 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Editorial:The Gambian Bar Association Under Whose Services?
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Editorial:The Gambian Bar Association Under Whose Services?
The Gambian Bar Association Under Whose Services?
The Rule Of Law Under Constant Attacks While The Old Guard Watch by!
Freedom Editors Welcome The Release Of MP Duta Kamaso-While Thanking Lawyer Touray, Camara And Mboge For Defending Humanity...
The
management of the Freedom Newspaper welcomed the release of the
detained Wuli MP Duta Kamaso. Our courts are working these days. The
trial judge's declaration that the liberties and rights of detainees be
respected by the government of the day is very encouraging. This is
what we expect from our courts. The courts are the last hope for the
citizenry and its independence is of crucial importance in any true
functioning democracy. In the first place, it was wrong for the
government to allow to be compelled to release the detainees. For this
government to be taken seriously, it must allow the rule of law to take
it cause on people accused. This civilized way of sentencing people
without trial is an affront to our laws. Gambians should stand up to be
counted to end this constitutional and rights violations taking place in
our dear country.
Editor M'Bai wants the Bar To Help Poor Litigants!
Having said this, we want to commend the
lawyers who helped to secure the release of Duta Kamaso and other
detainees linked to the Freedom Newspaper case. These lawyers decided
to put aside personal aggrandizement and money to challenge the
unconstitutional detention of the detainees. Lawyer Borry Touray, Lamin
Camara and Lamin Mboge alias Bella are doing a fine job these days.
They have put their lives on the line by handling politically motivated
cases in The Gambia. In today's Gambia, most of the old guards in the
bar are not keen at taking cases against the state. Veteran lawyer
Antouman Gaye, Mariam Jack Denton and Ousman Sillah's cases seem to
have moved them a lot. The old guard are bid careful about cases to
handle. They hate to run into confrontation with Jammeh's bully
security agents who in some instances harassed lawyers handling
politically motivated cases. But for Borry, Lamin Camara and Lamin
Mboge they were ready to face the consequences. Our lawyers should be
ready to engage the dictatorship. They will be doing a great disservice
to Gambians particularly poor litigants whose rights are being abused
by the authorities. These poor litigants deserved independent legal
representation out of government circles.
Few years ago, some
members of the private bar set up a coalition of human rights lawyers
in The Gambia. The said organization was doing pretty good at the
beginning. But since the failed assassination attempt on the life of
their colleague Ousman Sillah, the said organization became
dis-functional. Gambians hardly hear about the said coalition of human
rights lawyers these days. The Gambian bar owe it to our people to help
these poor litigants languishing in jail without any justified reasons.
What happened to these poor litigants could equally happen to any of us.
It's better to fight rights abuses in the courts than to serve as
spectators at this hour. The reason why you were called to the bar was
to enforce the constitution to the letter and not otherwise. Let us put
aside money and personal aggrandizement and help those poor detainees.
It
is a shame that the old guard in the bar are playing silence attitude
at this hour. The old guard have betrayed the hopes of our people who
looked up to them as father figure in the legal field. Considering
their age and experience, there is no reason for them to fear. Our
legal minds must be ready to do what it takes to make this government
to uphold the constitution and the rule of law. We don't expect
outsiders to come and represent our poor litigants. Our lawyers should
wake up from their slumber and help poor litigants in the interest of
humanity. Lawyer Touray, Camara and Mboge should keep up the good work.
History is here to judge and should not give into intimidation. We
applaud them for their stance to fight the cases of the detainees. The
old guard stand to be accused of neglecting poor litigants if they
fail to act now to secure the release of the remaining detainees
languishing in jail. Gambians and the world at large are closely
watching you. Please act in the interest of humanity.
|
Posted on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 (Archive on Monday, October 30, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI
| | Return |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|