Hi!
    I finally got the chance to listen to the Radio One call-in programs and Pa Dacosta's program. I would first of all like to thank Latjor and others at gambian.com who host the files on their site. The marvels of technology never cease to amaze even when one knows how they work. I relived the emotions displayed during the trying days of April way back in The Gambia in my computer room way up here in Sweden and the effect was electrifying. That aside, I would like to present my impression of the programs and the issues raised.

    First, I noticed a strong sense of resentment towards the paramilitary, paras or "parayi" as they are known. I was really amazed at the amount of venom spewed towards them and this indicates resentment that goes deeper than and beyond the student massacres. Callers narrated how the paramilitary personnel abuse the young people during shows etc. This strong sense of animosity between armed paras and unarmed civilians is a true recipe for disaster as witnessed in April. I believe that those responsible for public relations within the paramilitary framework need to take action to bring about dialogue between their forces and the general public to avoid the deepening of the hatred that was displayed during the programs. 

            Second, I was truly amazed by the boldness demonstrated by the callers. Some even stated their names and where they lived. The bravery of some of the callers demonstrated their frustrations with the system and it was a sort of "kill me if you want" attitude that they displayed. This to me showed the crossing of a line - the line of fear and the adoption of an "enough is enough" stance. Gambians are timid by nature but can be very brave and sometimes even suicidal when pushed. I believe that the authorities should from now be careful with how they deal with the people especially given the elections next year. The threat of force and use of intimidation should be stopped to avert a potentially dangerous situation. This should be stopped because threats usually have an effect the first or so times that they are heard but become ordinary if repeated over a period. I believe this is what happened. The public have been fed with threats for such a long time that they have become used to it. If the authorities see that their threats do not have the intended effects, they might be tempted to make good on those threats and the effects can be devastating to our country.

            Third, the callous way in which the government representative handled the situation truly displays a lack of tact and ignorance in the realm of PR. The country had just gone through a very painful experience and the least that could have been done by anyone speaking on behalf of the government should have been to extend condolences on behalf of the government before going ahead to present the government's case in a proper manner. To speak on radio and say that those who died killed themselves was to say the least rather insensitive not only to those who lost relatives but all Gambians. I believe the government should buy PR courses for those who speak on its behalf so that the embarrassment that befell its representatives both on radio and TV would not repeat itself in the future.

            Fourth, I was truly disappointed by all the Islamic preachers and those who hid behind Islam to make their pronouncements. They all shifted the blame to the students and their parents by stressing the need for parents to bring up their kids this Islamic way or that Islamic way. What has Islam got to do with the massacre of innocent school kids? Doesn't Islam preach against killing? Doesn't Islam preach against injustice? If the authorities had handled the students' grievances properly when they came up, the situation wouldn't have escalated to the point it did. The words of the Islamic preachers were meant to pacify and neutralise the students by putting their parents in the spotlight but I think the opposite was achieved. Islam as a religion should not be used to propagate political lines because those same preachers tell us that one of the most hated in the eyes of God is the hypocrite.

            I was also surprised by the insensitivity displayed by a couple of the women callers. As women and probably mothers, I think they could also have displayed a little more tact. However, as mentioned by a caller, their insensitivity is due to the fact that their kids were not among those killed or wounded. If they had relatives among the dead and wounded they would not have made such comments. I wonder how they would have reacted if others put the blame for the tragedy squarely on their shoulders when they had nothing at all to do with it. What does home training got to do with it when paramilitary personnel enter a classroom where students are taking exams, beat them and their teachers, chase them and shoot them?

            To Pa Dacosta I take my hat off. Not only is the man brave and blunt, he is also an artist and poet. I could not help laugh at some of the ways he intertwined truth and seriousness with some musical phrases. I found funnier still his responses when Manu tried to tone down his pronouncements. Some kinds are a rarity and the Pa is sure one of them. Thanks.

                                                                                                                        Buharry.

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