It seems to me this geezer is missing the point. Instead of fessing up to knowingly mortgaging his independence, both in fact and appearance, he decides to hang himself and his profession. What kind of rubbish is that? How is the gift to the journalists different from Jammeh corrupting the citizens, such as his free trips to Mecca; money to the Yai/Bai Compins; student organizations; bootlickers; praise singers; "Daags", etc.? Where these gifts too, not given in public? Where these gifts not bought by the same stolen monies of the Gambian people? Look, you accepted the darn thing and you'll have to deal with some of us. You have shown that your integrity is lacking and to hide behind Ramadan is very slick of you, and a new low and you are too old for that. This other ridiculous defense that "the journalists are among the poor", then they better stop writing, because unless you'll fess up to this blunder, folks are going to view your articles with skepticism and that you are no different from the corrupt people you write about. And, what you call, "conscientious objections. Their conscience will not accept the gift even if the whole world accepts it.”, you darn right that those with principle will not be corrupted even if the whole of Gambia accept to be corrupted. This really shows where your mind is. The ball is now in the hands of those in the private media that accepted these gifts. You can continue to bury your head in the sand, but we will be right there when you decide to raise your head out of it. Would we give you the benefit of doubt that you are not on the take in private? No, for you have demonsterated that you can be bought and sold, if the price is right, even as rediculous as a few bags of rice. Do I think that those of you that agreed to be corrupted can be bought and sold? Absolutely. As journalists and since you know that Yaya is a thief, did you forget to ask him the source from which he bought the sugar and rice from? Are you not concerned with the level of corruption in that country? What will you say tomorrow, when you write that Jammeh is corrupt and is corrupting Gambian society, only to be told by FJC or Marcell, that you benefited from that corruption you're talking about? Hah!!! Where is your moral authority to talk about the corruption that is Jammeh and the APRC? Look, stop this foolishness and realize that we are your customers and if we do not trust you, you do not survive as a journalist. Stuck on stupid and we will also continue to view you'll as participants in a dinner with the devil. You've helped justified Yaya's existence as a thief. With simple minds like you all's, no wonder why Gambians have turn into begging. Your behavior is really an insult to your profession and you have been prostituted by Yaya and that impression is not going to change anytime soon unless you do the right thing and face the Gambian people to regain their confidence. Chi Jaama Joe Swaebou Conateh reacts By Ebrima Jaw Manneh Nov 10, 2004, 16:20 Email this article Printer friendly page Swaebou Conateh, the proprietor of News and Report magazine has reacted to criticisms of media houses’ acceptance of President Jammeh’s Ramadan gifts. According to Mr Conateh, the Gambian journalism fraternity is united in its stand on “critical” issues concerning the profession and professionalism as “exemplified by what happen in the case of the Media Commission Act.” “It is those substantial issues we should be concerned about and not side issues of marginal effect on the future development of the profession,” he added. He further said that the gift was presented in public, adding “when we speak of journalists not accepting gifts, we especially mean gifts of a type given covertly.” He said the gifts given by the President is not something that will affect “our work as journalists since it is meant for our staff who are also among the poor of this country. Many of them are not even journalists and will never be concerned with problems of critical consideration or stories concerning the president or anyone in his government.” Conateh stated that the Observer’s Sheriff Bojang, Pap Saine of The Point and Alieu Sanyang of The Gambia Daily were present at the State House when the gifts were given. The News and Report boss denied taking a “grain of rice” and said: “It is meant for the needy. It was shared among my staff. And Gambian journalists are among the poor who are poorly paid like any other journalist in Africa.” He further said that some people have “conscencious objections. Their conscience will not accept the gift even if the whole world accepts it.” _________________________________________________________________ Check out Election 2004 for up-to-date election news, plus voter tools and more! http://special.msn.com/msn/election2004.armx ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤