| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Santanfara
3460 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Jan 2011 : 14:53:20
|
Gambia: Gambia legal fraternity totally disappointed the nation
Gambia legal fraternity totally disappointed the nation
www.freedomnewspaper.com
As Journalist Bayang Bashes Gambia’s Bar!
By Sarjo Bayang, UK
Of all specialized professionals of Gambia the most to have disappointed the population is the legal fraternity. It is most amazing that after knowing all the legal realities of armed seizure of power our learned brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts closed their eyes to the truth and refused to challenge the illegal conduct of Gambia National Armed Forces in seizing power by force and keeping the whole nation hostage for almost 20 years now.
Do we need being legal experts to figure out one big reason why the legal fraternity kept mute over the most serious legal misconduct by an army sworn to defend the constitution and good people of Gambia? A fine guess is that our learned fellows thought their higher levels of competence was enough to survive and beat the hostile storms of brutality that lieutenant Yahya Jammeh and his junta regime set about bringing over the nation of peace loving people.
Almost 20 years, the solid truth has proven our legal experts wrong. They have been proven wrong by thinking that it was their turn to milk the nation by sitting on lucrative legal cases to enjoy lifestyles beyond the reach of ordinary Gambians. For some time, this could have worked. But no, it has not worked well. The whole political environment is dangerous and unsuitable and the legal environment is a big part of that.
Biggest beef of it all was this high seat of Justice Minister that our legal men and women took on the queue to settle on. Not for some time that some of them have been catapulted from hero to zero as the junta leader Yahya Jammeh learnt to change them like his under pants. In almost of 20 years since 22 July 1994, the junta regime of Gambia played the biggest musical chair show with no other profession than the legal brains of Gambia.
As a body of very qualified persons and with abundant knowledge that Gambia’s problem has been more legal than anything from start, it is one big disappointment that a population of almost 2 million people continue to suffer without legal redress by those who could.
Now that one of their own has fallen victim of state persecution, Gambia Bar Association is barking all over the place wanting to be listened to. That is just unfair and least professional. There is also too much selfishness manifested. It is selfish because so many people have suffered worst fate under the clear watchful eyes of our legal experts and not once have they taken to the streets or raise collective voice against blatant injustice.
State Finance Minister Ousman Koro Ceesay was killed and his body set on fire. Journalist Deyda Hydara was gunned down and his killers still at large. Chief Ebrima Manneh disappeared without trace. More than a dozen school children were openly fired on and killed by armed forces of Gambia in broad day light. It is amazing that our legal experts failed to follow these cases up. The usual legal reason of no evidence is what you hear always.
Apart from the killings and torture cases that many people suffered in almost 20 years, lot of people had their jobs terminated without due legal and diligent administrative process. It has hardly been the case that people who suffered arbitrary termination of employment get help from our legal experts.
Many communities had their traditional land holdings confiscated without compensation. Some of the landed properties have been grabbed by Yahya Jammeh. Others have been taken in the name of government decision. These and many other serious legal issues still keep piling up and not once have the legal fraternity chipped in.
Worst still, by negotiating and receiving legal jobs from an illegal regime, Gambia’s legal professionals have simply compromised every principle of ‘right thinking’ judgment. It is a matter of saying loud and clear that they are one way blind to the truth or have decided to close one eye and settle with illegality till doomsday.
As president of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh is openly engaged in private business with exploitative profit motives. How far have the legal experts tried interpreting the constitutional implications of these gross financial and economic misconducts by the president?
People’s representatives at the House of Parliament have in the past abused authority by over-stepping their mandate. They have passed lot of bills without due process and outside their political and legal mandate. Now they even want to crown Yahya Jammeh king. What is the position of Gambia Bar Association on all these?
Now the time of truth has arrived. Will the nation’s most capable legal hands free the country from the wicked grips of an illegal government or stay keeping mute as they also fall one by one?
|
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2011 : 21:19:13
|
Santanfara, is this a case of negligence, bias or fear on the part of Gambia Bar Association?
It seems someone is seriously guilty of something. Would the people of Gambia Bar have raised up their voice if everything remained cool and juicy as they continue making money under a system they could have challenged? Just my curiosity. What do you think any way? |
Karamba |
 |
|
|
toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jan 2011 : 23:05:21
|
Interesting posting,will a response be forthcoming ?
quote:
Originally posted by Karamba
Santanfara, is this a case of negligence, bias or fear on the part of Gambia Bar Association?
It seems someone is seriously guilty of something. Would the people of Gambia Bar have raised up their voice if everything remained cool and juicy as they continue making money under a system they could have challenged? Just my curiosity. What do you think any way?
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jan 2011 : 11:20:39
|
Interesting story, just last week my friend and I were discussioning the legal fraternity's outrage to recent development, of course we deplored sending a sitting judge/magistrate to prison, on many grounds but most importantly their safety cannot be guranteed equally we were disgusted with the apparantly outrage and prostestation from the Bar association, who seem only to care when one of their own is in trouble. We wondered why they were not outrage with their fellow country men, women and children where sent to prison by their peers with out due process.
Every Gambian has a moral obligation to stand up for what is right and just, so am not going to squarely blame one set up individuals but the legal fraternity has a moral obligation not just to stand up what is right but also to do what is right, sadly too often in the Gambia, the legal fraternity failed us. It can be argued that they are part of the problem, if not the problem. When Kangaroo courts are setup, they are call in to make it look just and square, they are paid big bugs by desparate clients, whose faith are decided in the corridors .... I cannot help it but think we are better off without them. |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jan 2011 : 12:56:28
|
| Lawyers are businessmen who in MOST societies make very good money collected in large "fees", you pay for their time and expertise in their field,not at a rate that you would pay a plumber or electrician or other skilled person who if your tap or light switch fails to work has not done a good job,your response should be "sorry you havn't done a good job I am not paying for something that you hav'nt done" Can you say that to a lawyer ? No ,you just pay their large fee. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jan 2011 : 22:17:00
|
Kobo,
It appears a test case is about to be. For the legal body to know the extent of their influence, the outcome of this move will be crucial. Things appear quite interesting.
If they can set one of their own free, hopefully they are able to set down trodden Gambians. Where they are unable to turn the stone, then 'mi body die for them.' |
Karamba |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
|
|
toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jan 2011 : 14:27:39
|
Kobo,
It appears that The Freedom Newspaper has achieved a scoop,although I feel that "journalistic constrains" that the "normal" newspapers abide by in The Gambia would have had a bearing on the way in which they reported the events !
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jan 2011 : 14:30:53
|
I know who I would vote for in the upcoming elections Yes That's correct him !
Not going to happen though,,,,,,,,,pity. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
Edited by - toubab1020 on 12 Jan 2011 17:27:04 |
|
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2011 : 01:53:11
|
Protection and commercial value of the legal business seems a good reason why Gambia Bar Chief Tambedou and the wider membership feel like fighting.
The thing about Gambia is that many people only stand up when they are already beaten to the ground. We have just seen a start. How it ends, remains to be seen. |
Karamba |
Edited by - Karamba on 13 Jan 2011 19:28:51 |
|
|
|
somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2011 : 13:50:39
|
| I could not agree more with you Karamba, we Gambians seem to see morality only when a family members, colleagues, school mate etc is directly affected. If and when this regime is gone, we must collectively re-educated our moral concience base on humanity not some narrow defination of family. |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2011 : 14:07:08
|
"we must collectively re-educated our moral concience base on humanity not some narrow defination of family."
Makes sense, how about becoming "GAMBIANS" ? |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2011 : 17:39:47
|
| Good idea, but first we must define what is our values as "Gambians" because whether you know it or not, today this term can be interpreted in many different ways .... its like drawing a line in the sand .... depending on the winds, you can have it anywhere any day. |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12306 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2011 : 18:14:25
|
OK,if you call yourself a Gambian first and not a Jola or Mandinka or any of the other tribes that have lived in the geographic area called the Gambia for generations then perhaps a Gambian Nation can be effective. Morals,all these are fully laid down in all religions and should be followed,even if you have no religion then you must value concepts such as,its wrong to kill,its wrong to steal,its wrong to torture people ,its wrong to intentionally damage something that does not belong to you ,all these values are part of being a human being as opposed to another living creature.Where is the problem ?
quote:
Originally posted by somita
Good idea, but first we must define what is our values as "Gambians" because whether you know it or not, today this term can be interpreted in many different ways .... its like drawing a line in the sand .... depending on the winds, you can have it anywhere any day.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2011 : 19:28:06
|
Toubab,
The current predicament of Gambia transcends ethnicity and narrow strips of social grouping. It is pure selfishness reigning. Lot of Jolas, Fula, Wollofs, Mandinkas, Serrer, Manjago, Sarahulle and other ethnic groups have both sufferers and tormenters.
Take the Jola ethnic of Yaya. On the collective, there is nothing to show that the Jola enjoy any better life standard just because Yaya is president and one of them. Equally, there is nothing to show that even though Yaya is dead against the Mandinka ethnic group, that the Mandinka exploiters of PEOPLE are not riding on. It is pure self interest.
Good chunk of decent Gambians see the big picture of Gambia and being Gambian. Yet still, the exploiters are playing things as though it is one tribe against the other. This is class intertest at play on higher grounds. Nothing quite different to class society in Britain. Conveniently though, people easily call it tribalism in Gambia. Though Yaya has tribal biases, his selfish economic interest remains far more overwhelming. |
Karamba |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
