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Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 15:04:18
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Foroyaa Editorial
COMMUNITY POLICING! COMMUNITY SECURITY!!
COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION CONTROL!!! COMMUNITY MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM!!
The Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the NIA and the Director of Immigration need to organise a seminar or workshop on the concept "Community men and women in uniform" to define the role of our men and women in uniform in national development.
We were just telling visitors from the UK that, despite the lack of street lights and patrol vehicles in most areas in the Kanifing Municipality and Western Division, people still move about in pitch darkness and leave their doors and windows open up to dusk. This, we said is due to the existence of the spirit of community which helps to contain crime and stress arising from poverty and the difficulties of daily living.
This is why alternative dispute resolution measures which do not include law enforcement and courts are still the most popular way of handling conflicts. This unique social set up which enhances tolerance for religious and tribal diversities and promotes hospitality to guests is found here by every political administration and should be left here by every government.
In our view, the men and women in uniform are accorded special powers to safeguard law, peace and security. They should therefore be exemplary in their conduct.
Section 222, paragraph 13 of the constitution states:
"A person holding an office in a public service or any disciplined force shall not-
(a) allow his or her political inclinations to interfere with the discharge of his or her official duties;
(b) be a member of, or take part in any association of persons which might prevent him or her from impartially discharging his or her duties; or
(c) take part in any activities which cast doubt on his or her capacity to deal impartially with matters or issues which are the concern of his or her public office or which interfere with the performance of his or her public duties."
Furthermore section 222, paragraph 3 adds:
"A public officer shall not, in the course of his or her official functions and without lawful excuse, do or cause to be done any action which is prejudicial to the rights of any other person."
These are the dictates of the fundamental law of the land. The president and all those who serve the public are supposed to respect the dictates of this fundamental law. Infact, this fundamental law is considered to be so supreme and inviolable that section 6 subsection (2) affirms:
"All citizens of The Gambia have the right and the duty at all times to defend this constitution and, in particular, to resist, to the extent reasonably justifiable in the circumstances, any person or group of persons seeking or attempting by any violent or unlawful means to suspend, overthrow or abrogate this constitution or any part of it."
This is good for peace time as well as unsettled times.
What is the point? The point is that our men and women in uniform should be cultured in obeying orders that are in line with the dictates of the constitution. If this was the case, Rambo (Ousman Jatta) would not have been in detention without trial in unknown places all this long. Where in the world do you see an elected councillor detained without trial when the constitution states that a person must be charged and taken to a court within 72 hours or released? Foroyaa has been reliably informed that Fatou Jaw Manneh, a journalist, was arrested at the airport and detained. By the time you are reading this the 72 hours would have elapsed.
Now may we ask: How many people have intervened in Rambo's case? What type of history are we writing for posterity to judge?
A generation which doesn't care about the type of history their children will read is a failed generation.
It is therefore necessary for the state, the opposition; civil society and the citizenry at large to rededicate ourselves to the ethics of our National Anthem and let "Justice guide our actions towards the common good."
We recommend that at all stations, whenever our men and women in uniform start off their day, they should start with a recitation of the National Anthem before they separate to carryout their duties. They will then strive for all to live in unity, peace and freedom each day. They will strive to ensure that justice guides their actions so as to promote both the common good and the brotherhood and sisterhood of our people. 24 April 2007 will be the 27th anniversary of the Republic. Let us hope that the president will transform this day into one of national reconciliation by causing the release of all those who are detained without trial and a general amnesty be given to all Gambians so that no one will have any fear to come back to their homeland. We need a starting point for a new political engagement. Will the person occupying the highest office in the land lead the way? Time will tell.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 38/2007, 2-3 April 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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