Note: Because of a very bad "Flu" which has forced me into bed since Sunday
evening, I was unable to browse the Internet yesterday being Monday.
Therefore, for the first time, I am seeing yesterday's nasty editorial of
the Independent newspaper, in which they unjustifiably attacked me and
Cherno Baba Jallow simply because we took issue with them on their earlier
editorial entitled: "Time for a Re-think."
Anyway, having just finished reading the Independent editorial, it was my
wish to take some quality time and work on a more sober, a more appropriate
and a more comprehensive response; but after a second thought, I felt
obliged to send a quick reply NOW in a bid to set the record straight. So
take note that this is part one of my response, but please do watch for part
two as well.
********************************************************************
Dear Editors:
Re: Disappointing Rejoinders
I beg to differ with the writer of the Editorial of yesterday's date (17th
July) that my rejoinder to the Independent's earlier editorial (10-13th
July) was in any way disappointing or sour. All of us in the public eye,
whether we are the President of the country, one of the Editorial Board of a
Gambian-based Newspaper or an independent and exiled opponent of the current
regime like myself, are used to being criticised, held to account for our
views and recipients of a range of public approbation or disapprobation.
The whole of my rejoinder to the first of the Independents' editorials was
made in good faith, and I strongly object to any suggestion that this was
not the case.
In my rejoinder, I responded to 10 specific issues which were raised by the
editorial: namely:
1. The origin of power of the AFPRC/ now the APRC.
2. The supposed civilian nature of the current regime.
3. The nature of the so-called "successes" of the APRC regime.
4. The poor state of our Health Service.
5. The state of our roads.
6. The state of our electricity supply.
7. The state of our Judiciary.
8. The harassment of individuals and groups and the murder of innocents
in our country.
9. The economic decline of our nation.
10. The questionable state of our national media services.
You could argue that my ten responses as outlined above, gave backbone to my
disappointment with the political regime in The Gambia, but it is totally
unfair to claim that my rejoinder was a disappointing one: it was a
considered, carefully-researched piece backed by a wealth of evidence from
both my sources in The Gambia and the "public voice" of Gambian citizens.
I have not ANY hesitation in admitting that I feel a degree of "sourness" in
my heart, intellect and spirit, when I consider how the APRC regime has
brought my country to its current desperate straits. Of course, I feel sour
and despondent as well as angry, because my country has been brought to its
knees. There is no dispute about the results of six years of misrule by a
military band of thugs. But let there be no mistake: my "sourness" is
directed towards Yahya Jammeh and his minions: it is not aimed at people who
are also playing a part on the stage of life in today's Gambia: nor does it
epitomise any "lack of good faith" on my part.
I am a journalist/reporter who, in December 1996, had to leave his homeland
for three reasons: to enhance my intellect; to avoid trumped-up charges of
treason against the government being brought before me; and, more
importantly, to protect my family who were increasingly the subject of
threats and intimidation.
Yes, Mr editors, I left the Gambia for the UK, but let us not be under ANY
misapprehensions about my (or any other person's condition in the UK or in
the Diaspora). Life here in the West (without a financially sound sponsor)
is infinitely harder than at home: In fact, in my case, I even made more
money while I was in the Gambia than here. As a BBC correspondent in the
Gambia during the transition period, I made - apart from being paid an
annual retainer fee - about £50 pounds each time I sent a report which would
not even last for fives minutes.
And, Mr editors, here in the UK, like many Gambians abroad, I am also not
cushioned by my extended family in my struggle for survival: in the West, Mr
editors, I am totally on my own. I do not claim Social Security payments
from the UK government. I am attempting to survive independently on a small
salary, and I am doing the best that I can to maintain an effective
Oppositional voice to the current despotic Gambian leadership.
Dear editors, please note that I AM NOT SITTING OUT HERE IN AN IVORY TOWER:
my lifestyle is anything but that. I struggle to maintain e-mail contact
with The Gambia List and my sources in The Gambia, and I am doing this at my
own expense, without a personal computer linked to the internet. (My
personal computer is still not connected to the Net).
You claim that I am speaking in "extremely irrational" terms with a mindset
aimed at destroying the Independent Newspaper's credibility. Nothing could
be further from the truth. I try to couch all my postings to Gambia-L in
non-prevocative, impartial and unemotional language. I am not out to seek to
destroy anyone's credibility. I am merely trying to speak the truth as it
impacts on Gambian life and institutions at present.
I certainly grant you that I am a dedicated opponent of Jammeh and his
policies, but that does not mean, as you imply, that I am "casting
aspersions on others suffering hell on the ground". I am in the UK because I
put myself on the line: I seek only to report the truth as it comes to me
from my many sources and contacts in The Gambia. Why should you think that I
do not empathise and sympathise with those Gambians who have been able to
stay safely in The Gambia ? My sources are putting themselves at incredible
risk by posting their messages to me electronically and on regular telephone
lines. They are the ones who report to me about the "hell on the ground"
that characterises The Gambia in July 2000.
My dearest wish is to return to the country of my birth, where my family
lives: How can you chastise me in your newspaper and imply that I am not
coming home right now to "fight the battle on the ground"? I am doing my
best as an honest and a true concerned Gambian citizen abroad so as to put
forward a credible opposition to the thugs who are ruling our nation.
If I came home now, what realistically would be my personal fate? For sure,
within a very short time, I should be at best be languishing in one of our
prisons awaiting trial for treason (like so many fellow Gambians): at worst
I should be dead/murdered. Dear editors, I am not an idealistic fool: I am
rather an informed pragmatist. I am not going to be the rotting corpse whose
resting place was known only to the perpetrators of my murder. I will not
compromise my ideals for short-term gain: my aims are longer term, and my
mind-set is on putting our wonderful country back on the right track as soon
as possible.
Mr editors, my postings on Gambia-L over the last three years have been
characterised by rationality, good faith and honesty: ABOVE ALL, HONESTY. I
have never, ever in my life been accused of "cowardice" or "dishonesty" and
I take great exception to this editorial which implies both these things in
my personality and actions. Where are your grounds for these accusations ??
I have never been anything but an honest and forthright critic of the
current political regime. I have never been anything but a supporter of
those who have been unfairly criticised, implicated or charged. I am a
supporter of truth, justice and impartiality.
My cynicism is in direct relation to the inequities of the APRC regime. Make
no mistake about this: my arguments and opposition relate to Mr Jammeh and
his policies, and not to any Editor of any newspaper or media interest.
I have never posted any article on electronic mail which was less than
honest, less than representative of The Gambian majority point of view. I
make my postings to The Gambia List in good faith, and I never claim
ownership of the postings: they are not mine; they belong to those concerned
and anxious fellow citizens who feel it necessary to speak their truth to
the international community through my auspices. I attempt to avoid
cynicism because our country needs realists and pragmatists in these early
days of democratisation.
As a "rational and honest reader of your editorial policy", I am fully able
to appreciate the nature of your editorial policy: however, I remain deeply
suspicious of your comments and pronouncements, because I do not fully
understand "where you are coming from". The Editorial Board of the
Independent Newspaper either supports the Jammeh regime, or it does not.
Your editorials have been equivocal in nature. Where exactly do you stand
?? Mr editors, believe me, Gambians are no fools!
You made some pertinent negative comments about the Jammeh regime in the
editorial of 10-13th July, but the overall tenor of your opinion column (as
perceived by your wide readership both at home in The Gambia and abroad) was
pro-Jammeh. There was an overtone of "you scratch my back".
In the light of your comment that "their (mine and Cherno's) motives, though
carefully couched in the language of healthy debate, are absolutely clear to
us", I would ask you, in all honesty, to delineate which of my motives or
language were not in the best interests of the future of our Gambian nation
?
Mr editors, I am not afraid to engage in debate about any issue, nor do I
seek to close any doors of communication on my differences of opinion with
the Independent's leader writers. I remain open to any genuine debate on
issues which affect my country.
Mr editors, I wish I had the resources or the backing to start up my own
independent newspaper in the west: it is a fine dream, and I endeavour in my
daily life to make it a reality. However, I remain a realist: I shall
continue to do the best that I can for my country with the small resources
that are available to me.
I urge the editorial writers of the Independent to continue their debates
and communications with all Gambians who feel the need to speak on behalf of
their country. Please do not try to silence our voice because we are not
based in The Gambia. Our views are as pertinent and as vital as anyone
else's.
We Gambians who have been forced to flee our native land have "urgent and
serious matters of national concern to attend to".
Ebrima Ceesay
Birmingham UK
Postscript:
Baba Galleh!! Why did you address your posting on the List to me on
Wednesday 12th July in these terms ????:
"Sir Coach,
"Thanks for your brilliant rejoinder. We respect your right to your opinion
and do not expect that you will like everything that we write".
Baba Galleh - what has gone wrong that the tenor of your postings to me (and
to Cherno Baba) have changed so much in substance in four days?? You know
the reasons for my being abroad better than most: you also know that I have
never been a "minimalist" in my commentaries on Gambian realities. You of
all people know that I am not "parsimonious with the truth". I am exerting
myself in the UK to inform The Gambian people as fully as I can.
My matters, in terms of peace and restoration of democracy in The Gambia,
are as urgent and serious as yours.
Why would you refuse to enter into any further debate or communication with
me or Cherno? We write what we are led to believe by our sources in The
Gambia (as well as from our own convictions). What "serious matters of
national concern" do you need to attend to, which are in any way different
from mine or Cherno's ??
Anyway, in part two of my reply, I'll outline the lessons you need to learn
if you TRULY call yourself an editor of an "Independent" newspaper.
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