Pa Modou Gassama,

Thanks for replying to the concerns i raised. I was really elated when i read the first  paragraph of your posting but then that elation vanished as soon as i got on to the second.  Reason is, i was confronted with the same type of argument and tactic you displayed when you were 'Kebba Jobe'.   On the one hand you condemn the excesses of the APRC and on the other you try to vindicate their actions by blaming the victims.

Even if Baboucarr Gaye owes the government, i think the best way is to use the courts to get him to pay.  Closing down the station is not the best way to get him to pay any monies owed the government.  I believe the services rendered by media outlets such as Citizen FM and Radio FM should take precedent on a measly D90 000 in the case of Gaye he/they owe government. 

Anyway, have a good day.  However i will leave you to chew on this quotation from a book written by Christopher Hitchens which is published this month.  He is among the best contempory journalists and writers around.  He is in the league of Noam Chomsky and Edward Said in challenging the status quo. I believe what he espouses in this observation is what motivates a lot of us in wanting a Gambia that is just and democratic.

Here we go;:

"Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself.  Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others.  Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity.  Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake;  the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses.  Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you."

__ Christopher Hitchens 2001

Since, you clearly stated that you care less about human rights issues, i will never comment on anything coming from you.  We are all entitled to our opinions however frivolous they may be.

For once and forever, i wish you a good day.

regards,

Mboge



 

>From: Jungle Sunrise <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Yero Mama/The day of reckoning or recognising?
>Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 12:03:11 +0000
>
>Momodou Olly-Mboge,
>
>As always, I will give my own personal oppinion of some of the
>issues you
>raised. First and foremost, the Citizen Fm saga is most unfortunate.
>Citizen
>FM is one of the best radio stations in the country offering
>invaluable
>service to the community. The propritor, Mr. Baboucar Gaye, has
>spent all
>his live in broadcasting and has very good intensions for the
>Gambia. I know
>him personally and even though he sometimes accuses me of being a
>talkative,
>he is an extremely well informed and patriotic Gambian. He is a rare
>case.
>You can take it from me that I totally condemn the closure of his
>radio
>station on motives that I clearly believe are political rather than
>financial.
>
>Having said that, I will like to remind you of the adage "Once
>smitten,
>twice shy". Mr. Baboucar Gaye should have learnt his lesson from the
>last
>time his station was closed and all his equipment confiscated for a
>similar
>problem. Then, as now, had something to do with money that he should
>have
>paid to the state. He therfore made a serious mistake for even
>allowing the
>station to owe the government a single butut knowing that he wanted
>to
>present and indepent and objective programme that is different from
>GRTS,
>some of which the APRC government may not like. The POINT and
>INDEPENDENT
>newspapers on many occasions publish critical articles about the
>government
>but have nevr been closed. This, they have managed despite all the
>hullabaloo about decree 70/71 which many claim is meant to stifle
>the press.
>That's my Butut on that.
>
>As for the arrest, questioning, release or detention of him, the
>propritor
>of radio One FM and other journalists, that is a prerogative of the
>government and I have no idea why they were picked up, what they
>were
>questioned about and as far as I know, they have not explained that
>either.
>I have, in the past, given my opinion about the socalled
>arrests/harassements of people by the NIA and I have always said
>that I
>really don't Care! I know for a fact that none of the arrests are
>done at
>random and most of those concerned had something to explain. I also
>know for
>a fact that most, when released, stay mute about why they were
>arrested and
>what they were questioned about. Again, that's my Butut on the
>issue.
>
>KB, I will get back to you on some of the issues you raised
>especially when
>it has to do with the Jawara regime. Like I told you before, the
>first
>republic is dead, long live the second. Just too damn busy.
>
>Have a good day, Gassa.
>
>>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: Yero Mama/The day of reckoning or recognising?
>>Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 10:59:40 -0500
>>
>
>
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