The Observer Newspaper has long ago stopped reporting the news. The have settled into a mode in which they are outright fabricating stories in a very amateurish bid to serve the ugly interests of Yahya Jammeh. They conjure up long winded lies about socalled sources and make up dialogue with none existent people. With Yahya facing imminent electoral defeat, The Observer has shamelessly and eagerly transformed itself into the print version of GRTS writing self serving essays and attempting to pass it as legitimate journalism. Everything they write from coverage of rallies to campaign violence is all overtly laced in unprofessional zeal on their part. They make absolutely no attempt to present their stories fairly by talking to all sides involved in any issue. Take their reporting of Campaign violence in which every story categorically paints the Coalition as the instigator. It is silly and fanciful for any sane person to assume that opponents of this regime who over the years have had their members murdered, tortured and abducted by this government and it's affiliated agents would suddenly transform into a mean and aggressive bunch attacking innocent people. It is not true. Take the much trumped up case involving Baba Jobe which illicited much outraged from the D.I.G of Police. The Coalition was holding a rally at Latrikunda German when all of a sudden Baba Jobe in a convoy of vehicles with his usual contingent of thugs approached and attempted to drive into the already assembled crowd in a blatant and provocative bid to disrupt a legal gathering. When it became clear that the people were not going to let him and his goons disrupt the meeting, he resorted to his usual violent tactics. He was quickly overwhelmed by the very large and determined crowd. In the ensuing fracas, some damage was done to some of the vehicles he was attempting to drive through the crowd and he had to run away. Similarly, the incident in Farafenni was organized and precipitated by the Chief Samboujang Jagne. He gathered APRC thugs in his home with the sole purpose of physically preventing the Coalition meeting and campaigning in Farafenni. They lay in ambush by his home with stones and other arms and erected an illegal road block. When the Coalition approached with a token Police escort, they were stopped by these goons at the behest of Chief Jagne. The escorting Police suggested the Coalition reroute their entire convoy to mollify the illegal behavior of these trouble makers. This was unacceptable to the coalition because the roadblock was a blatant infringement on their rights as Gambians moving in their own country. So they moved on and the thugs began raining stones on them. Again the the attackers were overwhelmed and in the ensuing violence the vehicles of the attackers were damaged and some of the attackers sustained injuries. The escorting police fled and it was the army that finally restored peace and the coalition proceeded as planned. With the police and other members of the security services openly taking the government's side and branding the APRC as victims when they are and continue to be the attackers, Coalition members can and would only rely on themselves for self defense. They have justifiably lost confidence in law enforcement and would not lie down and play dead while violent thugs trample over them. In the remaining days of the campaign, the coalition would continue to engage the Gambian people on the very critical issues facing the nation. They will continue to scrupulously adhere to the letter and spirit of the law. They will also vigorously defend themselves anytime they are attacked. This is not going to be 1996. Anyone who unleashes violence on innocent people will meet a stiff and sustained resistance. No amount of lies from the government and it's agents would deter people from the very grave situations they face from these criminals and murderers. In the meantime list members and the rest of our people can still read legitimate Newspapers like the Independent and The Point for real coverage. Karamba ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------