Yeah you better quit while you're ahead. You didn't need a NOT there. I don't think took care of that. And to think I was considering moving in with you in Arkansas?????????? Haruna. I don't think me and Demba will fit in the same state. I'm just curious, why Arkansas Demba? -----Original Message----- From: Ousman Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thu, Mar 10, 2011 6:46 pm Subject: Re: [>-<] Your moral support for this regime??? Thanks Haruna. It just occurred to me that in my previous terse reply, I left out a whole word which change the context of what I was trying to say. This is part of what I wrote initially: Furthermore, I don't think his assertion that the online newspapers need to ascertain cardinal facts before propagating views, especially those coming from political operatives is(...) an indictment of your efforts I meant to say is not an indictment of your efforts. Obviously I left the word NOT out. I am quiting now...while i am still ahead that is. http://gambian.blogspot.com From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Thu, March 10, 2011 2:41:33 PM Subject: Re: [>-<] Your moral support for this regime??? Caesar and Demba, I took the liberty of highlighting some keywords. In other words, the arrest of Hon. Fatty's family is so egregious, the sharing of the Press Release of GMC alone did not convey the gravity of the matter. Opportunity was missed to accrue value for the entire opposition. I agree Caesar, JDAM was not indicting Gainako as much as he is lamenting he opportunity lost. Haruna. You know his name is JDAM Wandifaa don't you? How do we know he didn't send the Press Release? -----Original Message----- From: Ousman Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thu, Mar 10, 2011 1:41 pm Subject: Re: [>-<] Your moral support for this regime??? Demba, I think you guys are on the page with Hon. Darbo (LJD to you). You both detest the tyrannical rule of SHEPAD nasirul deen. That is not in dispute. Furthermore, I don't think his assertion that the online newspapers need to ascertain cardinal facts before propagating views, especially those coming from political operatives is an indictment of your efforts, but rather a challenge to strive for better reporting. That is what I take away from this statement: "However, it is disappointing that the Diaspora-based on-line media relied exclusively on the GMC's Wandifa for information it then treated as verified, without any apparent independent digging on a story that is of clear public significance. This devalues the currency of credible and legitimate opposition to a clearly odious and detested political system."... Barrister Darbo. http://gambian.blogspot.com From: Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Thu, March 10, 2011 8:58:33 AM Subject: Re: [>-<] Your moral support for this regime??? LJD, The feeling is mutual and I believe do you understand that the press statement was issued by GMC and not Gainako. I am a strong advocate of investigative journalism where possible and my colleagues would attest to that. I am always cautious of stories coming out of the Jammeh regime. However, under a normal democratic open society it is expected that journalist and reporters take two sides of any story. But I think you can concur with me that if we were to rely on information coming from the government, then you and I might as well pack our bags and go look for information from else where. Off course this does not negate the need to investigate stories, but there is a difference between reporting what is allegedly happening and what has actually happened. If you read the story again you will not fail to see the use of the word alleged if the use of words is that important here. The fact is LJD and I know you know this more than anyone else is that we are dealing with a regime that does not need a reason to arrest a citizen or a group of citizens. It wouldn't matter if these people were arrested in a townhall meeting, their home or in any premise. What matters is that they were arrested and ultimately not charge for any crimes according tot he reports. This is the basis for the story and we don't have the luxury to mount an investigative report into a regime that has blatantly violated its citizens rights over and over again. This is a pattern that has proven beyond any doubt that peoples rights have constantly been violated. We will have the legal minds deal with the context of the words. Your insightful comments are always must welcome... Kind regards always Demba On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 4:46 AM, suntou touray <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Wandifa I belief the angle that Mr LJ took is important from the media point of view. GMC has every right to alert Gambians on injustices perpetuated against its members, family or no family. LJ's request of Demba to independently verify the extant of the story is what we who are in the political landscape should be doing. The media must be sceptical of any press statement and do its homework on the larger aspect of all publications. I did made calls to Wulli West, Sutukonding for that mater, on the very day i saw the press statement. However, the person I spoke to made it clear that, Barrister Mai Fatty's father passed away some years ago, hence naming his father in the press statement may have been an oversight. In that regard, we may take the larger extended family network as relevant, but the statement also mention Mai's step father, so their is no confusion on that part. The question is not whether Barister Fatty's family members have been arrested or detain, but that some independent verification needed to be done by the Diaspora media (as per LJ's statement). The point newspaper story also mention two individual not the five put out by the press statement. I am sure, the press statements at the beginning may have taken into account all those who attended the meeting. Hence,we need the media to help us digest difficult matters like this. Even the mere arrest of one member of GMC is uncalled for, the Governor Omar Khan has no business to try to curtail the democratic rights of GMC members. Neither should the commissioner also get involve in this. Suntou On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 12:02 PM, Wandifa Sanneh <[log in to unmask]> wrote: LJ; The Press release was signed by me and am in a better position to respond to the issues you had raised, and addressed to Demba. 1. It is obvious that you had seen and read the Release much earlier or else you would not have referred to it in the piece below. It is very curious that you failed to condemn it then, and the after-thought condemnation is questionable. Speaking for myself, you can shelve your insincere condemnation. 2. I had placed the telephone number of Basse Police publicly on the Forum and people like Abdoukarin Sanneh had called and spoke to Basse Police. They would have provided conflicting information if our own version was not accurate, but you did not bother to verify on your own. You can still go ahead and speak to Basse Police to contradict us, instead of vilifying Demba and the online press. Accordig Ebrima Cham, Police Commissioner quoted by Gambian Press, the reasons for the arrests were politically motivated. How can you now contract the authorities themselves with maligmant innuendo against the Fatty Family and GMC, to suit your own invented distorted version and subtle misrepresentation? 2. The Police showed up after the Town Hall meeting was concluded three days earlier, and since the meeting took place outside the Family compound where the GMC Flag was erected and hoisted, the Family Parents were those confronted. A Town Hall Meeting is a euphemism for community meeting conducted in the style of a conventional "Town Hall" meeting. As a Lawyer who makes a living out of the use of words, you would appreciate the context in which it is used, and that explains why there are different canons of interpretation. Wors are useless if not interpreted in context, not always literally, and you this better than me. 3. Political Parties had recently repoted the wholesale defection of APRC stalwarts (upto over eight hundred at one instance), and I read that too here on the Post. Why did you not demand the names of the eight hundred defectors. APRC had also reported the defection of a hundred UDP militants, did you require them to "name" or disclose those defectors. Fangkung placed the info on Mighty Post. 4. There were independent press investigations conducted into the veracity of our story by both Foroyaa and The Point who sent Reporters to Basse and both reported the accuracy of the true reasons in complete conformity with our Press Release. This are not online press, but paper press published inside The Gambia. Daily News did as well, and all of hese cannot be denied by any honest person. 5. Your insinuation that Mai Fatty´s parents may have been arrested for other reasons bordering on violation of the law is offensive, dishonest and unacceptable. 6. GMC and Wandifa Sanneh support Fangkung´s rights to air his views and will defend and protect that inalienable right of his, even if we disagree with those views. This applies to you Lamin Darboe. Wandifa Sanneh Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:00:27 +0000 From: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [>-<] Your moral support for this regime??? To: [log in to unmask] CC: [log in to unmask] Demba I salute your unwavering commitment to the struggle for a Gambia anchored in democratic institutionalism under the rule of law, a Gambia where conscience and choice are the supreme arbiters of the direction of political affiliation. In that Gambia, citizens of the Fankung inclination must exist for a fuller society. On the extant issue of the GMC Leader's family, there appears to be no question that an arrest(s) occurred. If that arrest is rooted in political affiliation, it is, on its face, condemnable, and I condemn it. However, it is disappointing that the Diaspora-based on-line media relied exclusively on the GMC's Wandifa for information it then treated as verified, without any apparent independent digging on a story that is of clear public significance. This devalues the currency of credible and legitimate opposition to a clearly odious and detested political system. What, you may retort, was there to investigate about 'undisputed' lawlessness by Basse police in arresting "member(s)" of Barrister Mai Fatty's family on account of political affiliation, a protected right under the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia! For starters, the GMC Press Release mentioned a "Town Hall meeting" in "Wulli West". As understood by you, what is a "Town Hall" in the context of that part of rural Gambia? .As "Wulli West" is not a village/town, where exactly in "Wulli West" did this "Town Hall meeting" occurred? Who were the "APRC (ruling Party) big wigs" who "attended", this meeting and "declared their allegiance to GMC"? Considering this appears to be part of the driving motivation for the arrest of the GMC Leader's family, this particular aspect of the matter is by no means trivial. And why only the GMC Leader's family? Why not the GMC officials who were part of this "symbolic representation of the take over of the Region by GMC"? Were all five members of the GMC Leader's family actually arrested, and what was meant by the phrase "the GMC Leader's father"?. In what context was the word "father" used? I am sure you can appreciate we are not dealing with a private issue, and since the GMC placed the matter in the public domain, there is no question it is a legitimate transaction for proper ventilation, and especially in light of your story that "no conditions" were attached to the release of the GMC Leader's family . LJDarbo --- On Thu, 10/3/11, Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> Subject: [>-<] Your moral support for this regime??? To: "Gambia Post3" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thursday, 10 March, 2011, 0:08 Now Fankung has gone hiding again after Mai Fatty's parents were arrested. Anytime this regime act shamefully these supporters run into hiding in disbelief. Do you ever question your moral support for a regime willing to detain innocent parents exercising their god given rights... How much did they gain arresting these people? Negative publicity??? Didn't you know being arrested and detain is now a pride in the Gambia for only those who don't do anything wrong gets arrested and detained. Those who openly commit heinous crimes are loitering the streets of Banjul. Read more for your dose of reality... http://www.gainako.com/news/news/2011/03/09/detained-gmc-leaders-parents-release-without-conditions.html . 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