Abou,
Welcome to this Gambian Bantaba in Cyberspace.
Thanks for your piece about the Observer and press freedom.
Its very sad to see that those who claim to have come to rescue Gambians
are in fact more oppressive than the system they replaced.
Keep up the good work down there.
regards,
Momodou Camara
(Copenhagen)
On 17 Jun 99, at 7:16, Abou Jeng wrote:
> To many Gambians, within and without the country, the purchase of the Daily
> Observer newspaper by local business tycoon, Amadou Samba, was a rapturous
> spasm of self-righteousness and a visible sense of belonging. But to others,
> conversant with the dirty tactics of politics, the move was nothing but a
> calculated attempt at muzzling one of West Africa's most vibrant independent
> papers.
>
> Whatever a line of thinking one takes, the truth would surely remain that
> the relationship between the AFPRC/APRC and the independent press has not
> been very smooth. Albeit the infancy of most of the local newspapers and the
> logistical problems they mostly live with, their sense of maturity,
> responsibility and independence, is a trait that has endeared them to the
> whims of many prominent Gambians in the diaspora.
>
> In the recent past the struggle by the APRC to harbour power and influence
> over the nation on one hand, and the Daily Observer's ambition executing its
> noble task of digging and developing news worthy of public consumption, has
> invidiously created a relationship that is not as romantic as Dodi and
> Diana.
>
> Since Jammeh came to power, he had in most occasion lambasted and lampooned
> the Daily Observer, calling their reporters liars, unpatriots and at one
> time exhorted people to boycott buying the paper. But more was yet to come
> as journalists came under fire, some deported, others detained, while a
> large number continue to receive Hitler-style threats. Obviously all these
> unfortunate and painful happenings that cascaded on the paper aggravated an
> already down cast ambience. But here we must salute Baba Galleh Jallow (now
> resigned)DA Jawo (recently sacked), Sheriff Bojang (now acting
> Editor-in-Chief) and ofcourse Cherno Baba Jallow and Ebrima Ceesay(now
> exiled), for their sense of decorum, stoicism and maturity. these are people
> whose patriotism cannot be questioned. They laboured every inch of their
> lives to instil and propel a model of statemanship and razor sharp vision,
> which helped in averting a potentially volatile moment during the days of
> the military junta.
>
> Now theDaily Observer, a long time vanguard oof truth and objectivity is
> bought by a Gambian tycoon who is apparently a close associate of Jammeh.
> Above all he is a business man scouting for government contracts. Naturally,
> no matter what the paper's reporters do, Amadou Samba will not tolerate
> front page headlines critical of Jammeh. Recognising this, what he first did
> aws to sack DA Jawo, one of the most principled Gambian journalists. Next
> Baba Galleh resigned leaving Sheriff alone qwith a skeletal staff. The
> strongest editorial board is now paralysed. And Cherno Baba Jallow, in an
> email sent to me prophesised that the "Observer is on its way to the
> slammer. Might as well be the end of history - of Observer's credibility and
> dependability as an independent and iconoclastic paper in the vanguard of
> good governance and social change in the Gambia."
>
> However sour the relationship of the Government and the Daily Observer is,
> the elevation of the Gambia to higher heights is a responsibility for all
> irrespective of tribal, religious or political affiliation. We cannot,
> should not and must not allow an invaluable independent paper of Daily
> Observer calibre be flushed into the thrashbin of insignificance. The wind
> of change blowing across Africa bears some speck of lessions that history is
> always ready to share: "Heed the voices of desperation; for they must be
> heard".If not, His HIGHNESS MR HISTORY is patiently waiting!
>
> On a more personal note, I must express my sincere thanks and appreciation
> to Momodou Camara (Djembe sub-editor) for facilitating my enlisting of
> Gambia-l. He is a brother and a friend who has shown me love and care,
> values that are eternal entrenched clauses in Gambia's diverse cultural mug.
> Indeed for Gambians all over the world to have a readily accessible
> electronic "Bantaba" to discuss common issues, largely signify that we are
> one ,and cemented shall we be till the atrophy of Bob's emancipation lyrics.
>
> In the meantime, let us remain a united people, always sharing and caring.
> I'm deeply impressed by Gambia-l for the past couple of days, but only that
> we all uphold the values of objectivity and respect, so that "Gambia mother
> Gambia, ever be our pride, in pain and joy all must bear, peace and love on
> we ride, state and press all on sight, freedom and justice is our kite, for
> duties of state cannot be a fright".
>
>
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