Dear fellows,
In this era of uncertainty and brutality one thing stand aloft,together
we win, divided we are all crushed!!
So lets compliment each other for every effort towards a better homeland,is
this not our collective goal? On the ground or under
lets see each other as partners in a struggle that will shape the future
of our homeland.Trust me there are alot of people underground for the same
dream you and i are on the ground!May God bless the ones we lost.
kalilu camara
>From: momodou olly-mboge <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Independent editorial: A reply (Part 1)
>Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 05:28:09 PDT
>
>Hi Ebrima,
>As you clearly stated in the first part of your response to the silly
>insinuations by the Independent Editors, it is true that"our views are as
>pertinent and as vital as anyone else's", regardless of where we are-be it
>at home or abroad.
>
> It seems Baba Galleh is harbouring some form of complex against those of
>us who are living in the West. This is rather sad for as you stated, living
>in the West could even be harder. Some of us do all kinds of jobs to
>survive. We face all kind of difficulties-racism etc yet we take it in our
>stride, all in the name of 'jomm'. We carry a much heavier responsibility
>for we are always afraid of failing. Ebrima, Baba Galleh carries a 'chip'
>on
>his shoulder. He never impressed me.
>
> Ebrima, at least Baba Galleh was lucky enough to be sponsored by the
>Gambian tax payer to go to FBC. You and many of us never had the luxury.
>Ebrima, history shall be the judge of the truth. Let Baba delude himself
>in
>assuming that his battle is nobler just because he happens to be on the
>'ground'.
>
>Rather than debating in an informed manner that befits a genuine
>journalist,
>he took things personal. THe 10 points you stated are simply the truth.
>
>Keep up the good work. Waiting anxiously for the second part of your
>response to the Independent.
>
>Cherno Baba Jallow:Bravo for the good work. Keep it up. Is this the same
>Cherno Baba Jallow who wrote that excellent article for the NEW AFRICAN
>magazine some time ago?
>
>Let us focus our energies on our common enemy-Buffoon Y. Jammeh. Baba you
>are welcome on board. Did they shake you with the citizenship thing for
>you to become a praise singer for the APRC? Maybe the Independent should
>dedicate an issue to the plight of our brother DUMO SAHO and others?
>
>May peace and prosperity befall my beloveth Gambia and Africa,
>Long live the truth.
>
>Mboge
>
>
>
>
>
>>From: Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Independent editorial: A reply (Part 1)
>>Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 11:03:39 GMT
>>
>>Note: Because of a very bad "Flu" which has forced me into bed since
>>Sunday
>>evening, I was unable to browse the Internet yesterday being Monday.
>>Therefore, for the first time, I am seeing yesterday's nasty editorial of
>>the Independent newspaper, in which they unjustifiably attacked me and
>>Cherno Baba Jallow simply because we took issue with them on their earlier
>>editorial entitled: "Time for a Re-think."
>>
>>Anyway, having just finished reading the Independent editorial, it was my
>>wish to take some quality time and work on a more sober, a more
>>appropriate
>>and a more comprehensive response; but after a second thought, I felt
>>obliged to send a quick reply NOW in a bid to set the record straight. So
>>take note that this is part one of my response, but please do watch for
>>part
>>two as well.
>>
>>********************************************************************
>>
>>Dear Editors:
>>
>>Re: Disappointing Rejoinders
>>
>>I beg to differ with the writer of the Editorial of yesterday's date (17th
>>July) that my rejoinder to the Independent's earlier editorial (10-13th
>>July) was in any way disappointing or sour. All of us in the public eye,
>>whether we are the President of the country, one of the Editorial Board of
>>a
>>Gambian-based Newspaper or an independent and exiled opponent of the
>>current
>>regime like myself, are used to being criticised, held to account for our
>>views and recipients of a range of public approbation or disapprobation.
>>
>>The whole of my rejoinder to the first of the Independents' editorials was
>>made in good faith, and I strongly object to any suggestion that this was
>>not the case.
>>
>>In my rejoinder, I responded to 10 specific issues which were raised by
>>the
>>editorial: namely:
>>
>>1. The origin of power of the AFPRC/ now the APRC.
>>2. The supposed civilian nature of the current regime.
>>3. The nature of the so-called "successes" of the APRC regime.
>>4. The poor state of our Health Service.
>>5. The state of our roads.
>>6. The state of our electricity supply.
>>7. The state of our Judiciary.
>>8. The harassment of individuals and groups and the murder of innocents
>>in our country.
>>9. The economic decline of our nation.
>>10. The questionable state of our national media services.
>>
>>You could argue that my ten responses as outlined above, gave backbone to
>>my
>>disappointment with the political regime in The Gambia, but it is totally
>>unfair to claim that my rejoinder was a disappointing one: it was a
>>considered, carefully-researched piece backed by a wealth of evidence from
>>both my sources in The Gambia and the "public voice" of Gambian citizens.
>>
>>I have not ANY hesitation in admitting that I feel a degree of "sourness"
>>in
>>my heart, intellect and spirit, when I consider how the APRC regime has
>>brought my country to its current desperate straits. Of course, I feel
>>sour
>>and despondent as well as angry, because my country has been brought to
>>its
>>knees. There is no dispute about the results of six years of misrule by a
>>military band of thugs. But let there be no mistake: my "sourness" is
>>directed towards Yahya Jammeh and his minions: it is not aimed at people
>>who
>>are also playing a part on the stage of life in today's Gambia: nor does
>>it
>>epitomise any "lack of good faith" on my part.
>>
>>I am a journalist/reporter who, in December 1996, had to leave his
>>homeland
>>for three reasons: to enhance my intellect; to avoid trumped-up charges of
>>treason against the government being brought before me; and, more
>>importantly, to protect my family who were increasingly the subject of
>>threats and intimidation.
>>
>>Yes, Mr editors, I left the Gambia for the UK, but let us not be under ANY
>>misapprehensions about my (or any other person's condition in the UK or in
>>the Diaspora). Life here in the West (without a financially sound sponsor)
>>is infinitely harder than at home: In fact, in my case, I even made more
>>money while I was in the Gambia than here. As a BBC correspondent in the
>>Gambia during the transition period, I made - apart from being paid an
>>annual retainer fee - about £50 pounds each time I sent a report which
>>would
>>not even last for fives minutes.
>>
>>And, Mr editors, here in the UK, like many Gambians abroad, I am also not
>>cushioned by my extended family in my struggle for survival: in the West,
>>Mr
>>editors, I am totally on my own. I do not claim Social Security payments
>>from the UK government. I am attempting to survive independently on a
>>small
>>salary, and I am doing the best that I can to maintain an effective
>>Oppositional voice to the current despotic Gambian leadership.
>>
>>Dear editors, please note that I AM NOT SITTING OUT HERE IN AN IVORY
>>TOWER:
>>my lifestyle is anything but that. I struggle to maintain e-mail contact
>>with The Gambia List and my sources in The Gambia, and I am doing this at
>>my
>>own expense, without a personal computer linked to the internet. (My
>>personal computer is still not connected to the Net).
>>
>>You claim that I am speaking in "extremely irrational" terms with a
>>mindset
>>aimed at destroying the Independent Newspaper's credibility. Nothing
>>could
>>be further from the truth. I try to couch all my postings to Gambia-L in
>>non-prevocative, impartial and unemotional language. I am not out to seek
>>to
>>destroy anyone's credibility. I am merely trying to speak the truth as it
>>impacts on Gambian life and institutions at present.
>>
>>I certainly grant you that I am a dedicated opponent of Jammeh and his
>>policies, but that does not mean, as you imply, that I am "casting
>>aspersions on others suffering hell on the ground". I am in the UK because
>>I
>>put myself on the line: I seek only to report the truth as it comes to me
>>from my many sources and contacts in The Gambia. Why should you think that
>>I
>>do not empathise and sympathise with those Gambians who have been able to
>>stay safely in The Gambia ? My sources are putting themselves at
>>incredible
>>risk by posting their messages to me electronically and on regular
>>telephone
>>lines. They are the ones who report to me about the "hell on the ground"
>>that characterises The Gambia in July 2000.
>>
>>My dearest wish is to return to the country of my birth, where my family
>>lives: How can you chastise me in your newspaper and imply that I am not
>>coming home right now to "fight the battle on the ground"? I am doing my
>>best as an honest and a true concerned Gambian citizen abroad so as to put
>>forward a credible opposition to the thugs who are ruling our nation.
>>
>>If I came home now, what realistically would be my personal fate? For
>>sure,
>>within a very short time, I should be at best be languishing in one of our
>>prisons awaiting trial for treason (like so many fellow Gambians): at
>>worst
>>I should be dead/murdered. Dear editors, I am not an idealistic fool: I am
>>rather an informed pragmatist. I am not going to be the rotting corpse
>>whose
>>resting place was known only to the perpetrators of my murder. I will not
>>compromise my ideals for short-term gain: my aims are longer term, and my
>>mind-set is on putting our wonderful country back on the right track as
>>soon
>>as possible.
>>
>>Mr editors, my postings on Gambia-L over the last three years have been
>>characterised by rationality, good faith and honesty: ABOVE ALL, HONESTY.
>>I
>>have never, ever in my life been accused of "cowardice" or "dishonesty"
>>and
>>I take great exception to this editorial which implies both these things
>>in
>>my personality and actions. Where are your grounds for these accusations
>>??
>>I have never been anything but an honest and forthright critic of the
>>current political regime. I have never been anything but a supporter of
>>those who have been unfairly criticised, implicated or charged. I am a
>>supporter of truth, justice and impartiality.
>>
>>My cynicism is in direct relation to the inequities of the APRC regime.
>>Make
>>no mistake about this: my arguments and opposition relate to Mr Jammeh and
>>his policies, and not to any Editor of any newspaper or media interest.
>>
>>I have never posted any article on electronic mail which was less than
>>honest, less than representative of The Gambian majority point of view. I
>>make my postings to The Gambia List in good faith, and I never claim
>>ownership of the postings: they are not mine; they belong to those
>>concerned
>>and anxious fellow citizens who feel it necessary to speak their truth to
>>the international community through my auspices. I attempt to avoid
>>cynicism because our country needs realists and pragmatists in these early
>>days of democratisation.
>>
>>As a "rational and honest reader of your editorial policy", I am fully
>>able
>>to appreciate the nature of your editorial policy: however, I remain
>>deeply
>>suspicious of your comments and pronouncements, because I do not fully
>>understand "where you are coming from". The Editorial Board of the
>>Independent Newspaper either supports the Jammeh regime, or it does not.
>>Your editorials have been equivocal in nature. Where exactly do you stand
>>?? Mr editors, believe me, Gambians are no fools!
>>
>>You made some pertinent negative comments about the Jammeh regime in the
>>editorial of 10-13th July, but the overall tenor of your opinion column
>>(as
>>perceived by your wide readership both at home in The Gambia and abroad)
>>was
>>pro-Jammeh. There was an overtone of "you scratch my back".
>>
>>In the light of your comment that "their (mine and Cherno's) motives,
>>though
>>carefully couched in the language of healthy debate, are absolutely clear
>>to
>>us", I would ask you, in all honesty, to delineate which of my motives or
>>language were not in the best interests of the future of our Gambian
>>nation
>>?
>>
>>Mr editors, I am not afraid to engage in debate about any issue, nor do I
>>seek to close any doors of communication on my differences of opinion with
>>the Independent's leader writers. I remain open to any genuine debate on
>>issues which affect my country.
>>
>>Mr editors, I wish I had the resources or the backing to start up my own
>>independent newspaper in the west: it is a fine dream, and I endeavour in
>>my
>>daily life to make it a reality. However, I remain a realist: I shall
>>continue to do the best that I can for my country with the small resources
>>that are available to me.
>>
>>I urge the editorial writers of the Independent to continue their debates
>>and communications with all Gambians who feel the need to speak on behalf
>>of
>>their country. Please do not try to silence our voice because we are not
>>based in The Gambia. Our views are as pertinent and as vital as anyone
>>else's.
>>
>>We Gambians who have been forced to flee our native land have "urgent and
>>serious matters of national concern to attend to".
>>
>>
>>Ebrima Ceesay
>>Birmingham UK
>>
>>
>>Postscript:
>>
>>Baba Galleh!! Why did you address your posting on the List to me on
>>Wednesday 12th July in these terms ????:
>>
>>"Sir Coach,
>>
>>"Thanks for your brilliant rejoinder. We respect your right to your
>>opinion
>>and do not expect that you will like everything that we write".
>>
>>Baba Galleh - what has gone wrong that the tenor of your postings to me
>>(and
>>to Cherno Baba) have changed so much in substance in four days?? You know
>>the reasons for my being abroad better than most: you also know that I
>>have
>>never been a "minimalist" in my commentaries on Gambian realities. You of
>>all people know that I am not "parsimonious with the truth". I am exerting
>>myself in the UK to inform The Gambian people as fully as I can.
>>
>>My matters, in terms of peace and restoration of democracy in The Gambia,
>>are as urgent and serious as yours.
>>
>>Why would you refuse to enter into any further debate or communication
>>with
>>me or Cherno? We write what we are led to believe by our sources in The
>>Gambia (as well as from our own convictions). What "serious matters of
>>national concern" do you need to attend to, which are in any way different
>>from mine or Cherno's ??
>>
>>Anyway, in part two of my reply, I'll outline the lessons you need to
>>learn
>>if you TRULY call yourself an editor of an "Independent" newspaper.
>>
>>
>>
>>________________________________________________________________________
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