Madi Jobarteh has reacted to Mamour Jobe’s decision to deny Operation Three Years Jotna a permit to stage a protest.

Operation Three Years Jotna had announced it would stage a protest next week if President Barrow refuses to leave office. A permit for them to protest has however been denied.

Madi Jobarteh in a write-up lashed out at the Inspector General of Police over his decision to deny the group a permit.

He said: “There is no middle ground in democracy. You either have it or you don’t have it. A semblance of democracy is no democracy. Democracy is not an event such as a picnic to be enjoyed in one day only. Rather democracy is a way of life to be fought for; to lose or win every day, forever. In other words, democracy is a process that also takes time to mature. But for democracy to mature it cannot be subjected to the circumstances and interests of any particular person or group. We cannot claim to have democracy yet refuse to allow democracy to flourish!

“For democracy to flourish citizens must enjoy their rights and freedoms as specified in the Constitution and the State must respect and protect those rights. Just because one feels there is insecurity or traffic will be disrupted or services will be slowed down therefore democracy could be shelved. No way! Democracy already caters for such situations by ensuring that there is the police and other human services to allow everyone to enjoy their rights as much as possible.

“The Inspector General of Police cannot therefore state that there will be no public assemblies at any period when there is no state of emergency declared by the President. Since 2017 there has been no war nor was there any natural disasters or disease outbreaks in this country such that a state of emergency was declared to warrant the curtailment of public assemblies. Therefore, there is no justification for the IGP to deny any group of citizens to demonstrate on the basis that it has ‘compelling national security and public safety concerns.’ What are these concerns?

“As citizens let us agree or disagree with each other in terms of our ideas and positions but let us not accept the denial of rights by the State on flimsy excuses. I have seen many people so far agreeing with the IGP in denying Three Years Jotna a permit. Some have expressed disgust with the frequent protests in the country while others have sought to demonise one group or the other thus justifying the denial. If this is our approach then we are harming ourselves, if not now but sooner than later!

“Democracy is the environment that ensures that good governance and economic development prevail where the rule of law will be respected by all, corruption will be exposed and combated, and goods and services are delivered efficiently and affordably by both the State and the private sector among others. Democracy is the dispensation that protects human rights and ensures social justice and equality. It is democracy that allows for a vibrant media to flourish thus further amplifying the voices of the people. In the absence of democracy everyone in society is at risk.

“Democracy is not just what happens on the floor of the National Assembly or what happens inside the Office of the President or how independent the Courts are. Rather democracy is also very much about citizen engagement to influence public policy, hold the State as well as the private sector and civil society accountable and ensure that citizens enjoy quality and affordable goods and services. The quality of democracy is guaranteed by that citizen engagement where citizens challenge issues in court, protest in the streets or occupy public spaces, boycott businesses among many other types of campaigns.

“Therefore, let us not allow our personal interests and political affiliations or our like or dislike of a group or an individual to serve as the measure of our democracy. In a democracy citizens will express offensive and sometimes threatening remarks but these do not constitute violence or hate speech such that one will be denied the right to enjoy a right. Let us protect democracy even if we do not agree with this group or that activity.

“Let us not be fed up with the exercise of fundamental rights by citizens and therefore condone the suppression of those rights by the State. Let us remember that when we allow the State to suppress one right simply because we do not agree with the individual claiming that right someday soon it will be your right which will also be seized.

“From Iraq to France, from Senegal to Guinea Conakry citizens are protesting against corruption, ineffective government, high cost of fuel and food, poor leadership, abuse of office and many others. Some of these countries are currently undergoing severe armed conflicts while others are full blown democracies, yet citizens are allowed to protest. Why should it be different with the Gambia?

“I totally and vehemently disagree with the IGP for denying the Three Years Jotna people a permit to protest. There is no tangible evidence that the IGP has presented about this group that they will cause violence if they protest. The IGP cannot impose a blanket ban on protests in the Gambia because he has no such authority.

“I strongly advice the Three Years Jotna group to go to the courts to challenge the IGP’s decision which is unconstitutional and illegal. The primary law of the Gambia guarantees first and foremost the right to protest. The Constitution only contemplates a limitation of this right but not a denial. The Public Order Act is a subsidiary law that draws inspiration from the Constitution hence the norm for the Act is to allow protest to take place. A denial can only be an exception but not the norm in the Act. The norms of democracy require that such denial must be explicitly justified with tangible reasons.

“The IGP needs proper advise on law and human rights so that he does not act unlawfully by misapplying the law hence suppressing rights.”

By Lamin Njie

Police early Tuesday contacted leaders of Operation Three Years Jotna as the anti-Barrow group’s moment of misery which began from their fundraiser fiasco showed no signed of abating.

Police chief Mamour Jobe on Monday denied Operation Three Years Jotna a permit to stage a protest on 20 January to call for the resignation of President Adama Barrow.

Operation Three Years Jotna had said the three years deal that President Barrow agreed to will end on 19 January, and in their protest last month, the group gave the president the choice of either heeding their call or they will take to the streets again.

OTYJ put in a request on 3 January for them to protest against Mr Barrow’s rule for a second time in a month.

The Inspector General of police on Monday however denied the group permit insisting the denial was due to ‘compelling’ national security and public safety concerns.

Police early Tuesday contacted OTYJ chiefs and informed them they had a letter that they needed to pick up.

A source told The Fatu Network the letter is in fact the official response of the police to Operation Three Years Jotna. The letter has been leaked online and it says the group has been denied a permit, the source added.

By Lamin Njie

Police chief Mamour Jobe has denied Operation Three Years Jotna a permit to stage a protest on 20 January to call for the resignation of President Adama Barrow.

Operation Three Years Jotna say the three years deal that President Barrow agreed to will end on 19 January, and in their protest last month, the group gave the president the choice of heeding their call or they will take to the streets again.

OTYJ put in a request on 3 January for them to protest against Mr Barrow’s rule for a second time in a month.

The Inspector General of police on Monday however denied the group permit insisting the denial was due to ‘compelling’ national security and public safety concerns.

The police chief has meanwhile informed the army, the state intelligence service and the ECOMIG commander of his decision.

Guinea Bissau president-elect Umaro Cissoko Embalo Monday met President Adama Barrow pledging his commitment to a borderless bloc of Senegal, Guinea Bissau and The Gambia.

Mr Cissoko Embalo made the comment while speaking to journalists at State House after meeting President Barrow.

He told journalists that their discussions centred on ways to take the relations between Banjul and Bissau higher than it is already.

At bilateral levels, the Bissau Guinean President-Elect stated that cooperation between Bissau and Banjul will be further strengthened in the areas of education, health, agriculture, tourism and culture.

Bissau has a lot to do in those areas with Banjul, and they are ready to learn from Gambia’s business experiences as well as strengthened security cooperation.

He assured that better prospects lie ahead of Guinea Bissau as a country, after years of political instability. “The new generation of Bissau Guineans will not repeat mistakes that keep their population in cycles of conflict for decades,” he added.

He was however convinced and optimistic about the trilateral relations between the three countries and for the journey ahead.

President-Elect Cissoko Embalo said the visit was a personal one and he is in Banjul to thank President Barrow who he described as “big brother” both at the personal level and as President of The Gambia.

Killa Ace on Monday escaped punishment after he lashed out at a magistrate who found him guilty of assaulting a police officer.

Killa Ace raised his voice saying, ‘Gomuma yii (I reject these); let’s go; D18,000 is nothing’, after Sainey Joof handed him a 17,500 dalasis fine for assaulting a police officer, breaching peace and destroying public property.

Police prosecutors had told the Kanifing Magistrates Court the rapper ‘deliberately’ punched police officer Demba Bah on the face.

Lawyers had earlier pleaded with the magistrate to show mercy to Killa Ace as he was a first-time offender and an ‘asset’ to the country. The magistrate then spared him jail and handed him a fine.

The magistrate was already leaving the court but looked back as Killa Ace expressed his disappointment at the verdict.

Police have announced they have arrested suspects involved in multiple house breaking and stealing activities.

Officers of the Police Anti Crime Unit arrested the alleged burglars whose activities are largely within the Serrekunda area.

Police said on its official Facebook page over the weekend: “Several Flat Screen TVs, Computers, Laptops and Motorcycle were recovered.

“The public is urged to come forward for identification of items and volunteer information that may be useful to investigations.”

The National Human Rights Commission has warned interactions between the Gambia Police Force and Three Years Jotna if not properly addressed, may lead to misunderstanding and disruption of public order.

NHRC has said it ushered in the New Year with a renewed commitment to promote and protect human rights in The Gambia.

The commission in a statement signed by its chairperson Emmanuel Daniel Joof said: “Several issues relating to and affecting human rights have been and continue to be monitored by the NHRC. Key concerns include civil society engagement with law enforcement and respect for the rights guaranteed by the constitution, such as the right to assembly, freedom of expression and rule of law.

“As our country transitions to a more democratic society, our law enforcement agencies will be faced with situations which would oblige them to uphold standards that do not compromise human rights and freedoms, while maintaining order, security and peace.

“The NHRC is aware of interactions between The Gambia Police Force and 3 Years Jotna Concerned Citizens which, if not properly addressed, may lead to misunderstanding and disruption of public order. Consequently, on Wednesday 8th January 2020, the Commission initiated a separate dialogue with both the Inspector General of Police and Executive members of the 3 Years Jotna Concerned Citizens. The meetings were neither supportive, nor dismissive of the demands and concerns of 3 Years Jotna Concerned Citizens, or convened to castigate or admonish the police. It was a dialogue to hear the concerns of the parties, encourage the nurturing of peace and order, and emphasize respect for and protection of constitutional and fundamental human rights by all and sundry.

“Protests, among other forms of civil engagement, are fundamental features of a functioning democracy. The Gambia Police Force performs the critical and challenging role of creating both a conducive environment, while maintaining order, and the protection of people and properties. It should be emphasized that the State, however, bears the primary obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the fundamental rights of everyone living within its jurisdiction without discrimination or any other considerations. Civil society organisations are encouraged to employ avenues that are governed by the laws of The Gambia and to act responsibly in their engagements and exercise of fundamental human rights.

“The NHRC urges the Government and the populace to draw lessons from the revelations of the ongoing Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) to build a society that is founded on fundamental rights and freedoms, the rule of law, constitutionalism and due process.

“The National Human Rights Commission is an independent institution established by an Act of National Assembly in 2017 to protect and promote human rights in The Gambia. The Commission is open to the general public and can receive, investigate and provide human rights redress to complainants.”

The Kanifing Magistrates Court has found Killa Ace guilty of assaulting a police officer.

Killa Ace was also found guilty of conducting himself in a manner that amounted to breach of the peace. The popular rapper was also found guilty of destruction of public property.

Ali Cham better known as Killa Ace was arrested in October 2018 and dragged before the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court where he was charged with assault and breach of peace.

The popular rapper was arrested by police after he conducted himself in a manner which the Kanifing Magistrates Court held led to breach of peace. He was also accused of assaulting a police officer, Corporal Demba Bah, on the same day.

The Kanifing Magistrates Court handed the rapper fines that amounted to D17,500.

By Lamin Njie

APRC has blasted reports the party took part in a pro-Barrow protest on the Banjul-Serrekunda highway.

Thousands of Gambians have taken to the streets on Sunday to call on President Barrow to stick to his plan of serving a full five-year term. A furore has however erupted after a banner bearing APRC was spotted in the protest. The banner read, ‘APRC – In Defense of the Constitution’.

APRC reacted late Sunday saying the banner is ‘fake’ and ‘fraudulent’.

APRC said: “The APRC wishes to inform the general public and all APRC militants that this banner photo/video circulating around social media portraying that the APRC IN DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTION is fake, fraudulent, a propaganda, and illegal representation of the party.

“Thus, investigation will be carried out and anyone found responsible will be dealt with.”

By Lamin Njie, editor-in-chief, and Adama Makasuba

Thousands of protesters on Sunday called on President Adama Barrow to proceed and complete a five-year term, shutting their eyes to calls for the Gambian leader to resign.

The Gambia’s political future remains uncertain as the bickering over whether President Barrow should leave office in line with a 2016 gentleman pact or stay in office until 2021 continues.

Pressure group Operation Three Years Jotna is the anti-Barrow movement spearheading campaigns for the president to leave office while Gambia For Five Years want the president to serve a five-year term.

And on Sunday, the protesters who included close President Barrow aides staged a walk from Sting Corner to Denton Bridge, calling on him to remain in office.

“We want five years because that’s where there is peace,” Ramou Njie who sits in a wheelchair told The Fatu Network.

Saikou Marong, national assembly member for Latrikuna Sabiji lashed out at ‘joke’ notion for President Barrow to resign.

“I can assure you that President Adama Barrow will never and he will never accept Three Years Jotna demand and step down. It will never happen. Why would he do that (step down)?” Mr Marong said.

Henry Gomez an adviser to President Barrow said the protest was proof that Gambians want Mr Barrow to serve for five years.

The protest comes barely a month after thousands of Gambians protested against Mr Barrow’s plan to back-pedal on a 2016 pledge. President Barrow had said he was not interested in power and was going to resign after a three-year term which will come to an end next Sunday.

The five years protesters ended their protest by handed over a petition to government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh for him to take it to President Barrow.

In the letter, the protesters branded their protest ‘patriotic’ and said it was prompted by Three Years Jotna movement’s campaign for the president to step down.

“Section (65) of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia which is an entrenched clause provides that an elected President of the Republic shall serve for a term of five years. This provision supersedes the 2016 Coalition Agreement. It is common knowledge that the said Agreement has been amended from three (3) to five (5) years aligning it with the dictates of constitution,” the protesters said in their letter to President Barrow.

They added: “It is our fervent believe that the three (3) Years Jotna Movement’s recent protest and petition calling for you to step down and the threat for another mass protest on the 20th January 2020 is unconstitutional.

“Economic activities in the country are dwindling, as fear is mounting in all corners that the anticipated protest of the 20th January, 2020 may lead to civil strife and instability in the country. We therefore call on your Government to take firm steps with a view to ameliorating the negative effects of three (3) years Jotna Movement’s scare-mongering tactics. Majority of Gambians are behind you and advocates for peace and stability and would not sit aside and watch the said group send the country down the drains.

“We wish to humbly remind your Excellency that you have taken a solemn oath to protect and uphold the Constitution of The Gambia. Serving the mandated term of five (5) years is a manifestation of upholding and protecting the constitution. We the majority of Gambians expect you to do just that.”

By Lamin Njie

Gambia For Five Years secretary general Ebrima Sorie Bah was comforted by protest mates after he burst into tears while reading out a protest letter addressed to President Adama Barrow.

Thousands of Gambians under Gambia For Five Years today took to the streets to demand President Barrow to serve a full five-year term, as the row over Mr Barrow’s rule takes a dramatic twist.

President Barrow is under pressure from pressure group Operation Three Years Jotna to step down as part an agreement that was reached by Gambia opposition parties in 2016. Mr Barrow’s U-turn to serve a full five-year term instead of a three-year period has sparked controversy.

Today, thousands of pro-Barrow supporters under Gambia For Five Years took to the streets to ask the Gambian leader to ignore calls for him to resign.

“We wish to stress that if you shall ever yield to the demands of Three (3) years Jotna, you will be betraying us the majority of Gambians and we shall hold you accountable for failing to protect and uphold the constitution,” Gambia For Five Years secretary general Ebrima Sorie Bah said as he burst into tears.

He added: “We will not relent in our stride and shall embark on mass protest until the will of the people is respected.”

By Lamin Njie

Gambia For Five Years and Peacebuilding will stage a protest on Sunday to demand that President Adama Barrow serve a full five-year term.

The protest will be in the form of a procession from Sting Corner to Denton Bridge – and will counter rival group Operation Three Years Jotna’s protest last month.

Gambia Five Years secretary general Ebrima Sorie Bah told The Fatu Network a staggering 100,000 are expected people to take part in the protest.

According to the group, their action is in the “general interest of the overwhelming majority of Gambians who voted during the last general elections in The Gambia”.

“This is quite evident from the feedbacks we have been receiving during our recently concluded nationwide peace dialogue tour of communities,” the group said.

At the protest, Gambia For Five Years will hand over a petition to a government representative for onward delivery to President Barrow. They will demand that he disregards his three years pledge and serve a full five-year term in office.

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow on Saturday insisted his government remains supportive of the One-China policy, two years after his much-ridiculed interview with international news channel, CGTN.

President Barrow visited China in December 2017 and was asked during an interview with CGTN why the One-China policy was so strategically important to The Gambia.

Mr Barrow told the news channel: “The One-China policy is important to The Gambia for the simply reason that we believe in unity, we believe in oneness. If we are together, we are stronger. It’s because, The Gambia, we were together, that’s why we were able to change from dictatorship from democracy. That unity, that spirit was very important in our history and we believe that [is] one-China policy.”

Gambians ridiculed the president’s performance with some suggesting he didn’t understand what the One-China policy was about.

Mr Barrow presided over the inauguration of the IOC conference centre on Saturday where he hailed China as “one of our strongest partners”.

“Evidently, the People’s Republic of China is one of our strongest partners. With them, we will continue to explore new frontiers, ranging from cultural exchanges to trade and investment expansion through a South-South Cooperation framework,” the president said.

On the One-China policy, he said: “Bilaterally, my government will continue to work with the Chinese Government and remain supportive of the One-China Policy.”

The “One-China policy” is a principle that says there is only one sovereign state under the name China and that’s the People’s Republic of China.

Taiwan has been fighting for total breakage from mainland China and has its own name, Republic of China. The One-China policy seeks to check Taiwan’s fight for total independence and the use of the name ‘China’ as part of its official name.

By Lamin Njie

Former president Yahya Jammeh told Ousman Rambo Jatta ‘I’m not a cat’ after the deputy APRC interim leader used a proverb to suggest people were taking advantage of the former dictator’s absence.

Mr Jammeh spoke to Mr Jatta from Equatorial Guinea in a conversation that emerged on social media on Saturday.

During the conversation, Mr Jammeh claimed people have been insulting him in a bid to provoke his supporters.

Rambo Jatta interjected by telling Jammeh: “But you’re our supreme leader…”

Jammeh then said: “When I was in The Gambia, did anybody insult me?”

Replying, Rambo said: “No sir, not at all.”

The deputy APRC interim leader then said: “But sir I think you heard Bob Marley sing that, ‘when the cat’s away the mice play’.”

Jammeh responded by saying, “But I’m not a cat.”

A laughing Rambo responded: “But it’s a proverb and I believe you know what that means.”

The conversation then took an awkward dimension with Jammeh weirdly saying: “But these are not mice, a mice is a very clean animal [sic]. Have you ever seen a mouse sin?”

Rambo replied: “No sir, not at all.”

By Lamin Njie

President Adama Barrow has inaugurated the China-funded and built conference facility ahead of the 2022 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit to be held in The Gambia.

The 1,031 capacity conference centre cost 50 million dollars (approximately 2.5 billion dalasis).

However, the complex appeared to have two names and this has sparked a furore.

The Gambia government had last week announced the centre was named after the former president Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara as sources told The Fatu Network China had wanted the centre to be named, ‘The Gambia International Conference Centre’.

China was reportedly not happy with the naming of the centre after Sir Dawda but the East Asian nation through its embassy in Banjul told The Fatu Network the claims were mere ‘rumours’.

At the inauguration on Saturday, a placard at the front of the complex bore the name, ‘The Gambia International Conference Centre’ while ‘Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre’ could be seen written elsewhere.

Gambians online reacted to the unveiling of the structure but most jumped at the name debacle.

Ismaila Drammeh commented: “We were informed in a press release by the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure on the official Facebook page of the State House of The Gambia dated January 6th, 2020 that and I quote ꟷ ‘The Ministry further informs the public that the International Conference Center (ICC) will be named after the former president, ‘Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center’.

“So, where is Sir Dawda’s name perhaps it is written somewhere inside the building and it is not visible to someone outside of the building or what?! Something is not right here!”

Ndeye Fatou Sohna said: “This Govt NEVER gets it right the first time around. They always misfire, then a huge explanation follows! If you are explaining too much, then you must be doing something wrong!”

A ministry of works official had told The Fatu Network the naming of the centre came from the office of the president and the ministry of foreign affairs. A foreign affairs spokesman said they are not aware of a standoff between China and The Gambia over the naming of the facility.

State House press secretary Amie Bojang Sissoho said she could only comment on the issue if The Fatu Network disclosed the source of its information that there was a naming debacle.

The inauguration of the complex comes days before a three years term that President Barrow agreed to in 2016 ends and it’s seen in some quarters as an attempt by the president to boost his popularity as the three years row rumbles on. State House said those were mere ‘opinions’.

By Omar Wally

APRC is a party for dignified, honest, god fearing, development oriented, peace loving and people who love being Gambians and want to see [The] Gambia prosper into a great nation, says former president Yahya Jammeh.

“That is what the APRC is and that is why [it] is called Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC),” Jammeh said during a conversation with Ousman Rambo Jatta.

He dismissed claims that APRC is a Jola party. Former President Jammeh is from the Jola ethic group.

Jammeh said: “You think I alone can form the party? So people labeling APRC as Jola party should be expelled. I will rather set up a religious party which will benefit me than anything else but a Jola party? God forbid! Accusing someone of what he is not, I thank them of taking my sins.

“What I told Barrow was not to compromised the peace and security of The Gambia, so I cannot turn around and say burn this country. That is satanic. I’m appealing to APRC supporters: if they hear anybody insulting Babili Mansa (Jammeh himself) just forget the person.”

By Omar Wally

Former president Yahya Jammeh has said former ruling APRC party will not go into a coalition or alliance with any political party in The Gambia.

Speaking from his base in faraway Equatorial Guinea, Jammeh said APRC will not form an alliance with anybody whose “hands are not clean, in fact we don’t need an alliance with any party because APRC is the majority and [the] party with discipline and APRC cannot bring unruly people in our midst”.

“All we need are clean, honest and geniune Gambians and God fearing, and people who want peace and want Gambia to move forward,” he said in an audio conversation with APRC’s interim deputy leader Ousman Rambo Jatta.

On the vexed issue of his return to the country, Jammeh said those who are asking about when he would come back to The Gambia should ask Gambia Radio and Television Services to re-broadcast his last statement or the statement he made when he spoke to President Barrow.

“I told Gambians how long I will be out, I will not go into details, I’m on leave,” he said.
Jammeh said it is only Allah that can say, ‘only Yahya Jammeh’s dead body will come back to Gambia but not Yahya Jammeh’.

He then dismissed claims that he was driven out of The Gambia, adding, “apart from God nobody can take me out of The Gambia”.

“Now there are lions and lionesses saying, ‘when we kicked out Yahya Jammeh…’ Most of them benefited from my generosity. However, during my time, I’m not saying people were not dying in hospitals [but] even village health centers had enough medication.

“When I was in power, even frogs were saved, I’m not bragging. It means I put life everywhere.”

Jammeh added that when he was in the helms of affairs not many times cats got killed but now[adays] people are ‘dying worse than rats’.