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Gainako on-line Newspaper (GON) Motto: Guardianship & Independence |
Quote of the Day “ Threaten the oppressed and be prepared to face their onslaught, abuse them and be prepared for an even greater threat. ” ~ Martin Dansky (Canadian Actor, Artist and Writer, b.1952) |
FATOU JAW MANNEH RELEASED ON D25,000 BOND By Yero Jallow...................Posted April 4th, 2007 |
Sources monitoring progress on the arrested journalist cum political commentator, Fatou Jaw Manneh revealed to Gainako that she has been released on D25, 000.00 bail. Our impeccable source added that Fatou couldn't have returned to that jail with the pressure exerted by Gambians and other foreign dignitaries, including United Nation representatives. Gainako also spoke to Fatou's brother who confirmed the story. He expressed gratitude to all those that shared the sorrow of his sister's arrest noting "Jaw Manneh is Strong and united with our mother and the entire family." Fatou is due back to court on Wednesday April 11th 2007 when proceedings over her libel and sedition charges from the Jammeh Administration will commence. She will be represented by at least two lawyers in court, including the renowned Lawyer Jobateh. Many speculated that Fatou and her defense lawyers will enter a "not guilty" plea. We spoke to a lot of political commentators including Gainako's editor Mr. Demba Baldeh who gave victory to justice, and commented thus "It is welcomed news. It indicates that the arrest wasn't justified in the first place. We must continue on the pressure whether there is an arrest or not." Other political commentators expressed concern over Jammeh's inconsistency, citing the case where Jammeh summoned his judiciary and intelligent personnel yesterday to fire threats which many believe has to do with Fatou's arrest and detention. Others commented that Jammeh is feeling the heat and working on getting the sympathy of the West. Hometown Analyst Sonko advised that the fate of Fatou is "unpredictable" at this time noting "We are dealing with a societal element." "Watch out my brothers and sisters, watch out." He lamented. ....STGDP STRONGLY CONDEMS ....ABDUCTION OF JOURNALIST .............................................By STGDP...................Posted April 4th, 2007 Save The Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP), one of the most known Gambian pro Democracy movements in the U.S actively fighting for the restoration of genuine democracy and rule of law in the Gambia, has issued a stunning press release on the abduction of one of the group's icon and founding member - Mrs. Fatou Jaw Manneh. STGDP is known to be the pioneers of the brilliant idea of uniting opposition parties during the last general elections to contest against the incumbent President Yahya Jammeh. Their efforts failed when the opposition parties could not agree on a single flagbearer as advocated by the pro democracy movement. It is during this process of uniting the opposition parties that Fatou Jaw Manneh emerged as a leading and eloquent voice to expose the human rights violations of the Jammeh regime. It is believed that she is behind bars today due to her active role in the efforts of STGDP. Below we produce the eye catching press release by STGDP. ...................................................PRESS RELEASE ........................SAVE THE GAMBIA DEMOCRACY PROJECT (STGDP) ............."FATOU JAW MANNEH WAS ABDUCTED BY SECURITY OFFICERS" The Save the Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP) profoundly condemns, the strongest terms, the confirmed abduction and detention of one of our executive members Ms. Fatou Jaw Manneh by the Gambian security forces.STGDP has confirmed that Ms. Manneh was abducted by security personnel at the Banjul international airport on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 and is currently held at the National Intelligence Agency headquarters in Banjul. We wish to extend to Ms. Manneh's family, the people of Gambia, and the entire international community, our heartfelt support and intent to do everything we possibly can to ensure that Fatou's fundamental rights and privileges under the law are not further trampled upon with impunity. We intend to ensure the maximum exposure of the brutality, blatant disregard of the fundamental rights of individuals, abrupt kidnappings, and disappearances perpetuated by the APRC government to the international community. Ms. Fatou Jaw Manneh a Journalist by training, and had consistently challenged the APRC government's abuse and negligence of the fundamental human rights of all Gambians. She is continuously relentless in her work to ensure the nurture of human rights and democracy in The Gambia. We herein appeal to all Gambians, in and out of the country, all Gambian organizations around the world, journalists and other press groups, and all believers in democratic jurisprudence to join us in harnessing all resources in order to maximally expose the tyranny that is in the APRC government, and to demand for the immediate release of Fatou Jaw Manneh. Join us in sternly warning the security forces that Fatou's well-being must not be compromised in any way, and under any circumstances. We hereby put President Jammeh and his security apparatus on notice that we take their threat to the human rights of Gambians in and out of the country very seriously. We also hereby reiterate our commitment to continue to be resolved in taking all actions necessary to ensure President Jammeh and his junta are held accountable for any and all actions that violate the civil and fundamental human rights of individuals and all illegal activities of the security forces or otheragents of the regime. WE WILL NEVER BE SILENCED. Signed Save The Gambia Democracy Project. ........PRESS UNION CONDEMS ....DETENTION OF JOURNALIST ......................................By Gambia Press Union USA...................Posted April 3rd, 2007 ....................PRESS RELEASE .....The Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Ms. Fatou Jaw Manneh: The Gambia Press Union USA branch condemns in the strongest of terms the illegal detention of our colleague and Public Relations Officer, Fatou Jaw Manneh, by the NIA on Wednesday March 25, in The Gambia and her continued detention beyond the 72 hours constitutional requirement. We find her detention, almost exactly one year after the illegal closure of The Independent Newspaper as yet another demonstration of Jammeh's total disregard for the constitution and the rule of law. The GPU-USA therefore demands her immediate and unconditional release. The GPU-USA holds the Jammeh government responsible for the wellbeing of Fatou Jaw Manneh. This is yet another blatant attempt by the Jammeh regime to stifle and silence his critics and the independent press. The GPU-USA will relentlessly pursue all avenues to ensure the release of Fatou Jaw Manneh and to see an end to the continuous abrogation of people's right to freedom of expression and of the press as enshrined in the Gambian constitution. We, therefore, urge the international community to condemn this blatant and total disregard for Human rights and to impress upon the Jammeh regime to cease all forms of intimidation and harassment of the press and to immediately release Ms. Fatou Jaw Manneh. Pasamba Jow Secretary General, GPU-USA ............FREE JOURNALIST ..........FATOU JAW MANNEH .......................................By our European Correspondent...................Posted March 30th, 2007 Member of the Union of Concerned Gambians (UCG) a non-profit group based in Athens has called on the Gambia Government to release detained Journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh. In a strong letter sent to the Gambian representative and copied to the European Union, the group outlines what is called an "Endemic Practice of Human Rights abuses that has become part and parcel of Yahya Jammeh's Government". It is also calling on the European union to condemn this action. Union president Sam Njie said, " This arbitrary arrest of Fatou Jaw Manneh underlines the fear and reality that many Gambians experienced daily under this regime." He also added that "what is serious about this abuses is the government don't even have to prove their case. You could be arrested, jailed without charged, detained for long period and if you are lucky released without any explanation." He cited the case of politician Duta Kamaso, Ousman Jatta "Rambo" and many others. It is also becoming a routine to the point that no one is safe. The Gambia government under Yahya Jammeh has become a dictatorship and great parallels can be drawn from Idi Amin of Uganda, and Samuel Doe of Liberia. This my friend " is the sad reality of what the Gambia has become. A frightened populace has given Yahya Jammeh an overwhelming victory in the September elections with the hope appealing to his better judgment and maybe his benevolence but if there is any lesson to be drawn from history is that appeasement never works for dictators tends to perceived this compromise as weakness". He concluded. .JOURNALIST FATOU JAW MANNEH ........BEHIND JAMMEH'S BARS ...........................By Yero Jallow, Staff writer...................Posted March 30th, 2007 In another sad instance, a woman catalyst in the name of Fatou Jaw Manneh is behind Jammeh's NIA net. Many callers to our newsroom confirmed the sad incident. Our Washington correspondent hinted that Fatou Jaw Manneh might have been a victim of the Gambian Informers based in Washington DC who alerted the Gambian authorities' aforetime of Fatou's visit and time of arrival at the Banjul International Airport from the United States. She is held for her active participation in the Gambia's democratization process, notably in Save The Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP) and the external Gambia Press Union (GPU). As soon as the Air Cargo landed and passengers alighted to checkout, she was seen being whisked away by the notorious Gambia's undercover officers. Our source confirmed earlier a telephone conference conducted by STGDP to decide the way forward for their one time partner and now a victim of Jammeh's aggression. The same source added that the Gambian oppositions are already aware, and notably from the NADD camp will likely issue a press release to condemn the arrest of Fatou Jaw Manneh. At the time of going to press, Gainako mounted two phone calls to her brother's residence and he wasn't readily available to provide us with information about Fatou. At this time, not a lot is known about her, but sources close to our Banjul correspondent indicated that she is being held incommunicado by the notorious NIA. What is certain at thist ime is that no official reasons has been given for her arrest and her whereabouts is not known. It should added that the NIA is known for its arbitrary arrest of innocenct people without due process and in some cases the victims' whereabout are not known for months or even years. Our home town correspondent will be at the NIA headquarters by Monday or Tuesday to gather more information. ........ © Copyright, 2006-2007: Gainako On-line Newspaper. Site Maintained by Gamway Computers |