Comrades:

As a young boy growing up in Faraba Banta, I fully remember those days I interacted with Fakary Njie.  Yes, Fakary Njie, that's who we call him.  Fakary and his entire family migrated to Brikama from Faraba Banta after the death of Fa Junkung Cham.

As a realist, I am disturbed at Fakary Njie's endorsement of this bill.  While Fakary has a right to be indifferent, I also have a right to question his behavior.  I am asking, is this the same Fakary Njie that I grew up with?

This media bill will further negate the rights and freedom of information dessimination.  I cannot and will not sit aside and let the APRC government dictate to Gambian journalists how information dessimination should be.  Mr. Fakary Njie, this is worst thing you have ever said in your entire life... " this is a blessing."  Oh, Mr. Fakary Njie, no this is a disgrace.

As I indicated in my willingness to engage the APRC government, I am really of the opinion that Jammeh and his government cannot be trusted in words or deeds.  Politics should not be based on a single interpretation of APRC will.  If this evil thing of dictatorial transparency is allowed, The Gambian country will further sink into political, economic and social disarray.

While we engage to disagree on substantive issues relative to free speech, we must be willing to assess issues in their entirety.  The issue of free speech and the rights of journalists cannot be compromised.

In this regard, I condemn Fakary Njie for this dictatorial move.  The Gambian country will further sink beyond reasonable assurance if this media censor bill is signed into law.  If this bil is passed into law, I will gracefully exit my alliance with the APRC government.

Naphiyo,
Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
Greensboro, NC/Kombo East Constituency

On Sat, 10 May 2003 23:46:11 +0200 Momodou Buharry Gassama <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi!
    This statement attributed to Bakary Njie is a bit confusing to me. The portion reads: "He said despite the establishment of The Gambia Technical Training Institute and TheGambia Telecommunication and Multi Media Institute to teach technical, electronic, civil engineering, telecommunications, computing, information technology etc no single journalism course is being offered to encourage young Gambians to become professional journalists." I am not sure here but wasn't the TheGambia Telecommunication and Multi Media Institute established by Gamtel under his watch? If not, please disregard this message. If it was established by Gamtel when he was MD, who is to blame for not including journalism courses and why should he lament the fact that such courses were not included when he could have included them? Have a good weekend.
                                                                                                    Buharry.

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