Sillah,
You write: "My problem with Ebou Jallow's story, as always is that, one
would have lent/attached more credence/weight to his story if he came
forward days after he left The Gambia to shed light on Koro's case..." Well,
to set the record straight, Ebou Jallow did divulge information about Koro's
death, in the same vein he recently did. Fact is in his resignation letter
to Jammeh, which was copied to Gambian newspapers, the US Embassy and the
British High Commission, Jallow, he accosted the then Head Of State Jammeh
for knowing the facts surrounding Koro's mysterious death, and failing to
act on them. Jallow narrated in a chronological order, events surrounding
the former finance minister's death.
Upon receipt of Jallow's letter, Daily Observer's editorial board sat down
to determine the publishability of Jallow's contents on KOro's death. We
agreed that they were serious allegations concerning senior members of the
Ruling Council. And since there was no way to validate Jallow's allegations,
we decided not to publish them, but only to put out an 'overview' story on
Jallow's resignation letter. Ebrima Cessay can attest to this fact. He and I
and other editors rummaged through Jallow's contentions carefully and
tactfully.
Equally, Jallow also divulged the same information on the BBC, but Ebrima
Cessay(then BBC's Gambia correspondent)later told me, BBC editors had to
edit Jallow's allegations, and simply let a rendition of his remarks on the
"missing million", filter through the air.
So Ebou Jallow did reveal information about Koro's death as soon as he left
The Gambia. But it was his press release, choke-full of allegations, that
prevented the Gambian press from letting Gambians know Jallow's contentions
earlier.
Ebou Jallow may not have been part and parcel of those he alleges to have
"murdered" Koro, but he is guilty by association. So tact and care must be
taken not to make windfall of his allegations. But again, his allegations
cannot be dismissed entirely. For when Jammeh is refusing to hold an inquiry
into Koro's death, we should willingly or unwillingly listen to Jallow and
decipher sense or tangibility out of his statements. The fact is, he was
part of them. And his statements may be a chink of light at the end of the
tunnel. Or may be not at all.
Cherno Baba Jallow
Detroit, MI
>From: "Mr. O. B. Silla" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: So Koro Was Murdered? :- Answer to Saiks
>Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 08:30:04 EST
>
>Saiks,
>
>We could only give them the benefit of the doubt hoping that the said funds
>would have atleast trickled down to the masses. Now in the absence of the
>US$3m what moral or legal basis is there to believe that the poor would not
>have benefitted from it?
>
>My problem with Ebou Jallow's story, as always is that, one would have
>lent/attached more credence/weight to his story if he came forward days
>after
>he left The Gambia to shed light on Koro's case (just as he decided/took it
>upon himself to purportedly set the records straight on the $3,000,000.00
>accusation with the International Media) which is still shrouded in misery,
>unfortunately and regrettaby. That is what fairness and moral code of
>conduct would call for on his part and indeed on any decent person's part.
>Since assuming that his allegations were founded, divulging them while
>serving the AFPRC government would have been suicidal, no two ways about
>that
>at all. Therefore, I reckon vehemently that anything short of that is
>grossly hypocritical, would not be taken seriously as is the case and
>tantamounts to scratching old wounds and this could only breed in hysteria.
>Of course, this is not to say that a thorough and unbiased investigations
>should not have taken place but I feel it should not spring squarely from
>Ebou Jallow's assertions alone, let's take it a pinch of salt.
>
>For the records, let me reiterate that I believe Koro's death is a heinous
>crime and that the perpetrators should be brought to book without doubt.
>
>Greetings and so long.
>
>OB Silla.
>
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