Gainako Newspaper

The recent indiscriminate bulldozing of the
houses of the poor people settling between
Busumbala and Jambur did not come as
a complete surprise to some observers.

This reporter has earlier on reported on the
impending land crisis in the whole of the
Western region and concluded that if
nothing is done about the matter, it has the
potential to explode into a civil strife.

The reporter was seen by two victims of what could best be described as a human tsunami when the
physical planning authorities dressed in social security uniforms with police escorts bulldozed both the
buildings of the poor as well as the cement block buildings of the well- to- do.

This reporter visited the demolition site and saw buildings scattered as if a natural catastrophe has
struck the entire area. He was shocked and perplexed by the number of homeless victims which
includes over 60 families.

When this reporter visited the Alkalo�s compound he found over 200 people belonging to about 60
families of various ethnic backgrounds, crying and some throwing themselves on the ground. The
victims said they were never informed nor notified of the eviction order nor have they ever known that
the area they occupy belongs to the Social security and Housing Finance Corporation.

The village head also said he was never notified about the action, and expressed surprise on the whole
thing.What surprised the villagers above all is the question, how the Social Security acquired such a
huge land in their village without their knowledge. The Social Security which is established to help the
poor workers acquire land and even support them after their retirement is now the institution that is
unleashing the biggest tsunami of all times on the poor people in the name of helping the poor. What an
irony? The housing Corporation should call a press conference to clarify matters.

.............Adam Tensta
Gambia's most recent Grammy winning musician
........................By: Alieu Khan, �land Islands��..April, 27th, 2008
Adam Momodou Eriksson Taal is undoubtedly the current reigning
hip hop star in the Scandinavia. Known by the stage name Adam
Tensta, he was born on the 1st August 1983 in the Swedish capital,
Stockholm. He has a Gambian father and a Swedish mum.

This chart-topping musician grew up listening to Bob Marley. According
to him, he was also in tune to what was happening in the genre of hip
hop. As a young boy, he started with break dancing and with time he
noticed that he has the potentials to write songs that stand the chance
to be widely appreciated.

Adam's debut album, It's a Tensta Thing was released in September 2007 by K-Wrek Records. It
came at a time, when hip hop was almost dead in Sweden, a country that host lot of Gambian
musicians. One of the songs in the album, My Cool led to his quick popularity. It was a well crafted
techno with rap, which became the most demanded song in Swedish night clubs. It received a great
airplay and currently it has hit about 1.5million views on Youtube.

Adam is building hype globally, with his music capturing great attention. Already he has started
performing with world musicians like Akon. According to him he never likes to compromise lyrical
content. A young Swedish producer called Lucas Nathanson of Nate Productions believes that
Adam's lyrical content is one of the major reasons why he is gaining great acclamation.

The Gambian hip hop star is currently on popular demand and there are always loud applauses where
ever he performs. What is not clear to this writer is whether Adam has built adequate attachment with
his father's native country, The Gambia. Almost majority of Gambians music devotees in Sweden, are
so proud of him and they felt he needs the support of every Gambian.

On all his profiles it is clearly stated that his father is Gambian, but the million dollar question is; do
Adam Tensta see himself as a Gambian? We were very proud recently when a Gambian-Swedish
half-caste boxer, Badou Jack decided to represent The Gambia in the world business of sports.
Badou is already on the lips of every Gambian both home and abroad and he has created name for
himself by being Gambia's first qualified boxer for an Olympic games. He will be in Beijing to proudly
represent his father's native country.

In a chat with Mo Hawk, one of the vocalists of Gambia's most popular rap group Da Fugitivz, he
was seemingly very proud of Adam and his talents. He already managed to secure an interview with
him for the Senegalese National TV and this can be watched on
http://www.myspace.com/mohawkdafugitivz.

This writer has already arranged an interview with Adam Tensta and from the interview it will be clear
if he is proud of his Gambian connection and if he has plans of storming the Gambia for a major gig.

.........STGDP PRESS RELEASE:
STGDP held a Retreat in Frankfort, KY last month to find a way forward
and to explore political opportunities for 2011. The weekend retreat was
held by the entire Executive of STGDP. The retreat was also seen by the
organization as an opportunity to revisit the role of STGDP in the 2006
elections, in terms of missed opportunities and what could have been done
to see the whole coalition process to a successful end.

The anticipation was that such an exercise will help to carve a realistic way forward. The retreat
started out by enumerating the successes and failures of STGDP, but the one issue that brought the
most contentious debate was the revision of the decision made to endorse NADD after the UDP and
NRP left the fold. Some of the members believed that the hasty endorsement of NADD did not help
the organization in the credibility front in terms of engaging all sides of the divide; some of the other
members still maintained that after the formation of NADD which the organization supported and
endorsed, to walk away from it would have been seen as not principled and really a betrayal to the
effort that we were at the forefront. In the final analysis, frank discussions have yielded positive insights
into STGDP and will without a doubt help in the quest for a way forward.

It is indeed an understatement that the disintegration of the coalition effort was a major blow to
STGDP, disappointment led to frustration as the organization continued to struggle trying to keep the
tiny flicker of hope. The members have invested lots of time, effort and financial commitment to the
effort, and when the whole thing came crashing emotions took over and suspicions were at large. As
the membership of STGDP eroded and a clear way forward became illusive, to the few members left
were not sure how to proceed with the struggle. Of course, the arrest of one of our members, Fatou
Jaw Manneh became the awakening to most of us, and a clear reminder that the fight to bring about
democracy in the Gambia cannot be ever abandoned. We have had several telephone conferences -
trying to seek a realistic frame work or way to continue the struggle against the status quo in the
Gambia. After looking into different strategies: like forming a new political party, a direct engagement
to the APRC, STGDP has really concluded that maybe there are still opportunities left in what was
started, and that there is a need to go back to the drawing board and to reach out to all the players
and begin the task of rapprochement. Even though, there was reluctance from some of the members,
but the general consensus is that change can still be brought about under the leadership of Halifa,
Ousainou, Hamat and OJ. The bottom line is that, it is really a question of political necessity to frame
the opposition strategy among these players that have already build structures in the Gambia with
grass support. STGDP is not advocating for the continuation of the template that was in place, but
rather to start the arduous task of rebuilding a credible and effective opposition in the Gambia. The
first goal is to build a solid voice among all activists in the Diaspora from all political parties. The
second goal will be to start the rebuilding of trust between UDP and NADD, and to start a
coordination of activities between the two parties. This is not about jumping and forming a coalition, or
the recreation of NADD. But rather working together, and addressing issues that the principal
opposition players can agree upon, especially against Jammeh and to take him on every turn until the
election in 2011.

As for the issue that the opposition disappointed the Diaspora, STGDP has finally come to terms that
the road to democracy and a free Gambia is full of stumbling blocs, and it would be very naive on our
part to expect positive results right away. The options are very clear we can either stay defeated, or
go back to the drawing board and build a new strategy. For now, there is a renew enthusiasm among
all the members of STGDP that it is indeed worth it to continue the struggle, no matter what temporal
setbacks we are faced with. This is the price we are willing to pay to contribute in the building of
democracy, peace and rule of law in the Gambian. STGDP still considers Ousainou, Halifa, Hamat
and OJ as patriots that have given a lot and that their sacrifices and commitments cannot be
overlooked, even though there were big political miss-opportunities that were not fully exploited in the
last effort.

STGDP is back and we are looking for a new beginning , and looking forward to working with all
Gambians in the Diaspora to bring back the enthusiasm we once had in the early part of the 2006
coalition effort.

Thanks
Musa Jeng
Chairman STGDP

..................................................NEWS
..Football In The Country- side;
.....Players Collapsing in The Field Of Play
....................A "Juju Affair"
..................................By Solo, Banjul Correspondent�April 26th, 2008

Football is almost the only game played in the provinces nowadays,
and because of the popularity of the game, teams would want to do
anything to win a game. On Tuesday 21st April 2008, Boro
Kandakassey and Bajakunda locked horns at Sutukoba playing
grounds. The game was a crucial match and both teams were eager
to win the encounter.

Interestingly enough, during the first half, the crowd experienced
the collapse of two of Bajakunda's players in the field of play.
No one knew or knows the cause of their collapse. At the end
of the game, Boro Kandakassey by a lone goal to none defeated
Baja kunda.

After the crowd dispersed and the teams were said to have gone to their various villages, over 14
other people among them none players also collapsed until they were hospitalized at the Bajakunda
Health Center. Seven of them were players of Baja.

This reporter was eager to hear the reasons behind the collapse of these people. When He contacted
a player at Bajakunda, the player opined that they were charmed by the Boro people and that was
why they had all collapsed. He was however unable to say how that had happened.

On more enquires, the reporter was reliably informed on how the whole thing had happened. The
story went like this. The Boro people they said had gone to see one marabout by the name of Bakary
somewhere across the border in Senegal who gave them concoctions and charms; that the charms
were be planted in a hole under a tree 11 feet away from the part of the field they the Boro team were
to play their first match. This they said was done with much precision. But word had reached the Baja
kunda people of the charm, which propelled them into action to find out the whereabouts of the said
charm before done but to no avail.

According to my informants, the Baja kunda people had done everything they could but could not see
the charm; that they were forced to play the game despite their knowledge of the charm with much
reluctance.

This reporter made all efforts to find out if the marabout might have given the players some
concoctions, which may have some kind of drug in it that could make them to collapse, but this was
rejected by my interviewees.

A health worker however told my informants that all they did was to give some water through injection
to the players which helped them to be conscious again; that all the 14 people have become conscious
again. My informant said the others who collapsed in Baja kunda village itself had received the reading
of the Koran on a chapter called "YASIN" but could not say whether they have become conscious
or not.

..The Watchman on Observer's Editorial
.............................By Lamin J Darbo........................April 26th, 2008
Dear Editor:
The Observer's editorial is admittedly devoid of substance and
sophistication, but even if tangentially; it does touch on a quite
pertinent issue.

Notwithstanding the views of The Watchman, western money in the form of foreign direct investment
(FDI) has no necessary interest in the promotion of human rights and democracy. The profit motive is
the main attraction, and international capital goes where there is money to be made. Every other
consideration is secondary.

As for United Nations (UN) peacekeepers, The Watchman's argument is incomplete. The UN is a
world body, and under Chapter VII of its Charter, the Security Council has an obligation to intervene
where it deems a clear threat to international peace and security exists. Any deployment of UN
peacekeepers to Darfur, or other conflict zones, must be seen as a fulfillment of that mandate.
Suffice to say that the Gambia Government signed the Rome Statute - the Treaty setting up the
International Criminal Court in The Hague - on 07 December 1998, and deposited its ratification
instrument on 28 June 2002, three days before it came into force on 01 July 2002.

As of now, the Court has jurisdiction to try allegations pertaining to Genocide, War Crimes, and
Crimes Against Humanity. It also has jurisdiction to try Aggression, if, and when, the definition of that
crime is agreed by the ICC's assembly of state parties. In the ordinary run of events, aggression, either
directly or by proxy, is likely to be committed by global military powers. If in 2002 the ICC is barred
from considering allegations of Aggression because a definition could not be agreed for the crime,
where was the justification in the internationalized German (Nuremberg), and Japanese (Tokyo)
post-war tribunals prosecuting the leaders of those countries for, among other charges, the crime of
waging 'aggressive' wars. There is no question that international justice has disturbing selectivity about
it.
Of the 194 members of the United Nations, 105 have acceded to the Rome Statute. For now, major
states including the USA, Russia, China, India, Iran, etc., refused to ratify the Rome Statute, and are
therefore exempt from the jurisdiction of the ICC. In light of the Observer editorial, I wonder why the
Gambia, along with many African countries, accepted the jurisdiction of the ICC. A former militia
leader in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the first indictee of the ICC, for, among other
things, recruitment of child soldiers in that country's devastating civil war.

Although the concept is the same, Charles Taylor is actually on trial before the Special Court for
Sierra Leone specially sitting in The Hague, for alleged crimes associated with that country's
eleven-year civil war. In a nutshell, the crux of the article is not easily dismissible since the
overwhelming number of defendants - for the foreseeable future at least - are likely to come from
Africa, and from countries in other 'insignificant' continents.

Nevertheless, The Watchman should be able to argue against the Observer editorial on the grounds
that at the heart of the ICC is the principle of complementarity, meaning that the Court will only
intervene if a national jurisdiction is either unable, or unwilling to prosecute alleged international
criminals. In other words, the ICC's jurisdiction is residual, and only kicks in when a national judicial
system is incapacitated for whatever reason. It is also worthwhile to remind the Observer that African
countries like the Gambia acceded to the Rome Statute of their free sovereign will.

If we accept that the Observer highlights a legitimate issue, we should nevertheless ask whether
African leaders are right in shielding former despots like Chad's Hissene Habre, in Senegal effectively
under house arrest, from judicial accountability. If the African Union, in light of his aborted indictment
(the Cour de Cassation, Senegal 's court of final appeals, upheld a jurisdictional bar to Senegal
prosecuting Habre) manifests reluctance to prosecute him for torture, and crimes against humanity,
there should be no resistance to the extradition request from Belgium under its universal jurisdiction
laws.

Lamin J Darbo

.............................................................NEWS
...........OVER 200,000
......CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL IN THE GAMBIA;
.....................-" End Exclusion Now "
................................By Solo, Banjul Correspondent.............April 25th, 2008
As the world thinks about the Global Week of Action, which
commenced on 21st April in the Gambia and around the world
organized by Education for all network {EFANet}, this reporter
went around checking what some of the children are doing at the
moment.

When I first got on the road, I noticed a very small boy, about
the age of 11 years in a passenger van acting as an apprentice
driver, shouting Banjul! Banjul!! I decided to join that vehicle
up to Banjul, the Gambian capital.

This small boy managed to give back the change of all those
who gave him higher denominations than the required fee. He
is a very smart guy. As I dropped at the garage in Banjul,
another young man came rushing to their vehicle who started
shouting "ayi waa" Tabokoto! Ayi waa tabookoto!!. Then I
saw the apprentice boy stood aside. So I capitalized on his
free time and interviewed him thus; what is your name, I asked.
Alfusainy, he responded. Where are your parents? I asked
again. They are all at home he fumed.

When I asked Alfusainy whether he would want to go to school, he looked at me with an unusual look
and with shyness said, yes. So why did your father not send you to school then? I again asked. My
father wants me to go to the Darra{ koranic school}. So why are you not in Koranic School then?
But before he could answer, his adult driver called on top of his voice saying Alfusainy lets go!. Off
Alfusainy went.

So I had to look for another boy like him. They were many but whomever I go to was seen busy
trying to attract clients to his vehicle bound for Tabookoto or Serrekunda. However this reporter
decided to drop at the Buffer Zone the other day and found several children playing football in the
early morning at about 9.30am. I stopped three of them and insist that they must tell me why they have
not gone to school. They might have thought that I was going to punish them or something. So when I
asked why they did not go to school, which was easy for them; they simultaneously replied instantly.
One said he was going to afternoon classes. The other said he was not going to school and third said
he was driven from school because of school fees.

As I moved on I spotted a motor mechanic workshop and saw some small boys jointly dragging an
iron that appeared heavy for them. They are all between the ages of 10 and 14 years. I decided to
speak to their chief mechanic who is named Mbye. I asked him if the kids were his own kids. He
answered in the negative. He said they are all brought there by their parents. Asked about his own
kids, Mr. Mbye said he left them at Kaolack, Senegal. Asked also what his children are doing in
Kaolack, Mr. Mbye said they are all going to school. I decided to ask Mbye his opinion on whether
he prefers children to go to school first or to start learning skills, Mr. Mbye opined that kids should
first go to school but argued that some parents prefer skills training than education which they think is
a waste of time and resources.

So as I moved about I could see children all over the place doing all sorts of things whilst others go to
school. This reporter also noticed that many schools especially in the provinces do not have enough
teachers and if they do, they do not have sufficient qualified teachers and teaching aids are almost
none existent in many schools. This is why the theme for this year's campaign "End Exclusion Now" is
very apt. The question however remains as to how the theme could be achieved in a developing
country like the Gambia.

This reporter looked at the Gambia's annual budget for Education, about 65 million Dalasi for the
2007-2008 academic year and discovered that the amount earmarked for education is far less than
what is allocated for the president's office, 150 million dalasi, and concluded that if the cry of the
campaigners is to heard then government has to recognize and give priority to the education sector
that would greatly complement the contribution of the UNICEF and other donor agencies. This
reporter also observed that if the state reduces its exorbitant expenditure on non-priority areas and
supplement it on education, it would go a long way to alleviate the many huddles placed on the path of
the department of education.

It is estimated that over 200, 000 children are out of official school system in the Gambia and over 72
million children are out of school worldwide.

.....Journalists Should Go
..........................By Ebrima Sarr, England........Posted April 24th, 2008
Dear Sir,
I'd like to think this is first of many emails I'll be sending to you. The emergence of the online media
has opened up a world of information for us in the Diaspora, on our beloved nation which hitherto
came in distorted bits and pieces, not as quick but bearing all the hallmarks of our well known radio
'kangkang'. Its a shame though that an opportunity so great is grossly misused and the blessings that
should have been its fruit like manna from heaven is now close to the forbidden fruit of Eden.

I am of the school of disagreeing to agree n believe that views, dissenting and controversial they may
be should be freely expressed and the absorption and practice of ideas be left to the discretion of the
masses with the guidance of the law of course. This is why i am very much a fan of the Gambia online
media as information that would in no way be aired on any media outlet in the country is thanks to the
former now out in the open for public consumption.

However the negativity that oozes out from some outlets is like pus from a gangrene limb, which is for
the owner best cut off lest it spreads n causes death. I will be the first to admit that my grasp of the
law is less than rudimentary as my claim to reading it ends in a one year course at GTTI. However, I
challenge you readers to this;(no doubt men of law amongst you) if a citizen is in possession of
information which could lead to the overthrow of a government, and his only effort in respect to that
info is to air and propagate its execution, not guilty of aiding and abetting treason or in the worst case
scenario, treason itself!?

This is the crime one online paper has committed in alleging receipt of a letter of treason from some
disgruntled soldiers. Lack of time and space restricts me to shred the report piecemeal but it does not
take a genius to assert that receipt of a letter of treason from the executioners is either a hoax or a
damn right lie by the recipient as the airing of such a plan would render it crushed. And to wish such a
calamity on our dear Gambia, disgruntled as one may be with the regime is surely a heinous crime n
very much immoral. By anyone's standard, The Gambia as it is better than it could ever be when law
and order ceases to exist.

I hope this paper refrains from such negative reporting and that those of us who rely on it will resort
to feeding from it without taking every word with a pinch of salt.
...........No Sitting on the Fence
I am honored to have known Ebrima Conteh from when he was a boy and even as he may not
remember me, I clearly do him and i would assert right here and now that i looked up to him. Im not
surprised, rather much impressed that he has turned out to be the successful man I ever knew he was
going to become. Congratulations on coming back from Iraq alive. As there are few good men, the
world is richer with you still breathing.

However, I would like to know where you stand on matters in the Gambia, as I am very much baffled
at your mention of Yaya's projects and praise for Halifa and FOROYAA. Last time i checked, the
only mention Halifa made of the said projects are they were built by loans and since the projects don't
generate money, yet the loans will still be paid, that it could only help in increasing tax, thereby adding
to the suffocation of the masses. Can you please enlighten me as to how you think change can be
achieved in the Gambia?

My dear brother, I look forward to your response. Flatter me with one please.The author can be
contacted at eysarr@yahoo.co.uk.

Ebrima Sarr
England
...ONLY AFRICAN JUSTICE IS RIGHT!!
......- SAY DAILY OBSERVER JOKERS
...............................By The Watchman.........................April 24th, 2008
The jokers and elementary school grade writers at The Gambia's
Daily observer are at it again. Previously, the Watchman deemed
this so called newspaper such a travesty of journalistic conscience
that it was barely mentioned on other commentaries. There is an
editorial they penned; however, that deserves some scrutiny and
lots of laughs. Titled "Tell Them to Go Shove It" and recently
cross posted at the All Africa website, this comedy of words launches a rather clumsy assault on
global attempts to prosecute African war criminals. It also pivots to defend the "justice" ministers
who had gathered like a pack of wolves at Addis Ababa to condemn internationally hailed efforts to
indict African Human Rights scofflaws. Here's one interesting excerpt:

"Those arrogant French Judges shouldn't be blamed much, for they were blinded by their ignorance of the
changing situation in African awareness. They were indeed motivated by previous cases, where Africans
connived with their neo-colonialist masters to undermine other Africans. The message for them, however, is that
Africa can never be re-colonized. As the conference of Ministers demands, all eyes are on the African
Commission. This act of insolence must be stemmed".

To hear the Daily Observer tell it, only the African brand of "justice" is legit. It is interesting to note
that whenever African "leaders" have come under intense pressure and scrutiny to thwart their gross
flouting of Human Rights, they have reached out for that most supercilious of cop outs in pushing back:
neo-colonialism. Like Robert Mugabe, African goons, aided by their sycophant presses, have
accused the West of sovereign infringement in matters of elections and democracy. The tragedy of this
charade is the fact that manipulated citizens in some of these repressed states easily fall for it. One can
go into the many ways the West and opposition parties can counter these nefarious schemes but it
would perhaps be best to challenge these buffoons to do the following:

First, if only African "justice" should be the single criterion on matters of rights, why not extend the
rule to FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in Africa? The World Investment Report 2007 Transnational
Corporations, Extractive Industries and Development, produced by the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), revealed that foreign direct investment (FDI) into Africa
doubled between 2004 and 2006 to 36 billion Dollars. Despite the fact that Africa is still lagging
behind in the global share of FDI, this was a record amount compared to years before. It also reflects
the faith investors have in the continent's potential despite the sins of its wayward rulers who no doubt
benefit from their commercial activities. If these African governments don't want outsiders to judge
their grossly erroneous mishaps on Human Rights, they should also reject the influx of Western money
into their state coffers and business societies. Let's apply some consistency here. Also it would show
self-respect on their part to rebuff the deeds of agencies like the IMF and Red Cross because since
they are dominated by the West, there is a tendency they could be "neo-colonialist."

Next, these African "resistance" governments should protest the presence of peace keepers
supplied by world bodies such as the UN in areas of the continent that have been ravaged by their
counterparts, like Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo. It can be easily noted that previous
African hotspots that are now experiencing relative peace are under the auspices of the UN especially
in these abovementioned nations. Other peace keeping operations under the supervision of African
Union forces in nations like Somalia and Sudan (Darfur) are doing abysmally. If African "justice" (or
lack thereof) is the best and not worthy of constructive criticism, shouldn't it be evident in the way
African peace keepers who are so adept at matters concerning Human Rights etc, execute the tasks
of minimizing violence in their fellow African entities? If African governments reject and denounce
intrusive "neo-colonial" pretensions to "justice", they should ask the UN to leave and allow an
African version of military intervention on matters of governance that they have botched again and
again. One only wonders how long it will take before they beg for sustenance from the global
community after embarking on that path to catastrophe. By the way why is it these same African
leaders and their "justice" ministers always make a bee line for their Western counterparts at
international symposia, mug for the camera and proceed to effusively praise them? Isn't this
"neo-colonialist" and "insolent", to use the ill chosen dictum of the Daily Observer?

Last, these outraged African "justice" ministers should goad their respective nations to boycott
international events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. They are dominated by Western
sponsors, most of the medals are won by the powerful and industrial states that hail from Europe and
North America and by the way when was the last time the Olympics were held in Africa? The rules of
all the sports have their roots in the West. Shouldn't there be an African rules based type of
football/soccer? Isn't this "neo-colonialism" and "imperialism"? I don't see African "justice"
ministers protesting the running of the Olympic torch from global city to global city like the pro-Tibetan
dissidents, who are fed up with a local version of "justice" (Chinese to be exact) and want the world to
notice. Why didn't Yahya Jammeh, proprietor of the high school newspaper that is the Daily
Observer, protest when his spouse traveled to the US to give birth and once coveted US citizenship
for his daughter? This is actual "neo-colonial" behavior isn't it? What type of "justice" is the
president doing to his local hospital, the RVTH, when he disrespects their abilities and flees to a rich
Western state to deliver his offspring?

It's easy to know what response the elves and dwarfs at The Daily Observer will give in defense of
their ever watchful master: some "neo-colonialisms" are more equal than others.

The author can be contacted at Gambiaswatchman@gmail.com.

......................................NEWS
Court Conceals Prosecution�s Witness Identity
.......in the Journalist�s Sedition Trial
........................................By MFWA..............April 23rd, 2008
The Kanifing Magistrate Court trying Fatou Jaw Manneh, a US-based
Gambian journalist for alleged sedition on April 21, 2008 restricted the
general public from the trial by ruling that only Manneh�s family members
and two journalists were to be admitted to the court.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that the
ruling followed an earlier application filed by the Director of Public
Prosecutions (DPP) of The Gambia, Emmanuel Fagbenle. The DPP had
earlier asked the court to protect the prosecution witnesses by concealing
their identities.

The sources said Lamin Jobarteh, Manneh�s counsel, objected to the court�s decision, arguing that
courts all over the world were open platform for the general public. This was, however, overruled.

Following the new ruling, a third witness also testified against the journalist.

Manneh, a former journalist with the Daily Observer newspaper in its early days, has been charged
with three counts of sedition, following a series of articles she wrote criticising the regime of President
Yahya Jammeh. Upon her arrival on March 28, 2007 in the Gambia, she was arrested, detained for a
week, and had her travel documents confiscated by the authorities.

Since her arrest, Manneh�s case has been moving back and forth from one magistrate�s court to
another. The courts have argued that they lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, because the said
articles were published on the internet. However, on December 7, 2007, a High Court in Banjul ruled
that the case could be tried anywhere because of the global nature of the Internet and referred it back
to the court where it was first tried � the Kanifing Magistrate Court. On March 11, 2008, the case
was delayed further as Magistrate Jawo failed to show up in court. ..

Copyright, 2006-2008: Gainako On-line Newspaper . Site Maintained by Gamway Computers