Op-Ed: By Dr. Abdoulie Saine Ohio, USA

Violence against Women (wife-beating): A Bastion of Male-domination that must End.

As I write this essay/ Op-ed, I am gripped by chilling memories of wife-beating in my childhood household, as well as other cases in neighboring homes that I witnessed as a teenager and young adult in The Gambia.  In later years while visiting The Gambia on holidays or on research trips, I would on occasion witness or hear about husbands beating wives for myriad reasons.  Even in the U.S., and in Europe where laws against girlfriend and spousal-abuse are stringent, there are reported cases of wife-beating/ battery in homes of Gambians in the Diaspora. This practice is normalized and pervasive though not unique to Gambia and Gambians alone- remember the Chris Brown and Rihanna fiasco in the U.S.?  

It is a universal phenomenon, and in spite of the many human rights instruments of which African states and The Gambia, specifically are signatories, the practice of wife-beating in The Gambia, Gambian households in Europe and the U.S. has reached epidemic proportions. I should also add that there are many Gambian and non-Gambian men who do not physically or emotionally abuse their wives. To these men who go against the grain, I say, keep it up, as this essay/ Op-ed is not targeted at you but the millions that do.  Nonetheless, keep reading! 

Why do men, generally and Gambian men, specifically, batter their spouses?  Why is wife-beating so entrenched in Gambian and other cultures?  In this essay, I will try to shed light on these and other questions focusing primarily on the practice in The Gambia and its Diaspora.

 In The Gambia, as in other countries, wife-beating involves the physical abuse/ battery and attack on wives by husbands, boyfriends, relatives of the husband or even the abused wife’s for perceived “transgressions.” As such, women and girls often suffer serious physical injury, not to mention the psychological scars, which remain long after the physical injuries have healed.

For many men in The Gambia and elsewhere, wife-battery is a proof of one’s manhood, a testimony to male power and control over women and girls.  It earns many Gambian men bragging rights and a practice that is often admired and emulated.  Cruelty toward women and girls by men is pervasive and culturally sanctioned, universally and The Gambia is no exception.  It is most often justified by the belief/ rationale that women, even mature women, are children or childlike and need “disciplining,” periodically to keep them in line. Consequently, many women and young girls in The Gambia are socialized into accepting a subordinate (d) status, which male domination, a universal phenomenon, has sought to perpetuate.  In turn, many women accept this construction, while at the same time just as many resist it by hitting back, seek redress in traditional courts or divorce their abusive husbands.

Some Gambian men, particularly among the so-called “enlightened” in the Diaspora (and in The Gambia) batter their wives often, and typically bark orders to be served meals and provided other services as if they were maids.  Along with these “obligations,” wives try to anticipate and meet every need their abusive husbands may have, while stroking their egos.  When it comes to helping around the house and the kids?  Forget it!  Many Gambian men still hold on to age-old traditions of long-dead ancestors- that when it comes to raising, feeding and dressing the kids, cleaning and cooking, it is a woman’s job.  Again, this is not unique to Gambian men.  Often, women perform these tasks while holding down a full-time job and paying bills. A wife’s perceived “poor- performance” in the domestic realm and in the bedroom is often justification for verbal abuse, battery and/ or threats of taking a second wife. 

In Europe and in the U.S. wife battery is also widespread with several reported cases of wife murders and shootings.  This is a throw-back to a culture that typically holds “uppity” women in contempt. With stricter laws on domestic violence women are not without recourse.  It takes only a phone call to send an abusive husband or partner off to jail.  Many physically abused women have, therefore, resorted to calling the “cops.”  It seems many Gambian men have yet to adapt to these changed laws and times- that women just like men are human and not beasts of burden. And because they are human, women in have/ enjoy inalienable rights that are protected by national courts, constitutions and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. It is not surprising then that many marriages among Diaspora and Gambians at home end in divorce primarily because many husbands wish to live just as their fore-fathers had.  

The problem is often more acute in The Gambia where women, especially poor and rural women, work from dawn to dusk and still are expected to provide dinner and sex when men return home from work or other ventures.  However, such abuse is not limited to the rural and poor women.  Professional women also suffer indignities- emotional and sometimes physical abuse, for not bowing to a husband’s demands or “failure” to stroke fragile male egos.  And human rights instruments and national laws offer little to no protection or recourse to wives and women that suffer such abuse from husbands and other males, including relatives.  Add to this the numerous unreported cases of rape, sexual harassment and sexual imposition, sometimes by men in positions of authority against women professionals, with impunity.  Yet still, many young girls are sent into prostitution by family members or look the other way as young girls engage in (sex-tourism) prostitution.  This must stop!  Gambia needs strong laws to protect victims of domestic violence, child prostitution and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.

Gambian men, including myself, and men the world-over must begin to take responsibility for the violence, both physical and emotional that women are routinely subjected, join and/ or form organizations that advocate justice, equality for women and girls.  Men generally, and Gambian men, in particular, must educate themselves on women and gender issues to enable them reflect on individual behavior and responsibility to change negative attitudes toward women. We must also discuss and enlighten one another about the ways in which women and gender roles in The Gambia and elsewhere have been socially-constructed and result in subordination that is sanctioned by our brand of Islam and cultural beliefs. 

Gambian men must challenge the norm that women and girls are commodities that are “traded” or “bargained” for by their families who “train” them for the “marriage industry,” - rang-be, (line of unmarried women), and groomed to fetch high monetary returns and become good “wives.”  Being a “good wife” means: bearing male children, being submissiveness, pleasing husbands to the extent of tolerating verbal and physical abuse, cook well and look good.  Remember Senegalese singer Abdoulaye Mboop’s song, “Jonga ma del waah nejai” (lady call me uncle)?  We must see our wives as partners, (I am sure many do); listen to them with respect and empathy and arrest the impulse to hit those we love.  Hitting is a choice an abuser makes but a bad one at that.  Try talking it out instead!

Also, Diaspora Gambian men must get off their seats (mine included) to clean, cook, do the laundry and take care of their children, and help stem the generational curse of wife-battery.  Therefore, the more “enlightened” women and men among us must educate the less “informed” in group discussions over gender roles and practices and their consequences.  These discussions must remain open and conducted in an environment of tolerance and support. Diaspora Gambian women and those at home, including professionals must also question the gendered roles into which they were born and socialized.  These group discussions must address self-esteem issues, such as why many Gambian women continue to use skin-bleaching products to feel attractive.  And, conversely, why many men similarly prefer bleached-light-skinned women over their darker-hued sisters?  Together, we must unpack the old sayings, such as, “mussu-koi sasa borro” (light-skinned women are the antidote to death) - a saying that has an equivalent in almost every Gambian language. 

I strongly recommend formation of a men’s organization to be called- Gambian Men against Violence on Women (GMAVOW), pronounced VOW, i.e., vow to stop wife-beating and violence against women and girls and to support progressive causes for women’s empowerment.  This is important, particularly at a time when there is a strong fundamentalist Islamic current in The Gambia and the Diaspora, as witnessed by what I call “Ibaduism” or veiling among young girls- a curious religious development. 

There is, therefore, need for open debate and discussion on women and gender issues particularly within religious communities to strip bare the prejudices and condemnation often leveled against women.   Frequently, these prejudices are sanctioned or justified along lines of religion in The Gambia, as well as in the Diaspora.  Many Diara (Islamic religious associations) rigidly replicate societal gender roles and divisions with men dominating the key leadership positions, while generally reducing women to domestic roles and concerns.  Clearly, many of these Diaras are driven not by a desire to promote women’s rights and equality, despite their religious pronouncements, but rather by a desire to control and keep women in their “place.”

Men in these religious clubs are likely to defend themselves against accusations of sexism or bias against women by evoking their admiration for Prophet Muhammad’s first wife, Khadijah, who was reputed to be an independent and wealthy entrepreneur and a model to modern-day Muslim women. With this, many feel they are absolved. The truth is many of these men use religion, and the Koran to justify power and gender inequality in society.  They are also more prone, though not always, to beat their wives, support female-circumcision, and ostracize all who dare oppose them and these practices.  Many Imams, including Abdoulie Fatty, have frequently labeled efforts to empower women as ruinous to society.  He hauls threats and spews invectives against women who dare stand up to him and his elk.  Men in The Gambia, and Diaspora (again, I am sure many do), must take a more vocal stand against these Islamic and cultural purists/ fundamentalists who use the Koran to legitimize their views.

Take for instance the current homophobic environment that pervades countries like Malawi, Zimbabwe and The Gambia, where homosexuality is being described/ constructed as “un-natural,” “un-African,” and a Western “invention” foisted on Africans.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  These attitudes, like wife-beating are rooted in the same socio-religious and cultural practices that violate, subordinate women and girls, and justify wife-beating.  They are driven by fear of “difference,” and more importantly, a desire to control and define what sexual acts are “normal” and “natural.”  We must join women and women’s organizations already in place in The Gambia and run by able professional women to combat ignorance and religious intolerance.  And, Gambian women but particularly Gambian men have a lot of work to do in reassessing valued traditions and centuries-old cultural mores, and replace dysfunctional values with culturally adaptive ones. 

Human rights and principles of justice are indivisible.  That is, individuals, groups, including indigenous populations, “minority” groups, women, the disabled and men must be protected from abuse and curtailment of their fundamental rights.  These rights and principles transcend race, class, gender, religion, region and/ or sexual orientation and must also remain universal in spite of, or perhaps because of counter claims that are frequently couched in cultural-relativist arguments- what people do, however odious within their culture(s) is beyond reproach and are exempt from scrutiny from outsiders.  As citizens of the world, we must counter these extreme relativist arguments and others like it and be outraged by injustice (s) against women, gays and others denied their rights- be it racism in France, Britain or the U.S, or the occupied territories of the West Bank/ Palestinians.

Gambians have a lot to be proud of in our traditions, culture, and country- a friendly open disposition, respect for elders, strong sense of justice, ethical family values and a belief in hard work are just a few of the many attributes that define Gambians as a people.  Gambian women, in spite of how they are sometimes characterized- powerless victims and dependent are, in fact, a generally resilient, independent, confident, intelligent, beautiful and courageous lot often given to sacrifice for family and loved ones. We must all acquire new lenses by which to see Gambian women, their strengths, aspirations and their immense contribution to Gambia, as centuries-old representations have only distorted the afore-mentioned.

While conflict and disagreement are part of life and married life, in particular, these must not be resolved through wife-beating and/ or emotional abuse.  Discussing, negotiating and not trying to “win,” or have the last word could go a long way toward resolving disagreements or a spat.  If the problems cannot be resolved, see a professional- a therapist or someone you trust and respect to help plough through the issues.  Ultimately, it will take compromise, a desire to change by both parties and keeping one’s side of the bargain for any agreements to stick.  While divorce is an option in these times, it is always not the best, particularly when children are involved.

Finally, as Gambians we have a lot of soul-searching to do.  We have many issues to confront, demons to tame/ slay, “habits of the heart” to change, including ways we raise children and the values with which we imbue them.  We must rethink what we value in life, and what kind of society/ country we wish to build and leave to our children and grandchildren. Long after the current dictatorship is no more Gambians will continue to grapple and hopefully resolve these vexing issues.  The time to begin is Now. Join VOW!

Abdoulaye Saine, Hamilton, Ohio, USA

 

 

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Impact of Young Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutalab's AllegedTerror Attempt!

 

Will Young West African Muslims become Subject of new racial and religious profiling?

It is out of character for a young black West African Muslim who came from a middle class or wealthy African family to fall victim to destructive terror ideology that seeks to harm innocent people in the name of fighting for Islam.  It is normally often easier to recruit young men who came from underprivileged families who grew up without much hope for success in life than privilege kids who had much to be proud of.

 

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab a Nigerian born Muslim’s alleged failed terrorist attempt to blow an airline in Detroit on Christmas Eve has sent shocking waves across the West African Muslim communities in Africa and the United States. Until this serious terrorist attempt from a black West African National, terrorist activities were more prevalent in the Eastern part of Africa namely Somalia, Egypt and Sudan or around that region.

 

This new development linking terrorism to the heart land of the West African State of Nigeria brought some serious twist in the fight against terrorism and carries with it some unprecedented implication for young African Muslims who despite their limited opportunities in their individual nation states have stayed above and beyond religious extremism.

 

Many West African young Muslims who genuinely practice their Islamic faith clearly understand the role of religion in their lives. They are often able to draw a line between genuine religious practices from religious extremism. Majority still deeply belief in and accepts their religious values and practices, and are aware of the coming of both Islam and Christianity to West Africa by scholars of Religion. Many Muslims are not willing to allow religious extremism to dominate their lives to an extreme level of allowing unknown religious zealots who run and hide for their lives to brainwash them to commit atrocities against humanity.

 

The sad and unfortunate incident of Umar Farouk Abdulmutalib, a twenty – three (23 year) year old  brainwashed Nigerian which consumed him to the level of wanting to commit such heinous crime against the United States and citizens of the world is beyond any comprehension.  The incident sets a dangerous precedent with serious consequences which, will affect the lives and freedom of millions of innocent young African Muslims living as responsible citizens of the world and peacefully practicing their religious faith.  

 

The fundamental questions and worries Umar’s case presents to Western governments and within African and Muslim communities themselves, is whether this new terrorism link will subject thousands of black Muslims to racial and religious profiling at Airports and other security check points in the United States and other Western nations?  Would this incident lead to discrimination and further scrutiny of innocent citizens at the work place or educational institutions across the West?  Would Western consulates in Africa issuing immigrant Visas to innocent young students and businessmen and women who genuinely come to the West to pursue further education and business transactions respectively be affected by this new scrutiny?  How would this further affect all those young Muslim Journalists, civil servants and security personnel who face constant threats of arrest and imprisonment or even extra judicial killings by African dictators who are intolerant to dissenting political views? These questions and the impact they will have as a result of this case can only be determined with time and the concrete security steps put forward by Western Governments.

 

One thing is absolutely clear, that all decent citizens of the world can agree on is that extremist religious ideologies that leads people to want to blow airlines or public buildings in the name of religious fights is a fight against human civilization, decency, liberty and the security of all innocent people.  It is an ideological fight that no army in the world can defeat - One that seeks to destroy free movement of people in this increasing global integration. It is a fight that all decent citizens of the world regardless of religious affiliation must join to weed out such extreme ideologies.

 

The urgency to fight against such religious extremism has become a universal moral responsibility.  Imagine, anybody could have been in the airplane that Umar Farouk was allegedly about to blow out.  Anybody could have been in a train from London to Paris; anybody could have been in the world trade Center building during the 911 terror attacks. Any innocent citizen could have been in the US Embassies in Kenya, and Tanzania or a Five Star hotel in India?  Anybody could have been praying innocently in a Mosque in Pakistan or in Iraq when extremist stroke.  It is therefore, reasonable for all citizens be they in Gambia, at a Nigerian airport, the United States, and everywhere else - boarding an airline or in community meetings, all should keep an eye out for religious extremism. It is a dangerous ideology that cannot be taken for granted or brush aside as a mere talk.  People who express such dangerous levels of ideology regardless of their religious affiliation or national origin should be cautioned to reframe from such ideologies, seek counseling or risk being turned into law enforcement authorities for further monitoring.

 

Finally, it would be irresponsible to conclude this piece without issuing an open challenge to Muslim Scholars and Imams across the Muslim world. How come many Muslim Scholars and Imams refuse to openly speak and condemn these extremist ideologists who seek to hijack the great and peaceful Islamic faith? How come many Imams don’t have the guts to preach to their followers and condemn these acts of cowardice in the name of defending Islam?  When has it become morally justified to blow the heads of innocent children and women? Where in the Holy Koran does it justify taking the lives of innocent people along with oneself? Who speaks and acts on behalf of billion Muslims across the world? What message do scholars sent to the rest of the Islamic world by looking the other way?  Does silence on the issues not embolden those so called Martyrs?  Continuing to be silence on these issues amounts to giving moral support to the so called Jihadist who are destroying the true image of Islam.  The basic message of Islam is about peace, compassion, love for humanity, sharing and submission to Allah by doing good deeds?  Isn’t - that - right?

 

 Additionally, we must caution Western governments and law enforcement authorities who would want to use this incident to marginalize and racially profile innocent black African Muslims as a result of Umar Farouk’s alleged terror attempt.  As mentioned earlier in the piece, true Islam and those Muslims who practice it do not buy into such ideology. They value their lives and would never fall victim to such extremist views.  African Muslims living in the United States and other western nations firmly condemn the likes of Umar Farouk and such brainwashing ideologists. Equally, a similar condemnation is issued forth to Western nations and non-Muslim communities and individuals who capitalize on such occurrences to taint and brand Islam as a religion of terror. Muslims are willing to openly join the fight against extremism of all sorts and do not condone by any means the ideology of religious zealots who hide behind secret places and instruct innocent young Muslims to carry out their cowardly missions against innocent citizens. It is a self fulfilling, egoistic and destructive ideology that can only be nurtured in hidden dark places which symbolizes its’ doom for failure.  

 

By Demba Baldeh, Associate editor

 

  

 

The Way Forward for the GPU-USA 

By Yero Jallow Associate Editor 

In fulfilling a promise of a review of the recently concluded GPU-USA elections, I will take at some shots. Since our struggle is only one, that is enlightenment and liberation, there is a need to see unity among all. Call me an optimist if you would, I can take that tag on my shoulders to my tomb but I am one heck believer of unity, which is the only way forward for Gambians and their organizations. We cannot win the war at hand divided. We must live beyond the little things for the bigger fry. Most of these recommendations were submitted to the outgoing executive via the mailing list after their elections. Herein, the new GPU-USA should in my view consider the following recommendations:
 
1.   Incoming executive should reach out to all the online outlets and make sure everyone boards on the safe train by sending an appealing message to all those that recognized the institution and those that didn’t for reasons best known to them –that would do away with any differences that existed before.

 

 
2.  The Incoming GPU-USA can share power by possibly amending the constitution to where all the online outlets under its jurisdiction can be accorded one honorary seat in the executive to join the elected members. Where there is no advisory committee, the honorary members act as the catalysts.

 

3. Since the GPU-USA branched from the parent GPU-Gambia, they should see the need to galvanize with GPU-UK in straightening their frontiers, sort of a global frontier.

 
4.  The new executive can engage in a massive membership drive; to where membership will not be limited to only journalists but those showing concerns over the fate of journalists everywhere.  If it already exists, the drive will help maximize the organization.

5.  The new executive can initiate a support or defense fund, in the noted case of Chief Manneh, to include exiled and persecuted journalists who might need moral and financial support before settling down in their new places of residence. Possibly at some point in the long run, even supporting the many outlets in any way possible, cash or kind.

6.  The new executive should remain vigilant and put a close monitor on human rights’ abuses by picking up the hand globes without delay. As soon as there is a hit, they should fire petitions to influential individuals and organizations in order to yield maximum pressure on such an oppressor.

7.  Already, it is worth acknowledging the effective mailing list, phone conference system and a new website in the pipeline. 
 
Thanks guys! While the iron is hot, there is a need to strike hard, hence the need for these recommendations. We must empower our capabilities and strongly believe in ourselves by taking charge and shaping our destiny. By doing that, we will succeed in foiling Jammeh’s slaughter of black bulls, chickens and frogs, in his fetish believe that he divides his perceived enemies (critics) and straightens his pseudo-pillars.
 
Congrats GPU-USA! 
 

 

 

A Token of Appreciation for participating on Gainako's 3rd Anniversary:

 

Dear Compatriots,

 

It has been a month of celebration at Gainako. This year’s celebration was different and unique because celebrations are normally used to assess and reflect on successes and failures. Rather than wallowing in holy felicitations, Gainako saw the need to focus on what is at stake, which is Gambia’s looming situation of democracy and press freedom.  In light of these challenges, we decided to engage some of the most brilliant minds and active participants in our national debates to discuss different topics of national interest. 

 

 

Some participants contributed in their areas of specialty while others discussed their subject of interest. Many of them responded with enthusiasm and deep sense of responsibility to their national duty. Their topics of discussion reinvigorated their fan base who were longing to read from their favorite Journalists and contributing writers.

 

Others for reasons beyond their control could not get their contributions in on time but are still eager to join the debate.  Their contributions are still must cordially welcome at anytime. 

 

It is worth noting that there are many other Gambian intellectuals who are eager to join the national debate on cyber space. So many of these people have so much to offer to advance the national dialogue but due to unfortunate instances of cyber attacks and character assassination, many are increasingly distancing themselves from online news outlets and instead resorting to contributing to lisservs. 

 

In lieu of this encouraging response from across our diverse national dissent, Gainako seek to encourage and widen the participation to include all sectors of our society and national interest. All Gambians and friends of the Gambia regardless of their political ideology and areas of interest are cordially welcome at Gainako with open hands. Our editorial and opinion columns are officially dedicated to your dissent on any topics of interest.  Professional treatment of your contributions is must guaranteed regardless of your topic of discussion. 

 

In addition, it is an undeniable fact that only people like you with your potentials and specialties that give outlets like Gainako diversity, and shape the struggle perfectly. The various topics discussed during the anniversary spoke for themselves and they certainly underscore the great potentials and Sophistication of our generation and their ability to dissect matters of national interest.

 

From the celebration something came across very clear, that we shouldn’t underestimate the power of enlightenment. This is the only way we can liberate ourselves and bridge gaps among Gambians at home and abroad. The engagement of our intellectuals will continue especially at a time when we are faced with an iron fist regime which has no tolerance to dissent. A regime that will do anything, say anything to clinch on to power.

 

Gambia is endowed with such great minds that are not willing to let anyone think for them and shape their destiny. Gambians clearly demonstrate the intellectual ability to discuss s issues of national interest and resolve our difference with maturity and mutual respect.

 

To all the contributors who took their time to put pen to paper and for honoring our request to participate on Gainako's 3rd Anniversary milestone, we thank you greatly.  While your participation might seem minor in your eyes, you succeeded once again in raising the bar so high for all of us operating in cyber space.

 

Once again, thank you all compatriots. Our readers have reacted greatly in telling you all to continue the enlightenment while time is at your favor.

 

Long live the struggle!

 

Sincerely,

 

Team Gainako

 

 

 

The Gambian Media as Social Engineer

 

By Baba Galleh Jallow

 

Across the ages, many philosophers, sages, and great thinkers have emphasized the need for individuals and institutions that dare to differ from established norms and customs, that refuse to be cowed by tyranny, that nurture critical and questioning minds, that dare to hold, express and act upon their opinions, that keep an open mind, always ready to learn, and respectful of differing opinions, that assert their freedom of expression and of association, and that are aware of their responsibilities to society. This is the kind of institution that the Gambian media should be, and the kind of individual the Gambian media should seek to nurture in our society.

 

In this era of political intolerance and repression in our country, the Gambian media is challenged to dare to explore the legitimacy of the actions of established authority and its norms and policies, and where these are found wanting in decency or fair play, to help our society make up its own mind to reject them. The Gambian media is challenged to help us build ideal citizens who will value their freedom to hold and express contrary opinions, who will dare the powers that be to prevent them from doing so, and who will assert sovereign control over their bodies and minds and exercise their legitimate and just rights as long as others are not needlessly and unjustly harmed in the process.

 

The Gambian media is challenged to help us build a citizenry that is capable of accommodating differing opinions, however much they are tempted to shout these down. We all must be ready and willing not only to allow others to hold and express opinions contrary to ours, but also to learn, to put the validity of our opinions to the test, and to rectify our errors through discussion and debate. As John Stuart Mill argues in his classic, On Liberty, it is the capacity to keep an open mind and to happily rectify our errors that is “the source of everything respectable in man either as an intellectual or as a moral being.” A person can only become wise if he is in the habit of listening to all shades of opinion, accepting criticism of his own positions, and is always ready to correct his mistakes and improve his knowledge and experience through open debate and discussion. A person must never attempt to impose his opinions on others or silence the opinions of others because by so doing, he would be assuming the untenable position of infallibility, or at the very least, of intolerance that can only lead to the stifling of our intellectual energies. To quote Mill, again, human nature is like a tree “which requires to grow and develop itself on all sides, according to the tendency of the inward forces which make it a living thing;” and, we may add, in the case of the human being, according to the tendency of the outward forces which make it a social being. We can only enjoy absolute freedom of action so long as our actions do not cause undue harm to innocent others. We should be at liberty to enter into any partnership or association with other human beings in society so long as those partnerships and associations are voluntary and do not cause harm to innocent others.

 

Of course, such ideals are lost to those guilty of injustice and tyranny, to those who would torture innocent people, kill them, maim them, or otherwise subject them to severe indignities for no reason other than a greedy and selfish desire to maintain their own privileged positions to the detriment of all others. The Gambian media is challenged to go at such unjust tyrants will all they have got.

 

But while the Gambian media should help promote the principle of the liberty of the individual and fight to protect society from the undue encroachment and control of powerful unjust elements in society, we should be wary of advocating total and irresponsible freedom of expression, or of the individual. With every freedom comes a corresponding responsibility. We can and should assert our individuality and even showcase our distasteful eccentricities, but we must be aware and respectful of our responsibilities to society. We cannot, to illustrate, express an opinion or make a false allegation under circumstances that may lead to the instigation of mob action against say, a totally innocent passerby. We cannot, simply because we are able to, deliberately and falsely accuse innocent people of crimes they have not committed or level false allegations against innocent persons that could potentially cause them grievous bodily, psychological, professional, or other harm. The media must be ready, like any other institution and individual in society, to be censured, reprimanded or otherwise held accountable for engaging in activities detrimental to itself or our society because this could subject our very nation to some forms of injury that might not be immediately apparent, but that are nonetheless devastating. 

 

On that note, I wish to congratulate Gainako on its third anniversary and to seize this opportunity to extend a hearty congratulations to all our online Gambian papers for their great contribution to our current struggle against injustice and tyranny. To all our editors I say, please keep up the great work. But please remember, again, that with great freedom comes great responsibility. May God bless you all.

 

Happy 3rd Anniversary Gainako

 

GAMBIA TURNS A MAN STATE; WHO IS TO BLAME? 

“The Gambia this week has been a week of news. Never has so much news filled the air as this week since the 2006 presidential election. The week has seen the sacking of ministers, senior civil servants, Modou Gaye, the deputy Inspector General of Police, Solicitor General, National Assembly Speaker and the first Gambian to become Chief Justice; Justice Savage”.

 

The above quote from our Banjul correspondent Solo cannot be overemphasized.  The news of the firing and hiring without regard to due process of the law or best governing practices resembles a state of anarchy to say the least.

 

For the past week it seems every organ of government in the Gambia has seized to function except the office of the President.  Every sector of Government has basically come to a halt waiting for their faith to be decided by the absolute powerful President Jammeh. 

 

The firing and recycling of government officials is not what is disturbing given the history of the Gambian President and his absolute decisions to do what he wishes without regards to the constitution or respect for his fellow citizens who sacrifice to serve his government.

 

What is deeply unsettling which many people might over look because of the President’s normal behavior in making decisions is the series of interviews and comments made by the President in the last two weeks leading to his bold action against his cabinet.  We have seen this President make some stomach aching decisions like declaring himself a Dr. and claiming to find cure for HIV/AIDs or engaging in Witch hunting of innocent civilians in the name of witchcraft.  

 

Many attributed those kinds of claims to be a reinforcement of the President’s childhood environment where he was probably brought up around people who strongly belief in supernatural powers and cultural myths like Witchcraft without any iota of truth that those things exist. Some former close associates of the President who served with him in the National Army reported that President Jammeh had a long standing belief that he possesses supernatural powers.

 

One junior officer who served with Jammeh (name withheld) attested that the President would take him around a tree and tell him to look at the leafs and see if he can see anything? The then lieutenant Jammeh would tell the junior officer that he saw something in the tree that only he can see. So it is understandable that, that kind of stigma inculcated during childhood can go a long way to influence someone’s life.  Sometimes no level of education can take that away from a person which seems to be the case with President Jammeh’s beliefs.

 

However, the President’s recent interviews with GRTS (reported in series by this paper) on the issue of the Ghanaian killings and the brutal murder of Deyda Hydara where he said “Let them go and ask Deyda Hydara who killed him not me” revealed a disturbing mindset not on the President as an individual human being, but as a leader of a nation who has a moral responsibility to protect and comfort his citizens in times of difficulties. Could you imagine anyone in their right state of mind knowing the circumstances under which Deyda was brutally killed would so outrageously disregard the feelings of Deyda’s family and utter such remarks in his capacity as a President?  This is an absolute denial of reality by this President that Deyda did not choose to take his own life.  Instead, he was cowardly murdered in cold blood a few yards from a police station.  The least the President could do as a man of “Faith” is to pay respect to the death who gave up his life standing up for what he beliefs.

 

This unbelievable position of the President without showing any remorse to the families of victims of such vicious crimes, is the same trend we see in his autocratic heavy handed stick on firing members of his cabinet and other government officials without any justification for the firing.

 

The President’s recent firing of high court judges and even the Speaker of the house demonstrates to what extend this President is willing to single handedly consolidate power in him and in him alone.  It is a dangerous precedence and the President must realize that he is in a state of anger and is losing credibility in firing and appointing people to serve his government.

 

It is obvious that the President’s iron fist policy in firing people unceremoniously is not working for the simple reason that the same people fired are recycled right back into the same or similar positions. So where is the justification for firing these people in the first place if you will only turn around overnight and rehire them? The failure of this policy has long since been established when the President one time during his address to the House said “I have fired and fired until I don’t know who to fire anymore”.

 

It is strongly believed in many intellectual minds that in fact the blame does not squarely lie on the President. Instead, the very people who are being ridiculed and recycled right back into the government has a lot more to do with the President’s decisions to dump them when he wants and recall them at his mercy.  They have unduly submitted to President Jammeh that he could do anything he wants without consequences.  The fact that no single official fired would challenge the President’s decision to fire and rehire them by demanding to be treated with respect, validates what the President beliefs that these people are loyal to their pockets and not to the nation.

 

It is a false excuse for anyone to accept Jammeh’s appointments in the name of serving your country because they very well know that they cannot effectively serve their nation under such leadership. So they accept these positions to serve Jammeh and as a result he dumps them when he feels they are kissing off to him instead of doing their job.

 

Finally what is more disheartening is to see so many smart Gambians with so much to offer fall prey to such nicked plot to portray them as unpatriotic and incompetent; because they allow themselves to be used as political sacrificial lambs.  Loyalty to your nation should never be confused with loyalty to a single individual who is doing everything to consolidate power to lead a nation for a life time.  Therefore, the blame for Gambia’s state of affairs and the President’s unrestrained behavior towards his fellow citizens rest largely on the shoulders of individual citizens who choose to stand with one person instead of with a nation.

Demba Baldeh, Associate Editor