Climatic Change in Gambia

Dear friends,

It takes just 3 minutes - simply add a location to the global map: Click to register a climate vigil.

This is a time to step up. Next month world leaders gather in Copenhagen to thrash out a new global climate agreement. The outcome will only be so bold as we demand - and it could be as dismal as we allow.

The biggest threat? That among the politicking and bureaucracy, the world forgets what's at stake.

So here's the plan: in the middle of the negotiations, candlelight vigils in every corner of the planet to put real human faces on the need for a real climate deal. It will be the world's largest ever global day of climate action - and one world leaders and media can't miss.

To get started simply pick a good local vigil location nearby and register it on the global map. From there it's dead easy - just bring some candles and pass out the short provided message for people to take turns reading. It takes less than an hour to organise - and Avaaz members in your area will be invited to attend.

This is a time to step up - let's rise to the occasion.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/real_deal_hosts

We're just weeks away from what is truly the most important moment yet in the world's response to climate change. We do not expect, nor do we accept, anything less than what is needed to save our planet.

Here's how every event will make a difference:

National pressure - in global negotiations every country makes a difference, for better or for worse. The problem is most of the time international negotiations aren't closely followed at home - but having local events will show leaders in Gambia that this time we're watching keenly, with the power of a coordinated international movement to name and shame those countries that hold up progress.

World media - creating a world media story takes a world in action. We need to show journalists that this is more than just another protest: it's a global coordinated day of action on a massive scale. We have demonstrated that this works -- our Global Wake Up Call and the 350 day of action both generated huge global press coverage earlier this year. Now, in the middle of the Copenhagen talks, the media moment is even bigger. Thousands of vigils around the planet will give this day of action the scale we need to make an even bigger global media impact.

Photographic evidence- Photos of every vigil from around the world will be printed and delivered to negotiators and world leaders in Copenhagen - they are evidence that people around the world have the very same ambitious goal for our planet: a real climate deal. All action photos will be also be posted on the internet for millions of Avaaz members to see and distributed to the global media.

This is a time to step up - let's all of us seize the opportunity:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/real_deal_hosts

Thanks for all that you do,
Ricken, Ben, Taren, Iain, Sam, Alice, Milena, Paul, Luis, Julius, Lisa and the whole Avaaz team.


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ABOUT AVAAZ Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Buenos Aires, and Geneva. Click here to learn more about our largest campaigns. Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages! You can also follow Avaaz on Twitter!

You are getting this message because you signed "GUINEA: STOP THE CRACKDOWN!" on 2009-10-06 using the email address isa_saikou@hotmail.com. To ensure that Avaaz messages reach your inbox, please add avaaz@avaaz.org to your address book. To change your email address, language settings, or other personal information, click here: https://secure.avaaz.org/act/index.php?r=profile&user=6528570e548d6527603ad0c16b3bbde1&lang=en or simply click here to unsubscribe.

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Gambia News:AU Human Right Defenders Session Underway In Banjul

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), the main regional body entrusted with the responsibility of promoting and protecting human and peoples' rights in Africa yesterday commenced its 46th Ordinary Session, at the Sheraton Hotel in Brufut.

The occasion was opened by Therese Sarr Toupan, the Acting Registrar of Companies at the Attorney-General's Chambers, on behalf of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

The Commission often holds two Ordinary Sessions in a year: May and November. The Sessions are always occasions for state parties, Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to interact and look at the overall human rights situation on the continent.

The eleven-member regional body that was established some 22 years ago would be busied during the Session looking into human rights situation on the continent, during the past six months.

During the session the Commission will examine State Reports from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Botswana.

The Commission shall also adopt reports of promotional mission conducted in Burkina Faso, Republic of Congo, Namibia, Nigeria and Tanzania.

It shall also examine a number of reports and draft documents on key human rights issues, such as the report of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the conclusions of a sub-regional conference for East, Central and Southern Africa on the death penalty, the paper on sexual orientation, the proposed extension of Universal Jurisdiction of the African Court, and the impacts or effects of the extractive industry and human rights abuse in Africa.

"Some of these papers are long overdue," says Bahame Tom Mukirya Nyanduga, the Acting Chairperson of ACHPR.

Noting that the issues being addressed vary in scope and impact on enjoyment of rights, he said they remain important and relevant, whether they affect massive violations as in the case of international criminal justice and universal jurisdiction issues, or the rights of minorities.

Mr. Nyanduga, who used the occasion to bid farewell to the Commission, adding that the objective of the two-week session is to gauge human rights in state parties, and evaluate the various measures undertaken by governments, and the impact by various human rights actors, including increasingly non state actors, on the enjoyment of human and peoples' rights in Africa.

He added that the discussion provides a kind of score card, litmus test, or yardstick, with which to measure successes, and in some cases retrogression.

"If in the course of our deliberations, we are confronted with the realities of retrogression, we should not be ashamed to say so, but should take measures to address such retrogression," he told the delegates.

"The African Commission has over the years been doing a lot of good work on the continent. Unfortunately, one of its weaknesses is the lack of visibility of its work, and the inadequate implementation of its recommendations," he said, and then appealed to state parties to implement its recommendations.

According to him, there have been important developments in many parts of the world, noting that Africa, in particular has witnessed unprecedented expansion of the democratic space and major social economic changes and reforms.

 "Major strides have been made in this regard, although there are still a few setbacks, which we must address together. We must continue to highlight the synergy between democracy, peace and security, development and human rights seriously, if we want to achieve prosperity and the fullest enjoyment of human and peoples' rights in the medium to long-term," he added.

He revealed that the situation concerning the enjoyment of freedom of expression in The Gambia is a matter of grave concern to the Commission, adding that Guinea and Niger have continued to grab international headlines for wrong reasons.

"The right to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly are important aspects of any democratic dispensation. Without these fundamental freedoms, democracy is deprived of its meaning," he concluded.

The two newly elected Commissioners: Mr. Khalfallah Bechir and Mrs. Zainabo Sylvie Kayitesi were sworn in.

Author: Abba A.S. Gibba

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Gambia News:Woman Found Beheaded

Adam Jatta in her 50s was reportedly beheaded in Jamburr

 

A woman was on Thursday beheaded in the village of Jambur in Kombo South, Western Region, this paper can reveal.

An investigation mounted by our indefatigable reporters Abba Gibba and Abdoulie Nyockeh in Jamburr, has revealed that Adama Jatta, who is said to be in her 50s was reportedly beheaded on her way from her rice field, about a kilometer at the outskirt of the village in an area called "Sukoto," plunging the neighbourhood into grief and despair.

The supposed attacker, said to be one Sulayman Ceesay, who is believed to be a Guinea-Bissau national, is currently being arrested and helping the police with their investigation.

Piecing together accounts from family members, colleagues and neighbours, it appears that the man had been based in the area for sometime. Others theory suggests that he used to beg from one house to the other.

According to one Demba Ceesay, a neigbour and a family friend, it was around 8pm when it was discovered that Adama had not returned home from the rice fields, prompting them to search for her whereabouts.

He said it was not until 10pm when her body was found without the head, while some parts of her hands were cut off and roasted.

He said the head was not found until in the morning when it was discovered buried in the bushes.

He revealed that at the scene, was a trouser and a blue Khaftan, a knife and a pair of scissors. He added that while at the scene they heard shouts of "he is here, he is here," but the guy managed to get away.

According to him, early in the morning the villagers returned to the area to search for the culprit, and after frantic efforts Sulayman Ceesay was apprehended around Banyaka, some 5 kilometres way from the scene.

Seedy Ndow and Adama Marong, both neighbours corroborated to this narration.

According to one Mariama Bojang, aged 30, who also has a rice field at the same place with Adama Jatta, she was chased by a man she described as a middle aged man in a blue Khaftan in the same area last Monday.

Other reports also state that a young boy in the name of Sarjo Bojang was on the same day chased by a man believed to be the suspect, Sulayman Ceesay, in the same area.

Dembo Bojang, an elderly villager revealed that this is the second time a village woman was killed in the area, the first being in the 80s when one Sirreh Sanneh was killed between Banyaka and Tujereng, while Nyima Jaratou Bojang who was with her sustained serious injuries on her hands.

But he noted that this particular one is beyond imagination as, according to him, they have never seen it before.

"It was a sight of hell, if hell could be so terrible," he wonder.

He urged the concerned authorities to mount round-the-clock surveillance in and around the area to enable them do their work in the rice fields.

Source: Picture: Late Adama Jatta

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Editorial:A Bad Example

It looks as though everything coming out of Guinea Conakry nowadays is grim and nauseating. Long before the death of Lansana Conte, Guinea Conakry had been plagued by credibility crisis. But it is even worse now with the ascension to power of the Musa Dadis Camara as the leader of the Guinean junta. Admittedly, he came to power in a bloodless coup; a lot of Guineans welcomed his coming, but they soon got disillusioned with his vacillation over his mercurial presidential ambition, now he wants to run for president, now he does not want any more.

Things got out of hand on 28 September when the Presidential Guard opened fire on civilians at a political rally held inside a stadium. "Security forces surrounded and blockaded the stadium, then stormed in and fired at protesters in cold blood until they ran out of bullets." This is the finding of the Human Rights Watch. In addition, women were gang-raped in full sight of the commanders. As a result, Human Right Watch has concluded that the September 28 bloodbath (the death toll was put at over 500) as a premeditated action. 

After the horrors of Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast we had assumed that never again would African leaders allow such a catastrophe to happen on the continent. If as it claimed that many of the killers uttered ethnically biased comments, then there could be reprisal attacks, either now or in the future. The seed of discord has already been sown. We have the Rwanda experience to guide us. Lamentably, Guinea Conakry seems not to have learnt anything at all from the painful experiences of its neighbours. And that is too bad, even shameful.

It is because of the likes of Capt Musa Dadis Camara that Africa, despite its immense potential for greatness, has been reduced to a laughingstock around the world. That is why The Economist had the effrontery to dismiss Africa as "the hopeless continent." While leaders in other parts of the world are preoccupied with progressive development agendas for their people, here in Africa we have leaders who are simply anti-progress, taking butchery as a form of governance.

The measures taken by the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) and the European Union so far are laudable. But they should formulate stiffer measures to make Dadis Camara see sense and steer Guinea Conakry off the path of anarchy, chaos and violence. He is showing a bad example at a time when the rest of the continent craves peace, progress and prosperity.

When will the world know that peace and propagation are the two most delightful things in it?

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Breaking News:Half Million Bail Bond For Gambia's Main Opposition Campaign Manager

The remanded UDP Campaign Manager, Mr. Peters was yesterday released on a bail bond of D500, 000.

Mr. Peters, who is charged with two counts of "control of procession and control of loud speaker was on Wednesday remanded in custody by a magistrate court in Banjul after pleading not guilty without his lawyer.

The particulars of offence on count one states that, Mr. Peters, on 24th October 2009, after failing to obtain permission from the Inspector-General of Police proceeded to hold a political rally in Serrekunda Central, and on count two it states that the same day and time he used a loud speaker to be heard in a public place without the written consent of the Inspector-General of Police.

His counsel, Ousainou Darboe cum United Democratic Party (UDP) leader told the court yesterday that it was instead the Inspector-General of Police who had committed an offence by refusing UDP a permit to hold a peaceful rally.

He asked whether it means that anyone who applies for a permit commits an offence.

Lawyer Darboe added that, the territorial link as to where the offence was committed is clearly spelt out, maintaining that the rally in question was not held in Banjul, but in Serrekunda, which falls within the jurisdiction of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court and thus applied for the case to be transferred.

He informed the court that if his application was not honoured, he would have no other choice but to go to the High Court.

Hence he argued that the Banjul Magistrates' Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case. He observed that filing an application to the Inspector-General of Police in Banjul does not mean that the alleged offence was committed there.

In response, the Prosecution Officer in the case, Inspector Fadera told the court that he totally disagrees with the Defence Counsel's submission that the Banjul Magistrates' Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.

For him, the court has the jurisdiction to hear the case, and urged the court to allow him to call his witnesses.

At this point, the Presiding Magistrate, Emmanuel Nkea adjourned the case to 5th November 2009 for ruling.

Author: Bakary Samateh

Source: Picture: Femi Peters

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