Gainako Newspaper

A Gambian National by the name of Fa-Bakary Njie died a tragic death early
Monday morning April 9, from a motor vehicle accident. Fabakary 36, a Gambian
citizen living in Seattle Washington was on his way to work early Monday
morning when he collided with a dump truck around 7am. He was pronounced death
at the scene according to king County sheriff’s spokesman, Stg. John Urquhart.

News of Fa-Bakary’s death reached the Seattle community early Tuesday morning
when another Gambian national called one of the leaders in the community to
report a possible involvement of a Gambian national in a car crash during the
early Monday morning rush hour. The victim was transported to Haberview
Medical Center in Seattle where he was later identified as Fa-Bakary Njie.

The news of Fa-Bakary’s passing shocked the Seattle community and members of his family living in
Madison, Wisconsin. Soon after the news spread in the community like a wild fire, many enquired
about the identity of the victim and what they could do to help. Friends of Fa-Bakary and leaders of
the Seattle Gambia Association immediately started to coordinate the community to gather resources to
help transport the body back to the family in the Gambia.

Several hundred Gambians and Fa-Bakary’s coworkers gathered in a hall on Wednesday evening
April 11, to pay respect to the deceased and donate funds for the victim’s funeral arrangements here
and in the Gambia.

Many acquaintances and close friends of Fa-Bakary described him as a pious Muslim, intelligent,
brilliant, and hardworking individual. One of Fa-Bakary’s supervisors at work described him “He
always had a bright smile and a great attitude, and he will be missed very much by all who had the
opportunity to know him.”

Fa-Bakary is originally from Nuimi AlJamdu – Upper Nuimi district North Bank Division. He attended
Nusrat High School in the late 80s and proceeded to St. Augustine’s High School to complete his
Advance Level Studies. He did extremely well and had a distinction in his Ordinary level Examination
(GCE). After completing his Advanced Level studies from St. Augustine’s, he was awarded a
scholarship to study in India. He completed his Masters degree in Business Finance and Accounting
and returned to Gambia. He taught at Nusrat High School and later work for the Audit Department
before moving to Printing Department in the Gambia.

Fa-Bakary migrated to the United States few years ago where he briefly stayed in New York, and
then went to live with his uncle Abdoulie L. Drammeh in Madison, Wisconsin where he stayed until his
moved to Seattle about six months ago.

Speaking to his Uncle Mr. Drammeh earlier, he described Fa-Bakary’s death as a tragic and
devastating lost for not only his family and friends, but for the entire Gambian Nation. He said
Fa-Bakary was one of the most brilliant young intellectuals Gambia ever had. He further described
Fa-Bakary as respectful, pious and family oriented. “He loves his family and was always in touch” said
Mr. Drammeh. He is survived by both parents who still live in their native village AlJamdu in Nuimi.

If anyone wants to donate funds to the cause of Fa-Bakary’s funeral you can deposit funds to a
checking account # 646-32-664, Bank of America. The account is open by one of the decease’s close
friends, Dawda Jabang who is doing an incredible job in coordinating the transportation of the body
back to the Gambia. The family wishes to thank all those who have taken their time to pay respect to
the deceased.

Editor’s note: Thanks to the Seattle Gambia Association and the entire community in Seattle. On
behalf of the entire management of Gainako, we pay respect to a Gambian with such a charisma. May
the soul of the diseased rest in perfect peace. Amen.

.
...........COMMEMORATION OF
.......THE STUDENTS MASSACRE
.......................................................By Omar Joof..............................Posted April 10th, 2007
...............................
.....................................Compatriots and friends of The Gambia:
As we commemorate the deaths of our valiant brothers and friends at the hands of the evil forces of
the cowardly A(F)PRC regime seven years ago, we solicit your prayers for the departed and those
who have been maimed for the rest of their days. We salute the perseverance of the parents and family
members of those who were brutally murdered by stoogies of The Jammeh Estate in an act of State
Terrorism, and ardently hope that some day not too far in the future, the colossal loss they have made
with all of us, will be recognized in the most appropriate manner. The arrogant and insensitive attitude
of Yaya Jammeh and his stoogies to the pain they inflicted on all persons of conscience on April
10th/11th 2000, is unacceptable. They shall not be forgiven untill they show remorse and accept
responsibility for their heinous and barbaric acts on us.

At this juncture, its obvious to all that The Jammeh regime has failed in all its attempts to discredit the
student leadership and movement which organized the demonstrations of April 10th/11th 2000. They
live in perpetual fear of a progressive student movement in The Gambia because the regime's
outrageous policies and actions puts it at odds with anyone progressive. Their policy of putting a
wedge between secondary school students and students of tertiary institutions through the formation of
the infamous National Patriotic Student Association(NAPSA), is one indication of their fears. Another
can be found in their hesitations and blunders in developing a campus for The University of The
Gambia. Years ago, the foundation stone for the chancery of the university was laid at the Brikama
campus of The Gambia College. The Gambia College has enough land at Brikama on which a
university Campus can be built without affecting its development plans. But out of fear for student
power which came about since the student demonstrations, The Jammeh regime plans to build the
university campus at Faraba more than fifty kilometres outside the capital Banjul. Lack of social
services and amenities at Faraba, coupled with a bad road network and expensive fares, makes the
plan an absolute nonsense. A university campus beyond Brikama, inview of the distribution and
locations of social services and enterprises of relevance to a university, would not be economically
viable. It would be even less attractive to foreign students whose enrolment at the university would add
impetus to its economic viability.

We are aware of the nomination to memebership of The National Assembly of a leader of the infamous
NAPSA. The point is , NAPSA being a surrogate organization of The Jammeh Estate, makes one
doubtful as to whether a person who shares its ideals can effectively represent all Gambian students.
We are not the least impressed, as this is just another stooge added to a National Assembly of all
"Yea-yea" men and ladies, but for a very few. Gambian students more than anything else need trained
and highly motivated teachers; enough classrooms and libraries with modern books; and a reliable
national school bus service!

In conclusion therefore, we urge the Jammeh regime to stop playing the hypocrite between Gambian
students; concentrate on improving its education policy and construct a compus of The University of
The Gambia where it would be most viable. They are making fools of themselves by thinking that
taking the university all the way to Faraba would pre-empt student protests for ever. The facts indicate
that Faraba is ideal for things bigger, more violent and national in scope. Students are mostly creative
and its just a matter of time before they break out of any schackles that may be used to restrain them.

Finally, we urge all Gambians and friends of The Gambia to remember the plights of the victims of
April10th/11th 2000. They urgently need your magnanimous assistance. We avail ourselves of this
opportunity to call for the formation of an April 10th/11th 2000 victims support fund. This is well
overdue, and we hope you will rally around in your thousands. We thank you all for your support, and
hope for your prayers these days in particular.

God bless you all.
Omar Joof,
Exiled prexy,
Gambia Students' Union
(GAMSU).

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