From: bailo jallow <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: It's about freedom and dignity, Stupid!
To: "The Gambia and Related Issues Mailing List" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, 25 November, 2010, 12:23

Haruna, Thanks for clearing my anxieties with your clarification. I am now . Bailo --- On Wed, 24/11/10, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: It's about freedom and dignity, Stupid! To: [log in to unmask] Date: Wednesday, 24 November, 2010, 23:55 Bailo, I have read and understood your concerns. For consolation, I urge you to look at my notes again. I will represent the charge here for you: "ANY ONE WHO KNOWINGLY WORKS FOR A CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATION IS HIM/HERSELF A CRIMINAL." This does not include all public servants. Civil servants are generally understood to have been hired through a merit-based process. Any civil servant who was hired outside of that process, or who was fired/terminated for theft of the public treasury or abuse of authority is included in the charge. You will therefore be comforted that not all civil servants or public servants are criminals. I hope this clarification alleviates some anxieties for you.  Thank you for affording me the opportunity at further clarification Bailo. I love you. Haruna. -----Original Message----- From: bailo jallow <[log in to unmask]> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wed, Nov 24, 2010 11:55 am Subject: Re: It's about freedom and dignity, Stupid! Haruna, Thanks very much for your kind and encouraging comments although I feel flattered by some of your remarks about me. I would however still urge you to reconsider your principled stance that "ANY ONE WHO KNOWINGLY WORKS FOR A CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATION IS HIM/HERSELF A CRIMINAL." This is because I believe you may acknowedge the fact that not every person employed in the Civil Service and Parastatal organisations of the Gambia aids and/or abets in what Abdoukarim Sanneh aptly describes as the regime's criminalisation of the Gambian State. On the contrary, it is only a minority of employees of the Gambia Public Service that usually engaged in such reprehensible acts against our collective interest. Please reconsider as the majority of our Public Servants are honest and dedicated and they deliver invaluable services to their compatriots under very difficult working conditions. None should make the mistake of painting everyone with the same brush. Please reconsider. I expect that as someone who has proven to be capable of illuminating wisdom, you would again feel obliged to do so on this issue. Bailo --- On Tue, 23/11/10, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: It's about freedom and dignity, Stupid! To: [log in to unmask] Date: Tuesday, 23 November, 2010, 6:27 Bailo, this is a well-written and thought-out argument. I commend you for it. It demonstrates a remarkable maturity and discernment capacity on your part. However, And this is not in amicus to the idiot Omar Jallow, the only thing I would add is that it is never OK or advisable to work FOR an administration that extra-judicially kills, maims, tortures, or abducts citizens of the nation. You can call it good civil servants, patriotic citizens, or otherwise but if you accept employment from an administration knowing full well it had and continues to commit un-investigated crimes, you are yourself a criminal. It doesn't matter whether your intentions are good or not. And we must not massage ourselves into thinking we're working for the nation as a whole in those circumstances. The least such a person could do is to explain their purpose for aiding and abetting crime and criminality and if the citizens don't buy his/her explanation, to apologize in order to prevent other self-less/fish fellow citizens from falling in that trap of circular logic. Generally, forgiveness from your fellow citizens and the victims of such an administration served by you will be based on the following: 1. When and how did you enrol in the Administration? 2. What was your assignment and accomplishment in your new-found role? 3. What did you do or say when the Administration committed any of the crimes of Arson, Kidnap, Abduction, murder, or other extra-judiciary crime? 4. Did you participate in or were you accused by the same criminal Administration of participating in crime, financial or otherwise. 5. When and how did you leave the employ of the Administration? ANY ONE WHO KNOWINGLY WORKS FOR A CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATION IS HIM/HERSELF A CRIMINAL. No ifs, No ands, No buts about it. There is always room for forgiveness however, depending on your crime. That forgiveness must be sought and earned. There are some people who claim they are joining a criminal administration for the good of the country. Don't listen to them. As soon as they are given custody of the nation's treasury, or some modicum of authority, they loot and abuse them. And when they fall out of grace with the CRIMINAL administration, they want their fellow citizens to do cartwheels in their putrid defense. The rest of your notes are obvious second-nature resistance slogans. Its the economy stupid, its dignity and freedom stupid, its my left eye stupid. You're a great man Bailo. Frankly I'm glad you put up some resistance with the idiot Omar. And how do we know you're not Omar Jallow Bailo????? hangh, Hangh? I luh you men. Haruna. -----Original Message----- From: bailo jallow <[log in to unmask]> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Mon, Nov 22, 2010 5:40 pm Subject: It's about freedom and dignity, Stupid! The following article by me is culled from the online Freedom newspaper: Gambia: It's about freedom and dignity, Stupid! It's about freedom and dignity, Stupid! By Bubacarr Bailo Jallow In 1992, Bill Clinton adopted the slogan "It's the economy, Stupid!" to drive home his key message about President George H. Bush's shortfall in effectively tackling the weakness of the United States economy. Concerning the Gambia: "It's about freedom and dignity, Stupid!" is highly appropriate to depict the major human rights deficit being suffered by Gambians and to convey local as well as international concerns about the frequent abuse of human dignities by the Gambian regime. As in the use of the word 'stupid' in its above-quoted original context, its adoption here should not also be misconstrued as referring to anyone as a dotard. Although, I do not perceive any person to be inherently stupid. I believe that what a former primary school teacher of mine used to stress to us in his class applies here: "Some of you are just lazy to think, please think! think! think harder, harder! The answer is simple! Answer to what question, one may ask: I have always contemplated answering the following pertinent question which is usually posed by supporters of the Gambian regime: Why does some Gambians seem to take great delight in continuously, fiercely criticizing the AFPRC regime of President Yahya AJJ Jammeh? I particularly felt the imperative need to attempt answering the above question when an ardent supporter of the AFPRC regime described criticism mainly directed by Diaspora Gambians against the regime of Yahya Jammeh as "propagation of vicious attack against the APRC administration and its supporters." However I opted to first double check my initial understanding of the words 'vicious' and 'attack' from a number of trusted English language dictionaries. When I did so, I had to go further and relate this allegation to what Gambians have been experiencing since the July 22nd military seizure of power. The indubitable truth is that it is always supporters of the regime employed in the nation's security forces or members of the APRC regime's militia initially known as the 22nd July Movement and subsequently renamed the Green Boys who had viciously and physically attacked opposition supporters merely for the latter's exercise of their constitutional rights. The reverse is not true. What was alleged as "vicious attack" against the Gambian regime and supporters could probably otherwise have been an erroneous reference or description by this particular APRC supporter of justifiable condemnation and rejection of the policies and actions of a repressive and intolerant regime. Moreover, such concerns expressed or demonstrated by Gambian and non-Gambian personalities and organizations alike over the Gambian regime's blatant and persistent human rights violations have always fallen within acceptable norms and standards under both Gambian and International law. The physical and psychological tortures, unlawful killings, disappearances, arson attacks and general lawlessness usually encountered by critics or perceived enemies of the regime from the members of the security forces or Government militia should neither be deemed an insignificant matter nor muted over by any conscientious person. On the contrary, every concerned Gambian and genuine foreign friend of the Gambia is always saddened by human rights violations perpetrated in the Gambia. APRC supporter Omar Jallow recently wrote: "I am waiting for the day that we as Gambians will agree to disagree, and I hope that I will not get another rejoinder from some Mr. “Know It All” who will assume that since I have never lost a beloved one under the watch of the current administration is the reason I am supporting the APRC government, which is kind of childish way of thinking." I am yet to hear or read anywhere a so-called Mr. Know It All claim or even imply that people who oppose the Gambian regime do so mainly because they either have their friend or relative killed or made to disappear by the APRC regime. It is not also the case as the APRC supporter seemed to have implied above that there is no supporter of the APRC regime whose relatives have been tortured, unlawfully killed or made to disappear by the regime. On the contrary, there are some supporters of the regime who had unjustly terribly suffered at the hands of the regime. One such person is Lamin Waa Juwara who arguably could claim to have been the most persecuted Gambian by the current regime, yet he is now a supporter of the regime. On the other hand, there are a number of prominent former supporters of the APRC regime who had themselves subsequently fallen victim or even had their lives unjustly ended by the very regime that they promoted and defended. For example, Daba Marenah was never opposed to Jammeh. What is however undeniable is that you would hardly meet a politically conscious Gambia who would frankly not be able to name at least one person who has either been tortured or killed or made to disappear by the APRC regime of Yahya Jammeh. Is it any coincidence that such a worrisome reality did not exist under the tenure of the PPP regime? Why should some Gambians insinuate that others also ought to emulate them in conveniently ignoring the unprecedented human rights violations in the Gambia? Unfortunately there would always be contemporary Gambians who wish that atrocities or inhumane treatment by the regime against others should be not be regarded as any serious matter over which the regime is exposed in the media, criticized or rebuked by Gambians and non-Gambians alike. I say to those Gambians, you would never have your wish fulfilled. You may prefer silence and indifference in respect of such crimes but there will always be people, Gambians in particular, who will speak out against injustice and criminality in the Gambia. All Gambians cannot not be deterred by any person or authority or circumstance from speaking out . "The diaspora opposition is so out of touch that they will attack even the civil servants and ministers just for doing their civil duties. If our opposition leaders or their supporters refused to work, but will ridicule anyone that accept a job from the APRC government, then can you guys please tell me what do you guys want from the 1.4 million or so to do for themselves, if they don't work while we are here in the west including myself to do with their lives?" (Omar Jallow) We should not be oblivious that false pretense is a thriving enterprise in the Gambia because of a widespread fear factor and selfish opportunistic motives that the regime promotes and seems to depend upon for survival. A former acquaintance of mine once personally described to me the current Gambian regime as akin to a violent hurricane that destroys any person or structure that stands on its path. This particular individual further rationalized that as such any wise Gambian would seek shelter from the regime as a clever person would shelter from a passing destructive hurricane. True to his words or not, this particular guy went on to serve as a Cabinet Minister in the regime. Up to this day, I can't figure out whether his stint in Cabinet was simply a perfect art of sheltering from the regime in the regime or merely a genuine change of heart when the call to national duties came to him. It could also possibly be a smart career move of CV enrichment in line with what I once read from a political pundit speculating as a key motive for some Gambian intellectuals’ desire to serve in the regime. Whenever I meet him again, I would try to find out his reasons. However, I believe that no fair-minded person would slap the 'guilty by association' label on every Gambian who associates with the current regime. This would be wrong because there are a lot of honest and dedicated selfless hardworking Gambians who have honorably served under the APRC regime and many still continue doing so in our nation's public service. Regardless of these especially trying times, our nation would continue to rely on true public servants, be they in government or in political opposition to the regime. What we don't need and cannot therefore tolerate or celebrate are sycophants, killers, torturers; witch-hunters, arsonists, and parasites in our society such as we have seen on a worrying scale since 22nd July 1994. In my humble view, Gambians ought to regard and treat one another as members of one big family. What someone would not want to be done to him or her or their son or daughter or friends or relatives, he or she should not likewise do to another person. As I would not want myself or any member of my immediate family to be ever harmed or killed by any person or authority, I would likewise refrain from trying to harm or kill anyone and would urge the same. It’s as simple as that! Is that asking for what is unreasonable or unrealistic or even too much? Unfortunately for some Gambians, this is still too much to ask for or expect.     Posted on Sunday, November 21, 2010 (Archive on Monday, January 31, 2011) Posted by PNMBAI  Contributed by PNMBAI Return --- On Mon, 22/11/10, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> Subject: I give you Jacques Kourouma of Waati (The Times) News. Transummary to come later. To: [log in to unmask] Date: Monday, 22 November, 2010, 22:08 Just enjoy fact from fiction for now. Haruna. Perpétuelle victime que fais-tu pour la Guinée? Source : Autres : Dernière Mise à jour : 22/11/2010 (Auteur : .) Dans la vie de tous les jours, il est des actes qui honorent tandis que d’autres déshonorent un Homme ou un groupe social, professionnel ou politique Depuis la proclamation des résultats du premier tour de la présidentielle guinéenne le 27 juin 2010, le compatriote Mamadou Cellou Dalein Diallo ne cesse de « verser notre figure à terre » (expression populaire ivoirienne pour dire honte) devant le monde entier. Il ne fait de doute qu’il prononce chaque jour le mot sacré : démocratie, sans en comprendre le principe et le sens fondateur. Donc un peu de leçon pour mon frère Mamadou Cellou Dalein Diallo ! La démocratie, avons-nous appris, est d’origine grecque. Elle a été introduite dans la cité quand l’oiseau minerve, après le dur labeur de la journée, a pris son envol. Ce qui libéra l’esprit lequel se mit à réfléchir et créa le pouvoir du peuple par le peuple et pour le peuple : la démocratie. De l’époque à nos jours, la gestion de la cité s’effectue par le politique sous mandat de la majorité. C’est en cela que les élections (choix) ont le sens de départager des candidats. Et ceux-ci, dans le respect de l’esprit démocratique, acceptent le verdict des urnes dont le principe est l’isolément lors du choix du candidat de confiance. Ce choix est un acte de conviction, car il est conscient et consciencieux. Lorsqu’il est exprimé, tout candidat digne, honnête et surtout patriote, s’incline en reconnaissant sa victoire ou sa défaite. Mais souvent, c’est au vaincu de s’avouer vaincu. Cette noble attitude donne à la politique la noblesse qui caractérise la démocratie, en tant que valeur universelle, même si chaque société produit sa propre démocratie. La Guinée vient de donner jour à la sienne en déjouant tous les pronostics qui ventilaient, ici et là, le chaos, bien cher aux ethnostratèges. Les voilà encore dans les traineaux de la complotite inventant des preuves virtuelles et imaginaires de massacres de Peulh qui n’auront jamais lieu en Guinée. Souvent, et de façon démocratique, le vaincu prend la parole pour montrer, à la face du monde, son attachement au respect des électeurs en acceptant sa défaite dans l’honneur. Ce simple geste est un acte hautement responsable et honore celui qui l’accomplit. Il est une invitation des électeurs pour des prochaines échéances. Mais que constatons-nous depuis l’annonce des résultats provisoires d’une élection qui est reconnue par la majorité des Guinéens et nombreux observateurs comme ayant été libre (parce que les électeurs sont partis librement aux urnes), transparente (puisqu’elle s’est déroulée dans le respect de la loi électorale en présence des représentants de chaque candidat et de nombreux observateurs, non Guinéens) et démocratique (du fait qu’aucun n’a été ni inquiété, ni forcé dans l’expression libre de son choix) ? Alors l’obstination de Mamadou Cellou Dalein Diallo devient, à partir de ce moment inquiétante, non pas pour la Guinée, mais une peur pour sa santé mentale parce qu’il est un compatriote, et surtout pour nous avoir représenté onze ans durant, sans avoir reçu notre mandat. Et c’est à ce titre que nous devons l’assister, sinon demain, nous pouvons être accusés de non assistance à personne en danger. Du coup, la multiplication diversifiée et contradictoire de ses déclarations, dont le dénominateur commun reste la victimisation, paraît attentatoire à la sécurité publique et à la sûreté de l’Etat guinéen. Par conséquent, il n’est pas exagéré de s’interroger s’il n’est atteint soit d’une schizophrénie, soit de la paranoïa. L’appel aux experts, dans ce contexte, est toujours la règle d’or pour le sauver. L’acte est pressant, d’autant que sa posture fait de vagues dangereuses parce qu’entraînant de pauvres enfants dont les commanditaires sont tous partis actuellement de la Guinée pour se retrouver aux côtés des leurs à l’étranger tout en poussant ceux des pauvres guinéens à la rue. Cyniques personnages, n’est-ce pas ? En tout cas, les accusations faite, devant la presse, du premier ministre Jean Marie Doré et du ministre de la sécurité et de la protection civile, le général Mamadouba Toto Camara, de diriger la répression contre son ethnie est l’un des symptômes de cette atteinte pathologique de notre ancien PM voleur. Ses propos sont dignes d’un homme public qui vient d’échouer, à quelques milliers de voix, dans l’accession au fauteuil présidentiel. Et pourtant il briquait la magistrature suprême ! Comment peut-on, même dans un avenir proche ou lointain, la lui accorder tant son discours égo-ethnocentriste est porteur de la haine envers les autres composantes sociales guinéennes? Le malheur est qu’il a éclaboussé nos respectables compatriotes de la Moyenne de Guinée Faisons tri de la bone graine et de l’ivraie pour la paix sociale en Guinée ! En ce moment crucial, n’avions-nous pas entendu le sinistre Bah Oury déclarer qu’ils peuvent affamer la Guinée entière quand ils le veulent (l’expérience a été faite, juste après les résultats provisoires du second tour : flambée des prix des denrées, dévaluation à outrance de la monnaie, par exemple, 100€ s’échangeait contre 1 million de FG). Comment ce club de mercantilistes peut-il être porteur de la graine de la démocratie guinéenne à semer désormais pour le bonheur de nous tous alors que, comme l’écrivait Kylé Diallo : « [Ses membres] ne pensaient qu’à leurs containers… » pendant que l’Alliance arc-en-ciel, elle, réfléchissait au changement en Guinée? Au regard de tout cela, les Guinéens doivent se donner la main pour construire avec le Président élu la nouvelle Guinée dans laquelle la cohésion et la paix sociales permettront le développement durable de la nation. C’est possible en refusant d’écouter les incendiaires, mais irresponsables accusations et propos du candidat vaincu, que j'interroge : Victime perpétuelle que fais-tu de l’intérêt supérieur de la Guinée ? Jacques KOUROUMA Jacques KOUROUMA 2010-11-21 ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤