The article below is the reason for Pa Nderry's tirade. Please read for yourself. I will respond to his editorial in due time.
  Coach
  Travesty of Justice or Betrayal?
   
  The conviction of Lamin Fatty by Magistrate Buba Jawo on the flimsiest of charges sunk the Gambian judiciary to its lowest low. The whole trial was a witch by President Jammeh and his recalcitrant government. This verdict came as no surprise those who follow Jammeh’s tyranny. There is no doubt that the Gambian judiciary like all other branches operate on the whims and caprice of Jammeh.
   
  What is however perplexing is the insouciance of the Gambian journalists in the Diaspora towards the plight of our colleagues back home. Both the GPU-UK and USA branches are rendered impotent by the lack of participation of members and the deliberate decision by some former prominent journalists to shy away from joining or supporting these two groups. It is a shame that the embattled and browbeaten media houses in the Gambia will have to scramble to pay the fine for Mr. Fatty. 
   
  It is one thing for Jammeh to harass and try to intimidate the press, but it is outright contemptible for those who call themselves journalists to abandon their colleagues. Both the external branches of the GPU have tried relentlessly to keep the organizations active, but all attempts for various reasons have been thwarted by indifference. In fact, immediately after the presidential elections I sent the following email to GPU-USA listserv: 
   
  “The presidential election is now history and unfortunately the biggest threat to press freedom was re-elected. The APRC’s hostility against the press is not new to anyone.
  Today, a number of journalist are facing frivolous charges, the Independent, Citizen Fm, Sud Fm are all illegally shutdown for no apparent reason than to curtail press freedom. In fact, Jammeh’s first declaration after his election victory was he would close any newspaper that offended him
   
  The recent hacking of the Freedom Newspaper and the subsequent arrests and torture of subscribers to the website, clearly shows Jammeh’s willingness to both silence the independent press and to curtail the rights of Gambians to receive information.
   
  By these outright abrogation of rights, we especially in the press  can either remain nonchalant or stand up for the unfettered protection of the right to freedom of expression as enshrined  on article 19 of the universal declaration of human rights, article 9 of the African charter on human rights and article 25 of the Gambian constitution. We must start standing up for our country and not only rely on the international community to do our fighting for us. We must remain proactive and thus encourage the international community to compliment our efforts. No country can be liberated by outsiders; all they could do is support the actions of the citizens of such countries.
   
  There is no doubt, the outcome of the presidential elections has dealt a serious blow to the opposition and could render it impotent in the next five years. The Bar Association is pretty much a cadaver. The Judiciary is very corrupt. The only hope for any semblance of democracy is to have a vibrant press that would serve as a check to government. This however is only possible when members of the press in the Diaspora remain steadfast in our stance to help our brothers and sisters back home, who are taking the brunt of Jammeh’s tyranny.
   
  It is in this light that I appeal to every member of this organization to rededicate our selves to the very ideal of this organization.”
   
  In light of the ongoing challenges faced by our colleagues, I will once again appeal to the reporters in the Diaspora to join either organization. This appeal is mostly directed to all journalists, especially the editors of the online papers and their staff: Ebrima Sankara, Mathew Jallow of the Gambia Echo, Pa Nderry Mbai, Muhamed Jawara of the Freedom Newspaper, Demba Baldeh, Yerro Jallow of Gainako newspaper, Yankuba Jambang of Senegambia News, Mbye Sarr and Muhamed Sillah of the Gambia journal, and Baboucarr Ceesay of the allgambia.net. I will also hope that Alhagi Yero Jallow and Lamin Keita will join and so will all who have been columnists and all those interested in press freedom in the Gambia. 


"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
       
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