Mr ceesay,

l wouldn`t be fair to my conscience,by closing my eyes to allow your this posting to pass by without comment.

Your long introduction was a master piece of high calibre,but unfortunately,the rest of your presentation did not follow suit.You couldn`t defend your credibility,but rather prefer to throw sand into people`s eyes,only to resort to personal attacks and meaningless self-expression.

By the way,how credible are you?

lf the case of Mr Essa Sey is a litmus test,both the Government and Mr Sey have passed it pretty well.You see,an empty opposition,or opposition for opposition sake can never promote the welfare of our Nation.lnfact,it only serves to strengthen the position of the people you oppose,and reduces the masses trust on the opposition.

An opposition must be efficient enough to proof itself as a better alternative,with facts and not fictions.

l have no slightest doubt that you are an intelligent man,as many other Gambians,and would appeal to all of us to utilise our intelligence for the benefit of our dear Nation.Let us uplift the consciousness of our people and enlighten them with the knowledge we acquired.This is the only weapon we can arm our people with in their quest for freedom, justice and a dignified life on earth.

Your  laudable songs about yourself and all what you think you are,should not make you to believe that the Gambia is an easy ride.

By the way,how serious are you?

Why warning Jammeh about your ultimate return?Do you think that he would run away before your arrival or are you giving us the justification of the importance you attached to yourself?Or maybe as you accused Tombong,you are another opportunist in waiting.
l found it difficult to believe in almost all what you have said,after all the misinformation and apologies within this short period.

Radio Kangkang cannot be tolerated on the G-L lf it is to maintain its credibility.lt is high time that we acquaint ourselves with fact gathering and stop constipating our society with fictitious and imaginary raw fabrication of information.

However,this issue have yet illustrated the unwillingness of Gambians to be dragged into an unjustifiable, futile and baseless attack on the Government.Even some hard critics of the Jammeh regime have to interject with rectification and clarification.

Let us strive to be a responsibly opposition in the interest of our Nation.Let us tell the Gambian people our alternative developmental programme we have in store, that makes us a better alternative than the present Govenment and seek for their support on the basis of that.

Sincere greetings to every one out there,and don`t give up the fight.

Praises are due to our ancestors!!
Landing Alkalo Sanyang.

Ps:-
Jabou,your interjection into this issue was a good piece.lt was classic,and you have said it all.Keep on moving.



----- Ursprungligt meddelande ----- 
Från: ebrima ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
Till: <[log in to unmask]>
Skickat: den 19 juni 1999 15:58
Ämne: My reaction to Tombong Saidy/Mafy


> Tombong, Malafy,
> 
> I read your postings to the L, very carefully, and I must thank you for the
> lectures. Indeed, I did find both of your postings very momentous and
> instructive and, in fact, you should tell me how much I should pay for the
> lectures next time you write. (laughs!)
> 
> Anyway, in my view, this ongoing debate about our country, especially on the
> eve of the new millennium, is very necessary, so that with all the different
> ideas being poured out, we might finally work out the correct BLUE PRINT for
> the future of our Nation.
> 
> It is, therefore, in the interest of our country, to encourage more of these
> debates, although I must be quick to add that, in order to reap some
> benefits from these discussions, we have to ensure that we debate with
> maturity, with sincerity, with clarity, with truth, with fairness, and with
> respect.
> 
> One must always be honest, conscientious and honourable enough, to give
> credit where it is due. In short, one must always be ingenuous and equitable
> enough, to withdraw a position, or a statement, if the person you are
> debating with, has come up with far more credible, more convincing, and more
> persuasive arguments.
> 
> In this regard, we should never let our emotions overshadow or colour our
> objectivity and fairness. Politically, all of us have our loyalty somewhere,
> but that doesn't mean we should be fanatical with our leaders, or make
> ourselves blind followers, or opportunists.
> 
> We should always always make sure that our actions are guided by good
> reasoning, truth, objectivity and fairness. It is my view that if Africa is
> to make a headway, as the new millennium draws nearer, we must discard the
> habit of seeing our leaders as demi gods.
> 
> Our leaders should be seen as our employees, who should be fired, if they
> persisted in doing wrong or bad, but retained if they were delivering the
> goods.
> 
> Now, let me attempt to address some of the issues raised by Malafy and
> Tombong Saidy. But, before addressing these issues, I'll share with you an
> information, which some of you might find interesting, so that, hopefully,
> you can understand Tombong better.
> 
> Most of us already know that Tombong was invited by Jammeh, to join the then
> AFPRC, after he, Tombong, "humiliated" deposed President Jawara, during a
> press conference in Washington DC.
> 
> Now, for historical purposes, I'll share with you what happened behind the
> scenes, so that you can judge for yourselves, whether Mr Saidy is a man of
> principles or not, or whether he can cope with real pressures or not, in
> times of difficulties.
> 
> The Daily Observer correspondent in Washington DC, Fatou Jaw Manneh, was at
> the press conference and, after the conference, she faxed me the story,
> which I edited, gave it a headline and we carried in the front page of the
> Observer, as our lead story.
> 
> The story became the talk of Banjul that day, and, of course, the then
> members of the Ruling Council, led by Mr Jammeh, were very impressed with
> Tombong's stance at the press conference.
> 
> But not knowing that the Jammeh government had a job ready for him, and
> apparently being under reported "pressures" from many quarters, for having
> "humiliated" ex-president Jawara, Tombong confronted Fatou Jaw Manneh, as
> soon as the Observer was out, denying to Fatou that he had said what was
> quoted in the Observer story.
> 
> Fatou Jaw contacted me, asking me the possibility of putting a retraction in
> the Observer, because Tombong was denying to her, having said what was
> reported in the Observer.
> 
> At Fatou's request, I drafted a retraction/apology, which I was going to put
> in the Observer, to the effect that Tombong had denied what was attributed
> to him, in the Observer. I forgot exactly what and what he was denying in
> the story.
> 
> But, fortunately for him, our reporter contacted me again, at the right
> time, before we went to press, saying that Tombong did not want any
> retraction any more, because he was offered a job by the Government at our
> Washington DC Embassy, as a result of the story. You can therefore see how
> some people can be so opportunistic or can lack principles.
> 
> Tombong, if you want you can deny this, but Gambia L members are also to
> contact Fatou Jaw, for confirmation or denial of my statements.
> 
> Now coming back to the main issue. I agree that I got wrong again, with
> regard to Dr Saja Taal, and I apologise to the list for the misinformation.
> 
> But I have to remind some of the list members, who are very hard in their
> criticisms, which I welcome in good faith, that the easiest thing to do, is
> to criticise people's works/writings, which is fine, because whoever writes
> must expect to be criticised, either rightly or wrongfully. The difficult
> thing, surely, is to come up with ideas, especially solid ones and put them
> before the publicly, for scrutiny.
> 
> Anyway, I must say with regard to the Dr Saja Taal issue, the misinformation
> was my fault, not my source, if I have to be fair to him. My source was
> stressing the need for continuity in a post one was doing well, citing the
> fact that Dr Taal was again "replaced" at the Ministry of Education, when he
> was already doing a good job there. I wrongly took the word "replace" to
> mean dismissal.
> 
> Again, I apologise to the L, for the misinformation and, Tombong, I thank
> you in good faith, for the clarification. I'll take your wise advise to be
> more careful in the future.
> 
> But, of course, even the Western Media, with all their facilities and
> prowess, do retract stories, from time to time, owing to misinformation. I
> am sure even Gambia TV, which you head, does make mistakes, from time to
> time.
> 
> I am glad, however, that Mr Saidy didn't say I was wrong in saying that
> Maodo Touray and Essa Sey were to be appointed ambassadors. Tombong, you
> might have known about these appointments, because you are a government
> insider, but, please, be fair here: don't give the impression that this was
> "a stale news" within the media in the Gambia, when either the private media
> or government media had reported it.
> 
> The government media might wait for the "agreement", but if the private
> media knew about this story, they would have, of course, published it by
> now.
> 
> Tombong, I, myself, didn't give any reasons for Njogou Bah's withdrawal from
> France, as insinuated by you. I quoted a source, which is permissible in
> journalism, who narrated what reportedly happened in Paris.
> 
> Mr Saidy, I do not know why Ismaila Ceesay had been recalled, neither do I
> claim to know why Mr Grey-Johnson had been recalled. But I know, for a fact,
> despite what you are saying to the contrary, that Njogou's withdrawal from
> Paris had do with his wife's alleged, and I repeat, alleged hostility
> towards their maid.
> 
> Whether Njogou's wife was hostile to the Embassy staff or not, I do not have
> a clue. But it is also a fact that Mrs Bah was reported to the government by
> her maid, for alleged hostility.
> 
> I admire Njogou as a diplomat, and also as a French/English/French
> interpreter, and I would be the last person to put him and his family in
> trouble with authorities in Banjul.
> 
> Again, some people should not get me wrong, for I am not saying that Mr
> Jammeh should not have appointed Essa Sey as ambassador. That's is Jammeh's
> prerogative. I had said that if I, Ebrima Ceesay, were to appoint someone as
> an ambassador in Paris, it would be based on merit, service, experience
> tactfulness, qualifications and, of course, loyalty.
> 
> For me, it is not a question of speaking "Fluent French". I speak French
> myself. Language can be studied and mastered by anyone. The Gambia's High
> commissioner to the UK, John Bojang, has a very good command of the English
> Language and, on top of that, he is an orator, who can speak off the cuff,
> for hours.
> 
> But, in my view, he is not a tactful person or a good diplomat, otherwise he
> would not have said that "Slavery was not a curse...it was, in fact, good
> for the black people."...
> 
> Again, as I said before, I have my reservation about Essa Sey's appointment,
> but I am not going to belabour the point. In fact, it is very unfortunate
> that the issue has been dragged to this level. My Sey, if you find my
> comments upsetting or painful, then my sincerely apologies to you.
> 
> But you do know that I am very "controversial" in nature, and I don't
> hesitate to speak my mind on issues, regardless of who is involved. Is this
> not more honourable than back biting you?
> 
> Malafy, I didn't say I am "closed to Essa's wife, or family". I said his
> wife was a relative. I haven't seen Essa for a long time. By way, I didn't
> even know he was in New York. But he used to call me "GORO" (an in law),
> because his wife was brought up by Momat Adam Ceesay, formerly of
> Cooperative Union, who is a dad to me.
> 
> It is unfortunate that I am also forced to drag Momat's name into this, and
> I hope he, too, forgives me. Anyway, Fatou Camara, thanks for your
> clarications with regard to Essa Khan. By the way, when are you coming back
> to Birmingham to visit? I must say that all of the crew in Birmingham do
> miss your good sense of humour.
> 
> Malafy, let me tell you that the reason why I avoid contacting many in
> family is because I do not want to put anyone in trouble, given my well
> known opposition to the Jammeh regime. Even my uncle, Ndondi, said on this
> forum, that he didn't hear from me, since I left the Gambia.
> 
> Also Mr Jarju, I don't mind you calling me a "political refugee", but for
> the records, I need to tell you, and you checked this information, that I
> came to the UK, because I was given a two-year study leave with salary, by
> the Observer, in November 1996, to do an M Phil at the University of
> Birmingham.
> 
> In fact, the Observer had carried an editorial, in December 1996, clarifying
> that I was in the UK, because I was given two years study leave with salary.
> So I didn't run away from the Gambia, or no one had forced me to leave.
> Technically, I could go to the Gambia, even today.
> 
> In fact, I should have returned home by now, but I decided to stay here, for
> the time being, because I got married, I am still studying and also I was
> working very hard, on a book, on the Gambian Coup, of course, not realising
> that it was one thing to have your manuscript ready, but another thing to
> find a publishers interested in your material. But with Sandra's help and
> contacts, it would be finally published.
> 
> Anyway, Malafy, people are right to say I am in exile in England, but it is
> a self-imposed one. Mr Jammeh himself knows that whenever I am ready with
> what I am doing here, I'll return home, and they better be prepared for my
> comeback.
> 
> Hey, the last thing I would do would be to abandon my politics for justice,
> fair play and freedom. Call me a politician or a journalist, but that would
> stop me from speaking my mind.
> 
> Tombong, of course, it is an open secret that I announced over the BBC in
> June 1996, before the ban on party politics was lifted in the Gambia, that I
> was going to contest the September 1996 presidential elections, if Jammeh
> ran.
> 
> Tombong, I had to publicly renounce my candidature, not because I feared I
> wouldn't make it, as alleged by you. This is far from the truth. I renounced
> my candidature, because of family pressures and the fact that I didn't want
> to be used by any Western Country.
> 
> Once some diplomats friends of mine became involved and started raising the
> necessary funds for the campaign, I became very uncomfortable with the whole
> thing, because I didn't want to be no one's puppet. Also, mentally, I didn't
> think I was ready for the task ahead.
> 
> But I wouldn't hesitate to repeat, on this forum, that if Mr Jammeh and co
> were to remain in power, it shouldn't surprise you if I form a political
> party.
> 
> Anyway, I'll have to continue this write up one of these days, because my
> fingers are paining me.
> 
> Ebrima Ceesay,
> Birmingham, UK.
> 
> 
> 
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