how > one approches,talks to,sits and stands with,looks at and deals with > other people in the different age categories.So,the initiates are taught > not only how to be civil and show respect for others,but also how to > earn other people's respect by respecting oneslef,which can be achieved > only through respecting the rules. > > 4) Sex & Sexuality.Clear knowledge and a healthy attitude towards sex is > necessary for the initiates now that they are about to enter the world > of adults and will soon get married.Experienced grownups would teach > details of sex,especially sex within the confines of marriage.In our > traditional culture,there is nothing wrong with sex per se,either inside > or outside of marriage;however,there is something seriously wrong with > bringing babies before being officially blessed(married)by the > community,even if the couple is engageg.That is why even though the joy > and excitement of sex is celebrated,its made abundantly clear to the > initiates that the social price > to be paid for getting a child out of wedlock is so huge that it would > be wiser on their part to exercise self control and be contented with > kissing and fondling.Male initiates are taught about the mysterious > world of women;how to court > them,understand both their sound and body language and impress them and > win their love or how to politely resist their advances without causing > offence > when not interested.And female initiates, in addition to learning facts > about > sex,mensuration,pregnancy and childbirth,they also learn about men.How > to > catch them,retain and disorient them and make them do what > they(women)want them to do without seeming to be doing so. > > 4)Magic & the spiritual world.No magic,No music, no black culture, of > course!The best Magician of community is called upon once in a while to > perform.He would during his performance do all the incredible things > that black magic is capable of:stabbing himself with a sharp instrument > here;cutting his tongue there or sometimes cutting leaves and > instantaneously changing them into money.And a lot more!! > > So,now that we are on a much more solid ground after having provided the > Historical,Cosmological,Philosophical and Educational bases of > Circumcision > in our Culture,we can now look our critics straight in the eye and > respond to them.And that is precisely what we will do in our NEXT and > FINAL installment on CIRCUMCISION.So,we will now end this article by > invoking the memories of the spirits of our ancestors so that they would > provide us with > the appropriate words to end this very spiritual subject and to protect > us from the evil spirits that try to steal our culture from us,and so we > say: > "...KUMMA HAMMA YONI WON; NAA DAAN > NJULLI NJAI; DAAN TUMMA NJULLI NJAI; MAGGAM NJULLI FARRMA DAAN; KUMMA > KHOLL > DAMMAN; YALLA BUMMA GANDERR; CHI NBARR NJAI; BILAI, > SIPAI,LIPAI,KHOLLIWO; > BILAHATI,SPAHATI,LIPAHATI,KHOLLIWO;ASSMAALI NJAI KAI FEYLI NBARR!! ..." > > = > =20 > TO BE CONTINUED ...... > > REGARDS BASSSS!! > > =3D20 > > --=20 > SZDD=88=F0'3Af=A8=03
-- SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 10:33:50 +0000 From: "SISSOHO EM" <E.M.Sissoho@icsl.ac.uk> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: THE SECRET OF LIVING Message-ID: <199703251032.KAA18030@netmail.city.ac.uk> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
BROTHER OMAR, I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR CHOICE OF POEMS. SIR, PLEASE TELL US ARE YOU INDEBTED TO ANYONE FOR THESE MARVELLOUS VERSES!!. Respectfully EDRISA
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 11:34:12 +0000 From: "M'BAI OF" <O.F.M'Bai@icsl.ac.uk> To: KOLLS567@qatar.net.qa Cc: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION Message-ID: <199703251133.LAA25200@netmail.city.ac.uk> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
TO BE CONTINUED??! !!!!!! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU UNCLE BASS. YOU HAVE WRITTEN FAR FAR FAR TOOOOOO MUCH AND THE DANGER OF WRITING TOO MUCH IS THAT YOU END UP "REPEATING YOURSELF JUST LIKE YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE" AND THE DANGER IN REPEATING YOURSELF RENDERS YOUR ARTICLE REPUGNANT AND LONG-WINDED.
I CONNOT SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN ESSENCE B'WEEN PART 1 , 2 , 3, AND NOW 4 WHICH IS YET TO BE CONTI'D IN MY OPINION , THE CONTENTS ARE BASICALLY THE SAME STUFF NAMELY " CIRCUMCISION ". C' MON UNCLE BASS , YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT !!!!!!
M'BAI OMAR F.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 14:37:45 +0300 From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> To: "GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU" <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU> Message-ID: <31568589.1E37@QATAR.NET.QA> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
MR.E.JAWARA & MIS. E.JANNEH!!
> The Foundation of every State is the Education of Its youths"
> DIOGENES
> "African Religions,more or less forgotten,were in the process of > atrophying and being emptied of their spiritual content, their former > deep metaphysics.The jumble of empty forms they had left behind could > not compete ......."
> Prof.CHIEKH ANTA DIOP
> Every organized human grouping has a culture and civilization and every > organized human grouping has a form of instituition through which its > culuture and civilzation would be transmitted from one generation to > another on a fairly regular basis.And any culture that cannot device > such a system or has lost it as a result of whatever reason will sooner > or later end up,like the Black People Of Sumer, as a footnote in a dusty > page of an unknown history book .
> There is something we humans should perhaps envy our lower cousins > for : much of their 'culture',if we can ascribe culture to them,is > programmatically transmitted from one generation to another,so that the > duration and amount of instruction their young need from them is both > short and minimal respectively.That is partly because it takes them so > short a period of time to grow up and become adults.It takes a dog,for > instance,only a few months for it to grow up and master all the skills > that a dog needs to know inorder to live a reasonably happy dog life. > But humans are totally different.First of all,it takes us about eighteen > to twenty years to grow up physically like an average adult human > being.And ,secondly,we don't have skills programmed in us in the sense > that dogs have them.And even the few things that are programmed in us > like language,for instance,it is only the capacity to learn a > language,any language,that is programmed and not the language > itself.That is why every human infant must be taught by its mother,or > mother substitute,the language of its people for at least five > consecetive years before it could acquire the minimum amount of language > skills necessary for intelligible communication in that society. > So we can now see why the chances of things going wrong for the human > child,in its long and complex struggle to become an informed,sane,mature > and productive adult in the human community,are much more higher than > for its lower cousins.
> We were not quite correct in ascribing Culture to dogs.Dogs don't really > have culture.The things that they learn either through the programmes in > them or from their mothers are directly related to their Physical and > Biological > survival:hunting,running,mating etc.The very definition of Culture by > the Thesaurus excludes dogs and other animals completely.According to > it, > CULTURE is that body of ideas,customs,skills, arts etc. of a people or > group > that is transferred,communicated or passed along to succeeding > generations.So that a Cultured or Cultivated person is a person whose > intellect,emotions,interests,manners and tastes are > developed,improved,refined in a particular way that makes him/her think, > talk , and act very much like the people in his/her group.Perhaps this > is why each and everyone of us has, at one time or another, heard the > stories of the proverbial Gambian man who had spent many years studying > overseas,in the White Man's World,but when he came back,instead of going > to stay with his family, he went straight from Yundum Airport to stay in > a hotel and continued doing that until he was able to secure a well paid > and respectable job with the state,after which he built himself a huge > villa at Pipe Line, transferred there,put a big and vicious dog at the > gate and made it a requirement for anyone wanting to visit him to have > an appointment first,and that includes his own parents.There are many > versions of such stories,but in almost all of them,we see that our > proverbial Gambian Man ends up losing everything:his job,his villa,his > wife and his place in society.Maybe these stories never had any bases in > reality,or at least not all of them ended in tragedy.But that is not the > point.The point is that our popular culture forcibly put bad endings to > all > of them as a warning to our future elites that the spirits of our > ancestors,the guardians of our culture, would not hesitate to revenge by > puncturing the prosperity of anyone who betrays or runs away from our > collective way of life.The fear of rebels or subversives is by no means > a monopoly of traditional societies like ours.The word MAINSTREAM in the > U.S. simply means people whose behavoral patterns are more or less > consistent with what the establishment considers to be the core values > of American culture and way of life;a not so subtle warning to > non-conformists!
> So,the instituition through which black culture ensures its own survival > is circumcision.We will use here a few Mandinka words to be able to > capture the true spirit of this unique instituition.There are three > words that are used interchangeably to mean Circumcision.The first one > is KASSEYO.It means to cut off or cut loose.The former is the most > obvious meaning,which is the physical cutting off of part of the > genital, > and the latter is to snatch the young person away from his/her family > and seclude(cut)her from the spoiling influences of the parents for a > lengthy period of time.The second word is JUJUYO.And JUYO means the > stem,the base,the core or the essence without which Society would not > stand.And the repetition here is for emphasis.JUYO also means the > private parts of a person,and that is self-explanatory.The third word is > Wulloo which means forest or bush.Because those are the places where all > initiates are secluded and kept for about three months.The initiate > himself is called NGHANSINGHO which means the person who waits for his > turn,which means basically a deciplined person.Because ,as long as he is > in there,he can never do anything before his turn comes.He can never > eat,drink,use anything,sleep or go to the toilet without being given the > green light by at least one of the teachers.And it also means that group > of young people whose turn has now come to be accepted as fully fledged > members of the community. Another important word in the circumcision > vocabular is KINTANGHO and it means teacher.And this category includes > every circumcised person from the teenagers right to the village chief > and priest.And even though the village elders select a given number of > people as the official teachers of the circumcision,it is nonetheless > incumbent upon everyone else in the village to volunteer a few days of > their time to pass on to the new initiates whatever circumcision > experience they could remember.And almost everyone volunteers,if for > nothing else,it provides everyone with the opportunity to re-learn all > the little things one has forgotten about the > culture,since it sometimes takes as long as ten years between two > circumcisions.And ,finally,the word SOLIMAH.It is used to refer to > anyone > who is either not actually circumcised or behaves like someone who has > not gone through that experience,and that means he is immature,rude and > ignorant of the ways the society works.Sometimes outrageously rude and > badly behaved youngmen who, even though have actually been circumcised, > may be sent back with the next batch of initiates for remedial courses in the social mores.
> So,just by glancing at the circumcision vocabular we have just > defined,we > can see very clearly that,contrary what the reductioinists > say,circumcision > is much more huge and complex than just severing of part of the > genital.It is indeed a lenghty process during which the initiates are > instructed in the etiquette,arts,folklore of their community.In the case > of the men,they are > subjected to intense physical ordeals of various kinds to instill in > them values such as endurance,perseverance,courage > respect for authority.All these is to help prepare the young person for > both the sweet and the bitter aspects > of full adult life.It also helps both boys and the girls resolve thier > conflicts about sexual identity,so that they would be able to establish > clear attitudes not only towards their mothers and fathers but towards > the opposite sex in general which,as we saw in the Black Cosmogony,is of > central concern of black culutre.The need to kill the man in the woman > and the woman in the man can in no way be overstated in our culture!
> Some of the things that are specifically taught are: 1) SINGING. By the > end of the process,even the dumbest initiate will have memorised at > least fifty of the two hundred or so of the songs that will be taught > and tested.One doesn't have to memorise all of them.However,everyone is > required and vigorously tested for understanding not > only of the meaning of each song in general but also of the idiomatic > expressions in them and to be able to > explain in detail the occasion of each song and its social > significance.The expert singers among the teachers would give special > help to those initiates who,like myself, have shown no talent for > singing or those who have problems with voice or breath control .So much attention and so much time and energy is given to singing in this process,because our culuture is basically an oral culture.And there is no aspect of our life that has not got a song for it,and the more songs you memorise and understand their meanings the closer you at mastering our culture in its entirety.And in addition to singing,there are also sessions for the wise sayings of the ancestors and elders plus word puzzles.
> 2) Hunting & Swimming are taught once a week each.These are for the male initiates;and they begin around the end of the third week.This is the > time when the wounds of most of the initiates will have been healed > sufficiently enough to allow them to participate and benefit from such activities.Most initiates will have already been good swimmers and > hunters by the the time they are circumcised,but its the socialisation > aspect of them:participating in a group of two hundred hunting men,for instance,is always a rare and exciting experience.
> 3) Etiquette.In a culture in which age means experience,integrity and > respectabiliy,a lot of emphasis is put on how > one approches,talks to,sits and stands with,looks at and deals with > other people in the different age categories.So,the initiates are taught not only how to be civil and show respect for others,but also how to earn other people's respect by respecting oneslef,which can be achieved > only through respecting the rules.
> 4) Sex & Sexuality.Clear knowledge and a healthy attitude towards sex is necessary for the initiates now that they are about to enter the world > of adults and will soon get married.Experienced grownups would teach > details of sex,especially sex within the confines of marriage.In our > traditional culture,there is nothing wrong with sex per se,either inside or outside of marriage;however,there is something seriously wrong with > bringing babies before being officially blessed(married)by the > community,even if the couple is engageg.That is why even though the joy and excitement of sex is celebrated,its made abundantly clear to the > initiates that the social price > to be paid for getting a child out of wedlock is so huge that it would be wiser on their part to exercise self control and be contented with kissing and fondling.Male initiates are taught about the mysterious > world of women;how to court > them,understand both their sound and body language and impress them and win their love or how to politely resist their advances without causing offence when not interested.And female initiates, in addition to learning facts about sex,mensuration,pregnancy and childbirth,they also learn about men.How to catch them,retain and disorient them and make them do what > they(women)want them to do without seeming to be doing so.
> 4)Magic & the spiritual world.No magic,No music, no black culture, of > course!The best Magician of community is called upon once in a while to perform.He would during his performance do all the incredible things > that black magic is capable of:stabbing himself with a sharp instrument here;cutting his tongue there or sometimes cutting leaves and instantaneously changing them into money.And a lot more!! So,now that we are on a much more solid ground after having provided the Historical,Cosmological,Philosophical and Educational bases of > Circumcision in our Culture,we can now look our critics straight in the eye and respond to them.And that is precisely what we will do in our NEXT and FINAL installment on CIRCUMCISION.So,we will now end this article by invoking the memories of the spirits of our ancestors so that they would provide us with > the appropriate words to end this very spiritual subject and to protect us from the evil spirits that try to steal our culture from us,and so we > say: > "...KUMMA HAMMA YONI WON; NAA DAAN > NJULLI NJAI; DAAN TUMMA NJULLI NJAI; MAGGAM NJULLI FARRMA DAAN; KUMMA > KHOLL > DAMMAN; YALLA BUMMA GANDERR; CHI NBARR NJAI; BILAI, > SIPAI,LIPAI,KHOLLIWO; > BILAHATI,SPAHATI,LIPAHATI,KHOLLIWO;ASSMAALI NJAI KAI FEYLI NBARR!! ..." >=20 >
TO BE CONTINUED ......
> REGARDS BASSSS!! -- SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 12:15:45 +0000 From: "SISSOHO EM" <E.M.Sissoho@icsl.ac.uk> To: KOLLS567@qatar.net.qa Cc: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION Message-ID: <199703251214.MAA01753@netmail.city.ac.uk> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
SIR, I must commend your prolific contribution to Gambia-1 discussions.This must take a lot of your time and effort.
As I sit here, I keep imagining Basss as an "allrounder" (intellectual if you please) sitting in a Library surrounded by reference works, PC ready to fire off " learned Pieces" or perhaps lectures to list members and I come to the conclusion that Basss could possible conduct the whole of the discussions on the List on his own!!! Jesting...Jesting..
Sir, I have not had time to read through your latest offerings because of pressure of work. You may remember some time a go I was asking you for Part 2 of politics in Africa .
>From that piece and subsequent contributions from you I've detected a theme,that is a view of interpreting politics and history from the point of view of a victim of conspiracy by "the West".
To return to P in Africa for a moment, You seem to have blamed the Belgium for the massacre in Rwanda. Your assertion that the Belgians provided the Tutsis "with a history", this history being that they (the Tutsis) were superior to the Hutus. You when on to suggest that if a lie is told often enough it is believed. This I interpret to mean that the Hutus could possibly believed that they were inferior to the Tutsis. Sir I have never meet a tribesman who actually believed that their particular tribe is inferior to any other tribe. If we Africans believe in anything at all it is the superiority of our tribes.
Sir my point is that we in the third world should take responsibilty for our actions rather than blame the West. If you blame Belgium as the historical cause of the Rwandan crisis, are you going to find someone else responsible for the ethnic cleansing that happened between Senegal and Muritania in the late 80's?
Sir, we in the third world should see things for what they actually are and that we have been in most cases the author of our own misfurtune . Respesfully Edrisa.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 1996 15:19:45 +0300 From: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> To: "GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU" <GAMBIA-L@U.WASHINGTON.EDU> Subject: Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISION Message-ID: <31568F61.6C17@QATAR.NET.QA> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
M'BAI OF wrote: > > TO BE CONTINUED??! !!!!!! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU UNCLE > BASS. YOU HAVE WRITTEN FAR FAR FAR TOOOOOO > MUCH AND THE DANGER OF WRITING TOO MUCH IS > THAT YOU END UP "REPEATING YOURSELF JUST LIKE > YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE" AND THE DANGER IN REPEATING > YOURSELF RENDERS YOUR ARTICLE REPUGNANT AND > LONG-WINDED. > > I CONNOT SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN ESSENCE B'WEEN > PART 1 , 2 , 3, AND NOW 4 WHICH IS YET TO BE CONTI'D > IN MY OPINION , THE CONTENTS ARE BASICALLY THE > SAME STUFF NAMELY " CIRCUMCISION ". C' MON UNCLE > BASS , YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT !!!!!! > > M'BAI OMAR F.
Mr.Nbaye!! I am pleasantly surprised that you are still around.Thanks for your concern.I will try to do better in the final installment.
Regards Basss!!! -- SZDDˆð'3Af¨
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 13:47:08 +0000 From: "M'BAI OF" <O.F.M'Bai@icsl.ac.uk> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISI Message-ID: <199703251345.NAA14610@netmail.city.ac.uk> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Thank you very much my dear learned friend for that accurate a/c of yours. It appears that we share the same views regarding "PIA". Anyway see you around campus and good luck with the Opinion Writing Assessment and the forth-coming MCTs.
M'BAI OMAR F.
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Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 12:27:16 -0500 (EST) From: "Ousman G." <gajigoo@wabash.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: (PART4) CIRCUMCISION REVISITED - PEDAGOGY OF CIRCUMCISI Message-ID: <2527F7D4A38@scholar.wabash.edu> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
>Sir my point is that we in the third world should take responsibilty >for our actions rather than blame the West. If you blame Belgium as >the historical cause of the Rwandan crisis, are you going to find >someone else responsible for the ethnic cleansing that happened >between Senegal and Muritania in the late 80's?
A lot of us has to learn to accept responsibilities for our shortcomings.
"If you blame someone for your failures, credit him for your successes."
Ousman %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Ousman Gajigo Morris Hall 107 Crawfordsville, IN 47933 phone:(765) 361 7096 Fax: (317) 361 6295 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
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Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 12:33:39 -0500 (EST) From: Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU> To: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> Cc: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>, ; Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970325122447.17215A-100000@panther.Gsu.EDU> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
ANDREA: yes, they use 31/4 inch diskettes.
OMAR:
Dr. Bojang is out of the country on an official visit but shouild be back by the time you get there. I spoke with the principal, Mr. Manneh, and told him about your planned visit and he is expecting you.
Good luck and best wishes for a safe and enjoyable trip. Musa
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Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 12:44:53 -0500 (EST) From: Musa Sowe <chemsm@panther.Gsu.EDU> To: BASS KOLLEH DRAMMEH <KOLLS567@QATAR.NET.QA> Cc: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List <gambia-l@u.washington.edu>, ; Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970325124158.21639A-100000@panther.Gsu.EDU> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
ANDREA:
Yes, they use 31/4 inch diskettes
OMAR:
Dr. Bojang is out of the country on an official visit. But, he should be back in the country by the time you get there. I spoke to the principal and told him of your planned visit and he is expecting you.
Good luck and best wishes of a safe and enyoyable trip. Musa
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Date: Tue, 25 Mar 97 20:29:59 CST From: "Numukunda Darboe" <ndarboe@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu> To: "The Gambia and Related Issues Mailng List" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Update on getting Observer On-line Message-ID: <ndarboe.1209731039D@sunset.backbone.olemiss.edu>
Welcome all new members to Gambia-l the most ingenious medium through which Gambians and friends of The Gambia the world over can have rapport on issues relating to the Gambia in decorum at no cost.
Please allow me to reiterate for the sake of our newest members and to give you an update on the process of getting the Daily Observer (one of Gambia's daily news papers) on-line. We have initially estimated that a $10 subscription per annum would be sufficient to meet the finances necessary to get the paper on-line. Disappointingly, out of the over 200 Gambia-l list members, less than 70 people have pledged to the subscription. However, we did not take this to mean that the rest are not willing to, instead could be merely due to the fact that the amount of mail that comes in daily is heavy, and one can easily erase or forget to respond to such an invaluable opportunity. It was further suggested that if enough funds aren't able to be met due to undersubscription, then an increase in amount of subscription may be the remedy. At this point I don't believe that will be penultimate.
Last week, Latir sent out a questionnaire which will allow us the to know the potential subscribers. We will keep you updated on the results.
One does not have to be a member of Gambial-l to access the paper. It will be on a Web Page accessible only by password. We strongly discourage giving out one's password to a non-subscriber except for may be members of the household. This may be unfair to the Observer business and even the subscribers.
Our technical team is undertaking a formidable task, and is in close contact with Observer authorities. Due to Observer's lack of facilities at this point we will not have the whole paper (ads,images etc.), but rather the main body which will sent and have to be edited before pasting on the Web. If things work well by next month, the paper should be on-line.
We will keep you updated
Thanks
Numukunda
Steering committee
********************************************************************************
Numukunda Darboe Chemistry Dept. University of Mississippi (601) 232 5143 Lab ndarboe@olemiss.edu Home Page at: http://members.tripod.com/~ndarboe/
OLEMISS REBELS 1997 SEC WEST BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS GO REBELS!!!!!!!
********************************************************************************
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Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 23:45:39 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: PROPOSAL/FOOD FOR THOUGHT Message-ID: <9703260445.AA35374@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Musa, you wrote;
> ANDREA: > > Yes, they use 31/4 inch diskettes > > Musa, I believe you meant to say 3 1/2 inch diskettes. Is that right?
-Moe S. Jallow
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 00:26:08 -0500 (EST) From: mjallow@st6000.sct.edu (Modou Jallow) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Coalition for the development of urban Africa Message-ID: <9703260526.AA35046@st6000.sct.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Gambia-l,
Please find the enclosed for your information. The group is particularly interested in exchanges concerning processes of engagement capable of generating new urban knowledge for transformation and development. Thank you.
----------------------------Forwarded----------------------------------- CHANGING AFRICAN CITIES A brief introduction to the work of the Coalition for the Development of Urban Africa THE TASK AHEAD : Africa has rapidly become an urbanized continent, and urban life brings the region's enormous vitality and imagination together with a wide array of challenges about how to make cities work and sustainable. In some ways these challenges are not new, as urban inclinations in Africa have existed for centuries. But as the functions and dynamics of cities everywhere change, Africans must remobilize their skills, values and understandings so that their cities are truly engines of growth, participation and livelihood in a globalizing world. HOW IS THIS DONE : African NGOs, researchers, community groups and urban professionals recognize that they must consolidate the perspectives and visions that have been gained through many years of experience working with diverse communities across the continent. Many effective practices for providing essential services, managing the urban environment and promoting democratic governance have come to the fore in various neighborhoods and communities. But too often these initiatives exist as isolated instances. Now, what is required is a broader implementation, a AB scaling-up BB of policies and programs that work across cities as a whole. If African cities are to be truly urban, than a process of diverse groups, sectors and institutions , including NGOs, municipalities and the private sector, working together in concrete partnership must be instituted at all levels. Linkages among African cities, as well as between them and other urban areas of the world must be strengthened. After all, Africans from all walks of life are moving back and forth between cities within Africa and throughout the world. This movement can be a resource, a way of building connections between communities and of strengthening the power of Africans to make their voices and ideas heard. In addition, new efforts must be made to better under stand how Africans are using their cities, how they produce livelihoods and work together, how they use the city and they how they understand their lives within them. WHAT IS THE COALITION The purpose of the coalition is to bring together people and organizations at work in Africa cities. Since cities are places where so many activities happen side-by-side, then the best way for making them work is to encourage activists and professionals involved in development, government, education, culture, and health to also work side. The Coalition sees its main responsibility as bringing about concrete activities where this kind of work can happen. The Coalition began with Habitat II. A year before the United Nations Global Conference on Human Settlements, which took place in Istanbul in June 1996, African NGOs involved in urban work decided to organize themselves as a regional body to try to make sure that African thinking and solutions were taken seriously by the international community. This body was known as the African NGO Habitat II Caucus. During that year the Caucus conducted a widespread exchange of information among NGOs throughout the continent, developing a program of activities in all stages of the Habitat II process which emphasized critical interchanges between different groups making up the key elements of the African social fabric. At Istanbul, the success of its efforts encouraged the Caucus to call for the organization of the Coalition and an ongoing program of activities. Today, the Coalition counts the active participation of some seventy-five organizations from across the continent. WHAT IS THE COALITION PROGRAM ? The Coalition program is made up of three components : 1. BUILDING AFRICAN APPROACHES TO URBAN DEVELOPMENT An information resource network which promotes an exchange of views, information and opportunities among researchers, activists, local authorities, women and youth groupings, and other professionals, and which is aimed at building inter-institutional working relationships within a nd between African cities. The aim is to strengthen advocacy at regional and international levels and cultivate innovative approaches and methodologies. A program of capacity building and consultation with African urban NGO s and CBOs to maximize their ability to understand the implications of Habitat II, grapple with municipal-wide issues and dynamics, scale-up and mainstream local initiatives and practices, and engage in broad-based partnerships A regional instrument for initiating and managing ongoing dialogues with key regional and international institutions on the implementation of effective approaches to urban development and to ensure an effective voice for the different experiences of African NGOs. 2. IMPLEMENTING LOCAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT AGENDAS Assists NGOs in different cities to carry out urban development work a t the level of the city as a whole, especially in areas such as infrastructure development, governance, and the provision of urban and human services, through enabling them to focus on the development of broad-based, city- wide partnerships. The program helps NGOs conceptualize, prepare and implement such partnerships97where local authorities, NGOs, CBOs, researchers, professional associations, local institutions and the private sector share responsibility for the design, implementation and management of the process. Assists NGOs to conduct the consultations with different sectors and communities, the research of key urban dynamics and the assessments of key urban indicators and institutional orderings necessary in order to put together viable partnerships. Promotes an exchange of experiences, consultations, and comparative work among NGOs involved in this work in order to strengthen the understanding of processes necessary for effective development partnerships and for building stronger economic and cultural links between African cities. 3. THE CRITICAL URBAN STUDIES CONSORTIUM A international network of urbanists and researchers concerned with Africa which collectively is putting together : A visioning process which looks at what African cities could be, with an emphasis on making futures based on maximizing the strengths and resources that already exist. Conducts and emphasizes investigations on different ways diverse sectors and economies can be linked across African cities and between African cities and those of different continents. Examines the effects of globalization on the reshaping of and new opportunities for African cities. HOW DO WE DO THESE THINGS ? The Coalition draws upon the accumulated experiences and expertise of a wide range of participating NGOs, researchers and other professionals, comparing and assessing their work, its applicability to different African cities , and disseminating documentation concerning this work across the continent. While new thinking and approaches are sometimes necessary, we also believe that much has been done already, and that it is a matter of letting people k now about this work and what it takes for initiatives to be successful in t heir cities. Therefore, we would like to hear from you about what you are doing and what your future plans are. We exist in order to identify ways of assisting you do what you want to do and putting you in contact with the resources and expertise that might enable you to get the job done. HOW TO CONTACT US You can reach the Coalition at the coordinating unit in Dakar. Our details are : Coalition for the Development of Urban Africa @The Urban Popular Economy Program (ECOPOP) BP 3370 Dakar, Senegal telephone : 221-253200 fax : 221-253232 email : africaucus@enda.sn AFRICAUCUS / CODURA c/o Programme ECOPOP BP 3370 DAKAR - SENEGAL TEL: +221 25 32 00 FAX: +221 25 32 32 Email: africaucus@enda.sn ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regards, Moe S. Jallow
=============================================================================== mjallow@sct.edu mjallow@hayes.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; *it is not a thing to be waited for, but something to be achieved. * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 01:01:13 -0600 From: Tamsir Mbai <mba4224@etbu.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Update on getting Observer On-line Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970326004400.3727a510@etbu.edu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Dear dedicated committee, Thank you very much for your interest in orchestrating the necessary contacts to put the Observer online. I do share your disappointment in the number of people who have shown interest in subscribing to the paper. Nevertheless, we have to take into consideration that the majority of the list members are students, judging from the informal introductions of new members. Earlier, Numukunda Darboe wrote :
"One does not have to be a member of Gambial-l to access the paper. It will be on a Web Page accessible only by password. We strongly discourage giving out one's password to a non-subscriber except for may be members of the household. This may be unfair to the Observer business and even the subscribers."
I don't know if this was agreed upon by the technical committee, but I don't think it is a good idea. I am a fervent advocate for the dissemination of information, especially when it concerns The Gambia, partly because given the size of our country, we need to pursue with relentless effort every opportunity that we have to put The Gambia on the world scene. It is not uncommon for me, and probably several others on this list, to come across people who are totally unaware of the existence of The Gambia. Granted, we cannot free everybody from ignorance, but expeditious access to information about The Gambia can only promote education about our country. Not only should we as Gambians be informed of the developments back home on a timely basis, but the information should be made available to the rest of the world. Imagine what it would have been like if we were made to pay for the unlimited amount of information that we continue to get from the internet! Better yet, would this list, Gambia-L, have survived as prosperously as it does if everyone was made to pay? I don't think so. For these reasons and more, I think the issuance of passwords to access the Observer would defeat the purpose. Come to think about it, this list usually discusses pertinent issues about The Gambia. That means that those who would eventually have access to the Observer would still have to come back and share their information with the rest of the list members. While I can understand the potential loss of revenue for the Observer if my suggestion is adopted, what I do not see is how they were going to make money from this project to begin with. As a gesture of generosity, maybe we can pledge to pay them an amount equal to 20 yearly subscriptions on an instalment basis. Since most of us in the U.S. meet annually in ATLANTA, we can collect donations during this time from others who may not be aware of the project. Also, those students who are broke now will have had a chance to work during the summer and be able to meet the required fees. I'm sure there are other ways of raising money to meet our commitments to the Observer, but for now, these are viable options that we can pursue. By the way, I did pledge to subscribe to the Observer even though I'm a student. I just find it admirable that I can get daily information about Kenya, Ghana, and Ivory Coast, to name a few, but a similar opportunity about The Gambia is being denied the rest of the world. Can we pay for all the information that we get nowadays? I DON'T THINK SO! Once again, thank you to all those who are involved in bringing the Observer online. God Bless!!!!!!
It's Tamsir.
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 10:03:14 +0100 (MET) From: sheriff@imf128049.fzk.de To: Gambia-l@u.Washington.edu Subject: New member Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.95.970326093214.3814A-100000@imf128049.fzk.de> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Hello members,
I am student studying Material Engineering Science and Technology in UK.At the moment,I'm in Germany doing my practicals for six months.I am working on injection moulding and slip casting of microcoponents(microturbines which are use for the medical industry e.g.artificial heart). I am very please to join and most of the topics being disscus are very interesting.However,if someone is in the same field or doing something similar,is welcome for exchange of ideas.
Thanks,
Sheriff Faye (Master).
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 10:13:12 +0100 From: Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Update on getting Observer On-line Message-ID: <2.2.32.19970326091312.006982f8@golf.uib.no> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
At 01:01 26.03.97 -0600, TAMSIR wrote:
>I don't know if this was agreed upon by the technical committee, but I don't >think it is a good idea. I am a fervent advocate for the dissemination of >information, especially when it concerns The Gambia, partly because given >the size of our country, we need to pursue with relentless effort every >opportunity that we have to put The Gambia on the world scene. It is not >uncommon for me, and probably several others on this list, to come across >people who are totally unaware of the existence of The Gambia. Granted, we >cannot free everybody from ignorance, but expeditious access to information >about The Gambia can only promote education about our country. Not only >should we as Gambians be informed of the developments back home on a timely >basis, but the information should be made available to the rest of the world.
TAMSIR! You've got a very good point here. I think it's a brilliant idea if we could include providing a Gambian daily on the web in the "philanthropic" initiatives we are willing to undertake. Technical managers of the online, are there possibilities to enter a fix annual contract with The observer? If so, I believe the subscription of those willing or able list members could meet this cost. This will also allow members or any other users of the page with limited economies, make contributions affordable to them. The danger here, however, is we might end up losing some members who are already willing to subscribe but would rather not share the information at their expense. I don't want to believe that there is anyone on the list who fits in this category especially when it comes to contributing towards making your country known worldwide. The Daily Observer also has it's ethical responsibility, especially as an information medium, and should therefore be content with an agreed annual subscription. Besides, it will gain it's place in the world of media. DO I SOUND REAL OR OVER-AMBITIOUS AND NAIVE?
HAPPY EASTER, GAMBIA-LERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
::)))Abdou Oujimai
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 10:21:46 +0100 From: Abdou Gibba <Abdou.Gibba@smr.uib.no> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: New member Message-ID: <2.2.32.19970326092146.006aee04@golf.uib.no> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Sheriff (MASTER)!! NANKA SUBASI? Welcome to Gambia-L. Hope you'll have a pleasant stay. Hi to anyone down there from RUHABI.
::)))Oujimai
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 15:41:06 +0100 (MET) From: Olafiaklinikken Olafia <olafia@online.no> To: <Gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: TEMPORARY STOP FOR MAILING Message-ID: <199703261441.PAA02362@online.no> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello Everyone, I will be travelling to thr Gambia and will not be back until the 29.april Threfore i would like to have a temporariry stop on the mailing.
I wishing alla very happy and pleasant easter.
With kind regards
Omar S. Saho
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 97 10:26:00 -0600 From: Francis Njie <francis_njie@il.us.swissbank.com> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Update on getting Observer On-line Message-ID: <9703261626.AA00633@new_delhi> Mime-Version: 1.0 (NeXT Mail 3.3risc v124.8483.5) Content-Type: text/plain
Tamsir and Abdou, thanks for your suggestions on the proposed service.
While I don't think the Observer would want to risk losing current and potential subscribers outside the Gambia by making the online service free or settling for an agreed-upon annual charge, I will still forward your suggestions to the steering committee for presentation to the Observer.
A free service would certainly increase the hit rate of the site, which could potentially attract more advertising than we had previously hoped for. Whether revenues from such advertising would justify the service being free can be determined only through experimentation.
In any case, rest assured that the Observer will certainly hear of this possiblity.
Thanks again...
- Francis
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 18:53:57 +0000 From: momodou.camara@post3.tele.dk (Camara, Momodou) To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: TEMPORARY STOP FOR MAILING Message-ID: <19970326175432.AAA5336@LOCALNAME>
On 26 Mar 97 at 15:41, Olafiaklinikken Olafia wrote: > Hello Everyone, I will be travelling to thr Gambia and will not be > back until the 29.april Therefore i would like to have a temporarily > stop on the mailing. > > I wishing alla very happy and pleasant easter. > > With kind regards > > Omar S. Saho >
Omar has been deleted from the list as requested.
Momodou Camara ******************************************************* http://home3.inet.tele.dk/mcamara
**"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible"***
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 20:40:43 -0500 (EST) From: "Solomon P. Sylva" <ssylva@emory.edu> To: "GAMBIA-L: The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List" <gambia-l@u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Self intruduction. Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.970326202849.13210A-100000@curly.cc.emory.edu> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Hey Omar , Welcome to the Bantaba . I hope you would find very interesting and be able to contribute as you would be meeting both old and new friends. Glad to have you on board.
Saul Sylva
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Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 21:39:29 +0800 (SGT) From: Muwanaidi Syonya Abdalla <9420057@talabah.iiu.my> To: Gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: UNSUBSCRIBE Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.970326213805.10523A-100000@talabah.iiu.my> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
UNSUBSCRIBE GAMBIA-L
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Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 05:04:08 -0500 (EST) From: Mbk007@aol.com To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Fwd: FW: [EE] FW: computer virus Message-ID: <970327050407_142696497@emout03.mail.aol.com>
--------------------- Forwarded message: From: ydarboe@hq.walldata.com To: jkrubally@aol.com, mbk007@aol.com Date: 97-03-26 21:34:25 EST
---------- From: Ostebovik, Gerard Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 1997 2:04 PM To: ALL TECHNICAL SUPPORT DEPT -HQ; Valentine, Wade; 'Dyer, Bob'; 'Hughes, Larry' Subject: FW: [EE] FW: computer virus
>From: Debbie Michael >Date: 03-26-97 08:53:32 AM >Subject: Fwd: computer virus > > >FYI > > > ****************** ALERT ******************* > >If anyone receives mail entitled; PENPAL GREETINGS! delete it WITHOUT >reading it!!! This is a warning for all the internet users - there is a >dangerous virus propagating across the internet through an e-mail message >entitled > >"PENPAL GREETINGS!". >DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANY MESSAGE ENTITLED "PENPAL GREETING"!! > >This message appears to be a friendly letter asking you is you are >interested in a penpal, but by the time you read this letter, it is too late. > The "trojan horse" virus will have already infected the boot sector of your >hard drive, destroying all of the data present. It is a self-replicating >virus, and once the message is read, it will AUTOMATICALLY forward itself to >anyone who's e-mail address is present in YOUR mailbox! > >This virus will DESTROY your hard drive, and holds the potential to DESTROY >the hard drive of anyone whose mail is in your box, and so on! > >Please pass this message along to everyone you know so this can be stopped. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
------ Message Header Follows ------ Received: from mail-host.walldata.com by msmail.walldata.com (PostalUnion/SMTP(tm) v2.1.8d for Windows NT(tm)) id AA-1997Mar26.124353.1100.462940; Wed, 26 Mar 1997 12:43:53 -0800 Received: from sub.sonic.net by mail-host.walldata.com (5.x/SMI-SVR4) id AA15313; Wed, 26 Mar 1997 12:43:33 -0800 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by sub.sonic.net (8.8.5/8.7.3) id LAA03264 for ee-outgoing; Wed, 26 Mar 1997 11:36:23 -0800 Received: from doorstop (root@astsoft.com [206.40.93.3]) by sub.sonic.net (8.8.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id LAA03254 for <ee@mail.sonic.net>; Wed, 26 Mar 1997 11:36:20 -0800 Received: from fs2.eckhoff.com (eckhoff.com [206.40.93.248]) by doorstop (8.6.12/8.6.9) with SMTP id LAA07043 for <ee@lists.sonic.net>; Wed, 26 Mar 1997 11:37:05 -0800 Received: by fs2.eckhoff.com with SMTP (Microsoft Exchange Server Internet Mail Connector Version 4.0.993.5) id <01BC39D5.FEA3B490@fs2.eckhoff.com>; Wed, 26 Mar 1997 11:08:12 -0800 Message-Id: <c=US%a=_%p=Eckhoff_Accounta%l=FS2-970326190808Z-1595@fs2.eckhoff.com> From: JuliAnn Forde <julif@eckhoff.com> To: Larry Cunha <larryc@eckhoff.com>, "'eelist'" <ee@mail.sonic.net> Subject: [EE] FW: computer virus Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 11:08:08 -0800 X-Mailer: Microsoft Exchange Server Internet Mail Connector Version 4.0.993.5 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: owner-ee@sub.sonic.net Precedence: bulk
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Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 07:38:31 -0500 From: "William O'Donnell" <billod@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> To: gambia-l@u.washington.edu Subject: Re: Fwd: FW: [EE] FW: computer virus Message-ID: <Pine.SGI.3.95.970327073355.13021B-100000@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
These virus e-mails are a hoax. You *cannot* ever get a virus by reading an e-mail. You can however get a virus by downloading a file (attached to an e-mail, for example) or by using an hypertext link inside of an e-mail (if your reader supports such things) The standard good advice is to feel free to read any e-mail, but only download atached files or use hypertext links from people you know. Other hoax viruses include Good Times. - bill
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \ William O'Donnell / / Dept. of History \ \ The Johns Hopkins University / / 3400 N. Charles St. \ \ Baltimore, MD 21218 / / http://jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu/~billod \ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
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