Gainako Newspaper

............................"A soldier without political education is a virtual criminal." -Thomas Sankara

Thomas Sankara once described his country as an embodiment of "the microcosm
of all the natural evils from which mankind still suffers at the end of the twentieth
century. " Upper Volta, which Thomas Sankara renamed Burkina Faso (land of
upright men), when he became its leader in 1983, counted itself amongst the world's
poorest countries. It had an illiteracy rate of over 90 percent, the world's highest
infant mortality rate (280 deaths for every 1000 births), inadequate infrastructure to
provide basic social services, one doctor for 50,000 people, and an average yearly
income of $150 per person. The average Burkinabe was trapped in the clutches of
neocolonialism, an archaic and exploitative feudal system, and parasitic bureaucrats
who lived in shameless opulence at the expense of the masses.

Thomas Sankara was born on December 21, 1949 in Yako, Burkina Faso, erstwhile Upper Volta.
Like so many Africans of his generation, Sankara pursued a military career that took him from the
capital city, Ouagadougou via Madagascar to France. A few months after the twenty-three year old
Sankara arrived in Antiribe, Madagascar, in 1972, the country underwent a massive strike involving
students and workers that eventually toppled Madagascar's president. Sankara was intrigued by the
popular origins of the movement, and was himself, mobilized. From Madagascar, Sankara went to
France for parachute training, where he was exposed to the subtle contradictions that characterized
France's relationship with its former colony.

Sankara's political coming-of-age was influenced by the euphoric excesses endemic among Upper
Volta's post-independence bourgeoisie in the sixties. It was his response to the day-to-day realities of
living with this kind of imperialism that earned him cultish acclaim.

In 1983, the agonizing plight of a malnourished people, whose existence hung on a thin string of fate
threatened by the sharp edges of an approaching desert, culminated in a people's revolution. In that
year, a glow personified by Thomas Sankara warmed the darkness that was the African political
landscape; a cesspool of colonized zombies dancing to the tunes of imperialistic blues and intoxicated
by alien ideologies.

Thomas Sankara was young, handsome, and possessed oratorical prowess and political dynamism that
were surpassed only by the passion with which he echoed his vision. Sankara fought for human dignity,
self-determination for all Africans including women, universal access to education, a clean and healthy
environment, and African Unity. As the leader of the National Council of the Revolution, Sankara was
relentless in his fight against imperialism. His vision of the future transcended artificial borders and sunk
into the minds and psyches of many African youth. His frequent and justified verbal assaults on the
established imperialistic status quo marveled political observers and caught the attention of editors who
were awed by his courage.

The Burkina Faso revolution earned its place in certain historical chronicles because of the will, the
strength and the commitment of the Burkinabe people. This impoverished people, scarred by years of
famine and oppression, succeeded in restoring their dignity. Thomas Sankara was a symbol of the
Burkinabe soul. While he wore the crown of responsibility, he did not hesitate to make his voice heard
across the planet, from Abidjan to Harlem.

When Sankara took office on August 3, 1983, he began a renaissance. Sankara transformed the
manner in which the Burkinabe people perceived themselves, instilling in them the belief that no goal
was beyond reach. Modesty, a characteristic valued in African cultures, was one of the trademarks of
his leadership. With modesty, Sankara created a path to the country's future on which all were welcome
to travel. Sankara lived a modest lifestyle, in sharp contrast to other African leaders whose legacies
never last half as long as the grand palaces they construct for themselves.

A year after Sankara took office, Burkina Faso became the first country in Africa to run mass measles
vaccination campaigns. That year, with the aid of Cuban volunteers, 2.5 million children were
immunized for several infectious diseases. The alarming infant mortality rates dropped to 145 deaths per
1000 in less than two years.

In an effort to slow the advance of the Sahara Desert, Sankara launched a reforestation program that
would plant ten million trees in its first year. Even today, trees are planted to celebrate birthdays,
weddings and graduations.

School attendance rose from a mere 12 percent to 22 percent in just two years and was complemented
by policies to encourage attendance and eventual graduation. For example, one requirement for
graduation was that those who could read and write would teach others how to read and write.

Sankara instituted compulsory military service to instill patriotism in the masses that had historically been
detached from the running of the country. Committees for the defense of the revolution were formed
with an emphasis on grassroots mobilization.

A campaign for the restoration of women's dignity and a recognition of their role in society was
launched in order to free women from the yoke of a patriarchal, neocolonialist and archaic feudal
culture.

During his tenure as head of state, Sankara took suicidal risks in implementing these reforms. He had an
unquenchable concern for all oppressed people irrespective of the methods by which the oppression
was carried out or the origin of the people being oppressed. His accomplishments may appear trivial to
the high browed, but to a continent that lurks in the murky waters of fate, Burkina Faso's transformation
from battered victim to dignified survivor was more than a bleep in history. It not only introduced
mankind to Thomas Sankara, but was a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

On October 15, 1987, the flame that had glowed so exuberantly from the Sahel was extinguished as
violently as it was lit. Thomas Sankara, age 38, was killed by his revolutionary comrade and best friend,
Blaise Compaore, in a counterrevolutionary coup with origins in the halls of the Elysee Palace.
Assassinations were common in Africa in the eighties, but Sankara's was significant; in him was the
African leader we never had and may never have.

Now what we have is his saying, "Dare to invent the future" All that comes from man's imagination is
realizable for man.

..............NADD
................PRESS RELEASE
.....................................By the Executive Commitee of NADD.................Posted February 24th, 2007

The Executive Committee of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development
met on Saturday 10th February, 2007 to review the performance of the Alliance in the
recently concluded elections and pave the way forward.

The Executive Committee recalled that the NADD came into being because of our appreciation of the
fact that "no single opposition party could put an end to self perpetuating rule, given the culture of
patronage, intimidation and inducement that had already taken root in the political life of the country";
that we did recognise that "empowering the people to build a durable and sustainable democracy is the
only way to put an end to the self perpetuating rule of the APRC regime and prevent the possibility
of the emergence of any government that would perpetuate itself in office in the future."

The Executive observed that the failure to keep NADD intact led to the creation of two alliances, one
aimed at bringing about a system change while the other aimed to bring about a regime change.
In reviewing the results of the presidential election, it recalled that the UDP had 104,808 votes while
NADD had 23473 votes. It observed that the votes of the UDP despite its alliance with the NRP and
GPDP reduced from 149,448 to 104,808 instead of increasing to 185,000 as anticipated. This simply
means that even if other parties joined the alliance after the split the UDP votes would not have
increased.

In this regard the NADD Executive Committee concluded that it is the split in NADD which is
responsible for the dismal results in the presidential election of the opposition. Learning from this lesson
the NADD Executive argued that the opposition may experience the same dismal performance if they
fail to unite during the National Assembly elections.

The Executive Committee therefore called for a tactical alliance between the opposition parties and with
Independent candidates. The failure to forge a tactical alliance gave rise to the dismal results of the
opposition in the National Assembly elections with the UDP claiming 4 seats, NADD 1 and the NRP
none. The Executive observed that with a tactical alliance the seats in Jokadu, Kombo South and
Niamina East could have been easily won and the prospects for the opposition getting the majority in
the National Assembly would have been greater.

The Executive further observed that NADD as originally constituted had 1154 votes in the Nianija
by-election compared to the NRP's 693 votes in the 2007 National Assembly election; that Kemeseng
under NADD had 3444 votes in the 2005 by election but had 2760 as a UDP candidate in the 2007
National Assembly elections.

That Halifa Sallah as NADD candidate in 2005 by-election had 5911 votes while scoring 4302 votes in
the 2007 National Assembly election with the UDP candidate polling 1548 votes. The split is obviously
a contributing factor to the results.

In Kombo East, the UDP candidate had 2814 in the 2006 National Assembly by election while NADD
had 1109. The combined votes was greater than that of the APRC candidate. However in the 2007
National Assembly election the same UDP candidate had 2232 votes and lost by a majority of 3909
votes.

The NADD Executive therefore concludes that with only 58% of the voters participating in the
presidential election and 41.7% participating in the National Assembly elections a vacuum exists in
Gambian politics that needs to be filled. The Executive considers the filling of this vacuum as an
uphill task which requires realism, perseverance and tremendous commitment to the national interest
despite the fact that NADD did not put up a candidate.

The Executive Committee therefore resolves that the way forward is to call on all opposition parties to
recognise the dismal performance of the opposition, restructure their political organisations and change
their tactics to promote tactical alliances that can ensure the birth of a genuine multi party system which
will allow the election of be the undiluted choice of the people.

To begin with itself, the Executive Committee approved the proposal of the NADD flag bearer to do
away with the office of flag bearer and hold a primary election two years before the 2011 presidential
election so as to give room for popular consent to determine candidature. It endorses the maintenance
of a spokesperson and the effecting of structural change to accord responsibilities and functions to
members of the executive in particular and all members in general to promote collective leadership.

It further resolves to introduce membership cards and membership education to build up the grassroot
structures of NADD, mobilize resources and prepare the ground for its growth and development,
nationally and internationally.

It envisages the holding of an annual congress to allow the grass root structures of NADD to have
impact on its strategies, tactics and policies as well as their implementation.

The members of the Executive Committee expressed their resolution to go the extra mile to attain
NADD's fundamental objectives regardless of the uphill task that is envisaged.

It concludes by extending its appreciation to the voters in Wuli West, in particular, for maintaining the
NADD seat and the voters in all other constituencies for maintaining their confidence in NADD.
It wishes to assure them, in particular, and the people, at large, that NADD is here to stay and will
rejuvenate itself to be worthy of enlisting their confidence and support.

...Animal Farm Revisited (Part Four)
..........................By Baba Galleh Jallow Courtesy of Gpost...............Post February 24th, 2007

After the death of Benjamin the donkey, conditions grew from bad to worse for the
remaining lower animals on Animal Farm, but greatly improved for Napoleon and his
powercracy. Of the original animals that witnessed the historic battle of the Cowshed,
when Farmer Jones was driven out, only Minimus the poet and Muriel the goat were
left on the farm. Moses the raven had not returned from his sojourn to Sugarcandy
Mountain, and the other lesser animals just had faint notions of how Napoleon came
to be their leader.

The other lower animals were content with Squealer�s explanation that it was the great God Yallah,
who brought Napoleon down from the heavens above to run the affairs of Animal Farm. They believed
Squealer when he told them that as Napoleon said in his infallible philosophy of pigism, labor was
always right, thinking was criminal and abominable, obedience was deliverance, to question authority
was blasphemous and Napoleon was always right. Moreover, as they had their share of hay and grain,
they were content. Certainly, they would not want to see Farmer Jones � Squealer�s description of
whom sent shivers of terror down their spines � come back to control their lives on Animal Farm.
According to Squealer, Farmer Jones was the devil himself who opposed the Almighty Yallah and
sought to unjustly kill them all.

To Napoleon himself, Benjamin�s death was a matter of great relief. Muriel the goat and Minimus the
poet were amazed to see the Invincible Wooden Master organize a banquet on the night of Benjamin�s
death. Apparently, Napoleon was celebrating what he called �another moment of victory for the
supreme forces of this farm.� Watching and listening from behind a window of the banquet hall, Muriel
the goat and Minimus the poet heard Napoleon say that the supreme forces actually included the gallant
dogs of Animal Farm, whose patriotic service deserved the greatest commendation. From then on,
they heard him say, the dogs would be given greater powers to enable them purge the farm of traitors
and stupid lower animals who asked funny questions or complained about the supreme principles of
pigism. They heard him say, to their utter amazement, that soon, the dogs would be given powers to
invade and annex nearby farms, so that the whole world would soon become part of Animal Farm. For
a start, he said, six of the fattest sheep and a like number of the fattest goats were to be slaughtered on
the morrow, in readiness for a feast for the gallant dogs. They almost died of fright when they heard
Napoleon suddenly declare, �even my favorite goat and long time friend Muriel, is to be sacrificed for
the gallant dogs of our supreme farm.�

The same night, Muriel the goat was caught red handed trying to slip out of Animal Farm. A pack of
dogs patrolling the borders of the farm had suddenly appeared from nowhere and pounced on him. His
terrified bleating had woken all the animals on the farm, who watched with dreary eyes as poor Muriel
was dragged to Napoleon�s residence. The Invincible Wooden Master, draped in a pair of cracked
wooden pajamas, listened somberly to the dogs� report. When they finished, he simply said, �kill him at
once.� In another moment, more dogs had joined the heroic pack and all were feasting hungrily on
Muriel�s raw flesh. It was old and a bit sinewy, but delicious all the same.

Early the next morning, Minimus the poet was arrested. Squealer had suddenly appeared with a pack of
dogs at his bedside and accused him of complicity with that traitor Muriel. Most unfortunately, a poem
was also found on him in which he described Napoleon as a bad hen that drank all her eggs. When
they dragged him away, Minimus the poet was never seen or heard of again.

With all the original lower animals out of the way, Napoleon now felt more confident of his supremacy.
Occasionally, he thought of Moses the raven. But Moses had deserted Animal Farm. And even if he
had been present, what harm could a mere bird do to him Napoleon, the Invincible Iron Leader, the
Grand Master of Wisdom, the Benevolent Guardian of the Lost? If Moses dared come back to Animal
Farm, he would simply set his dogs on him and do him in. Napoleon always smiled when he thought
how he would trick Moses to a feast of rare grains and have his dogs suddenly pounce on him from
nowhere and tear him apart.

And so Napoleon, now so fat that he resembled a big black bull, continued to enjoy himself with
reckless abandon. He had developed an uncanny appetite for the good life. Parties and banquets were
regularly thrown in his honor and more and more eggs and apples were demanded from the laboring
chickens and lower animals. Those chickens and lower animals that dared complain of being
overworked were promptly executed, and cows, sheep and goats, which could no longer produce milk,
were either slaughtered for the dogs or sold off to the butchers of neighboring farms in exchange for
crates of wine and delicious bars of cheese for Napoleon�s personal consumption. The sheep with
the finest voices were organized into a band to sing four legs good, two legs best and to chant the glory
of pigism at every party and banquet. Sometimes when Napoleon had had his fill of the best available
wine and stars danced in his sparkling eyes, he would order the sheep to further sweeten their voices
and chant louder still, while he gallantly danced back and forth, back and forth, shaking his head and
twisting his piggy tail with supreme gusto. Napoleon would gaily dance in careless abandon, throwing
his paws about, shaking his fat rump and gyrating his rotund waist as a demonstration of his agility.

Tummies bulging with the flesh of executed animals, his faithful dogs prowled fiercely about,
occasionally growling, baring their sharp canines and sniffing around for possible traitors to the glorious
leader. Once in a while, Squealer�s shrill voice could be heard above the din, crying �poleon! and calling
the great leader all his gallant honors and titles, while Napoleon gaily waltzed, raising one leg after the
other, glancing this way and that, puking ever so often.

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