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Momodou
Denmark
11803 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Oct 2007 : 15:47:35
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Foroyaa Editorial
CIVIL SOCIETY GAINS LIFE AS THE PRESIDENT MEETS THE ELDERS
The President of the Supreme Islamic Council Imam Banding Drammeh fulfils his Mission
On Saturday 13th October, President Yahya Jammeh met the Muslim elders after the Eid prayers as has been the custom since the colonial days. The people had great expectations that as the country faces the threat of international exposure for nothing but the prevalence of the preventable practice associated with impunity , the elders will, for the first time, tell the president what he may not like to hear to fulfill their mission as defenders of truth; justice, peace, decency, conscience and general welfare of the people: The president did emphasise his theme that the West aims to hide behind democracy and human rights to undermine Islam: Foroyaa will come back to his questionable opinions. What is however inspiring is the posture taken by Alhaji Banding Drammeh during the encounter with the president. He called for the release of all prisoners who do not pose any security threat and requested for a private discussion with the President.
Today the detention centres will miss the presence of Rambo and School Master Tamba Fofana. If he had listened to and acted on the dictates of wise counsel then one could say that the constitutional functions of civil society are being recognised for the first time, if our memories serve us right. Alhaji Banding has joined the ranks of Bishop Cleary who never set eyes on injustice without exposing and calling for redress. His legacy shall never be forgotten by all those who see religion as the depository of the moral values of humankind and not a theatre for the promotion of confrontation and clash of civilisations or beliefs.
The constitution envisages that leaders can err. Hence it states very clearly under section 25 that “Every person shall have the right to freedom to petition the Executive for redress of grievances and to resort to the courts for the protection of his rights.” It also empowers the population to form associations comprising civil society for the mutual protection and promotion of the interest of all its members. This is why the teachers Union should also be commended for calling for the release of School Master Tamba Fofana. We hope that it becomes a practice to engage the authorities in a diligent and expeditious manner to protect their members from injustice.
The media houses should also do the same, regardless whether it involves journalists working for the state or non state media; the Umpire media as well as the ones attached to special interests. For example the president threatened to take the Director General of GRTS to prison if the person allows any broadcast claiming that Islam incorporates democracy: This threat disregards the role of courts and the right to freedom of expression. Journalists should not just ignore the threats and claim that the persons involved are allies of the president. It is principles that are worth defending. No act of impunity should be left unexposed, no matter whom it affects.
The constitution even went as far as to empower the people to exercise the ‘’freedom to assemble and demonstrate peaceably and without arms. ‘’ However, with the retention of the colonial Public Order Act, these rights may become actionable without hindrance when a government comes into being which truly recognises the sovereignty of the people.
In short the Gambia is a sovereign republic with a constitution which guarantees fundamental rights to the citizenry which the executive takes oath or makes affirmation to defend. Should any leader honour their oath with disregard, the people have the right to reject them in any election and select such leaders who will defend their rights as the sovereign owners of the country.
To conclude Foroyaa wishes its readers to note that Africa does not need two types of leaders. It does not need leaders who are always in the defensive against the west.It does not need leaders who are subservient to the west. Africa is in need of leaders who will enhance the liberty, dignity and prosperity of their people and serve as an example for the West to follow: In our view, a country with a population of more than 1.5 million and 95 per cent of whom claim to be Muslims cannot be disadvantaged to practice their religion by empowering them to chose their manner of government and exercise their rights to freedom of expression, rights to be free from detention without trial and freedom to associate to promote their beliefs without interfering with the beliefs of others and the exercise of others’ rights . Democracy is the corner stone of all sovereign Republics which have done away with monarchies which promote hereditary rule. Democracy is also inconceivable without human rights. Those who truly believe that a sovereign republic is owned by her citizens must advocate for democracy and human rights. The pages of Foroyaa are open to any Gambian who holds that The Gambian people are not the owners of The Gambia and should not freely decide who should manage their affairs. We shall also conduct consultation with a cross section of the population to get them to air their views on the subject for publication.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 121/2007, Tuesday 16 October 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Karl
136 Posts |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 17 Oct 2007 : 22:03:28
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Kudos to Alhagie Banding but is it not too little too late? He has been president of the council for quite a long time now since the removal of Alhagie Badinding Jabbie.why now?
Secondly,how about other religious Leaders the likes of the veteran oztas(now Imam Ratib) Kerno Kah, oustaz Jallow of police line mosque,Tafsir Gaye, mumtaqa faye, momodou lamin Sillah and the host of others?Have they been blinded by the cold drinks and meat? How about the rest of the other muslim preachers accross the country? Why can't they talk about the injustices and disappearances of people? Or was it fear not to be another Imam Karamo Touray from Brikama?
You see fallas we do have people who lead prayers in the Gambia and those who preach for survival but for those who fear only God and no Human beeing is rare.Most people fear today beatings,totures and killings than the Hell of the Here-after.
May God guide us all because in the Gambian of today only those who speak against the regime within the country are those whose family members are missing or incarnated in Jammeh's Jails.This is indeed sad as one's neighbor's tears should be your concern but the opposite is the real Gambia today. |
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