Lekbi, is this reversal because Jammeh knows that the Private media was not
going to back down, or because of Amadou's great influence on Jammeh?
Remember, your abuser can only do to you what you allow them to do to you.
Can Jammeh imprison all that refused to go with his criminal decision? No,
he can't and would not risk it.  He was bluffing, counting or past
experience where his threats worked.  This is why Gambians cannot be silent
on matters relating the bad governance in the country.  Do you think the
authorities will abuse anyone if all refused to go with the scam of getting
new IDs every six months or so?  No, they will not do a thing in the face of
the masses.  Thus, the credit is not to Amadou, but to the people that said
no to tyranny.  Remember, the same paper that is the source of your forward
was the only paper that crossed the pickett line and paid, so go figure.
Would they credit their colleagues that they betrayed for their principled
stance?  No, that's not in their character.  So, credit is due to the
private media for standing up to a tyrant and not to no Amadou.  This is
another example of the misinformation by the Observer Tabloid.

Chi Jaama

Joe

>From: Abdoul Njie <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE- DR. JANNEH APPARENTLY INFLUENCING
>         SOME CHANGES-LEKBI
>Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2004 19:12:34 +0000
>
>Good News For The Gambian Media
>- Daily Observer
>
>The credit for the very positive news that Government is to repeal the
>Media
>Commission Act goes to the dynamic SoS for Information, Communication and
>Technology, Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh.
>
>Since he assumed office, Dr Janneh has consistently tried to mediate
>between
>the independent media and government. Thanks to his timely intervention,
>government climbed down from its hard line position to allow for a three
>month grace period to allow time for more consultation between the press
>and
>government.
>
>No doubt this cooling period helped to break the impasse.
>Now, Gambian democracy has been given a shot in the arm by the decision of
>government to repeal the draconian Media Act.
>
>The Media Act could not have done any good for the advancement of Gambian
>democracy; it could have only taken us several steps backwards in our
>democratic process. Press freedom, which is the cornerstone of democracy,
>was under direct assault by the Media Act, which required journalists and
>media houses to register with a Commission among several other unnecessary
>regulations. The Commission also had extensive powers to prosecute
>journalists.
>
>The Gambian private press is indeed very responsible. Our journalists are
>hardly sensational nor rabble rousing. This is why the Gambia Press Union
>should be fully equiped to be the watch dog of the media.
>
>The Gambia Press Union too deserves commendation for its steadfast stand on
>the issue. However, it should now task itself to put in in house measures
>to
>watch over the conduct of journalists and proprietors.
>
>Dr Janneh has managed to extricate our country from a potentially very
>embarassing situation where the entire private press would have closed shop
>if the Act was allowed to stay.
>
>Dr Janneh has our commendation for his very patriotic effort. This shows
>that for now we have a secretary of state who is a staunch defender of
>freedom of speech, which is indeed gratifying. The press should continue to
>be responsible and patriotic.
>
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