Gainako Newspaper

A young sports reporter at the Point Newspaper by the name of Mr. Ebou Manneh has received the
shock of his life recently when he wrote a story indicating that the new coach for the Scorpions Paul
Put was not happy with the ministry�s plans to hire a Gele-Gele to transport the Scorpions to Dakar
ahead of their match with Algeria.

According to sources at the Point Newspaper, Mr. Pap Saine, the Point Director who was not keen
in publishing the story not only dropped the story but called Mass Axi Gai, the Secretary of State for
Sports and told him what the boy wrote; but that he Pap Saine has dropped the story.

Sources close to the Point further indicate that the Secretary of State for Sports, Mass Axi Gai later
called the reporter Mr Ebou Manneh and accused him of being used by somebody to undermine him
Axi. Impeccable sources added that he told the young reporter that he is of age now because he is
over 56 years but did not stop there. He was said to have threatened the reporter as thus,� If anybody
is trying to kill me, I will kill you,� he told Ebou Manneh.

Sources further revealed that the big man later went to the young man�s father to ask for mediation
between him and the boy; that he wants bygones to be bygones.

Mr. Manneh who was visibly shaken by the threat was said to have notified the FA about the matter.

Information circulating among the media practitioners speaks unkindly of Mr. Pap Saine as Director
who should be the protector of all the journalists especially the young ones but has instead endeavored
to put the young man�s life and profession under threat by his exposure of an internal report which was
dropped. They said he should have known better than to stoop so low.

..............Dida Halake
...Detained for Insubordination after Demotion
....................................By Solo, Banjul correspondent...........June18th, 2008
The Managing Director of the Daily Observer Newspaper, Mr. Dida
Halake, was arrested on Saturday, 14th of June, 2008 and detained at
the Kotu Police station for two nights. He was said to have been
transferred to the Police headquarters in Banjul on Monday, 16th June,
where he was questioned, advised and released without bail or charge.

Mr. Halake's problems were said to have arisen when he was informed
that Nene Mcdoual Gaye, the former Information Secretary of State,
has replaced him as Managing Director of the Daily Observer company
and that he, Dida, is only to retain the position of Editor in Chief, one of
the two he previously held. He was said to have resisted verbally to the
proprietor of the company, Mr. Amadou Samba, who then must have
tipped the IGP, who came with ten senior police officers, leading to his
immediate arrest and detention at the Kotu Police station.

According to my informant close to the Observer Company, Mr. Halake was also complaining that
Mr Amadou Samba came to collect a huge amount of cash which he took away without any
accountability.

Mr. Halake, in his short time as Managing Director of the Daily Observer,
placed himself in a controversial position and took the mantle of defending
the Jammeh regime with fierce ferocity not reminiscent of media bosses.
He went on to dismiss a young freelance reporter for accepting the position
of an executive member of the Gambia Press Union. He also went on the
offensive against all media houses, journalists and executives who subscribe
to the press union and branded the GPU as the Gambia political union.

Mr. Halake did not stop at the media personnel. He constantly criticize opposition politicians by
insinuation in his Dr. Owl's corner, issues that he thinks would tarnish them and promote president
Jammeh. Many thought perhaps he was doing that so that he could get closer to the Gambian leader
so as to accrue more benefits.

This reporter sounded the feelings of media practitioners on his arrest and detention but most of them
expressed little or no sympathy for him. Some called him a puppet whilst others called him a slave, yet
still others called him a month piece or termed him as an apologist of the Jammeh oligarchy.

In another development, a young Foroyaa reporter, Mr Saikou Ceesay who went to Mr. Halake at
the Kotu police station to confirm his arrest on Sunday got himself arrested when the police saw in his
hands a recorder while chatting with Halake. He spent the rest of the night at the station and released
on bail the following morning, Monday 16th. He is yet to be charged but was asked to be reporting to
the police station.

............................................BREAKING NEWS
...............NDAM
....External Wing Resigns From The Party
.................................................June16th, 2008
On May 30th, 2008, we the external wing of the National Democratic
Action Movement (NDAM) tendered our collective resignation from
NDAM to the Secretary General, Lamin Waa Juwara.

This was a difficult decision on our side, given the principles upon which
we cultivated our comradeship and the potential that constantly struggled
to rise above the constraints of the lack of resources to contend with the
"status quo" at the genuine service of the people of Gambia. We are
under no illusions about the urgent need to change the wretched conditions
of Gambia's existence.

We deemed it highly principled to make our decision public information to be followed by a detailed
analysis of our opinion and position relating to Gambia's future.

Our action was as a consequence of unresolved internal contradictions within the movement due to
circumstances beyond our control, which were further compounded by distance; which became our
enemy.

We expressed our heartfelt gratitude to our brother Waa Juwara for not being a spectator when we
needed an ally to resist the blatant abrogation of our democratic rights by the AFPRC-APRC regime.

We know what he endured since these "tin soldiers" stormed into our lives and continue to perfect the
"government of patronage" with the clear intent of eroding our social fortitude to resist and challenge
tyranny and the political madness that pervades African life.

We assured Waa Juwara that, we don't make disposable friends; that there is no love lost but the
resistance must continue. We hope our paths will cross again in the struggle to liberate Africa, the only
logical conclusion to our freedom.

.........................................'TIL VICTORY ALWAYS!
Soffie Ceesay
Omar Joof
Mbaye Sarr
Ousainou Mbenga

.....GAMBIA SCORPIONS IN HIGH GEAR
...................By Solo, Banjul correspondent..................June 16th, 2008
Gambia�s National team, the Scorpions has not only humbled the Desert Warriors of Algeria 1-nil at
the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Saturday 11th June 2008 ascending them to first place of
Group-six but sent a signal to Senegal and Liberia that they have now turned a new leaf.

The scorpions drew with Liberia 1-1, drew with Senegal 0-O but beat Algeria to take the first place
pass Senegal in the group, making the Gambian fans thrilled once again. The win against Algeria has
boosted the morale of both players and fans alike and placed the team in a comfortable position to
fight on to qualify to either the World or Africa Cup of Nations in Angola in 2010.

The fact that the scorpions failed to sting the wounded Teranga Lions at home who were minus one
due to a red card, made many fans to lose hope, but they did stung the Algerians and played them in
such a way that all skeptics are now convinced that they are a team to be reckoned with.

The scorpions are going to play Algeria on Friday 20th June in Blida, Algeria. The hypothesis is that if
Gambia manages a draw in Algeria and defeat Liberia on home ground, then the possibility of
qualifying straight away is there.

The scorpions� morale was boosted by the inclusion of Ousman Jallow of Al-Ain in the United Arab
Emirates, goal keeper Bajaha of Sweden and Pa Modou jagne of FC WILL IN Switzerland,
replacing Pa Saikou Kujabi who was under suspension for two yellow cards at Liberia and the game
with Senegal in Gambia. It will be difficult to say that the team�s resurgence is due to the entry of
Ousman Jallow but his participation certainly showed the lay man that the team has been injected with
new blood. His insistence to penetrate the opponent�s defense threatened the Algerians that they had
to stop him by all means and that was what earned him the penalty. It is this penalty kick which was
effectively converted by Mustapha Jarju alias Tubabo into an only and winning goal of these seemingly
small but poisonous scorpions.

So as it stands, the scorpions should maintain their comfortable position by either defeating the Desert
warriors in their own backyard or keep them at bay through a draw and use the supportive home
crowd advantage to mercilessly sting the Liberian lone stars in Banjul.

This and this alone would maintain them in their lead to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nation in Angola
in 2010 and pave their way to possibly qualify to the World Cup in South Africa 2010 without any
controversy. Can they? They said they can. Nothing is impossible.

In another development Senegal drew 2-2 with Liberia in Monrovia on Sunday,15th June putting them
in slight lead ahead of Gambia in Group six by a goal difference. Senegal scored three goals and
concedes two while Gambia scored two goals and concedes one.

......Opposition Newspaper Journalist Detained Overnight
....................................By MFWA................June 16th, 2008
Saikou Ceesay, a reporter with the Banjul-based opposition Foroyaa newspaper was on June 15,
2008 arrested and detained overnight in Kotu Police Station in Kombo province, about 11 kilometres
South/West of Banjul ,capital of Gambia.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that Ceesay was arrested at the police
station while investigating the arrest and detention of pro-government Daily Observer managing
director, Dida Halake.

The sources said the journalist was taken to the Serious Crime Unit at the police headquarters in
Banjul the following day, where he was interrogated before being released on bail.

Even though he has not been charged with any offence, Ceesay had been asked to report to the police
on June 17.

Ceesay was reported to have been harassed and insulted while in detention. Meanwhile the Daily
Observer's managing director had also been granted bail.

ECOWAS Acknowledges the illegal detention of Chief Manneh
and orders his release : By MFWA..................June 16th, 2008
In a landmark decision delivered on June 5, 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.

By this decision the ECOWAS court dismisses the claims from the Gambian
side that Manneh was never in their custody.

The court ruled that the three judges presiding over the case also awarded
damages in the sum of US$ 100,000 in favour of Manneh against the Gambian government.

The ECOWAS court stated that it �has found that the applicant [Manneh] was arrested on July 11,
2006 by the Police Force of The Gambia and has since been detained incommunicado, and without
being charged�.

The court therefore ordered �that the Republic of the Gambia releases Chief Ebrima Manneh from
unlawful detention without any further delay� and that �the Republic of The Gambia pay the plaintiff
the sum of US$ 100,000 as damages�.

Manneh, a former reporter of the pro-government Banjul-based Daily Observer newspaper was
arrested at the Daily Observer premises in the presence of his colleagues. He has since been sighted
several times in the custody of state security personnel.

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 appear
throughout the proceedings. The judgement was therefore given without the testimonies of five state
agents who failed to make an appearance before the court on March 11, 2008.

The testimonies of the three plaintiff witnesses, two Gambian journalists and Professor Kwame
Karikari from MFWA, were consequently left uncontested.

A complaint was filed on behalf of Manneh by MFWA in June, 2007. The MFWA�s was represented
by a member of its Legal Defence Network, namely, a Nigerian prominent human rights lawyer, Femi
Falana

The complaint was filed to compel the Government of The Gambia to produce Manneh and to answer
for his arrest and subsequent disappearance.

MFWA welcomes this decision by the ECOWAS court. We therefore call on The Gambia to respect
and enforce the judgement in accordance with laid down procedures.

We also on other human rights advocacy organisations to demand of The Gambia government to
adhere to the court�s decision.

...........................................................Books
" LIFE OF THE RIVER GAMBIA " Launched.
The Hassan I. Jagne Exclusive: By Yero Jallow, Minnesota, USA�.June15th, 2008
Author Hassan I. Jagne launched his book on June 14th, 2008 in
Minnesota, USA. The book , which consists of 62 poems, is a
reflection of live Gambian cultural events dating back to the 60s
when Author Jagne started his long journey as a teacher, a veteran
educationist and pioneer of western education awareness in the
West African Country of The Gambia. ..(click HERE for more pictures)

The Theme of the book launching."A Cultureless man losses his
human identity"; and." A human being should have cultural identity."
Reflected the main teachings in the poetry book. According to the
author himself on the cover-page of the book. These poems are
varied in nature. They mainly deal with aspects of the Gambia
environment and culture, as the title of the book indicates.

The long night all started with a welcoming address from the moderator, Mrs. Awa Saidy-Mane,
veteran educationist and feminist, and a Quranic prayer from Oustaz Kawsu Darboe who also
resembled the book's achievement as what the Prophet of Islam described as "sadakatul jariyaa," a
continuous beneficial deed which follows believers as reward many years after they are gone.

This was quickly followed by a poem reading from the book by Mr. Jagne's seven-year old
granddaughter, Fatou Bin Bah who eloquently read a touching poem titled "Inflation Has Hit
Dogland." It was the most moving moment when she gave a tribute to her aging grandfather as
having authored the poem and demonstrating without hitches the teachings of the magnificent poem of
inflation.

Another poem "You Today We Tomorrow" was read jointly by Mr. Richard Camara and Yasai
Gueye.

A short play written by political activist Mr. Cherno Bah on "literacy and illiteracy" was acted. In
the play, the characters Samba (Mr. Alkali Yafaa), Kumba (Ms. Isatou Bah) and Pateh (the author of
this piece Yero Jallow) displayed a scenario where Samba who went to English school thought Pateh
was an illiterate. Pateh in turn who attended Arabic school thought Samba was ignorant by not
knowing that Arabic scripting is also a type of literacy. Kumba in her turn said both parties were
literate because one is versed in English and another in Arabic. According to the audience who
cheered and roared after the play, the short and beautiful play captured a notion deeply rooted in
many people. According to Kumba in the play, ignorant, which is Latin comes from ignora. This
means I do not know.

The program which attracted a large audience was also blessed with three speakers; a veteran
Senegalese woman educationist, Mrs. Nata Samb, Minnesota, USA; Author of the book, veteran
educationist Mr. Hassan I. Jagne; and Pan-africanist Mr. Momodou Lamin Sarr from Rhode Island,
USA.

Mrs. Nata Samb spoke highly of the African girl; the literacy rate and how education impacted lives,
more so in Africa. She used her own upbringing in Senegal from a large family to demonstrate some of
the problems that Africa faces as a challenge to girls Education. Mrs. Samb who owes her
achievement to her mother also shared with the audience by saying. " I don't know how my mother
did it because she has never been to school or sat in a class." She was also a little critical against
people using terms like "third-world countries" when referring to African countries.

"A nation without educated women cannot go anywhere. We are not going anywhere without
educated." Mrs. Samb reiterated, while laying emphasis for girls. Education.

At that point, the program has all been given to the ladies in the audience and a tussle between the
ladies and the men audience with questions targeted at Mrs. Samb. The moderator Mrs. Awa
Saidy-Mane known to be a feminist over time quickly sharpened her weaponry and noted. " The
saying that if you educate a girl, you educate a whole nation is a mere fact; and not just a mere notion.
That doesn't mean boys are marginalized ". The Moderator's intervention ended the night's tussle
between the ladies and the gentlemen.

Mr. Momodou L. Sarr in his part reviewed at least ten poems in the book and their historical
importance relating to African heritage. According to him, pilgrimage to Africa is way over due from
Diasporas, in what he described as the "reversed process. " In his review of the book, he described
Mr. Jagne as someone dutiful to his country; willing to take responsibility; and compassionate. He also
shared the author's different scholastic achievements.

Late in the night, a humble figure has stood before a cheering crowd. That was the night's man; a
veteran educationist; former principal of Gambia High school; one of the proprietors of Institute for
Continuing education (ICE) "one that spent his whole selfless life in teaching; the author of an African
poetry titled "The River Gambia."

In a touching tone, Mr. Jane said " I wish to express my gratitude to the organizers and the audience.
You have assisted me a lot. The sixty-two poems of this book essentially touch the culture of the
Gambia".

In review of his poetry, Mr. Jagne noted that people should preserve their cultural identities and his
memo is meant to give to Gambians and non-Gambians a historical account of our true culture, which
we are loosing, by the hour. "When two cultures clash, it is the weak one that blunts". Mr.
Jagne puzzled to the crowd.

He reviewed at least ten poems from his book and explained well their cultural morals. The book,
according to him, started with the poem, "The Inverted Question Mark" which is Africa in
picture, and ended the last poem in the book "Africa Today." That was a particular moment that
drew greater attention, cheers and roars from the audience.

A heated question and answer forum left Mr. Jagne sharpening spears and stranded in thoughts when
Mr. Lamin Sabally, formerly of the IEC questioned why Mr. Jagne never joined politics. In short and
joking mood, Mr. Jagne replied, "May be God didn't destine it yet" which sent the whole
audience into laughter, perhaps because the aging veteran educationist is now 75 years old. Another
questioner in the case of the Moderator Mrs. Awa Saidy asked Mr. Jagne of his favorite Music, the
reply of which is "Jazz," which sparked smiles across the audience with cheers, prior to what others
would think would be Quranic songs. Another questioner asked why the "Split Life" poem was not
a favorite to him. This was an emotional question and he did just fine when he answered. " That is a
tribute to my late wife. I will not do justice to her if I choose that as a favorite poem."

Attendees of the program described it very successful, including Mr. Lamin Sabally, formerly of the
IEC.

According to Mr. Pa Modou Ann, former Gambia's military major, "This is a historic event that
addressed all faces of our humanity, challenging us to be proactive and build tomorrow by handsomely
investing, especially the preservation of our cultural heritage. We owe our thanks and gratitude to Mr.
Jagne with his excellent book."

In a similar development, Gainako has been reliably informed that the book has been approved by
Gambia's education department for Grades 7 to 12 and it will be included in the curriculum.
...........................................
Copyright, 2006-2008: Gainako On-line Newspaper . Site Maintained by Gamway Computers