Dear Mr. Editor,

  The Government of The Gambia, taking its own advice from its Legal advisors, is set to challenge the ruling of the Ecowas community court and intends to apply to have the said "Judgment" surrounding the abduction of Daily Observer Journalist "Chief" Manneh set aside. They will during the course of its representation to " the court", seek to overturn the further ruling to award compensation to Mr.Manneh to the tune of $100,000 dollars. The Gambian Press Union who have an interest in the welfare of Mr.Manneh have, intimated that The Gambian government must provide "New Evidence" to the court if their application is to be worthy of consideration and to further their application.

 The Media Foundation of West Africa, who brought the original application, have issued a counter statement to that of The Gambia's Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who argued to the state legislators of The Gambian National Assembly that the original application was inappropriate as under existing protocol, the original application should have first been explored and exhausted through the "Home" courts of The Gambia.

 MFWA's response is as follows:  " While under the original protocol,  access to the court {ecowas community court} was restricted to member states only. This limitation has since been removed by article 10 {d} of the supplementary protocol, which permits individuals and corporate bodies to initiate action against the ACT or INACTION of community officials and member states which violate the right of individuals or corporate bodies under the Ecowas treaty."

 Law is only effective if it is supported by the majority will of the people. It is universally accepted by every country in The World that the provision of Law shall be adjudged as the fairest way to moderate the excesses of individuals or corporate bodies who conspire to; or indulge in; breaking the Law as enshrined in The Honourable Constitutions and articles of the nation states and is uniformly accepted by 'The People" without objection or rancor.

It is also accepted that the provision of Law and its right to be argued, intends to also give the right of the individual or corporate body to be heard in either self defence or to prove  mitigation or innocence.

 Moreover, it is imperative that the honourable estate of Law must remain impartial and be allowed to operate without interference from any person or body of opinion that is not sanctioned and regulated by its own apparatus free of pressure or outside influence.

For to interfere with its courts or its Judges constitutes a serious and injurious attack upon the state and therefore its people.

As an interested and Independent observer in the welfare of the Gambian people and the cause of Liberty, Democracy and The International Declaration of Human Rights, I believe that the matter of "Chief" Manneh  and his honourable quest for Justice is of grave concern and interest not only to Africans, but to the momentum of Liberty and Freedom within the Jurisdiction of West Africa.

The Gambian government under the tenure of His Excellency The President has persistently failed to take on the cause of the rights of individuals and their families that have a just cause to expect the State to further investigate and bring to the attention of The Courts several matters which have thus far defied reasonable explanation.

The matters of International concern are numerous.

1. The unlawful killing of 13 students and red cross worker cum Journalist Omar Barrow on the 10th and 11th of April 2000.

2. The Murder of The Point Chief Editor and joint founder Mr.Deyda Hydara and the unlawful shooting of his staff on 16th November 2005.

3. The alleged mutilation of some 50 plus Ecowas citizens on or about the 23rd of July 2005 {The subject of a United Nations enquiry  the conclusions yet to be published}

The alleged torture by agents of The Gambian intelligence agencies of political prisoners and Journalists and the unexplained torching of The Independent newspaper. The apprehension of citizen Fatou Jaw Manneh said to be on route to mourn the death of a relative was detained for more than 72 hours in direct contravention of the articles contained within the Constitution of The Gambia. The unlawful detention of one Samsudeen Jammeh held by The State without charge for two years, as described by former Daily Observer M.D. Mr.Dida Halake

The list is endless and would require a volume larger than Tolstoy's War and Peace.

Yet the State can bring to trial trivial matters such as determining the validity of The Points Editor in Chief Mr. Pap Saine on spurious matters regarding Nationality, even when the Gambia's own records officer has testified his documents are bonefide and valid. without a shadow of doubt. This as a matter of urgency when more serious matters such as the murder of a British citizen which the witnesses have since disappeared. Or returned to their families abroad.

The Gambian government cannot explain why they did not seek the available forensic mechanism available to assist them in the manner of the Deaths of The Ghanian/Ecowas citizens from The British Metropolitan Police and to my understanding, never even thought to ask. Why was their no urgency to raise the alarm to Commonwealth partners who were willing to assist the investigation?

The case of "Chief" Manneh is of paramount importance to West Africa. For within the tenants of the Ecowas treaty their is contained the mechanism for all "silent" deaths and disappearances to be brought before an Independent court. To face the full extent of The Law.

The viability and the credibility of African Justice is at stake here. Not only for West Africa but for the eyes of The Brotherhood of nations across The World.

Africa is on trial. The importance for Africa cannot be played down or over estimated.

In the Judgment that is recorded stands, the rights of Africans to be empowered within the

eyes of The Law to be of equal standing and importance to those of us who live in peace and freedom elsewhere in The World. Not by the decree's of slavery that are now outlawed but as free men and women with "rights" protected by Law.

I have asked here on these pages many times; How much is an African's life worth?

The answer in the Judgment of The Ecowas court...is;

As much as any man or woman be he American or British or African  Or  Eskimo or......citizen of The Free World.

We {The People} demand nothing less.

Free Manneh now !!!

For to delay the Jurisdiction of the court and its honourable Judgment, lowers the standing of The African to a level beneath contempt.

I appeal to President Jammeh  within the powers conferred on him by the Constitution to act upon this judgment before it’s too late. For as he rightly say's "Justice delayed is Justice denied."

       I remain Michael..U.K.