The high court in Banjul is expected to deliver judgment in the appeal case filed by Femi Peters, the jailed former Campaign Manager of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).

When the court convened yesterday, Justice Emmanuel Amadi set Thursday 5th August 2010 as the date when he would deliver judgment in the appeal case, after adopting written briefs by both the appellant counsel and the state respondent.

Former Senegalese President Leopold Sedar Senghor

By Abdou Pene, West Africa correspondent

As the African leaders argue about what is good for the continent, our attention focuses on African leaders who are poets, yet very few people about it. Former President Leopold Sedar Senghor of Senegal is not the only known and best poet Africa ever had, while Senghor had it own time and generation, there are few things that have changed since then – the Africa of 1963 is not the same as the one we have where President Mugabe and President Jammeh and President Gaddafi can stand at the United Nations and tell the whole world about the injustices happening in the world, and why they are not stopped.

After picketing at the Nigerian high commission, a so call West African super power, our team walked a mile to the Commonwealth Secretariat at the prestigious Pall Mall in the heart of the magnificent landmark of Great Britain. Trafalgar Square embodies all that is great in her Majesty's England. Richard the Lion heart must be envious of the giant lions, the statues of great military figures, the water falls, the tranquil surrounding and the ever present diversity of tourist coming all the four corners of the globe. Indeed, coming to England without visiting Trafalgar Square would be missing out a lot.  Our mission to the Commonwealth, a selected port of call by Amnesty International, was to appeal to the good spirit of the Secretariat, by highlighting the wayward behaviour of one of her member Presidents, the outrageous mafia President of the Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, a man with all known titles.

Mai A Fatty GMC Leader at the Ecowas conference

At the invitation of the ECOWAS COMMISSION, Hon. Mai Ahmad Fatty participated at a three day Conference of political leaders at Abidjan, Cote d/Ivoire from the 21st to the 23rd July 2010. The Conference on the theme internal democracy for political parties (Communique attached) elected a seven person Technical Committee to draw up a Charter on internal democracy and good governance for political parties in ECOWAS member states.

Hon. Fatty was by acclamation unanimously elected to serve on this Commitee, the first of its kind by ECOWAS. Other members include Hon. Bernard Morna of Ghana; Ms. A.M Enos of Liberia; Alhaji U. Bugaje of Nigeria; Madam Adjamagbo of Togo and Mr. S. Coulibally of Ivory Coast. 

Asst. Sec Johnnie Carson

US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson held a brief with the Press on the progress of the African Summit currently underway in Kampala. Below is secretary Carson's Statements followed by Q & A from reporters:

ASSISTANT SECRETARY CARSON: Thank you very much to those of you who are on the line. I have been in Kampala, Uganda for the past four days with Ambassador Michael Battle, our U.S. Ambassador to the African Union, and also with Scott Gration, the President’s Special Representative and Envoy for the Sudan. We were joined here and led here for approximately 36 hours by the Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder, who gave one of the opening speeches at the heads of summit session of the African Union.

Pa modou Bojang Gambian journalist facing deportation to Gambia

Uk: Reports reaching Gainako has it that Gambian Journalist Pa Modou Bojang who was ordered deported to Gambia on Tuesday July 27, after his asylum case was denied has been Postponed by the high Court in London.

The home office has been directed by a judge to review Pa Modou's Asylum case based on expert reports fascilitated by Amnesty International.

Baba Galleh Jallow

By Baba Galleh Jallow

One of the key aims of the national spirit that expresses itself as the real July 22^nd revolution is to prove the hypothesis that constructive ideas are the real engine of development. It further seeks to prove a second hypothesis that derives from the first: that countries that have failed to record remarkable advancement have, without exception, failed to recognize the primacy of constructive ideas in their societies. We seek to assist in the positive, orderly, and ongoing transformation of Gambian society into one that appreciates and proactively encourages the widespread expression of constructive ideas. Sadly, in Jammeh’s Gambia, constructive ideas are often contrary to the avowed interests of the Jammeh state, which, even more sadly, are often at irreconcilable odds with the interests of the Gambian nation. We propose to return to this critical issue of state versus national interests at some later point.

July 22 gathering in Banjul celebrating

The Gambia Day of Action demonstration continues on Friday July 29, 2010 at the Gambian Embassy in Washington DC. Since the Embassy offices were closed on July 22nd, Amnesty in collaboration with Gambian residents in DC has organized a demonstration on Thursday.

Amnesty urges Gambians living in the DC and Maryland area to join them on this day to continue the pressure on the Jammeh government to respect human rights of Gambians...

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in partnership with Amnesty International and the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) held a press conference on July 22, 2010 at the conference centre of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) as part of civil society’s campaign and awareness strategy on the degrading human rights situation in The Gambia. The press meeting that was tagged “Freedom day in the Gambia is a travesty” was carefully scheduled to coincide with the national holiday of the Gambia; fondly called “Freedom Day”.

'Gambia Day of Action' July 22, Demonstration in Seattle

Gambian citizens in Seattle marched in the streets of downtown Seattle to meet Washington State Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray at their offices in Seattle. The group first met in Senator Cantwell’s office where they demanded to speak to senior staff of the Senator as the Senator is currently attending SenateSessions in Washington DC.

Foday Drammeh

By Foday Drammeh

Whether personal, organisational (business) or national level, Innovation plays an important part in all areas of life. It is one of the key elements that bring about success. Its contribution cannot be under estimated in a modern society. As globalization intensifies through improved technology, communication and competition, traditional approaches on their own have become inadequate in satisfying customer needs. New and contemporary methods are needed to be combined using strategic methods in order to surpass expectations and to get the desired results. With increasing market sizes as a result of increasing demand, innovation has become a fundamental issue to meet the challenges of customer dynamics. What then is financial Innovation?

M I Banoramas

MY CONDEMNMINATION FOR CELEBRATING JULY 22

22 July is the day when all Gambians should come together as one to condemn this day, and observed silence for the lost of so many life and continual siege that impose on us bye the dawn of 22 July 1994.Up to date. After criminal Jammeh’s demise there will be a clause which will be enacted into our constitution to criminalize any form of celebrating 22july within the jurisdiction of our border territories.

Enough legroom in there? This van looks very anti-height from where I’m standing,’ Jermaine remarked as a beige-coloured Toyota Corolla van pulled up, a side-angled portrait of a turban-clad man, piercing eyes looking right ahead, white Islamic beard which Jermaine reckons gives him a holy, prophetic look, occupied the top right windscreen.

Binteh S. Minteh

By Binneh s Minteh

In the midst of a global agony of the inhumane treatment of the Gaza people, the world is yet to come up with a moral consensus in salvaging innocent men, women and children of Gaza from decadence, brutality and the inhumane cacophonic Israeli policies that has compromised the well-being and dignity of Gaza people for decades long.  The recent Israeli assault on a humanitarian Flotilla of vessels destined for Gaza provides a parsimonious explanation of an attack on humanities moral conscience. If Israel continues to enforce a blockade on the basis of security, then it suffice to argue that such polices must include providing human security for the people of Gaza. In a nut shell, Israel must then be responsible for ensuring that provisions that guaranteeing well-being of the people is never compromised. Basic provisions such as food, shelter, medicine, clean and safe drinking water and physical protection, forms a core component of such human security.

With Femi Peters Jr. (Chelsea)

‘Can I?’

There was a devilish glint in Jermaine’s eyes tinged with mischief Tapha has never seen before.

‘If you don’t trust your throw prowess, use your good foot,’ he replied softly so as not to scare off the would-be victim.

Jermaine nodded, crept stealthily up to a crouching cat washing itself, totally oblivious to what was about to take place.

One minute, it was washing its right paw; a split second later it was levitated in the air gravitated by Jermaine’s right foot.