Gainako Newspaper

........" In the recrimination that followed '87 riot it was hope by everyone that this incident would not
....... only served as a wake up call to the government but that the lessons learned will enable public
.......officials, school administrators, parents and students to better communicate during crisis. Sadly
....... these lessons were quickly forgotten and just over a decade later this scene exploded once again
........ this time.with.tragic.consequences "

Westfield Junction, Serekunda, the Gambia. It is already 9:15 a.m. Pico and a group of senior students
from St Peters High School were already late for school. They had been waiting for hours for a school
bus transportation. For months now students had to endure great difficulties of getting to school on time
due to lack of adequate school buses. Students from different schools would be seen scattered all over
the place from Bakoteh, Talinding, and Churchill's Town all the way to Jeshwang struggling to catch a ride
to school. Of late Pico like most students has resort to the humiliating practice of getting a "lift to
school"-the practice of franticly waving at every private vehicle that passed by in the hope of getting a ride
to school. Every morning this scene is repeated through out the Serekundas.

Eventually a public bus on its way to Brikama stopped by. Pico and his friends decided to get on board
and make a "protest statement" by insisting on paying the school bus rate instead of the regular
commercial fare. As the bus wind down through its various stops at Talinding, Abuko and then Lamin, the
bus conductor came to collect the fare and was told by the group of students that they will only pay the
student bus rate. An argument ensures, the conductor alerts the driver who decides to proceed to the
police station at Bajulunding were Pico and the students were detained. The school principal was
contacted who successfully negotiated the students released. The students then made to walk the half-mile
distance to the school where after being admonished on the wrongs of civil disobedience, were ordered to
kneel down in front of the principal's office for 30 minutes before being eventually allowed to attend the
rest of the day's classes.

To understand this act of defiance by otherwise good students once has to understand the root causes.
Like many things in the Gambia during this time, there is a huge disconnect between the government and
the people. Under this environment buses for students was definitely not a priority. This great indifference
by public officials to the plight of the students fuels a simmering frustration that eventually exploded on that
faithful day. This great disconnect was seen by many students as an abandonment by their own
government. Serekunda which is the largest county in terms of student population that commutes daily to
schools to Banjul and the surrounding areas lacks sufficient school buses. While it is common knowledge
to every parent and teacher on the transportation crisis school administrators still punished students for
getting late to school without any consideration to their transportation ordeal.

Later that day, Pico like the rest of the country learnt of the massive student demonstration that took place
in Banjul. This demonstration in the form of a march from Banjul to Serekunda took the authorities by
surprise. Unable to communicate with the students during this heighten tension the government eventually
deployed the security services. In the recrimination that followed it was hope by everyone that this
incident would not only served as a wake up call to the government but that the lessons learned will
enable public officials, school administrators, parents and students to better communicate during crisis.
Sadly these lesson were quickly forgotten and 13 years later this scene exploded once again this time with
tragic consequences

In retrospect, this "protest statement" act on the Brikama bus by the students of St Peters High School
that morning though seemingly disconnected to the massive demonstration in Banjul was the opening salvo
of the great student riot of '87

Momodou Laama Jallow
North Carolina, USA

..INTERVIEW WITH HALIFA SALLAH
.........................Courtesy of Foroyaa.............Posted February 1st, 2007

�Where there are wrongs to be corrected to fold one�s arms is to be an accomplice�

FOROYAA: Many people want to know whether you are now to call it a day since you
have failed to retain the seat?

Halifa: This is not a time for any sovereign Gambian who treasures his/her sovereignty to call it a
day. Where there is wrong to be made right those who fold their arms to become mere spectators are
accomplices of a historical aberration. I will never be found guilty of abandoning the cause to build a
society that can guarantee unrestrained liberty and sustainable prosperity to the people. I will serve the
African people and humanity until I am caught by the everlasting sleeps.

FOROYAA: You are quoted to say that the 2007 National Assembly elections will be your last attempt
to contest seats.

Halifa: What I have said is my intention. I have made it clear that I am now 53 years. That my
desire is to serve one more term as National Assembly member to accomplish what I had set out to do at
the level of the Pan African Parliament. I have also said elsewhere that I am committed to serving one
term as a President if that is the will of the NADD executive. On the other hand I had said that if I fail to
retain my seat I will prefer to take the struggle for the liberty and prosperity into the world of knowledge
production.

FOROYAA: Does this not mean that you will leave politics for academia?

Halifa: For those of us who understand the role of ideas representation in history we see a link
between knowledge and practice in shaping human civilization. The pursuit of knowledge is only relevant if
it is linked to its translation into practice to build human civilization. I have not said that I will pursue
knowledge exclusively and abandon the struggle for enhanced liberty and prosperity; on the contrary I
wish to prepare myself more to contribute to the realization of the cause to make the African people free
and prosperous.

FOROYAA: Are you going to retain your post as flag bearer.

Halifa: I will address a resignation letter to the NADD Executive as a matter of principle. It is for
them to decide what is in the best interest of NADD and the country. I am at their service and that of the
country. I know what I want to do as a person but I am willing to subject myself to their service and that
of the country.

FOROYAA: Does this mean that if they want you to continue you will abandon academia?

Halifa: The two are not mutually exclusive. In these five years I have every opportunity to search
for knowledge and produce books for the benefit of the people. Regardless of what the NADD Executive
decides I have all the time in the world to achieve the aim of making my contribution to academia for
posterity.

FOROYAA: It appears that you are committed to politics for a life time.

Halifa: How the country is managed is the concern of all people in the Gambia. We are either
representatives or are represented. All of us should either strive to be honest and mature representatives
or their electors.

FOROYAA: It is reported that the president had said that his big mouthed opponents had been
removed from the National Assembly. That such people used to destroy his relations with the big powers
in the world. What do you say to this?

Halifa: Who the cap fits let him wear it. The Halifa Sallah I know is respected at home and in
Africa and the world. I will not debate on personal opinions. The President�s problem is not Halifa Sallah
but how to guarantee liberty and prosperity to each Gambian. If I were in his position I will not be
offended by critics but would infact respond to every criticism with policy initiatives to enhance liberty and
prosperity. This is the type of democratic leadership Gambia, Africa and the world need.

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