"In my opinion, the ban placed on FOROYAA doesn't in all sincerety mean a
deliberate violation of the freedom of the press. The ban was just
inevitable and circumstantial. In other words, it represents a clash between
textbook reality and situational reality."
                      --------- Cherno Baba Jallow, 1994

Which is not to suggest that I justified the banning of Foroyaa. It's
beneath my dignity and conscience as a staunch believer and supporter of
freedom of expression, to justify the muzzling of any press moreso Foroyaa,
a paper I adored very much during the days of Jawara.

It is still my belief: Foroyaa was banned just because it happened to be an
organ of PDOIS. Or simply put, because of the inscription 'Organ of the
People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism'(PDOIS) on
Foroyaa. It was the illegality and inevitability of an abrupt political
situation called militarism that put a gag on Foroyaa like The Gambia
Weekly, two political organs at the time. My reading of the political
situation at the time was this: Jammeh's decision to place a ban on Foroyaa
wasn't intentionally deliberate to silence the political feelings or
opinions of Halifa and Co.

In fact, after toppling Jawara and in the process of forming a government,
Jammeh offered Halifa a ministerial post, which he refused to take. And we
now know from Halifa that Jammeh again, offered him a ministerial post after
the elections. He declined it again. The then Army lieutenant Yahya Jammeh,
shot his way to power, fired with political idealism, undoubtedly fetched
from a motherlode of political consciousness PDOIS had already etched on the
minds of the Gambian people. Little wonder that Jammeh sought PDOIS'
participation in his government, then as now.

In fact Halifa, remarked earlier this year, during our debate, that because
of PDOIS' political principles, it was logically bound to be seen as an ally
by any new political force that comes into existence. So love and mutual
trust between Jammeh and PDOIS was established very early after the coup.
This made it difficult for me to understand any deliberate vindictiveness on
the part of Jammeh to hammer Foroyaa out of existence. In fact, if it were a
ban, most likely we would never have seen Foroyaa again. Or atleast, a
newspaper by that name.

Which is not to hold brief for, or absolve Jammeh, from his transgressions
against the Gambian press. And which is not to mask the reality, however. A
ban is a ban is a ban. Whether against a political organ or a regular
newspaper. Accidental or intentional. Permanent or temporal. With hindsight,
I probably should have at least ordered Jammeh to let go off Halifa and Co.
to carry on with their political organ. Or better still, given current
realities, I probably should have criticised Jammeh for bringing us military
dictatorship which consequently banned all other political parties and their
thoughts except PDOIS, and which forced out of existence Foroyaa the
political organ and ushered in a revamped, modernized Foroyaa the apolitical
newspaper.

But then, 'might-have-been' scenarios demonstrate man's incompetence to
micromanage events contiguous to his glandular self. Well.

Cherno Baba Jallow
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan









>From: Alpha Robinson <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Halifamania
>Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1999 02:46:25 +0100
>
>Cherno Jallow,
>
>Honestly, I did not want to get into this Ping-Pong any more. I would
>prefer us to focus on the real issue and not to allow our attention to
>be diverted from it. However, after reading your mail I had to respond.
>Where on earth have I said that Halifa should not be scrutinised? Have I
>not written the following in my first mail:
>
>"My personal opinion at this very moment is to clear the way ONCE AND
>FOREVER in a
>document which will be kept for anyone who comes up later with baseless
>accusations to access, and ONLY after reading such a document come back
>to challenge your stand before and after the coup. That way, you can
>focus on the more important work of the people."
>
>What I am saying here is that Halifa should respond with profundity and
>if anyone comes up with similar accusations the person should first take
>some time to read what he had to say before coming up with baseless
>accusations. This is my opinion. I believe that any genuine accuser
>should be interested in what the accused has to say. If I continue
>talking to someone who prefers to stick his tongue into his ears, I will
>personally prefer to move ahead with other important issues. If you
>believe that your accusations are not baseless come up with the proof.
>Put your evidence before all of us and we'll weigh it against what
>Halifa has to say. In fact Halifa has said that he is ready to take
>anyone, so what's the fuss about.
>
>It is very funny that you who wrote that "In my opinion, the ban placed
>on FOROYAA doesn't in all sincerity
>mean a deliberate violation of freedom of the press. The ban was just
>inevitable and circumstantial. In other words, it represents a clash
>between textbook reality and situational reality" when decrees where
>raining on Gambians at a time when the coup was trying to silence voices
>of freedom, are turning around to point accusing fingers at others. Of
>course you can throw stones from your glass house, but should you do, at
>least be equipped to withstand the storm afterwards. Show us your teeth!
>
>Now, if you take what you wrote about Ayyitteh and compare it with what
>I wrote, you should be able to see the point I was making in my original
>mail on this topic. You wrote "And get this: Ayittey is a scholar,
>critic, writer. He has written extensively on Africa. He tackles African
>issues with insightful scrutiny unlike the Halifa Sallahs, who, out of
>drooling utopianism and incontinent lust for nationalism, are hopelessly
>unrestrained in their kissing up to vaunted Pan-africanism starved of
>self-dissenting objectivity. And honesty" That is what you think about
>Ayyitteh and Halifa and what I wrote about Halifa is what I hold for
>people who stand for what he stands for. And that person does not have
>to be called Halifa Sallah. If you call what I wrote petulant then you
>must look into the mirror and tell the same to the person you see.
>
>And please stop this childish game of name-calling. It's not my game. So
>you will have to play it alone. And for once, I look forward to a debate
>of substance and not just a hail of empty words. I will be away for
>three weeks, so don't be surprised if you don't hear from me soon. If
>there is anything to clear you will definitely hear from me, no matter
>how late. I am looking forward to a fruitful debate.
>
>Alpha Robinson
>
>
>chernob jallow wrote:
> >
> >                                 Preface
> > Distraction from Gambia-L, even for two weeks, like in my case, can be
> > costly. Reason? Chances are you'll miss sailing on the eddies of
>infrequent,
> > rational public opinion, occasionally enlivening Gambia-L and
>spontaneously
> > propelling its readership into spurts of literary crossfire and
> > tongue-wagging.
> >
> > Yet again, my learned friend Halifa Sallah, has come under fire for
> > canvassing for support of, and supporting, the 1997 Gambian
>constitution,
> > which betrayed Gambian public opinion for presidential term-limits,which
> > gives President Yahya Jammeh and Co. carte blanche to rule unstoppably
> > indefinitely,which entrenches an Indemnity Clause which says that Jammeh
>and
> > ex-council colleagues cannot be held accountable for their actions in
>the
> > past,which is derelict with obnoxious military decrees out of sync with
> > democratic governance. Halifa also stands criticised for playing footsie
> > with Jammeh over the president's litany of excesses, which merely exist
>on
> > the fringes of Halifa's and PDOIS' political imagination.
> >
> > This time around, Saul Khan and Hamjatta Kanteh are putting the
>political
> > geezer on the bridle and saddle of intense scrutiny. I have been down
>this
> > polemical terrain before with Halifa on this same forum. Well before I
> > joined Gambia-L, another Gambian, on this forum, had also taken Halifa
>and
> > Co. to task on the same issue. Inside The Gambia, Halifa has had to
>flicker
> > away numerous criticisms on his transitional role from some of his
>political
> > opponents.
> >
> > What started as a trickle has now turned into a torrent. Years hence,
> > Halifa's transitional legacy - marked by unquestionable patriotism and
> > self-effacing leadership on one front, and political deviationism and
>death
> > of outrage on the other - will continue flashing on The Gambia's
>political
> > radar screen. History continues...
> >
> > And now this:
> >
> >                               Halifamania
> > Time was, I was afflicted with an ailment called Halifamania. Looking
>back
> > over the years of my high schooling and long before I ever became a son
>of
> > ink, I used to be a dire-hard PDOIS supporter. I would trek near and
>distant
> > places just to hear Halifa and colleagues speak on the hustings. I would
> > mill around PDOIS'offices with a hushed zeal to peek into the to-ings
>and
> > fro-ings of PDOIS leaders inside their offices. One day I got in there
>with
> > the help of a dear friend. It was a scintillating experience. My good
>friend
> > Haruna Farage, now working with the Rwandan War Crimes Tribunal in
>Tanzania,
> > also enabled me to get cosy access to Sidia Jatta at his Bundung
>residence.
> > Sidia and I would discuss Gambian politics while he plays his Kora under
>the
> > mango tree.
> >
> > Only my lacking of a voter's card prevented me from voting PDOIS in the
> > 1987/92 general elections. But my exuberance over PDOIS was
>unassailable. I
> > hung onto Halifa's and PDOIS' political vocabulary fore and aft,
>thinking
> > that whatever they said was the gospel. Was the truth. Was
>unquestionable.
> > Was irreplaceable. My affinity with PDOIS was just too much for me to
>submit
> > myself to dissension over the party's policies and its leaders'
>political
> > behaviour. Silly me.
> >
> > But dilating too much on our affinities with PDOIS, a political party
>whose
> > emergence in the 1980s, helped spruce up Gambian political
> > consciousness,makes us merely peddlers of banal banter. It is
>meaningless.
> > Understandably, a chunk of PDOIS supporters are prepared to adore and
> > sanctify Halifa and Co. regardless of their political follies. I no
>longer
> > belong in that category. That was then.
> >
> > And this is now. For much of this year, I have been very critical of
>Halifa,
> > first on his role during the transition period, a subject currently
> > rejuvenated on this forum, and on his incontinent Pan Africanism bereft
>of
> > objectivity and dissension. Each time I have taken Halifa to task, I
>have
> > noticed some rumblings of discontent, emanating perhaps from die-hard
>PDOIS
> > fanatics. Probably they are miffed that Halifa's poverty of thinking as
> > depicted in his arguments or his political follies, are being hit and
>hit
> > hard. To be sure, Halifa is a public figure commanding a following. So
>it is
> > only natural that some members of this following, more infatuated than
>in
> > love, with Halifa, to react viscerally rather than rationally, to
>anything
> > critical of Halifa and PDOIS.
> >
> > Consider this: "Your article contains no iota of truth ....you should be
> > objective, give the man the credit he deserves....he is not an
>opportunist."
> > Bass Ndow was commenting on my piece regarding Halifa's rejoinder to
> > Ayittey's and Shirima's article. He thought I had a private beef with
>Halifa
> > and his party. He imagined I was being dismissive of Halifa's sacrifice
>to
> > return to Africa and work for the continent. As if Halifa's patriotism
>or
> > willingness to return to his homeland formed the crux of my piece.
> >
> > I am an opinion writer, who makes no fetish of personalities. I don't
>care
> > whether it is Koli Tengela or Halifa Sallah, Nelson Mandela or Otto Von
> > Bismarck, Cherno Baba Jallow or President Yahya Jammeh. I go after
>issues,
> > never mind their criticality or controversiality. Throughout my years of
> > writing, I have learned never to give in to majoritarian tyranny, or shy
> > away from speaking my mind on issues even if my opinion runs counter to
> > popular opinion. There comes a time when you have to be on your guard,
>or to
> > borrow a popular refrain from Halifa, be a 'master of your own destiny.'
> >
> > Leave aside personality worshipping. Leave aside also the game of
>chicken
> > and sugary love. let's debate the issues head-on. Halifamania has the
> > tendency to sap our frankness and objectivity. To idolize Halifa or
>anybody
> > else for that matter, without even a whiff of dissent on their misguided
> > deeds and sayings, is to fall prey to lovey-dovey cronyism.
> >
> > More reactive than assertive to Saul Khan's and Hamjatta's Kanteh's
> > challenges to Halifa,Alpha Robinson recently remarked petulantly:
>"Halifa,
> > whatever you decide, be rest assured that there are many Gambians and
> > non-Gambians who treasure your role in our history ....no one can turn
>us
> > against you." Such convivial banality and sycophantic hobnobbing can be
> > fatuous nonesense. Of course, Alpha's choice to place Halifa on a
>pedestal
> > is his legitimate perorogative, but it is imperative that our public
>figures
> > be held in intense scrutiny. No democracy, if it is to be
>well-variegated in
> > accountability and transparency, can thrive with an electorate
>eager-happy
> > to exchange pleasantries with its leaders, and not rational skepticism
>on
> > every action and saying of those in leadership.
> >
> > The solace is Halifa received Alpha's panegyric stakes with a pinch of
>salt.
> > Halifa is a politician not too enamoured of praises nor does he take
> > criticisms lying down. Put him under fire, and Halifa degenerates into
> > vintage Halifaism: chest-thumping, table-pounding and grandiloquent,
> > rhetoric. Intellectual arrogance and pomposity beomes his last bastion
>of
> > hope to ward off critics. But atleast, paying lip service to praises
>should
> > enable Halifa realize one thing: a public figure who is constantly in
>search
> > of fame and glory, and who blushes and pleases anytime a supporter
>throws
> > him tossed salads of plaudits, is one that risks valuing his beliefs and
> > principles largely on the direction or misdirection of received opinion,
> > which can be sycophantic, subjective and gibberish.
> >
> > Therefore: Halifa must continue resisting every urge, every attempt,
>every
> > whisper, from his loyalists and fanatics, to elevate him to sainthood or
> > celebrityhood. Because he's neither a saint nor a celebrity. He's a
>public
> > figure who has demonstrated unflinching keenness in the pursuit of
>better
> > governance for his people, but who also is prone to human failings,
> > intellectual follies and immaturities. And who aslo stands criticised
>for
> > the not-so-impressive-part of his role during the transition.
> >
> > PS: Saul Khan and Hamjatta, I am enjoying the debate. Keep up the
>momentum.
> > And don't let yourselves be distracted by comments that add nothing to
>the
> > debate. Sometimes the best response is no response at all.
> > ______________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> >
> >
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the
>Gambia-L
> > Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
> >
> >
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------