Jammeh’s latest move, an executive gimmicks?

What would make anyone lose sight of the fact that President Yahya Jammeh was bound to come up with something that would serve as a fitting distraction of the attention of the Gambian public from a self-inflicted nightmarish experience caused by the previous weeks’ horde of misfortune? There was a seemingly unending condemnation of his latest eruption, threatening to eliminate human right defenders; prospects of indicting him for gross human right violations gained momentum as human right groups intensified their moves; his plans to get the ECOWAS Court compromised thrown out of the window; and, as if all that was not enough, rumours too strong to be rumours went all over that a largely edgy military core was up to something dirty.

Since nobody among those around the president was ready to put their job on the line (and I will not blame anyone for that), the president had a tormenting air of guilt all over him as he would not have anyone to talk to him about this. And so to dilute the compounding feeling of tension within himself, he was desperate to create a scene that would keep the Gambian public (the media included) busy deliberating on. The so-called unexpected visit of parts of Banjul and its outskirts, military barracks included, was just a perfect way of starting this. As usual, Gambians will have to be made to believe that President Yahya Jammeh is not to blame for the fact that things aren’t going on well. And the characteristic threats of sacking, sacking and sacking ‘‘until I have the people who are ready to work…’’

Surely the living condition of soldiers in the barracks isn’t enough reason for any sensible commander-in-chief to axe their army chief. So, then comes the technical problem that prevented the presidential entourage from attending the UNESCO conference. General Tamba, the man credited for the famous abortive Col. Ndure Cham coup, was sacrificed.

This whole thing is getting messy and confusing. But wait a minute! Could this evolving situation be the ploy to legitimise the execution of the promise to clamp down on human right defenders? Well, journalists, opposition figures, human right defenders, beware, this could well be an executive gimmicks, because what is happening in Gambia is tantamount to a state of emergency. This is the line of action in the wake of every reported attempted coup.

But President Jammeh hasn’t been good enough to see that he can’t play this game well, because anytime he tries it, it only helps to accentuate his overall responsibility for the existing problems Gambians are going through. This, Gambians have become well aware of.

I think that what the Gambia needs today is not only a government of trustworthy people, but one with a leadership that is good enough to make a choice of the right people to work with for the achievement of its goals. In either way, both Yahya Jammeh and the APRC have failed Gambians woefully. They say ‘show me your friend and I will tell you who you are’.

It is a well known policy that President Jammeh does not tolerate any divergent voice around him. You can only get a ministerial post by being an ardent APRC supporter, and that would mean demonstrating unbending allegiance to the party’s supreme leader, His Excellency Rt. Lt., Rt. Cap., Rt. Col. Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh.

The question now is, by the number and frequency of changes we have experienced since 1994, is it not fair enough to say that the APRC lacks all its takes, in terms of human resource, to provide Gambians with their basic needs?

“I am sick and tired of going to tell people what they should know for themselves and come and tell me?’’ President Jammeh is reported to have said to journalists, a statement these very journalists have reported time and again by the very same president. It just serves as an indictment on his rule as it shows that either the people he works with have lost confidence in him, or he has lost confidence in them. It goes to prove that the APRC no longer has what it takes to steer the Gambia’s affairs forward. All Jammeh has to do now is to resign; that is if he is really a democrat. I can imagine him dismissing this suggestion of mine as democracy bullshit! Never mind.

True, true there is every reason to complain about the state of affairs in Gambia these days as nothing is working at all. But in my own opinion it is also somehow unfair for anyone to put the blame squarely on ministers or permanent secretaries, or security chiefs. The fact is that civil servants have been hired on the basis that they just have to serve the person of the president and they will be ok. That explains the situation of the Gambia police force. Forget about the structure. That force is among the most undisciplined in the sub-region. The whole world knows that if there is any security officer in Gambia who needs disciplining it is the head of the Gambia’s police force.

While I would not rule out the eminent existence of discontent within the ranks of the military (as the rather biased distribution of position within the security forces is enough to cause rancour within), I do have a strong feeling that Jammeh probably made up his mind at the last minute not to attend the UNESCO meeting as there happened to be bigger stakes for him being present at the Independence Stadium instead. What matters at the end of the day is what Gambians think.

Take a look at that photo on the front page of the Daily Observer’s Wednesday 7^th edition, 2009, and you will see the powerful message embedded therein with that huge number of people at the background. But hey, my experience as a journalist at the Daily Observer is enough a reason not to have me carried away by such gimmicks.

Since the GFA got information about the coming of the trophy, they must have laid down plans to transport Gambians from the interior, who are busy working on their farms. But I do also know that 50% of those who eventually turned out at the Stadium did so purely out of their adoration for the game. Unfortunately their presence there has been exploited by Jammeh. And an innocent General Tamba and his men have been sacrificed.

Re-Challenging the editors and Diaspora oppositions

I normally would not respond exclusively to individual pieces of articles. I have decided to do so in the case of this gentleman, Omar Jallow of Raleigh NC, as published on Freedom Newspaper Online, Thursday October 8, 2009, only because, unlike the rest of those who have done something that attracted my attention, he has put up some very good and salient points that I would not want to pass without discussing as it will be of very great importance to all.
By the way, Jallow, thank you for the wonderful piece of advice embedded in your article occasionally lined up with mild premeditated attacks. I appreciate your bravery and show of literary prowess.
Having said all this, I am a little bit concerned about your tendency for suppression of free speech. I must remind you at this point that you are in a country which was founded on the basis of fundamental values that included free speech. The guarantee of these values is what made you and all the online Editors-in-chief you are chastising encouraged to resettle there. Nonetheless, I do accept the fact that as human beings, we all have our buts. It is the individual advantages that we possess that make us prevail over one another in terms of our thinking. I just intend to point out a few things I think you should take note of for your future articles.
In fact, at first thought I was going to write to you through your personal mail because I did not want to get drawn into a cyber battle with somebody who is clearly looking for cheap popularity, which I know will not only discredit me, but will also add on to my already regrettable feeling of disappointment. Yes, it was me who described President Yahya Jammeh as noble or what have you. I even went further to reproof the editors at Freedom for being too personal against the president, and I still stick to that view. I however did not say no body should criticize the president or any other person in his government, did I? I am in a situation, and this situation was caused by people who work with President Jammeh. Remember I promised to share my experience with the rest of the world. When I recount my problem, you will be certain to have me mention President Jammeh. Is it my fault that the president continues to harbor and glorify people who have the blood of innocent people in their hands? Or could it be that it is because they carried these crimes on his behalf?
I do not know when you left Gambia, or under which circumstances you left in the first place, but you sound to me like one of those opportunist Diaspora Gambians who take advantage of situations like this only to have the president’s attention for possible appointment or something. This is attestable in your statement ‘‘I am openly inviting the APRC government into Raleigh and you better trust me on this with no strings attached the turn out will be overwhelming.’’ And you went on to put you number at the end of the article hoping to receive a call sooner or later from State House in Banjul. Well, I tell you what, you are the kind of people Jammeh falls for so easily. But let me warn you, find out what has become of the people like before you try it. I swear you might regret it. Yahya Jammeh will use you and then dump you! And then you might not be able to return to North Carolina because you probably have overstayed your visa now.
I want you to understand one thing, Jallow; I was never a registered member of the APRC government because I was not interest in political position. If I supported Yahya Jammeh I did so purely out of genuine feeling. I probably have done so many things more beneficial for the president and his government than you might have done. And I did all what I did with the genuine feeling that he was the right guy. My change in attitude today is as a result of a feeling of disappointment. So you do not sit there and preach me as if you love the Gambia more than I do. I do not need any position from Yahya Jammeh. So I do not give a damn (sorry for my language) about what he feels. Even if I am going to die in exile, I am resigned to that fate. I have a story to tell, and I am going to tell my story. Do you know that my blood brother is behind one of the papers you commended for doing good job because they did not lose sight of the need to highlight our sporting achievement? In this world, we all can not be on the same path. I worked at the Daily Observer, a paper owned by Yahya Jammeh. And I tell you what; it is a crime there to mention the name of anybody that is seen as opponent of the president. It is no secret that President Yahya Jammeh detests seeing his opponents being made mention of. What a pathetically selfish attitude of a leader of a whole country. This is part of the story I have to tell the world. So if you do not want it, you can go and tell Yahya Jammeh to put a stop to his murderous spree that is responsible for the making of so many online editors-in-chief and Diaspora oppositions. Sorry, I maybe sounding aggressive now, but it is because I hate people who always take advantage of other people’s unfortunate plight and advance their selfish course. I am afraid, that is what you are.
I am happy, however, that you agreed that we should criticize one another but constructively. But do you know that constructive criticism is what the government you claim to be supporting refuses to accept?
And please, just a point of correction, I have never been recruited by any online paper editor to criticize Yahya Jammeh or the APRC. I am a man of independent thinking. Do you know that all the articles you read online which are authored by me are actually on my personal blog Justice For The Press? I am not a sellout, so I do not need to appease any online newspaper editor as they have nothing, absolutely nothing, to offer me. We only happen to share a common goal, and that is how to cleanse our country of the dictatorship there. I accept that you are entitled to you opinion by describing editors of online newspapers as using their media to settle personal scores, but do you also know that this Yahya Jammeh you support is a master in that? I served as editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer, where I have evidence of him getting personally involved in using the paper to strike at his opponent abroad, people like the Senegalese President Abdoulie Wade. And of course, you are right to say that ‘‘there is nothing wrong with criticism if it is genuine, because it will make the person in question deliver from his mistakes.’’ I just want to point out here that in the case of Gambia, I am afraid, it is no more a matter of mistake…For how long is the free world going to be appealing to a man who has no respect for genuine decent? Ours is a matter of getting rid of the dictatorial regime. Simple and straight forward! Besides, you criticize and hope for change from a government that tolerates criticism.
The more I read your article, Jallow, the more I get a reinforced feeling that you have no idea about what is happening in Gambia, which makes me wonder if you have any genuine reason to say anything on this matter.
You went on to say ‘‘I also happen to notice that with the exception of the DAILY OBSERVER, THE POINT, GAMSPORTS, GAMBIASPORTS none of the other online papers is covering the sports in our country, as if that is not part of nation development.’’
Again, do you realized that the Yahya Jammeh you support hates all these papers you mentioned except the Daily Observer, which is because he owns the latter? Have you asked why no journalist from the independent media is allowed to report on presidential affairs other than Daily Observer and GRTS? Please do and get back to me.

Mo Ibrahim Index: Gambia ranks 19th

The Gambia, according to the 2009 Ibrahim Index of Governance, published today by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, an organisation committed to supporting great African leadership, ranks 19^th out of 53 African countries.

The Ibrahim Index is Africa’s leading assessment of governance, established to inform and empower the continent’s citizens. The Ibrahim Index measures the delivery of public goods and services to citizens by government and non-state actors across 84 indicators of governance. Those governance indicators are grouped in four overall categories: Safety and Security, Participation and Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity, and Human Development. All 53 of Africa’s countries are then ranked according to their total scores across the categories. The 2009 Ibrahim Index of African Governance shows that half of Africa’s 10 best performing countries are in Southern Africa.

Gambia’s performance in the 2009 Ibrahim Index of African Governance

In 2007/08 Gambia scored 55.1 out of 100, and was ranked 19th out of 53 African countries. Within the West African region, Gambia was ranked sixth. Gambia scored above the West African regional average which was 51.7. Gambia also scored above the overall continental average which was 51.2. At category level, Gambia scored just above the continental average in the Safety and Rule of Law, Participation and Human Rights, and Sustainable Economic Opportunity categories. But in Human Development Gambia's score was much higher than the continental average, which was 53.8.

Category	2007/2008 Score (out of 100)	Overall Rank (out of 53)	Regional Rank (out of 16)
Safety and Rule of Law	57.7	24	8
Participation and Human Rights	49.8	27	11
Sustainable Economic Opportunity	48.5	23	5
Human Development	64.6	13	4
2009 IIAG	55.1	19	6

Across the Index:

· Mauritius tops the 2009 Ibrahim Index with a total score of 82.8, ranking first in all four main categories. Cape Verde is ranked second with a total score of 78.0. Seychelles is ranked third with a total score of 77.1, followed by Botswana with a total score of 73.6. South Africa is ranked fifth with a total score of 69.4.

· Somalia is the worst governed country on the continent, with a total score of 15.2. In 52^nd place, Chad has a total score of 29.9, while Zimbabwe is third from bottom in 51^st place with a total score of 31.3.

· Southern Africa is the continent’s best performing region, with an average score of 58.1, followed closely by North Africa with an average score of 57.7. West Africa is ranked third with an average score of 51.7, followed by East Africa with a score of 46.9. Central Africa is the worst performing region, with an average score of 40.2.

· Central Africa is the worst performing region across all four categories. All seven Central African countries are ranked outside the top 20 in the 2009 Ibrahim Index, with all of them except Gabon performing below the average for the continent.

Reflecting important structural and methodological improvements to the Ibrahim Index over the last year, the 2009 Ibrahim Index includes a new framework for assessing governance, and improvements to make the index more reflective of current governance realities. For the first time, in 2009 the Ibrahim Index covers all 53 countries in Africa. It also includes data from 2008, making it more current than any other assessment of African governance.

The full Board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation convened in Cape Town this morning for the launch of the third iteration of the Ibrahim Index. Mo Ibrahim, the founder and Chairman of the Foundation, says:

“The 2009 Ibrahim Index gives us the clearest – and most current – snapshot of governance performance on the continent we have ever had. With Southern Africa outperforming North Africa, we can see a picture emerging that fundamentally challenges our perceptions about Africa. Our objective is to generate debate about what we can expect our governments to deliver in our name.”

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is supported by a research team at the Foundation, headed by Dr Hania Farhan, a Technical Committee of representatives from key African institutions, and Dr Daniel Kaufmann of the Brookings Institution, who co-produces the Worldwide Governance Indicators. The Foundation also draws on the expertise of an Advisory Committee of academics drawn from institutions across Africa.

The Ibrahim Index of African Governance was created in recognition of the need for a robust, comprehensive and quantifiable tool for citizens and civil society to track government performance in Africa. The development of the Ibrahim Index reflects the Foundation’s long-term commitment to support African ownership of the governance debate, to develop capacity in African institutions, and to improve the quality, reliability, and availability of data about Africa.

Jammeh’s thousand and one paradoxes

Even as I pondered over President Yahya Jammeh’s recent UN General Assembly address, trying to make sense out of the pack of ironies that characterised his message to world leaders, I couldn’t help wondering the implications his presence alone at the assembly would have on the very important issues been discussed therein. The rule of law…universal justice…fair play…etc, etc, are certainly very pertinent issues, but unfortunately President Jammeh is not the right person to deliberate on these. He is on record more than one occasion, renouncing these tenets. Besides, how can you preach in another man’s house when your own is in disarray?

Consequently, the only thing Yahya Jammeh succeeded in doing by taking part in the UN general assembly meeting was making laughing stock out of Gambians, whose sweat made it possible for him and his delegation of praise singers to attend a meeting that is meant for leaders of respectable characters and values. I have the feeling that Jammeh was only seeking cheap popular in imitation of his newly found friend, a man he briefly fell out with as a result of his arrogance, Colonel Qhadafi, and the master theatrical moron of Latin America, Chavez. But the Gambian leader failed woefully simply because he failed to realize that the only thing those common comedians of leaders have succeeded in doing was to make their people subjects of ridicule. Yahya Jammeh should take a little bit of time to think over Qhadafi’s latest U-Turn…after years of misery in the cold. You can not feed the hand that feeds you!

As usual, I received tones of mails from friends of mine from other countries… ‘‘Your moronic president is at it once again’’, one of the provocative mails reads, just minutes after Jammeh’s address, which I watch live through the internet.

While I can distance myself from Jammeh’s statements, I can not deny that Jammeh is the head of state of the Gambia, which is my home country. True as that may be, how can I contest such insults when, I myself, am a typified victim of the woes caused by my head of state? I will never even give it a try.

One thing Yahya Jammeh failed to realized is that there are a lot of lessons he can learn from the many democratic leaders he addressed at the UN with such verve of typical arrogance. The very opportunity he continues to deny the Gambian people (the people he derisively refer to as my people) is what he enjoys by going ballistic on the free world, whenever he is given the chance. But where is that taking us to, as a nation of civilized people?

I want to make this clear – the only reason why Jammeh continues to have the little support he enjoys among some section of Gambian population is that he has succeeded in portraying himself as the freedom fighter he has never been against a negligent West. This he tries to highlight in all his speeches. But what these Gambians who support him on these fail to realize is that the man is just playing double standard, the same crime he accuses the West of in the case of China-Taiwan standoff, Israel-Palestine crisis, Cuba and the US relations and the US-Venezuela relations. The man is hypocrite! Simple! Even though he pretends not to want to have anything to do with the West, he and his wife prefer to have their children delivered only in Western hospitals, not the supposedly good hospitals he has built as part of the achievements of the almighty July 22^nd Revolution. Despite the fact that many Gambians wallow in destitution, First Lady Zainab Jammeh can shop only in world class shopping centers in the very West her Pan-Africanist husband condemns as home of the imperialists.

Plans to have Jammeh tried

Plans of having President Jammeh to answer for his alleged crimes are indeed reassuring. At least, it will give him the chance to defend himself, a luxury he has denied thousands of Gambians and non Gambians. It remains the task of all of us, Gambians, to sit back and take serious look at the deteriorating situation in our country. One thing we can do, for example, is to renounce the insolent move by the apathetic Gambia government to amend the jurisdiction of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, an institution this very same arrogant government refused to obey.

Contrary to what some of us are made to believe, the government represents only the interest of Yahya Jammeh and his wife and children, not even the interest of the people around him who support him in executing his crimes against the rest of the Gambian population. If the justice department of the Gambia were genuinely concerned and representative of the citizens, they would not have approved of this demand to have the Ecowas Commission look at this case, because I know it is the idea of Yahya Jammeh, and it is nobody else’, to forward such a derisive demand. But has only accentuated his short sightedness, as far as I am concerned.

I have a few questions for the committee of Ecowas Commission that is hearing the demand:

Ø What else would the government of the Gambia of all people argue for that the Ecowas Court should only have jurisdiction in respect of international instruments ratified by the respondent country if it is not to attain specific hidden motives of the self style grand master of the country?

Ø Is it not a shame that the Gambia government suggests that in human rights cases, the ECOWAS Court's jurisdiction should be made subject to the exhaustion of domestic remedies? How many cases have been exhausted with genuine remedies? What would encourage aggrieved Gambians to go through the pains of seeking justice from international bodies if they can achieve their goals locally?

Ø Is the Gambia government’s suggestion that cases should only be admissible if instituted not later than 12 months after the exhaustion of local remedies not a way of prolonging pains in the many aggrieved citizens who may want to seek rapid justice?

Ø (d) Why would the Gambia government be concerned about anonymous cases? Do they want to look for ways of terrorizing and intimidating family members of aggrieved persons?

There has been so much atrocities committed that makes all of Jammeh’s threats far more than mere threats. But mark my words; we are all answerable to one God, Allah. Someday, we shall all answer for our deeds, right or wrong. May God have mercy on us all!

Lessons Yahya Jammeh must learn!

Under quite a compelling urge to go off with anger, I still continue to restraint myself against responding to some of the spurious comments I read almost on a daily basis about me and how I feel about Yahya Jammeh, his government and his perceived ‘Kingdom’ of The Gambia on the one hand, and on the other hand, my past record in the increasingly dwindling effect of a rather botched and negligible propaganda in the form of the charade the Daily Observer continues to champion.

What some people fail to realize is that since last August 11, I ceased to be part of the gang of believers of a vindictive system that holds absolutely no promise for the coming generations of Gambians out of my own clear conscience. My question now is, is it a crime to own up to one’s mistakes and tries to make up for them? Did I hear you say no? Then why would I not be left alone and be allowed to go on with my life?

If anything, I have learnt my lessons.
With my close to two years of working with an institution as close to government as the Daily Observer is, I can’t be more pessimistic about the feature of the people of this country, especially its youthful population. However, the difference of approach between me and some people in the struggle against the largely fractured dictatorship back home is that I am keen not to give the effort a personal dimension. That is exactly what attacking the person of the president, rather than discussing issues, will mean. That is why I am not going to get into that.
There is absolutely no doubt that President Yahya Jammeh, like any other leader of his kind, bears responsibility for whatever happens to his people. The only point I was trying to put across, however, which is indeed a very valuable argument, and I still stand by it, is that we could stop the trend of persecution that is presently tearing the Gambia apart by discouraging those, like the satanic trio (Momodou Sanyang, Pa Malick Faye and Dr Saja Taal) who carry out these acts, thereby saving the souls of innocent Gambians, while at the same time preparing the ground for the eventual institution of justice by making sure that all, including Yahya Jammeh himself, answer for their crimes against not only Gambians but the rest of the free world. Yahya Jammeh does not do the killing and torture, himself, he assigns blood thirsty people who execute it for him. If we are able to discourage these people, Jammeh will soon run out of murderous mercenaries to carry on with such assignment.
I am not the only one who worked for Yahya Jammeh and regretted it, am I? As a matter of fact, I have always believed, and I still hold on to that thought, that I was serving my country in the right way. I must acknowledge, however, that this would not mean innocence of the surging guilt. The mistake I seemed to have made was to have identified with an institution infested with people with the most callous of intents serving a leadership with an unassailable obsession for arrogance. This arrogance, if Yahya Jammeh does not take his time enough, will be the very cause for his down fall thanks to the very many ill-intentioned people that surround him today like marauding vultures, the people who go about vilifying innocent and more patriotic Gambians.
Contrary to what Yahya Jammeh preaches, patriotism is not about how green one is, it is about how much love one has for the country as a citizen and how one partakes in the effort of achieving the development we collectively desire.
I have said it over and over, and I will repeat it here…whatever I have written regarding Gambia and President Yahya Jammeh in the past, I can still defend them as they represented the true picture of the reality of what I was trying to highlight. I have never been and I never intend to be a sellout. So let no one try my courage.
I want to remind Mendy B that unlike him and his former colleagues of the so-called Ring of Still, I have not done or be part of any plot to destroy anybody or group of people, either based on ethnic, religious, political or whatever line. I wholeheartedly accept his demand for forgiveness for his part in the cycle of terror perpetuated by him and his former bosses. But I would want to ask Mendy B one question – what does he expect Gambians, especially those who have fallen victim of his gang’s alleged crime to do? Revenge? Certainly that is not what you want.
I must mention here and now that I share the same level of anger with many rightful thinking people out there. My anger, however, is not borne out of grudge or frustration; rather it is borne out of a genuine feeling of disappointment. Disappointment by Yahya Jammeh’s constant failure to do away with the enemies of progress, his consistent failure to dialogue, his consistent reluctance to see wisdom and follow the path of salvation, his unquenchable taste for self aggrandizement, which increasingly pushes him towards a makeshift feeling of inflated ego and idea of himself!
President Yahya Jammeh’s pathetic ranting; as manifested by the worldwide criticized and out-of-place remark he recently made about cutting his opponents’ heads off if they continue to think counter to his increasingly militaristic ideas, continue to gain momentum. As if he doesn’t see what I see. How can a leader be so callously indifferent that he does not consider his people, the people whose servant he is, as legitimate entities? Can he not think of the image Charles Tailor carries on with him these days? The former Liberian warlord, if anything, has more to do with bravery than Yahya Jammeh, because he had had to fight his way through to power. But today, far, far away from his many mansions and gigantic orchards, he occupies just a few meters of space he is entitled to, and anytime he is out of that cell of his, he is on handcuff. Nothing, absolutely nothing last for ever.
Don’t’ get me wrong, that is certainly not an image I would like to see of my former leader. Mind you, I remain among those Africans who hate to see that picture of the one time almighty Charles Ganky Tailor, for it degrades not only Liberians but the entire Africa.
But doesn’t that serve as a lesson enough for the remaining crop of dictators on our continent? I urge Yahya Jammeh to remember that he was brought to power by people he ended up betraying. People who genuinely share the same love for the country with him, people he feared so much so that he framed them in order to have a pretext to have them out of his way. No matter what is said or what people like us are made to look like, he is no better than us, and he does not love the country more than any of us do, as he always claim. If Yahya Jammeh does, then I challenge him to do away with destructive agents like Momodou Sanyang who has absolutely nothing beneficial to offer Gambia, yet they are hell-bent on denying the country its much needed human resources by making well deserving Gambians look bad.
I am well aware of the implication of making such remarks, for in the Gambia, democracy, which would normally guarantee my right to these sorts of opinions, has died since Jammeh began to reward Gambians like Sanyang and his gang of mischievous followers only to victimize good Gambians.
Nonetheless, the mere thought of the fact that it is my God-given right to express my feeling about how I think the Gambia should be run makes me feel satisfied. Whatever happens to me or anybody related to me will be taken care of by God, the Almighty.
I am ready to exchange the luxury of being home around my family for the opulence of being at liberty to express myself fully and freely. God in his mysterious ways might bring what most Gambians today yearn for, CHANGE! A CHANGE for the better!
Again, I just want to reiterate that I am not speaking here out of frustration…I am speaking out of disappointment. And I do not see that as a crime. I am extremely disappointed with a leader I have all these years believed was on the right path. But his continued negligence and perpetual denial of the sorrowful life Gambians experience on a daily basis makes me feel unforgiving to myself for been so blinkered over the years.
Even as I write, I can’t help imagining the number of people back home who will be astounded on discovering that it is my very self who is making these sorts of comments. But I expect that these very same people will see reason and see that the person we all looked on to with genuine feeling was not actually whom we thought. Think of how many people Yahya Jammeh has fallen out with. Would you want to argue that all these people were bad? Or that Yahya Jammeh has always been right in parting with all of them? No, I do not think so. It is only because of people like Momodou Sanyang, Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, Ensa Badjie, among a horde of upstarts who have absolutely nothing to offer the Gambia in terms of expertise, yet they are hell bent on destroying those who have all it takes to make the country what is best for our children.
Can some one tell me what Momodou Sanyang has to offer Gambia? All he has been engaged on is to make life miserable for the many hardworking and dedicated staffers of GRTS and Observer, many of whom have been forced to find their way out of the system. President Jammeh is well aware of this, yet he continues to reward that idiotic character of a dolt. Mendy B was quite right in that Jammeh is satisfied with the work of Sanyang, otherwise he could have done away with him. Well, I also reserve the God given right to vehemently disagree with that crap of a situation. Sanyang can order the arrest and detention of people, just like he did to a colleague of mind, Abdoulie John, whose arrest was headed by the IGP Ensa Bajie himself, and get away with, yet no one is allowed to say it. Well, if it is wrong to say it, maybe Jammeh needs to be informed that Sanyang is guilty of framing him, because whatever he does he, he does so in his name. Ask the security chiefs and they will tell you. He ordered the arrest of Chief Manneh, he ordered my arrest and he order journalist Lamin Jaiteh’s arrest, he wrote John’s sacking letter saying that it was the directive of the president…he has done so many things in the name of President Yahya Jammeh. Let Sanyang deny these things if he thinks I am wrongfully blaming him. He can not. But I do know also that he has nothing to lose, at least until Yahya Jammeh’s already crumbling regime is out.
If you tell me you want to work with good people, it baffles me when I see you with people with blood on their hands. JT Kujabi and that master looter of a son of Momodou Sanyang, Lamin Sabi Sanyang, what benefit are they serving us?
Have Gambians asked under what circumstances that pathological thief, Lamin Sibi Sanyang, son of Momodou Sanyang, who went on trial for allegedly squandering millions of dalasis belonging to the Gambian people, was pardoned? These are the kind of people who are holding back our progress. It is not me, nor the growing dissenting voices abroad, or the many ministers, permanent secretaries, directors or other lower government officials who have been wrongfully sacked because they were reported by people like Momodou Sanyang and other crude sons of the Gambia within the APRC, for not been loyalty to you and your wife. I will die in poverty abroad, if that is what it takes, rather than dine in wealth amidst disrespect and submission to evil. I am proud that while others are succumbing to dictatorship tendencies, I have refused to be carried away.

The Task Ahead!

Even as I rode along Southern Senegal’s Cassamance Region, heading for the capital Dakar, struggling between leaving behind my ghastly experience of the previous day and the life that awaited me at my virtually unknown destination, I had a third tormenting concern as I realized rather faintly that I would have to put up with another mucky task to accomplish – the chore of countering the obvious voice of discontent that was bound to radiate from the many people who would find it difficult to forgive me for my part in the propaganda campaign for the APRC government.
I was largely preoccupied with thoughts of what I would tell the world to have them convinced that I am not to blame for the anger and pain they derived from Observer during my stint.
And when I conceived the idea of Justice For The Press, I had no doubt that it was going to be the subject of such attacks as I am experiencing presently. But hey, it never crossed my mind that my own very former colleagues at the Observer would be part of such a campaign. I thought it would be a distasteful recipe for stark revelations that would emanate regarding the dealings of certain people. I feel immensely pressured not to allow my emotion to countermand my wholeheartedly none spiteful intent of discussing relevant issues. The totally uncalled-for response I got from some disrespectful editor at the Observer the other day, about the entire Gambian media being angry with me, served as an awakening experience. I would not publish that comment on my blog for only one reason - not because it is hash on me, I do not expect them of all people to praise me, but because they were outrageously disrespectful for the taste of the readership I envisage. But I hope that my response has sunk well in place.
Matter-of-factly, I am not out to waste my precious time responding to strayed comments from people who purely seek undeserved cheap popularity. Rather, I will dedicate my time and effort, like I promised, to highlighting issues relevant to countering the continued oppressive moves against the press in The Gambia. I have quite a task ahead. What I want is to raise issues and instigate debate around them - subjective debate. That is what Gambia needs today.
If anybody has any point against me they are free to come up with them. But they have to be genuine, not merely based on hate or disrespect.
My next issue will deal on how Observer was cleansed with the coming of Neneh Macdoull, and how she touched the seeming untouchables. Watch out for that.

Breaking News: The Big Interview. With Freedom Newspaper

Read my interview with Freedom Newspaper. I promise it is just the beginning of the crusade. As usual, your criticisms are welcome...constructive criticisms, I mean.
Have a nice read.

Breaking News: The Big Interview:Absconded Daily Observer Editor Blow The Whistle!!!

Absconded Daily Observer Editor Blow The Whistle!!!

As Kemo Cham Calls For A Travel Ban To Be Imposed Against GRTS’S Momodou Sanyang, Pa Malick Faye, And Dr. Saja Taal

Cham Says Sanyang, Faye, And Taal Are Responsible For The Disappearance of Journalist Chief Manneh!!!!

By Pa Nderry M’Bai, Raleigh, NC.

The absconded Daily Observer Editor-in-chief Kemo Cham is calling for a travel ban to be imposed against Momodou Sanyany, Pa Malick Faye, and Dr. Saja Taal, as he accuses them of being responsible for the disappearance of journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh. Mr. Cham who is on exile, said the three are “criminals”, who should be indicted, and slammed with global travel ban. He confirmed in an Exclusive Interview with the Freedom Newspaper about a special report he authored-pointing accusing fingers against Sanyang, Faye, and Taal for being responsible for the disappearance of Chief Manneh. “I actually wrote a report which makes reference to the trio as chiefly responsible for the disappearance of Chief Manneh. I would not call it defamatory as that particular point is based on the accounts of some of the people who work at the Observer presently. We should be fair enough to direct the hit on them…Travel ban, asset freezing, among other penalties will be good. They are nothing but suspected criminals,” said the erstwhile Daily Observer Editor, who recently absconded from the jurisdiction of The Gambia for fear of being arrested, and possibly jailed by the local authorities. Mr. Cham believes that the imposition of such a travel ban against the trio, would serve as a deterrent to others. “If the free world rallied and petition Pa Malick Faye, Dr Taal and Momodou Sanyang, we will soon know. I for one, I am urging travel band, freezing of assets, alongside some penalties for these people. That will further serve as a deterrent for future cases like this. One thing I am certain of is that Chief Manneh is in the hands of the National Intelligence Agency of The Gambia (NIA),” he noted. Mr. Cham commented on a wide range of issues- including his beef with Momodou Sanyang, Pa Malick Faye, his role as Editor-in-chief, past trials, and tribulations, Observer ownership, President Jammeh, Freedom Newspaper's harsh editorial stance against the President, and a host of other burning issues of the day. Below is the full text of the interview. Please read on…

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Freedom Newspaper: Good day Kemo. Don’t expect to have an easy interview with the Freedom Newspaper. Real questions, real time. How prepared are you? Are you ready?

K Cham: Well, do not expect anything short of the right answers to your questions.

Freedom Newspaper: Why are you on the run? Did you kill, or harm somebody in The Gambia? What is the problem?

K Cham: I did not kill or harm anyone in The Gambia; on the contrary, I ran away from been arrested…abducted would be the right word… possibly harmed or killed.

Freedom Newspaper: Why running if your hands are clean?

K Cham: Many Gambians are in trouble today, yet their hands are clean. I could have been one of them if I had not run away.

The other day I read on Freedom that editor Mbai thought of some lady who suggested traveling with him to Banjul as having gone mad. Why was that? Why would the editor of Freedom not go to Banjul if his hands were clean? Or did you harm or kill someone?

Freedom Newspaper: I hear you, but don’t you think by staying home, and face the consequences, would have given legitimacy to your claims? What are your fears?

K Cham: The case of Chief Manneh, whose disappearance the whole world is crying about today, whose issue is concerned with my fleeing, is enough legitimacy to my fear. Do you think if he had foreseen what became of him he would not have fled The Gambia? I strongly believe that I am better off defending myself away in liberty than having people doing it on my behalf when I will have been as good as dead.

Freedom Newspaper: How did you manage to escape? Did the NIA help you or what?

K Cham: In an institution like the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) of The Gambia, with such a bad reputation, founded on the basis of discrimination and savagery, you are bound to find some unfaithful all the time. As a matter of fact that is the rule of the Game within that body. No trust. Quite a number of its agents are some of the most untrustworthy you can find anywhere in the world.

But there are good ones among them you know. Actually someone from within tipped me off. Remember that The Gambia is so small that one might have somebody they know in almost every public or private sector institution you can think of in the country. I have been a student leader at the University of The Gambia, I belong to quite a number of civil society organisations, I have been reasonable with so many people as editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer…so you should not be surprised that I knew quite a few within who would feel obliged to save my soul.

And also, given my position at the Observer, I could have only been a fool if I had not set precautionary measures like establishing relationships of this nature. Knowing it or not, you are being checked on a constant basis. The people you work with are working behind your back…such a dirty place it is, the Observer.

Freedom Newspaper: A Freedom Newspaper letter writer alleges that you wrote defamatory allegations against the GRTS DG Momodou Sanyang, Saja Taal, and Pa Malick Faye, the Daily Observer MD. What can you tell us about such assertions?

K Cham: I actually wrote a report which makes reference to the trio as chiefly responsible for the disappearance of Chief Manneh. I would not call it defamatory as that particular point is based on the accounts of some of the people who work at the Observer presently. We should be fair enough to direct the hit on them…Travel ban, asset freezing, among other penalties will be good. They are nothing but suspected criminals.

Freedom Newspaper: But it has been alleged that the allegations were contained in a computer memory stick belonging to you, which was leaked to Pa Malick by an Observer insider, which resulted to your summoning to the MD’S office for clarification. Your views please?

Kemo Cham: I am not denying that. The point I am trying to put across is that it is not defamatory. It is a founded fact.

Freedom Newspaper: Why should you write unsubstantiated allegations against these people named therein without proofs? Were you trying to undermine Pa Malick?

K Cham: I had absolutely no reason to undermine Pa Malick. If you worked with me you would get an idea about the kind of person I am. I met Chief only a couple of times, when I never dreamt of working at the Observer. And when I was coming to the Observer he was not there. But you do not need to be at the Observer to get a story as important as that. I got this story even as an ordinary reader of the Observer, when I never knew who Pa Malick was. And when I joined the paper, I naturally became interested in the case. Of course you would expect that of anyone who is security conscious. This guy had been working with the paper I was working for. I should know the kind of people I was dealing with around me. That was what led to my finding out in more detail.

What I find difficult to understand up to now, however, is why nobody is talking about these people when the issue of Chief Manneh arises.

If you go through minutes of recent GPU meetings, you will find out that I am among a few people who have been making repeated calls for Dr Taal to be called to answer questions as he was responsible. Besides, he was the head of the institution at the time of the disappearance of the journalist. The response of the GPU executive has always been that there is no evidence to prove Dr Taal’s involvement. I find that absurd.

But also, come to think about it, there is no substantial evidence to show that government is responsible, yet it is been asked to produce the journalist. Is that justifiable enough? I do not think so. Momodou Sanyang, Dr Saja Taal and Pa Malick Faye are responsible.

Freedom Newspaper: You claimed to have authentic information about the disappearances of Chief Ebrima Manneh, and the actual ownership of the Daily Observer. What evidence do you have?

K Cham: For all I know the only time I am speaking openly on this matter is on this interview. And the only thing I have said so far is that information I got clearly reinforces widely held belief back home that these three people are responsible.

Ok, let us consider it as mere rumor; but when people are accused are they not called to answer? That is my point. Heads of states are been blamed for human right violations because they are heads of states, so heads of institutions should also be held responsible for the disappearance of their employees. That is my point.

Freedom Newspaper: Who owns the Daily Observer Newspaper?

K Cham: On the back of every copy of the Daily Observer it is indicated as one Amadou Samba. I have never met him in my close to two years of working at the Observer though.

Freedom Newspaper: As the former editor of the Observer, where do you receive orders from? Don’t tell me the President’s office.

K Cham: I referred to my appointment letter for instructions. And according to this letter I was answerable to the managing director. So, I took instructions directly from the MD.

But there were a number of occasions I got some calls from State House from some of the many self-styled spokespeople there, sometimes mere messengers, sometimes camera men, who would want to dictate me. Some of them would give you the impression that they got the directive directly from the president. And they would tell you to do it like this or that. What do you deduce from that? Momodu Sanyang would say it in no uncertain terms that the Big Man say so… meaning the president. You will get more on the little I know about Momodu Sanyang on subsequent publications on my blog.

Freedom Newspaper: I thought they say Amadou Samba owns the paper. Why should the state house give you editorial orders?

K Cham: The only time I spoke to Amadou Samba was after I had received a call from someone who said they were calling from Gampetroleum, and that they wanted me to take down my phone so that they could speak to the marketing manager. I thought it was a disrespectful attitude, and I refused. The person intimidated me into going but I stood my grounds. Later it was rumored that it was Amadou Samba. I called him to verify, because I had the number on the phone which I inherited from Dr Taal and Dida Halake. I just wanted to find out if Amadou Samba actually had anything to do with the Observer up to making such moves. But I was amazed that he was not aware of what I was talking about.

Officially Amadou owns the paper, but things do not seem to be so. What is the fuss about the ownership, anyway?

Freedom Newspaper: What were your worst moments as an Editor? Any challenges?

K Cham: Some people think you have to be perfect. Others are constantly planning how to get rid of you. They would not give you any impression of their plan and that is the most dangerous thing about it. They dig hole for you. I have discovered more than 5 plots by Pa Malick Faye against me, both at the State House level and at the level of Momodou Sanyang as well as at the NIA.

Indeed, I have so many bad memories as editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer. But one I would never forget was an organised plot led by Pa Malick to destroy my image at the Observer. It worked, and I still can not explain why I did not resign then, because I said it that I was going to. To me that was the climax demonstration of Malick’s shameless treachery. I will treat that topic fully on my blog subsequently.

Freedom Newspaper: Is it true that you were on the verge of being fired, and as a result you decided to leave the country?

K Cham: If I were a traitor, I would have remained for as long as I would be willing and ready to go by Momodou Sayang’s terms. But I wasn’t going to do that. That explains why I was not sacked even when John was sacked. Did they explain why he was sacked? They would never, because they do not have any genuine reason whatsoever. Both John and I refused to accept Sanyang’s bigotry. It is only now that I have realized that they did not sack me because they were waiting to see if I would give in to their proposal of turning my back on Neneh Macdoull-Gaye, which I was never going to do. I was never sacked and I am not aware that I was about to be sacked. It would not have made any difference anyway, because I was actually fed up with the Observer.

Freedom Newspaper: During your watch the Observer sales went down right?

K Cham: The corrupt attitude of Sanyang and his bunch of so-called board members, in connivance with corrupt insiders like Andrew Dacosta, the former managing director, Pa Malick and the chief printer, Francis, all of whom hide behind their unrealistic membership of the APRC, almost brought the company to its knees.

Freedom Newspaper: Why are Gambians not buying the Observer these days? Is it because of the online papers or what? What is the problem?

K Cham: I have no evidence to ascertain that Observer is not been bought as compared to the past. But imagine that is the case. If you have two or more competitors and one or two outsells the rest, what would you deduce from that? In my own view, the one that sells more has a better offer in terms of service or product as the case might be.

Freedom Newspaper: What can you tell us about the vendor’s theft case? What actually happened?

K Cham: Corruption at the Observer, before the coming of Neneh Macdoull, had been endemic. And as soon as she left it was rekindled. While I do not have any reason to doubt the authenticity of the conviction and jailing of the printers, I strongly believe that some big guns were let go free, and I have always said that even while I was at the Observer. I have never seen a place like the company in terms of people’s attitude towards corruption.

Freedom Newspaper: Why criminalizing the vendors by putting their images on the internet, when the case was not even decided by the courts?

K Cham: You see, since I left I had never wanted to talk to the media because I feel some level of guilt. Because I was editor-in-chief I was responsible for all the hate editorials that were written. In fact, presently I learnt that Pa Malick is spearheading a nasty campaign that accuses me of been anti-GPU. But that will just make them look foolish, because Ndey Tapha and other GPU executive members can testify about my attitude towards the organization. As a matter of fact, my next issue on J4P will be on that. Already every one knows that the Observer is total rubbish or a propaganda machinery. Only its traditional worshipers will listen to it.

Coming back to the issue of the vendors, if you know what operates in Gambia today…if you watch GRTS…you will see the point I am trying to make. The verdict is passed even before the case reaches the court. I had some blockheaded so-called deputy editors-in-chief who believe that we have to go like GRTS if we could be seen in the same light.

Freedom Newspaper: What is the average salary for the Observer printers?

K Cham: I do know that there was a revolutionary improvement on remuneration when Neneh Macdoull took over, and the printers were not left out.

Freedom Newspaper: What is the level of staff morale at the Observer? Are the workers happy with the status quo?

K Cham: Absolutely not. If someone gets into trouble, you are preoccupied with the thought of who is next on the line? Now you gauge the morale of the workers in such a working condition for yourself.

Freedom Newspaper: As the editor-in-chief you must have been receiving D10, 000 dalasis salary. What was your salary?

K Cham: Just about that.

Freedom Newspaper: Have you ever thought of parting company with the Observer?

K Cham: Shortly before I left, during two of the intimidating conversations, as it were, which I had with Momodou Sanyang, I told him that I was going to resign. He said no. Besides, I have heard similarly tough days in the hands of Pa Malick and his cronies out of envy, like I explained earlier on. When some of them were joining the Observer as freelancers I was still in school. I came and cruised over them. So, you can imagine the animosity. Is it my fault that I could do it better? It is as a result of this very same envy that Pa Malick put Chief in this situation.

I thought of moving on many occasions, but I was talked out of it by people I respected. They thought that would be the wrong decision.

Freedom Newspaper: What inspired you to work for the Daily Observer? Were you tempted by money, or position?

K Cham: I swear to my God, if you asked Dida Halake he should tell you that I never negotiated my salary. I accepted his first offer straight away. My focus had been to get a place. Not the money or the position. All the promotions I got came to me absolutely unexpectedly. I never negotiated them, unlike many of the grudging fools at the Observer who got their promotions because they brewed green tea for Dr Taal or because they were close to some corrupt APRC figures. I did even know that people outside the Gambia knew who I was until when I got information that I had been written about on some of these online papers. I must say here that many of you wrote absolutely wrong information about me, my relationship with Nedneh, the GPU and sorts. I do not know how you got your information. I think some of your reporters are eating your money by sending you wrong information. But with time, I hope I will be able to refute all those nonsense.

Freedom Newspaper: Were you Neneh Macdoull’s errand boy? She hired you as Editor-in-chief right?

K Cham: What do you mean she hired me? There was a vacant post of editor-in-chief. I was the eligible one, she appointed me, I suppose, based on merit. That’s all. She did not need me for any errand of hers outside Observer issues during her term. You might as well say I was Dida’s errand boy, because he did not only appoint me, but he promoted me from proofreader to deputy editor in chief. Ask him what the reason for his promoting me was.

Freedom Newspaper: You were not happy about Pa Malick’s appointment as MD? Why do you think you are more qualified than him to man that post?

K Cham: It is not true that I was not happy about Pa Malick’s appointment. However, I was concerned about his corrupt and dangerous attitude, having known what he was capable of. If that is what had been interpreted as been unhappy about his appointment, so be it. I am going to be revealing more of him subsequently.

Freedom Newspaper: Coming back to your intercepted letter, who were the intended recipients of the said communication?

K Cham: That was a report I wrote for onward submission whenever there was the need.

Freedom Newspaper: Were you trying to report Pa Malick, and Co to the NIA, and you got busted?

K Cham: How could I report a wolf to another wolf? That would be stupid of me. As a matter of fact, I indicated in the same report that Chief Manneh had been picked up by the same corrupt NIA at the order of Momodou Sanyang of GRTS. How could I go to the NIA and told them you have Chief Manneh?

Freedom Newspaper: Don’t you think you have betrayed the confidence reposed on you by the Observer Management? I am asking because many believe that you are speaking out of frustration, and grudge. What is the true story here?

K Cham: There is no such thing as Observer management anymore. It is only Pa Malick and Momodou Sanyang. I am not speaking out of frustration. Probably it’s because you had never had the opportunity to hear me. We discussed these issues in the newsroom, when current went off and sometimes on our way to work. This was the same way I spoke to those I could confide in. When we deal with issues of honesty and truth at management board meetings, this was how I spoke. That is why I was unpopular among the bunch of corrupt people led by Pa Malick. These are not allegations. These are facts. I am going to be discussing these issues in detail on my blog, subsequently. I am aware that they are working on vilifying me by fabricating all sorts of lies against me and John.

Freedom Newspaper: You mentioned in your blog that your family was concerned about your safety as a journalist. That you risked being arrested, and charged with false information charges one day. Does this suggest that you are running from facing false information charges?

K Cham: What else do you think could have been suitable for the Nigerian prosecutors back home who are been paid by The Gambia government only to make cases against genuine Gambians? Having said this, I could have been arraigned in court if I were lucky, like you rightly stated in your letter on one of your past editions. Remember these people who were after me, were the very same people who are responsible for Chief Manneh’s disappearance. Imagine what could have happened to me.

Freedom Newspaper: What happened to your memory stick?

K Cham: Pa Malick held it in my face and said ‘‘I am taking it to Momodu Sanyang.’’ It was not a surprise to me though. But I just realized now that I made the mistake of telling them that I was going home to consider whether I was going to resign the next day. They must have accelerated their plot to have me on the hook then.

Freedom Newspaper: In your blog, you claimed that you are on a crusade to promote justice for the press. Why don’t you write editorials while at the Observer to promote press freedom? Don’t tell me that your hands were tied?

K Cham: My hands were not only tied, but I had a bitter experience after having written an editorial on such a subject. Did you know about that? This was shortly after the appointment of this present mediocre police chief, Ensa Badjie. He was, and he still is, forceful. He treats the media preferentially. I penned an editorial on that.

Pa Malick got me identified as they were finding out who did it. A security chief meeting was convened on that. I got that information from a reliable source. The number of intimidations I got only God knows. I have never spoken about it to anyone. The title was; ‘The press and the police.’ At least I am on record of having done that. In the words of some government operative, ‘‘even the point would not do this.’’

So it is not correct to say I never did anything while I was in The Gambia. Only those of you who do not know me will say so.

Freedom Newspaper: Were you the one who penned all those nice editorials in favor of President Jammeh? Don’t lie to me. Tell me the truth?

K Cham: Show some respect. I do not know which editorials you are referring to, but of course I did write a couple of editorials regarding the developments in the country. And let me clarify this. I am not against President Yahya Jammeh as a person. This is one of the big mistakes we Gambians have been making. We have effectively put Yahya Jammeh in the place of the country. Anything happens it is him. No way. The crooks are there and we ignore them, and they continue on their ill work. If I have problem with government, the government is bigger than the president. I actually did sometimes write some good things about him which I will still stand to defend. I single handedly wrote every bit of piece of Observer July 22nd Bus, a project Pa Malick went about lying to APRC people that he was behind (he can not even write a complete profile of himself), which was a reflection of the truth across the country. I have no intention to deny them.

Freedom Newspaper: Today, you are telling us that there is no development in The Gambia, when you have written extensively promoting the regime. How do you reconcile your statements?

K Cham: I never said there was no development. Yes, I did write that government has constructed roads and built hospitals here and there. But the fact remains that there is more to development than just those. However close you might be to someone, there might be one or two things that you will disagree on. Otherwise your relationship is not genuine. As a Gambian, I have my reservations about things back home.

Freedom Newspaper: In a commentary to the Freedom Newspaper on September 6th 2009 you said and I quote “As to whether I would give up my right for the so-called development, well, development itself is broader than just building airport, roads, schools or providing people with electricity. Awareness is an essential aspect of the development of the human being. Now, tell me, how on earth can one get aware when they are starved of information? What is the essence of teaching me about freedom of speech when you will not allow me to practice it”? Don’t you think it is rather too late for you to realize such a reality? Why don’t you honestly point out such realities to the authorities while serving as Observer editor?

K Cham: I have the feeling that you are mistaking me for some political opposition figure. I was not. I was just a journalist who was bound to follow an editorial line. However, I have demonstrated my feelings at the appropriate situations.

I just told you that the Gambia is not the kind of place we all are looking for, where you can tell such a truth openly and get away with it. I would not have risked that. Chief Manneh is in the hands of the NIA, the whole world has been crying about that with no result. What do you think I am, a fool? Or are you looking for a superman in me?

Anyway, I am happy that I am now free to discuss these issues without having to look around me in case somebody is watching.

Freedom Newspaper: Cham, are you talking out of vengeance, or grudge? How do you expect Gambians to believe you?

K Cham: I tell you what; those who know me will believe me. I served as a student leader at the University of the Gambia. I have established myself as my own person, and I am happy that quite a number of people respect me. I have quite a number of followers scattered about within the public and private service.

Have you thought of why I would give up the modest life I lived as editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer for a life of uncertainty? When I was fleeing the country I had absolutely no idea where I was heading to. I only wanted to get out of the country. Think of the pain of the thought of not being able to go to your home country until a period of time you do not know about? I did it based on genuine reasons.

Freedom Newspaper: Why was the opposition not given voice by the Daily Observer during your tenure? Have you ever assigned any reporter to interview Ousainou Darboe, Halifa, or Hamat Bah?

K Cham: I have done so on some occasions. As for Amat, I have interviewed him myself, although it was on the phone. Besides, the system in place did not guarantee that their ideas were published fully. Those were some of the issues I raised in my report. It was not just about Chief Manneh. I thought we could have made the paper a little bit better by giving some space to divergent views thereby making our paper more credible.

Freedom Newspaper: Do you support the APRC?

K Cham: I was not and I am not a registered member of any political party.

Freedom Newspaper: I know you are supposed to be independent as a journalist, but that does not deny you the right to support a party. What is bad is to pledge allegiance to political leaders. Do you agree?

K Cham: I agree, and that is why I never openly pledged any allegiance to any political party. I support government not political parties. Within the period of my stay at the Observer, I supported the development directions of the government.

Freedom Newspaper: What would you say to people saying that you are trying to secure political asylum by making such unsubstantiated claims against the Jammeh Government?

K Cham: I have been receiving such loads of mails on that subject that I do not have the time to respond to all. But I hope they will get to understand me later.

What I have left behind is more important than what I do not know about ahead of me in the country that will issue me asylum. I was supposed to register for the last course that would have had me qualified for a degree in Biology. As it stands now, I have virtually lost that chance, after four years of crisscrossing the greater Banjul Area. Besides, I lived a relatively modest life as editor-in-chief of the Observer, with the chance of traveling across the world. Do you think I could have just given that up for a prospect that is not certain at all? Absolutely not.

Freedom Newspaper: Do you know President Jammeh at a personal level? What kind of person is President Jammeh?

K Cham: He is just like anyone of us, except that he is different from you and I, like every one of us are in terms of our unique individual abilities. I have never met him quite closely; only handshakes and a few interviews at the airport on the last few of his trips abroad. I have great respect for him. I only hope he will be able to make out the good ones out of the bad ones from the people around him; the likes of Momodou Sanyang who are staining his government.

Freedom Newspaper: Do you think Jammeh will relinquish power peacefully?

K Cham: Peacefully? I have absolutely no doubt that when his time is up, he will; either by way of death or the ballot box. Why not?

Freedom Newspaper: Why are Government officials friendly to the Observer reporters? What is the secret here?

K Cham: It is a very big illusion that government officials are friendly to the Observer. As a matter of fact many of them do not support the president. So many, many people are not happy with many of the things we write. They do not talk to us. Can’t you see that whatever we write is about President Jammeh? Information no one can deprive us of? You think we just do not want to publish some of these information? No. Officials sell them to other newspapers and leave us in the cold. We only get staled information Momodou Sanyang first made sure GRTS airs before sharing them with us. Otherwise we depend on workshops, conferences and the like.

Freedom Newspaper: Is Chief Manneh alive?

K Cham: I hope so.

Freedom Newspaper: But President Jammeh said his Government does not detain Chief Manneh. Who is telling the truth here?

K Cham: If the free world rallied and petition Pa Malick Faye, Dr Taal and Momodou Sanyang, we will soon know. I for one, I am urging travel band, freezing of assets, alongside some penalties for these people. That will further serve as a deterrent for future cases like this. One thing I am certain of is that Chief Manneh is in the hands of the National Intelligence Agency of The Gambia (NIA).

Freedom Newspaper: What make you believe that you were going to disappear like Chief Manneh?

K Cham: Because the same people who are responsible for his disappearance were after me, and they had the very same NIA who picked Manneh up involved.

Freedom Newspaper: Why is the Daily Observer preoccupied covering stories which have no bearing or relevance to the plight of Gambians. Are you guys just there to promote Jammeh’s agenda?

K Cham: That is exactly the editorial line.

Freedom Newspaper: Is it correct to label Observer reporters, and Editors as CHECK BOOK journalists. That you are paid to publish whatever information given to you by the Government.

K Cham: If that is the meaning of checkbook journalism, then you might as well be correct to say so. That will mean that all of us are checkbook journalists, because we are paid for the reports we make.

Freedom Newspaper: If all what you saying are true, why didn’t you resign?

K Cham: Remember I wasn’t sacked, I left, which effectively means resigning, because you do not expect me to go back.

Freedom Newspaper: Did you regret working for the Daily Observer?

K Cham: When I think of some of the regrettable things that happened during my stay there? Yes. But when I think of some of the good things that happened in my time, I feel good.

Freedom Newspaper: Don’t you think you should apologize to Gambians for being part of misinformation machinery all these years? Will you apologize?

K Cham: Whatever piece I have written during my stay at the Observer I stand by it. So I have no apologies to make. Having said that, of course, as a human being, I may have offended a number of people at some point at a personal level; in that case, my apologies.

Freedom Newspaper: Does Saidibou still work at the Observer? I mean the photographer?

K Cham: There is no photographer at the Observer presently named Sadibou. But I was told that a Sadibou who now works at the State House was at the Observer. Probably he is the one you are referring to. He has since been transferred to State House in Banjul. He is quite a good photographer, and he shares some with us when our largely lazy and difficult-to-deal-with photographer failed to bring in something acceptable.

Freedom Newspaper: Sadibou should have been a millionaire if he was living in the West. He knows his job to the tip of his finger. Do you agree?

K Cham: I agree he knows his job.

Freedom Newspaper: How is life in exile?

K Cham: Well, the thought of leaving my mum and dad and brothers and sisters behind is torturing. But I hope this will end soon.

Freedom Newspaper: Don’t you think you should get in touch with your God mother Neneh to plead with Jammeh to enable your safe return to the country?

K Cham: My preoccupation is not to return just now, because I want to be safe. And I do not see that condition there at present. Let’s hope this will end soon.

Freedom Newspaper: You sound very critical in your writings. Why don’t you employed the same trend of writing while in The Gambia? Or is it because you fear the NIA?

K Cham: If you relocate Freedom to The Gambia I will come along with you and write on issues like this. I do not know if you will be willing to publish them though.

Freedom Newspaper: Any last words?

K Cham: I think we can make more impact with regards to changing the situation in Gambia if we become a little bit reasonable than we are presently in terms of what we publish online. You tend to be more personal in your attacks on the president. And you are sometimes not objective.

To add on to that, I am urging the rest of the free media fraternity, Gambians abroad, I mean, to help redirect the heat on the disappearance of Chief Manneh on the suspects rather than on President Yahya Jammeh.

Because of the manner in which I left Gambia, I was only able to come out with only my briefcase and my laptop computer. It used to take me up to a whole month without touching my laptop. But now, it is the loveliest of my properties. I enjoy the fact that I can write and express my views at free will. I really feels good.

Freedom Newspaper: Thanks Mr. Cham for granting us this interview.

K Cham: You are welcome.