Mawdo Demba,
 
Yes, safe travels. I am glad you got the humor. Yes, drag LJD to the radio, and sure have my support.
 
You said, "Anyway, Yero I don't know what Gambians want!!! we ask for strong leadership and know that leadership is one of our biggest weaknesses. We need people who are experienced, learned, visionary, brave and policy driven minds. We have openly asked them to join the fight and not sit on the fence, and yet when they step up to help move the process, we call them all kinds of names and ask them to resign... And now you saying you wish he had sat on the fence. Isn't that the problem, people are afraid to lead because they don't want their incredibility questioned. You wonder why LJD and others don't step up to take the lead? hah did you ever wonder about that? But how do we move our nation forward if the best of the best are afraid to come out and get their hands dirty?"
 
You certainly have some points, but the timing of things, very important. I understand your concerns and even frustration. Please allow me explain and expand. At this point, many of these groups, will continue to give such failed results. It requires change in strategy. Personally, I would have chose for the likes of Dr. Saine to act as advisors/mentors, and allow others to lead just now. In my view, this does come with a lot of advantages. It will increase interest and restore hope to some of the organizations.
 
Yes, we do have powerful educated people, and I admire and celebrate their scholastic and professional experience. With all the due respect to them, and God knows how much I love, admire and even celebrate them all, but I was enlightened a bit to be careful that such resumes don't translate to effective leadership for us as Gambians, not until the person is ready to die for his country. Apart from the apathy we see in some of their participation, some of the group, are mute on Gambia's matters, at least going by the information available to me.  In my right mind, why would I go for a bigger resume that is not participating, when an ordinary man has offered to do the job, and can do even better, because he doesn't feel any superior or pride in his heart, to engage in something liberating? One of my favorite leaders, Jacob Zuma, is just a High School graduate and he has done much more than others might have expected, when former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, a one time university professor defied decency by his political blunder and showed that even though education and experience are important but something else must be added to the two to complete the equation. This must be accompanied with the heart to fight for us, common sense to not fall trap of power sweetness, the contentment of life and appreciating material only as a temporal passage, the wisdom to see that citizenship is a birthright for all, and that love for country means fighting for it when the need arises, in as such much such a fight is legitimate. Demba, you will agree that some of the ordinary has signed up to this, and willing to go the far, to continue. Look at home, most of those abetting Jammeh are no small people, at least going by their claimed educational and work experience.
 
Thanks again & happy Ramadan.
 
Yero.
 


"There is no god but Allah; & Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger"
 
Kind Regards,
Yero.  

 
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 23:46:14 -0700
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Unlawful Prisoner Killings 100% Wrong.
To: [log in to unmask]

Mawdo Yero, I will admit I missed the humor but not because of the Ramadan. I am in Vegas with 110' weather but still going stronger than before... ain't no Jallow kundas... On LJD he definitely owes me an interview of the century... I have been waiting and waiting and soon I will ask you to write a poem on it...LJD when are you coming to Gainako... one year and counting? I need to sharpen my legal skills before you come... 

Anyway, Yero I don't know what Gambians want!!! we ask for strong leadership and know that leadership is one of our biggest weaknesses. We need people who are experienced, learned, visionary, brave and policy driven minds. We have openly asked them to join the fight and not sit on the fence, and yet when they step up to help move the process, we call them all kinds of names and ask them to resign... And now you saying you wish he had sat on the fence. Isn't that the problem, people are afraid to lead because they don't want their incredibility questioned. You wonder why LJD and others don't step up to take the lead? hah did you ever wonder about that? But how do we move our nation forward if the best of the best are afraid to come out and get their hands dirty? 

I wonder where America would have been if their founding fathers were afraid of what the people will say, or the challenges they will face? Where would South Africa be if Mandela was afraid to put the country on his back and shoulders?  I wonder where the American Civil Rights movement would have been if Dr. King, Malcolm X and others had sat on the sideline and watch the amateurs make mistake over mistake? Yero, the time has come for us to demand full participation from our most successful academically and professionally to join and lead the fight. Support from behind the scenes is great but we are pass that; our situation is dire and we need citizens to put everything on the line and help rescue our country. We demand the likes of LJD, Dr. Jaiteh, Dr. Ceesay, Dr. Nyang, Dr. Jallow, Dr. Ndow, Dr. Minteh, Dr. Saba Jallow, Dr. Freeman, Dr. Conteh, and many other scholars to help us openly shape the future of our country. I don't buy into the idea that we don't need our intellectuals/scholars to move our country forward. Whether academic or professional experience and skills is a must have in any society to move forward... We need all hands on deck..

Thanks

Demba


On Fri, Jul 18, 2014 at 9:37 PM, Y Jallow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Mawdo Demba,

 I see that Ramadan must be so hard on the Yeteh-Bahs such that a simple construct of compliment for you from the "spoiler" (our good friend LJD) is making you feel ire. If the “spoiler” hasn’t rattled your talk-shows at Gainako, better take this one, or I will take it. How you missed the humor and the compliment is only known to you. Tell the “spoiler” that he is way overdue for a donation to Gainako radio, so more interviews can be done on radio. If you can't, just step aside, I can. Take it that this is Lamin's way of complimenting the great job you are doing both at paper level and being Gainako's own champion. I think LJD got you perfectly right. If you ask me, here is how. Lamin is simply saying that you are such an open person, and willing to accommodate a lot more than some of us, he himself included, in terms of investment in seeing unity at all cost. I am jealous of the review he has given you. Demba, in you, you have a great unbeatable attribute, and that is being able to work with so many people, including some of the ones that others won’t be able to work with. That is a great attribute Demba. Is it strength? Yes, most certainly. Could it be a weakness? Make the call.

On a note, thanks LJD and I take inspiration from all of you. I recognized that you are very encouraging and supportive. There is so much activism going around that the young ones like us will continue to learn from the many of you that keep it true and refused to partner with the oppressing system. While you celebrate us the younger ones, we too celebrate you, and despite any ideological and opinion differences in cyber sphere, be rest assured of the respect that you all good brothers won remains. One can only wish that Jammeh and his likes were out, so we get to see the champion brothers step up to brighten Gambia’s light, just like Emma Lazarus positioned on her script on the Statue of Liberty at Liberty Island. I think the old woman holding that touch light put that beam on so many people, our late Nkrumah included, despite some of the political mistakes (myths) that saw him fall.

I think this “celebrity” status is mostly either positioning for power or just being overly excited with the activism uniform, and that people need to score points as well as show faces, the most handsome of all gets to win the medals. Quite honest, in my view, the best leaders are the ones that serve as references and support systems for leaders themselves. Imagine how great our respected Dr. Saine would have been if he didn’t take that CORDEG position, but stay on the bench as an elder, an expert, a political strategist, a referee and reference point for all critical matters. That would have been the biggest win for both him and Gambians.

As we enter into the last ten days of Ramadan, I write to wish all of you readers, fans, and even others that I disagreed with in opinion here and elsewhere, harshly or mildly well, while they are also on the true way of liberation. I pray that we break free from the chains of mental and physical tyranny and enslavement. It is without a doubt we say the end is very near, and we are yearning to celebrating sunshine soon in a Banjul capital with flags and signs heightened, and chorus songs of freedom, for that Gambia we all love. (Ameen).

Thanks for the beautiful analysis as always and we champion continuing to have you and the many like you around. L

Warm regards,

Yero



"There is no god but Allah; & Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger"
 
Kind Regards,
Yero.  

 
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:25:31 -0700
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Unlawful Prisoner Killings 100% Wrong.
To: [log in to unmask]


Ah Lamin, interesting take on that and I join you in celebrating my partner in crime Yero Jallow and yourself for the clear stand on the issues... I think though you may have misunderstood me in opining that I am for "unity at all cost" "Unlike him though, you are not a unity at all cost man'. Here is why I think that statement may not be fair. I am on record both In my writings and editorial commentaries that we sometimes have to accept that we cannot unite as one entity, that we need to work in "Parallel lines" to achieve our goals of political change in the Gambia. That you missed those pronouncements from me is hard for me to believe! 

If you say I am for standing up for what will move us forward and generate tangible results regardless of the cost not for our individual political affiliations, tribal associations or even personal friendship then you may be right. If you say it takes me time to buy into an idea but once I bought into it and I believe it is for our national interest and that no matter how difficult it is, we need NOT walk away from it then you may be right... It took me time to buyer into the concept of NADD and once I bought into it, I stood by it to the last minute.. were mistakes and missteps made absolutely, but the concept of NADD remains the most viable option - if done right to dislodge the Jammeh regime. We are still working to recreate another NADD in a different format! 

Equally it took me a while to buy into the concept of rallying Gambians to Raleigh to brainstorm and find a way forward for our political deadlock, but again once I bought into it, I stood by the idea and up to this minute I am convince it was the right thing to do and that if done right despite all the challenges, it has the potential to lead us to where we need to go to bring about political change in Gambia...

Lamin, what I am adamant about is that we cannot continue to discount ideas and not offer solutions. I am on record here fighting with people I am very close to because the concept of tearing apart what is constituted and not offering an alternative is simply a defeatist approach. I cannot also accept the idea that we have to walk away when things don't go our way or we don't like what we see. We have to be able to work through the disagreements, the pains and sometimes the bitter fights to get to the promise land of a free Gambia. But as citizens we cannot continue to dance on one step forward two steps backward. We must be result driven no matter the difficulties. I am a firm believer of incremental gains as we go... The one shot approach often does not work in my opinion.  

This is my position and has always been my position. I may be wrong a sometimes, but I am willing to face the heat and work through the difficult tasks to move our country forward... Unfortunately, I realize we have a problem as a nation, as a people and even in that light we have to be able to work through the pains if we are to achieve our goals... I hope that given your profile and the amount of people who look up to you on a daily basis, you will not only point out the problems but also offer a solution forward publicly and call for restraints even in the most heated of moments... You remain an inspiration to me and Gambia needs the likes of LJD hands on deck. We have a difficult challenge in Gambia and we have to stay the course with one objective in mind - moving forward for Gambia and I have no doubt this is what you stand for as well... 

Ramadan Mubarak and wishing you and your family a bless last 10 days of Ramadan...

Demba


On Fri, Jul 18, 2014 at 9:29 AM, Lamin Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
YJ

I too celebrate you, loudly on occasion, quietly most of the time. Like  the other GON man, you have the ability to zero in on the 'little' things that are of massive importance if we must have an accountable public space. Unlike him though, you are not a unity at all cost man, and I appreciate you even more for that. 

From the basic unit of family to mammoth aggregates of the international system, 'unity' is not a concept that wins even 1% of the time. It is not a central element of the design of human life. How else can we explain the bitter feuds within families, between siblings even! How about an international community that completely fails to settle the myriad disputes across the globe, more painfully the lopsided conflict between the Palestinians and Israel that today dominates international discourse? 

Verifiable fairness must be the mantra. Always! Without it, 'progress' must succumb to the inevitability of one up, two down, regardless of the best efforts of the likes of your Associate Editor. Objective and fair is not glamorous, but we need it for a better and stable Gambia. Objective and fair is the basic building block of a tranquil society, and tranquillity in our public space is paramount to personal security and national development. Don't tell the Professor, but survey the destruction he continues to wrought on the clueless, like your friend Sabally, who champions the vandalisation of objective and fair.  

I cannot dispute your take on the prisoner killings. When our public life s viewed in the round, I am inclined to accept your explanation of why the prisoners, everyone of them, were unlawfully killed two years ago next month. Ours is a bizarre public climate. Some of the principal cheerleaders of public lawlessness are themselves on something akin to death row themselves, and I am unsure there are valid legal grounds for their imprisonment. On purely human considerations, I am quite aggrieved for the likes of Njogu Bah, and Lamin Jobarteh, but my abiding sympathy lies with the true victims, and there are many of them in Mile 2, and in extra-legal detention facilities across our little country.

Just to say I immensely value your recent thoughts on "celebrity", and I urge your maintenance of the spirit. 

As we enter the last ten days of Holy Ramadan, I wish you dignified progress in all good endeavours 


LJDarbo 



On Thursday, 17 July 2014, 3:48, Y Jallow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


http://www.maafanta.com/laminjdarboe100percentunlawf
 
 
LJD,
 
This is a great piece, a reminder to the bitter past of history, marking it two years soon since those prisoners were deprived of life, a law taken into the hands of a few administration criminals, and the spirits of those souls are haunting the administration in no small way. If you look around, mighty Karma, has certainly hit, and most of those that went on TV justifying the abomination, has fallen from grace, to a point where death is better than such humiliation. Their so-called judicial hypocrisy, from religious, true judicial, and even cultural standpoint was just empty and lacking substance. That is very unfortunate, especially the participation of justice ministry, some religious leaders (imams), and community folks, some of the very people who swore to serve true justice and represent citizens.
 
 After a coaching from our own resident Christine Sukuna (thanks Chris for being on the look out as always), I am forced to accept the use of simple language versus the "curse" language on emotions, though we can't help vent out sometimes.
 
LJD, please forgive my shallow understanding of the laws you quoted, even though as you offered, it is straight to the point, to where a lay man like myself can understand it. Here is what I have to offer on this topic...
 
Last year, I was fortunate to be in Africa, and while there, by coincidence an extended invitation from Ndey Tapha Sosseh, I attended the anniversary of the prisoner killings, and a joint conference organized by RADHO, article 19, and amnesty in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, which saw many attendees. It was emotional and well organized. Both Dr. Amadou Janneh and DA Jawo made historic speeches, together with the RADHO folks of course. Dr. Janneh in his part, is a witness to the whole thing, and his accounts on this matter are very accurate as he narrated it.  
 
Back to the killings and my own recollections from narrations, the killings leaked first, and when the international community blew the whistle, Jammeh and his accomplices needed to get back to their huts, to come up with some more fat lies. The news reading on GRTS was done after the damage was done already. It was just a formality, but their foot tracks weren't erased.
 
As to why it was done when in fact most of these cases were pending judicial (final) review, together with the constitution you quoted above, remains the question. Going by Jammeh's fetish nature, it gives credence to the much talked about "human sacrifice" for the sake of hanging onto the throne. Recall it was done on eid (Muslim feast). Trust me, I firmly believe, this was done for human sacrifice. In fact, Abdoulie Kujabi, former NIA director once shared with a close confidant, that they killed a young girl without teats and buried her in Kanilai, for sacrifice. Kujabi made these revelations after he fell out with Jammeh.  The very reason that Kujabi got in trouble was he was accused of fighting Jammeh spiritually by burying charms (jujus) in Kanilai, but he was Jammeh's confident who went out to meet spiritual leaders and marabouts. If any is in doubt, make enquires, and you will come across someone who is aware of it. In fact, Jammeh murdered people like Jasaja Kujabi, Marcel Jammeh, etc....for the same fetish beliefs. These are all said to be his family members. Of course, needless to mention, in my March 2009 visit to Africa, I saw with my own eyes, innocent people who were concocted with 'kubehjara' (poisonous herb) for the same fetish and devilish beliefs in Jammeh.  Jammeh worship idols and devils. Such is not uncommon among fetishes like Jammeh. If you look for any other reason, you will not find it. He was not doing it to set examples. If he was, he would have started with himself, after all these revelations made online, from Deyda's gruesome murder, to the Ghanaians, etc...
 
 
There is only one solution. That is the one that citizens need to take.
 
Thanks for reminding us.
 
Happy Ramadan & warm regards,
Yero.
 
 
 
 


"There is no god but Allah; & Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger"
 
Kind Regards,
Yero.  

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