She was compelled to leave The Gambia within 24 hours or risked being “forcefully” thrown out of the country Friday, official sources said.

No reason was advanced for the Government’s move to declare the UNICEF Chief unwelcomed—in the former British colony, The Gambia.

Ms. Kang’s was last weekend served with a terse letter—ordering her to leave the country with immediate effect. She complied and UNICEF officials here in Banjul have confirmed about her sudden departure from the impoverished West African country.

Mr. Jammeh who claimed that he has found cure for HIV/AIDS last year expelled Ms Fadzai Gwaradzimba the UNDP representative from The Gambia, following her dissenting views on the President’s controversial claim for aids cure.

Members of the Gambia Bar Association made this revelation during an intense debate the debate was about whether the lawyers should speak against violations of citizen’s rights ethics and advocacy at the start a seminar on legal practice in Banjul. They stressed that it is important to secure public confidence.

Awa Ceesay-Sabally, a senior legal practitioner gave a glimpse of her part in human rights issues. She stated in April 2001, some members of the Bar got instructions to represent a group of students who were detained following a student strike. ‘We went to the court, sought for their release and the Magistrate did not only declare their detention illegal, but ordered for their release. For me that was when my activism started, she said.

Mrs. Sabally also recalled her involvement with the Gambia Press Union, and they were able to put aside the Media Commission Bill. She noted that there are many local statues that are not ideal in a democratic country, which she said can be declared null and void if fought for at the courts. “It cannot be a one man crusade; it must take will and courage to do so, we must do it together or allow dictatorship to prevail,” she told fellow legal practitioners.

The President of the Bar, Ms. Amie Bensouda, argued that the Bar is not a political body that shall raise alarm when human rights are violated, on the other hand Mrs.  Bensouda added that public expectation on them is not realistic, citing that members of the Bar have over the years done good jobs by representing people in courts at no cost in some instances.

Nonetheless, she said, where to draw the line when such matters arise has been the problem.

‘Because of the lack of this precision, it is difficult to make a choice. We should have a rule to state as to what the executive can do when such critical issues arise,” she said.

Professor Kim Economides from New Zealand Otaga University ,   a special guest of the Bar, noted in his presentation that one common denominator that unites legal practitioners anywhere is upholding the fundamental values of human rights and freedom.

“These are essential elements to understand otherwise it does not distinguish a lawyer and a second-hand car seller,” he told legal practitioners.

He pointed out that it is an essential element of the legal profession to stand-out and be counted; making reference to two Pakistani lawyers, whose protest against the unconstitutional removal of the Chief Justice caused them to pay dearly.

“I have pictures of those lawyers with their bloodstained cloths. This is not unique in Pakistan, the common denominator that unites legal practitioners anywhere is upholding the fundamental values of human rights and freedom,” he stressed.

Professor Kim explained that they teach law in a technical way, represent people at court in a technical way and use the term justice, “but do we engage in justice?” he asked rhetorically. He argued that a good lawyer is one who is competent not a moral lawyer.

Lawyer Sagarr Cecelia Jahateh, admitted that human rights, especially freedom of speech, is being eroded in The Gambia. The Bar needs to stand for the people, she said, while calling on her colleagues to set up a unit at the Bar that will handle cases of human rights.

Lawyer Surahata Janneh said   the Bar should raise an alarm on human rights violation either by press releases or educate the public.  According to him, it has been a trend that they consider themselves not a trade union, but should uphold the rule of law at all times.

He cited the case of a Nigerian lawyer by the name, Femi Felani, whom he said exerted himself in the defense of human rights throughout his career, notwithstanding Nigeria’s military regimes.

The men including Kemo Konteh and Sam kambai whose names were repeatedly mentioned in the trail nine rebels from the Senegalese southern region of Casamance, who were convicted on similar charges by the Banjul Magistrates court.  

The suspects who were arrested and detained two years ago at Darsilami Village in the Western Region of the Gambia  enter into a trail within a trial to a certain alleged  after the counsel for Sam Kambai and Muminu Bah objected to their clients statements to be tendered as exhibits, noting that they were obtained under duress.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Amadou Sanyang informed the court that in May 2007, he was invited to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) office to join the investigation team in connection to the case.

He said he recorded the cautionary statements of both accused persons in the presence of an independent witness.  ASP Sanyang maintained that Sam and Muminu gave their statements willingly and were never compelled to make their statements.

Tijan Bah, a retired civil servant told the court that he was invited to the NIA office, where he met the two accused persons and served as an independent witness when their statements were being recorded. He said the accused person were not compelled to write their statements, he further denied having a special relationship with any security agency nor was he paid to serve as an independent witness.

The Gambian authorities said in a press release jointly issued by the ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Interior there has never been any contact between the Kenyan and The Gambian government on the said deportation of Abdullah Al Faisal to The Gambia. Given government’s position of zero tolerance on crime, more so on terrorism and terrorists.

They went on to say that ‘It is inconceivable that The Gambia government would entertain, let alone welcome a person being deported for whatever reason and who is not a Gambian and allegedly linked to terrorism.’

 ‘We have no intention whatsoever to entertain such activities of deporting terror suspects, terrorists or deportees on our soil.’ The release further stated that the Gambian reassures the international community and friends that hate-mongers, racists, criminals and terrorists are not welcome into the country’s territory,’ the release emphasized.

President Wade was speaking to local during a press conference in Banjul this week  said he has given the Gambian authorities to arrest anyone if they identify as a criminal hiding in Senegal and take him or bring him or her back to The Gambia, but he quickly added that his government will never surrender Gambian political dissidents residing Senegal.

Commenting on the allegation of his connection with the infamous Gambia fugitive Kukoi Samba Sanyang whose attempt to overthrow the Sir Dawda Jawara president of the first Republic in 1981 cause the death of thousands of Gambians.

President Wade denied his connection with Kukoi, he further clarify that his government has no interest whatsoever to destabilize The Gambia. The Senegalese leader said he has always appreciated and acknowledged the good developments taking place in The Gambia.

For his part, President Jammeh, who promised to pay a state visit to the Republic of Senegal in the near future expressed his gratitude to President Wade for making such an important visit, describing it as a step in the right direction.

Since 2006, President Jammeh has always anticipated for the Senegalese authorities to extradite Gambian in seeking refuge in Senegal back to the Gambia, where injustice is the order of the day. Many Gambians fled the country for fear of imprison or being kill.  

The diplomatic ties between the two countries has been characterized with suspicion in recent times, the Gambia accused the Senegal of harboring Gambian dissidents in an attempt to topple President Jammeh, while Senegal on the other hand accused President Jammeh of aiding rebels in the Senegalese Southern Region of Casamance.
However, the peace deal preceded President Abdoulie Wade’s visit to Banjul on Tuesday morning after the Daily Observer a pro-government Newspaper style letter, purportedly written by Kukoi Samba Sanyang, a fugitive Gambian blamed for the infamous 1981 coup attempt on former president, Sir Dawda Jawara accusing him (Wade) of attempting to help Kukoi to topple President Jammeh.
In a communiqué issued to the local press after the meeting the two leaders recommitted their respective governments focus ensuring, the peace and security of the West African sub region and consolidation of bilateral ties form the bedrock of their relationship.
They emphasized the need to consolidate on what has been achieved in terms of cooperation and friendship while they promised to work together, now more closely, for the benefit of the two nations.
According to them, it is not possible that internal stability is achieved within member states of the sub region if regional peace is threatened.
This is why they underlined the necessity of bilateral cooperation aimed at fighting against all forms of threat to peace, security and progress in the sub region, reiterating the importance of justice, tolerance and respect for the rule of law.
The two presidents also share agreed to revive of the Senegalo-Gambnian Permanent Secretariat. According to them, work should start constructively to achieve this objective, while they would convene the next Joint Commission by April 2010.
The agreement also included the setting up of a Consultative Commission which would be jointly chaired by the two leaders, the vice president of The Gambia and the prime minister of Senegal while there are also promises of regular consultations between ministers and senior governmental officials of both sides as a further measure of reinforcing bilateral ties.

The alarming food vulnerability survey indicated that about 15% of households are middly food insecure, 26% moderately food insecure and 13% severely food insecure.

However, it is against this background that the European Union (EU) and the World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday 30^th December signed a contribution agreement to feed the country’s malnourished population.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Abdou Colley said  the signing of the contribution agreement of 2.64 million Euros between the World Food Programme and the European Union is to foster the dream  of food security in the Gambia, adding that the relationship between the Gambia and the EU being almost three decades is a mutual rewarding partnership.

He also said that the recent financial crisis has exacerbated the problems associated with food security, decline in government revenue and reduction Economic activity.  “The ability for Gambians to meet their food requirements is therefore very dependent on their income levels,’ said Colley.

He finally revealed that the project will start immediately, and in line with the recommendations of the mission as well as the Gambia Government Priorities to mitigate the impact of high food prices, which will address the following areas:

Extend the coverage of the food safety net mechanisms through safety net intervention, improve the targeting and response mechanisms for assisting vulnerable populations most affected by the food and financial crisis, and finally to help protect vulnerable households from declining purchasing capacities and food price shocks.

He finally stated that the project will also indirectly encourage school enrolment and improve retention and performance of children in class.

The EU Charged Affaires in Banjul, Mme Helene Cave said the 2.64 million Euros (around 100 million dalasis) is part of the so-called B-Envelope, intended to cover unforeseen needs and the Envelope he said to cover macroeconomic support, sectoral policies in the field of infrastructure and governance for the Gambia amounting to 76 million Euro, (around 3 Billion dalasis).

She said the B-Envelope amounts to 4.54 million Euros She indicated that the recent food crisis is an unforeseen event, and the EU therefore decided to assist those countries that are very badly affected to fight this crisis and to mitigate its adverse effects.

She said this project that will be financed by the EU is fully in line with the main priorities identified by the government, and the project will be implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) which has worldwide expertise.
“In line with Paris Declaration to improve donor coordination and harmonization of aid delivery, the EU considered that by far WFP is the best agency to implement this project and therefore, we will sign together a contribution agreement, under the auspices of the GOTG who has also agreed on this implementation mode,” said Mme Helene Cave.

Local and international non-governmental organizations (rights groups) have come together to fight against harmful traditional practices, a practice which is common and popular among many ethnic groups in the upper river and the central river regions of the Gambia.

Communities in these regions have now decided to have a second thought over harmful traditional practices a; even though it has been part of the most controversial issues on the public debate.

Cultural and religious norms had encouraged parents to force women and children to early marriage and female Genital mutilation over the past decades.

According to the WHO, its implications on the reproductive health of women and girls are adverse and very severe. Statistics have shown that about 30 million women in Africa have been subjected to the FGM practice. Most of these women experience some form of difficulties during labour.

However, after several years of succeeding struggle to fights against harmful practices spearheaded by The Gambia Committee on harmful traditional practices (GAMCOTRAP) in collaboration with their partners, morethan two hundred women circumcisers have been forced to lay down their knifes and blades.

About 1500 local residents in Wulli and Sandu that were from 27 communities in Upper River Region (URR) gathered at the village of Darsilamin Sandu to publicly declare their opposition and subsequent discontinuation of FGM and early and forced marriage both of which have been part of their lives since time immemorial.

With support from UNICEF, these communities, after going through massive sensitization and theoretical classes in community-led-development projects implemented by TOSTAN are now fully aware of the dangers and problems which result from female genital mutilation and forced early marriage.

Their testimonies during the public declaration were disheartening and it carried a message of warning to those who still practice it. This has resulted in the jettisoning of harmful traditional practices and they have now been abandoned by more people in that region as the circumcisers and their supporters, including religious leaders all condemned it in the strongest possible terms.

This remarkable achievement followed another public declaration by 13 communities from both Jimara and Basse districts of the same region on 25th October, 2009 in the village of Mannneh Kunda.

Testimonies from the Manneh Kunda declaration against FGC/M and forced marriage were similar to that of the Darsilami one. The Manneh Kunda public declaration was the most pathetic scene, when a former circumciser named Mama Sengura from Basse Kaba Kama recounted how her first victim died as a result of excessive bleeding from the injured genital area.

The former circumciser who turns 62 was remorseful and regretted her involvement. Mama Segura admitted that she made her living from the practice and was set to continue but thanks to the timely intervention of TOSTAN and other partner NGOs, she has now seen the light and vows not to practice it any more.

The moral impetus to stop these unhealthy and out dated practices has now gathered momentum while practitioners have now realized the negative health implications of it and what it costs women and girls.

Hon. Sidia Jatta, member of the National Assembly for Wuli West constituency said it is unthinkable that projects should be forgotten and should be described as a ‘failure’.

‘How development goals of the country would be achieved if projects are abandoned. The Jahally Pacharr rice field project is a failed project, the development of the country could be jeopardized if several projects are not seen to the end.’ He stressed.

Hon. Jatta insisted that those responsible for the failure of the Jahally Pacharr rice field project should be held accountable. He noted that the fundamental objective of the rice field project was to make The Gambia a food self sufficient nation, adding that millions of dalasi has been invested at Jahally. “And now, a parliamentarian is asking us to forget about the Jahally project. The failure of projects needs to be addressed because without that, we cannot develop,” he said.

Jatta argued that the developed countries themselves subsidize agriculture. He observed that the continuous cultivation of the country’s lands is now making the lands infertile, noting that the cost of fertilizer is now very expensive. He then called on the government to subsidize fertilizer.

He said this would encourage farmers by rejuvenating their farm land and guard against the felling of trees for new agricultural lands, against which there is now a ban.

Hon. Jatta condemned bumper harvest claims often made by farmers and loyalists to the ruling party, asking the rationale for such declarations when many farmers cannot still feed their families with their annual harvest.

According to him, a declaration of bumper harvest could only be valid when the farmers have enough food for local consumption and exportation.

He called for the need to establishment of agricultural banks in the country, stating that as we have all the raw materials, what is left is to develop industries that will process these raw materials making us more independent, a situation whereby the country would be in minimal need of external support to be able to meet its expectations.

He said: “To be independent is not just to have your flag, president and legislators, it is the ability to stand on your own and stop begging.”

Hon. Bakary Said khan, member for Jarra East observed that the country’s agricultural sector should be develop  to empower farmers to attain food self sufficiency, noting that the statistic given by Jacque Diouf, FAO director general at the World Summit of Food Security is alarming.

He said the government should forget about failed projects and focus on available projects. He further called on the state to initiate state-owned farms in order to create job opportunities for the youth.

Hon. Mam Cherno Jallow, NAM for Upper Nuimi said farmers need more resources to increase their capacities.

He admitted the Jahally Pacharr rice field project in the central River Region of the Gambia has failed, adding that people must change their attitudes order to avoid wasting multi-million dalasi agricultural projects as witnessed in the previous rice ones.

Hon. Banbanding KK Daffeh, member for Kiang Central said priority should be accorded to  the agricultural sector. He also said that the country needs technical support in boosting agricultural practices rather than food supply from developed nations.

Hon. Momodou LK Sanneh, minority leader and member for Kiang West stated that the farming system in the country is very expensive as many Gambian farmers cannot afford to use tractors among other farming tools.

He said those who can afford farming machines are only the rich farmers. According to him, what the country need is small scale farming with small equipment.

Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East said food security is an issue that needs collective address.

According to the local press one Lamin Camara, a native of Farafenni on Friday 18 December, 2009, around 20:00 GMT met his untimely death, after he was stabbed with a broken bottle beneath his left chest and left arm by his cousin, one Bakary Camara. The incident occurred in Farafenni, North Bank Region.

The suspect Bakary Camara, who was arrested in Pakala, a village in the district of Medina Saba, in neighboring Senegal and unceremoniously extradited to the Gambia.

Supt Secka urged the public to inform the police of illegal activities; he advised them to strengthen their efforts in collaborating with the GPF in the drive to maintain g peace and stability in the country.

PRO Secka further advised parents to accompany their children to school as such rape cases can occur by those times. He said efforts like this are always recommended by the security authorities of the country.

One Momodou Kanteh was also arrested after he attempted to rape a three year old girl name withheld; the little girl was rushed to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) in Banjul for thorough examination. But according to medical reports, the alleged rapist had not committed the said crime.

Alfusainey Bah is facing impersonation charges after he was caught wearing a complete set of the PIU uniform in Brikama town in the Western Region of the country.

It could be recalled that over the past months a lot of Suicide, murder cases and other heinous crimes have been occurring in Banjul almost on daily.