Gainako Newspaper

Reports reaching this reporter speak grim of state guards
maltreating innocent civilian bystanders for not been seen to
be cheering the president while his convoy passed through
the town of Brikama.

This reporter is reliably informed by an eyewitness that a father
and his children were mercilessly beaten by uniformed soldiers
escorting the president's convoy across Brikama on Saturday
31st at about 3pm. He said the soldiers told them live that if
anyone is not ready to cheer the president, he / she should not
bother to come out on the street when his convoy is passing

The same soldiers reportedly flog another youth mercilessly at the same time for the same outrageous
pretext that he was standing idly by as if nothing of significance was happening while the president's
convoy was cruising by. He said he was told categorically that he either claps for the president or earn
his wrath.

This unheard of behavior by no other than the state guards has to all intent and purposes flouted the
code of conduct adopted at a recent Civil-Military Relations workshop geared to educate soldiers
that they have no right to maltreat civilians for any reason whatsoever. Soldiers should show their
loyalty to the state by becoming ever ready to defend the country because this is why they are paid for
by the people through taxes, etc and not to maltreat innocent and defenseless civilians. Soldiers have
no right to transfer their aggression to people who have no hand in their grievances. They should know
that nobody is above the law.

Civilians should know that they have a right to report any maltreatment or any unlawful activity by a
soldier especially in uniform to the Military authorities so that it can be investigated and the culprits
brought to book. It can also be reported to newspapers for exposure so as to alert the authorities that
should take appropriate action after investigation.

.The Imams Misguided Response to Jammeh�s
...OOutrageous Comments Against Gays.
........................... By Pasamba Jow Coach......June 8th, 2008
I find the enthusiastic endorsement by the imam and deputy imam of North
Carolina of Jammeh�s outrageous attack against homosexuals quite
perplexing. If Mr. Kanteh (imam) and Mr. Jeng (deputy imam) had spoken
as private concerned citizens, I would not have responded to their
statements, but since they chose their pulpits to make the statements, I
believe they deserve a response.

What is disconcerting about the imams� attempt to praise Jammeh is what I
will call their selective attention to Jammeh�s tyranny.

There is nothing more disgusting than to see these imams jumping over each
other to praise Jammeh�s hateful attacks on gays, but never uttering a single
word publicly against Jammeh�s continued abrogation of Gambian rights. I
am inclined to ask, where were the imams when Koro Ceesay was murdered?
Where were they when twelve innocent students were massacred? Where
were they when Deyda Hydara was assassinated, better yet where were they
when Mr. Ousman Sillah, who is now a respectful elder in North Carolina,
was nearly murdered by Jammeh�s thugs? Alternatively, is it that murder is
less of crime than homosexuality in the eyes of Islam?

If imams choose to praise Jammeh for what they consider good, they must have
the courage and the fortitude to denounce his wrongs. Ultimately, it does not
take an imam, a priest, or a rabbi to point out when a crime has been committed;
when someone�s life has been taken in cold blood; when the basic rights of a
human being are being trampled upon. Individuals can determine these things for
themselves, and can serve the greater good of humanity by defending these
rights vigorously, and in a manner that honors the divinity of us all

...........................................Political Commentary:
..Barack Obama � The History Man!
....�How he defeated the most Sophisticated Political Machinery in American History�
...................... By Demba Baldeh, Seattle, WA...........June 6th, 2008
The just-ended, fiercely contested Democratic nomination for President
of the United States of America had to come down to the wire. Barack
Obama has finally claimed victory, securing the number of delegates
needed to win the Democratic nomination. Both Obama and his rival
Senator Hillary Clinton had to grind it out to the end, with each candidate
winning one of the last two States to vote � Montana and South Dakota.

This historic nomination contest featuring a woman and an African
American has shattered almost every political record ever recorded in
the history of the United States. Billed as having been the closest to a
record fundraising drive, this primary contest between the Clintons and
the Junior Senator from Illinois exceeded every expectation of a
magnificent campaign between two extraordinarily talented candidates.

The story line is how for the first time in the history of this great democracy, an African American has
finally emerged to claim the nomination for a major political party. Looking at it from every angle,
Obama�s nomination signifies an important reminder of one of the great dreams of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. who prophesized over 40 years ago that �one day this great nation will rise, live up to its true
meaning; that all men are created equal; that little black boys and black girls will one day not be
judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.� Those touching words of the
then young Dr. King have finally started to actualize themselves in the political evolution of this nation.

What is even more fascinating about Obama�s victory is how he did it coming from nowhere
to defeat the Clintons � one of the most sophisticated political families this nation has ever witnessed.
Who would have thought that a first term Junior Senator from the South side of Chicago, an African
American born to a Kenyan immigrant father and raised by a single parent would, against all the odds,
single-handedly take over the reign of the popular ex-president Bill Clinton with Seventy (70%)
percent voter approval combined with one of the toughest first ladies in this nation�s political history?
Who would have thought that an African American candidate who was barely known in the political
arena would have inspired so many young voters who had never shown interest in the political future
of this country? Who would have thought that disenfranchised and divided African American
minorities would rally behind someone they thought was not black enough to represent their interest?

Barack Obama turned out to be that political figure, who did not only inspire voters but
also motivated over one and a half million donors to support his campaign with an average
contribution of $25 during the toughest of economic times. These young Americans, who are
fully conscious of what is at stake in light of a senseless war and economic hardship,
were enamored of Obama�s powerful message of change � a change from the bottom up. This
message of CHANGE, more than anything else, helped Obama land the Democratic nomination.

How He Did It
How did Obama arrive at the nomination? Well, the fight was tough and Obama and his surrogates
will be the first to admit that this was so close that if there were a few more states left in this contest,
the Clintons would have staged another comeback kid revivalism. Obama won this contest doing what
he was best known for, grassroots organizing. In early February after Super Tuesday, he mounted a
vigorous campaign in Caucus States which earned him Eleven (11) consecutive victories, building the
delegate lead that finally handed him the victory. Failure to take serious note of the contest in the
Caucus States was the biggest and most costly political blunder the Clintons ever made. This is what
unbelievably brought the Clintons down on their knees in disbelief while they watched Obama take the
torch away from them. One could not help it but feel sorry for the Clintons who were the biggest
nightmare for the Republican Party.

Another brilliant strategic approach Obama and his team adapted was to swiftly and forcefully
respond to any allegation levied against him by the Clintons. The counter punch which the Clintons
have always used successfully came back to haunt them over and over during this campaign.The
loyalty of the African American voters to the Clintons which earned Bill the nickname �First Black
President� could not be carried over to Hillary because she was up against their own. The Clintons
could not figure out how to handle this voting bloc, the most loyal of the Democratic Party.
Furthermore, as the saying goes �blood is thicker than water.� Having to choose between their own
and their friends, the African Americans overwhelmingly embraced their own who was on the verge of
making history. This massive support from the black population is largely responsible for Obama�s
victories even in the deep historically segregated Southern States.

Obama�s unconventional approach to some major political issues which normally make politicians
unpopular or distrusted, made him an unusually straightforward politician who spoke his mind from his
gut feelings without regard to political consequences. This also earned him the respect and admiration
of many voters. Take, for instance, his honest comment on people clinching to guns and turning to their
religions during economic and other hard times. This comment though unpopular with many who were
guilty of such behavior may have cost him votes, but it couldn�t be truer than the way he stated it.
When the horrible 9/11 terrorist�s attacks hit the U.S, many Americans who never or hardly went to
Church started attending Church. Many who lived away from their families moved back to their home
states to be closer to families. While these attacks were despicable, they brought a sense of reality to
all of us that we were no longer as safe as we might have thought. So Obama was right, people turn to
God when they are hit with hardship and he never backed away from the fundamental facts of his
comment. This was unprecedented for a politician to stick to his guns during such a hard-fought
primary contest.

Of course, some things did not go well with Obama given his inexperience in the political arena. The
Rev. Jeremiah Wright�s hate speech did not go well with Obama and it may have turned away many
voters who could have easily voted for him. On a positive side, though, I think that the Rev. Wright�s
appearance on the scene was, maybe, one of the best things that happened to Obama during his
campaign. Why so? Well, before the Reverend�s tapes surfaced, as many as 22% of Americans had
believed that Obama was a Muslim in disguise. Obviously, America would never vote for a Muslim to
become a nominee of a major political party much more to talk about electing him into the Presidency.
So it was day light for Obama when he was finally proved to be a Christian and had been going to the
same church for over twenty years.

His opponents seized on the matter and pounded on him vigorously which forced him to give a speech
on race which could be his best political speech yet in his political life. His race speech in Philadelphia
clearly distinguished him from many politicians our generation has seen over time. He willingly and
openly discussed the bitter complications of race, an issue that America has never been comfortable to
discuss in the open. It has always been swept beneath the rug even in light of the most despicable acts
of racism. Obama�s confrontation of this highly sensitive issue helped put race in a new perspective
for many Africans. Race in this country would never be looked at the same way it has always been
partly because of Obama�s explicit explanation of what both races harbor deep inside. That timely
speech may have saved his political career, if not, certainly gained him a lot more respect and
admiration from many corners in America.

On a final push to hold on to his lead in delegates, Obama cautiously played a smart political game by
silently admitting that there was nothing he could do to prevent those so-called White working class
and Spanish voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia from voting for him simply because of his
color. He studied the rest of the political map and contested fiercely in States that mattered to him and
were willing to give him the opportunity. He was truly right to spend less time in those unfavorable
States because he could not help those who looked at his color instead of voting on the issues that
most affected these people. As one Obama surrogate said �I am sorry if some people in this country
will not vote for a candidate who has no choice in being black or white simply because of his color.�
No matter whatever Obama had done, these folks would never have voted for him anyway. They
simply couldn�t get over the fact that this nation had changed forever and ever.

What Obama Should Do
Finally, now that Obama has won the Democratic nomination, he has a bigger and tougher fight
against John McCain and the Republican Machinery. It is without a doubt that the Republican
machinery is more vicious than the Clinton�s. The good news for Obama and the Democrats is that
George Bush has managed to brilliantly squander the little hope that was left in the political life of this
nation. Obama has a fresh opportunity to open a new chapter and lead this nation to that final dream
that Dr. King had talked about several decades ago.

He would have to sharpen his swords and do exactly what he did to the Clintons � and that is to
tackle head on every single allegation they bring against him. He should continue to be angry at false
allegations and tactics designed to distract this nation from the real issues. When he keeps that straight
counter punch at all times, he will be the next President of the free world.

On the VP search, Obama needs to be very careful who he picks. Historically, the VP pick has either
strengthened or weakened a candidate. While picking Hillary may ultimately win Obama the White
House, she might turn out to be a nuisance in pushing her own agenda on some battles she has been
fighting for decades. Such issues might be Universal Healthcare which she tried so hard during her
husband�s presidency. So Obama needs to evaluate whether he only needs someone to help him win
the White House and take back everything or does he really need someone to enable him bring the
real change he has been advocating for in this country. Hillary is brilliant but a very persistent woman
who could stand in the way of progress for Obama.

......................................................NEWSFLASH:
....Court Orders The Gambia to Immediately
....Release Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh
.....................................By MFWA...................June 6th, 2008
In a landmark decision delivered on June 5th, 2008, The Community
Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria declared the arrest and detention of
Chief Ebrima Manneh illegal and ordered the Gambian authorities to
immediately release him.

The court also awarded damages in the sum of US$ 100,000 in favour
of Manneh against the Gambian Government.

The regime of President Yahya Jammeh has consistently denied any
knowledge of the whereabouts of the journalist, and has demonstrated
gross disrespect for the ECOWAS court by refusing to cooperate
throughout the proceedings.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) welcomes this decision by the ECOWAS court. We
therefore call on The Gambia to respect and enforce the judgment in accordance with laid down
procedures.

The suit was filed before the regional court on behalf of Chief Manneh by MFWA.

Prof. Kwame Karikari
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233 21 24 24 70
Fax : 233 21 221084
Website : www.mediafound.org
Email : mfwa@africaonline.com.gh

Imam Kanteh Speaks the Truth
.................................By Pa Ebou Jeng........June 6th, 2008
Deputy Imam Pa Ebou Jeng says he supports Imam Amadou Kanteh's stance on
the issue of homosexuality. He also reiterates his unwavering support of
President Jammeh's ban on homosexuality in The Gambia. Mr. Jeng further states
that the President was right for initiating such a bold move since Islam does not
welcome homosexuality and the edict by The Gambia government is in line with
islamic principles. Mr. Jeng hailed Imam kanteh's stance on this controversial
issue describing it as � Speaking the truth�
Below is the Imam�s piece.

"O You who believe! Have taqwa with Allah, and be among the truthful."
(Surat al- Tawbah:119)

Many people understand truthfulness to mean truthfulness of the tongue
through speech alone. In reality, truthfulness is a vast curriculum. It is as much one of the
characteristics of the Muslim's personality both outward and inward, as it is his speech and action.
From it are the following:

A. Truthfulness in conveying the Religion: That is, one must profess the correct belief built upon
truthfulness with Allah Azza wa Jall, not upon hypocrisy, deceit and patronization. This is why
truthfulness is mentioned in the Qur'an as the opposite of hypocrisy. "That Allah may reward the
truthful for their truth, and punish the hypocrites if He wills, or turn mercifully towards
them..." (Surat al-Ahzaab:64). Therefore, it is necessary to posses the outward Islam with the
inward Imaan; it is necessary to have the correct belief in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Books,
and the Messengers. The outward guidance must conform to the inward guidance.

Here, is one of the hidden plots of shaytaan who inspires the daa`iya to neglect some of the outward
good deeds under the pretense that his inner reality is not the same. So he avoids this in order to avoid
deceiving the people! This is a huge mistake. The good deed which you perform outwardly is so
because of the righteousness and truthfulness in your heart as long as you do not do it for riyaa'
[show], reputation or in order to deceive the believers.

Pa Ebou Jeng,

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