It seems to me this geezer is missing the point.  Instead of fessing up to
knowingly mortgaging his independence, both in fact and appearance, he
decides to hang himself and his profession.  What kind of rubbish is that?
How is the gift to the journalists different from Jammeh corrupting the
citizens, such as his free trips to Mecca; money to the Yai/Bai Compins;
student organizations; bootlickers; praise singers; "Daags", etc.?  Where
these gifts too, not given in public?  Where these gifts not bought by the
same stolen monies of the Gambian people?  Look, you accepted the darn thing
and you'll have to deal with some of us.  You have shown that your integrity
is lacking and to hide behind Ramadan is very slick of you, and a new low
and you are too old for that.  This other ridiculous defense that "the
journalists are among the poor", then they better stop writing, because
unless you'll fess up to this blunder, folks are going to view your articles
with skepticism and that you are no different from the corrupt people you
write about.  And, what you call, "conscientious objections. Their
conscience will not accept the gift even if the whole world accepts it.”,
you darn right that those with principle will not be corrupted even if the
whole of Gambia accept to be corrupted.

This really shows where your mind is.  The ball is now in the hands of those
in the private media that accepted these gifts.  You can continue to bury
your head in the sand, but we will be right there when you decide to raise
your head out of it.  Would we give you the benefit of doubt that you are
not on the take in private?  No, for you have demonsterated that you can be
bought and sold, if the price is right, even as rediculous as a few bags of
rice.  Do I think that those of you that agreed to be corrupted can be
bought and sold?  Absolutely.  As journalists and since you know that Yaya
is a thief, did you forget to ask him the source from which he bought the
sugar and rice from?  Are you not concerned with the level of corruption in
that country?  What will you say tomorrow, when you write that Jammeh is
corrupt and is corrupting Gambian society, only to be told by FJC or
Marcell, that you benefited from that corruption you're talking about?
Hah!!!  Where is your moral authority to talk about the corruption that is
Jammeh and the APRC?  Look, stop this foolishness and realize that we are
your customers and if we do not trust you, you do not survive as a
journalist.  Stuck on stupid and we will also continue to view you'll as
participants in a dinner with the devil.  You've helped justified Yaya's
existence as a thief.  With simple minds like you all's, no wonder why
Gambians have turn into begging.  Your behavior is really an insult to your
profession and you have been prostituted by Yaya and that impression is not
going to change anytime soon unless you do the right thing and face the
Gambian people to regain their confidence.

Chi Jaama

Joe




Swaebou Conateh reacts
By Ebrima Jaw Manneh
Nov 10, 2004, 16:20

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Swaebou Conateh, the proprietor of News and Report magazine has reacted to
criticisms of media houses’ acceptance of President Jammeh’s Ramadan gifts.

According to Mr Conateh, the Gambian journalism fraternity is united in its
stand on “critical” issues concerning the profession and professionalism as
“exemplified by what happen in the case of the Media Commission Act.”

“It is those substantial issues we should be concerned about and not side
issues of marginal effect on the future development of the profession,” he
added.

He further said that the gift was presented in public, adding “when we speak
of journalists not accepting gifts, we especially mean gifts of a type given
covertly.”

He said the gifts given by the President is not something that will affect
“our work as journalists since it is meant for our staff who are also among
the poor of this country.

Many of them are not even journalists and will never be concerned with
problems of critical consideration or stories concerning the president or
anyone in his government.”

Conateh stated that the Observer’s Sheriff Bojang, Pap Saine of The Point
and Alieu Sanyang of The Gambia Daily were present at the State House when
the gifts were given.

The News and Report boss denied taking a “grain of rice” and said: “It is
meant for the needy. It was shared among my staff. And Gambian journalists
are among the poor who are poorly paid like any other journalist in Africa.”

He further said that some people have “conscencious objections. Their
conscience will not accept the gift even if the whole world accepts it.”

_________________________________________________________________
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