I wish to warn the guys at The Independent to beware lest they fall into the
category of Jammeh cronies. So far they have been doing very well, but their
almost unconditional praise for Jammeh is, to me, a cause for concern. It
reminds me of a story they wrote a few weeks ago in which they went the
whole hog to emphasize that there was no bad blood between them and the NIA.
As of now, we Gambians look up to The Independent to provide unbiased,
objective and critical coverage and commentary on Gambian affairs. I only
hope that they would give the proverbial devil his due, but not be seen as
Jammeh appeasers. This is just my humble opinion and a reminder to The
Independent that they have a high record and reputation to maintain. Also
that they are expected to look at issues with the critical eye that has
endeared them and earned them the respect of all truth and justice-loving
Gambians and non-Gambians the world over.
Pa Modou
>From: Beran jeng <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FWD:Independent View/The best of Jammeh
>Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 14:46:05 -0500
>
>Independent View
>
>The best of Jammeh
>
>President Jammeh has delivered …his best speech to the nation and to the
>world yet. At last he is beginning to sound tactful, measured and
>presidential. He was applauded by many who said it marks the positive
>change
>in a man who was good in making opponents and detractors because of his
>hard
>line stance on many issues that tact, diplomacy and innocuous cajoling
>could
>have taken care of with ease and without incident.
>
>His inauguration Friday witnessed by an impressive line-up of his
>counterparts from the sub-region including Nigerian President Obasanjo was
>not an occasion for his usual abrasive remarks and cloying antics. Rather
>it
>was ponderous, contrite, conciliatory and movingly compassionate. Jammeh no
>doubt was at his rhetorical best when he asked for the nation’s forgiveness
>for whatever kind of suffering Gambians and others were made to suffer
>directly from the excesses of his regime. He spoke contritely of
>reconciliation, giving unconditional amnesty to Jawara the man he ousted
>from power seven years ago.
>
>He harped on the need to look beyond the limited and parochial confines of
>politics and rally to the call of building The Gambia. The speech is
>remarkable for three reasons. Firstly asking for forgiveness for past
>wrongs
>helps to remind the nation that Jammeh is after all human and therefore
>prone to self-borne mistakes and sometimes manipulation from the zealot lot
>of his followers who had tried to mystify him and render him indisposed to
>Gambians.
>
>Moreover the past seven years have not been a particularly cheerful chapter
>of Jammeh with the economy nose-diving, the Dalasi plummeting, human rights
>record reaching a rock bottom, political divisions assuming a vicious turn
>for the worse and Gambia’s image in international standing diminishing
>because of the confrontational and paranoia style of the regime. The
>absence
>of a press-friendly environment, visits, arrests and detention by the NIA
>and the climate of intolerance of dissent made Jawara’s days a nostalgic
>past. Recent sacking of civil servants, which went unexplained to a
>stupefied populace, also gave ammunition to critics and skeptics of the
>regime to pummel Jammeh with a blizzard of criticisms for his ways. But
>today all that may be consigned to history since his speech compelling as
>it
>were should be given the benefit of the doubt. If he is not to be taken at
>face value, Jammeh has propounded a fresh new beginning - a beginning for
>compromise, cooperation, patriotism, understanding and resolve to augment
>the common cause.
>
>Although skeptics say the leopard can never change its spots, words can
>still suffice as evidence of a changed heart, provided they are followed by
>actions pregnant with resolve, commitment and understanding. Although
>Jammeh
>is on record for saying one good thing and acting differently later, he may
>well be excused for his plea for forgiveness for the wrongs he knows his
>regime has committed against innocent people. Unconditional amnesty for Sir
>Dawda may also have come late, but it was always far better than not having
>it at all. It is a good start to the reconciliation the regime frequently
>harps on while it follows policies that can potentially divide the country.
>In the intervening months and years Jammeh’s actions would be judged
>according to those words that has endeared him to many who were sworn
>critics of his rule.
>
>As he settles for a second term and as Gambians try to be convinced that
>Jammeh’s call is sincere and patriotic and pertinent to our newfound
>breather in democracy let us pray that Jammeh is not like the fable leopard
>who found it impossible either to hide or change its spots. For a people
>with a peaceful way of life, excusing Jammeh for past wrongs and forgetting
>the injustices of the past should not be a tall order. What a refreshing
>way
>to start a new year!
>
>
>
>
>
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