New York, June 19, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement today in response to the decision by the U.S. government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation to suspend aid to the Gambia, citing government restrictions on press freedom in addition to human rights abuses and political repression“Over the past several months, CPJ has documented and protested against a vicious crackdown on press freedom in the Gambia; authorities have shuttered a critical newspaper, imprisoned journalists without due process, and moved to prosecute a reporter under a restrictive press law. In addition, the government has failed to prosecute anyone in connection with the murder in 2004 of prominent editor Deyda Hydara,” said Julia Crawford, Africa Program Coordinator for CPJ. “In light of this deeply troubling pattern, we welcome the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s decision to suspend aid to the Gambia.”

             By  Baati Jollof

Dear Comrades, countrymen and countrywomen it is now apparent that Yahya wants to do away with anyone that he perceives to be his opponent or enemy most especially, the established political opponents, people working in the media and above all the defenders of human rights.  The unwarranted arrests and arbitrary detention of innocent Gambians, coupled with the inhumane torture of the detainees and the continued intimidation of the civil service and the population in general, by Yahya's deadly henchmen tells a lot about our beloved country. Today our country bleeds, as our sons and daughters continue to disappear, while others like Mariam Denton are held unjustifiably in solitary confinement, in very deplorable and inhumane conditions, just because they have been courageous enough to stand up and speak the truth.

                 Gambians did not benefit from the Japanese food aid,it was being sold by the state guard and President Jammeh's nephew Aziz Tamba.

At old Mbye Njie and Son's place KSMD, Aziz Tamba,Musa Jammeh and Corporal Joof were selling the Japanese food aid. This is a hard fact. I was one of those who came to the vicinity some months back. I saw these people in action,it is of course a crime wrapped within disgrace. Aziz Tamba is the right hand man of President Jammeh. He runs his private and public errands. President Jammeh has a hand in every venture. He magnetises money from left,right and center. President Jammeh does things deliberately he cares less about who says what. This will cost him dearly but it will also cost us as Gambians dearly before and after he leaves the state house. Our president is a liability.