Gainako Newspaper

Mr. Editor,

I appreciate the bold, impartial, and professional nature of Gainako.com (GON)
online newspaper. This paper has demonstrated it's commitment to provide a fair
and open forum for everybody to express their views regardless of political affiliation.

The fact that other online news sites refused to publish my opinion goes further to demonstrate the lack
of impartiality and unprofessional standard in their so-called journalistic careers. This is also a blatant
disregard of objectivity and freedom of speech and expression. We live in a civilized world where
freedom of speech and expression is a paramount and uncompromised way of life. Intolerance, and
disregard for second opinion has no place here.

I have nothing to fear, hide, or reserve as far as expressing my views and opinions about any subject,
especially when it concerns my beloved country, mother Gambia. However, I sent my opinion to those
news sites with all my trust and confidence and expected them to exercise one of the most supreme
ethics of professional journalism i.e. confidentiality.

Momodou Lamin Drammeh
Raleigh, North Carolina.

Editor's note: Once again, Gainako editorial wishes to make it abundantly clear that we will never
ever censor anyone for expressing their views. While we reserve the right to refuse to publish articles
we found unethical or destructive to others' personal lives, we usually discuss this in details with the
writers before making the decision. As practicing journalists, we have a moral responsibility to make
sure that we are accountable for what we publish.

Gainako belongs to all Gambians regardless of political affiliation or personal views. So please always
count on us to publish your views as time permits. We are here to break that wall of censorship or
bias. Thanks to all our readers and contributors.

........ “ Don't Censor Anyone ”
.....Warned Journalist & Writer Cherno Baba Jallow
....................................................................................April 23rd, 2007

Dear Editor:

I wish to comment on the on-going debate between Mathew K. Jallow and
Momodou Lamin Drammeh. However, I will only concentrate on the free speech
aspect to this debate. I am troubled by Mathew's revelation: "I am aware you have
tried to get this letter published with all the online papers and blogs and they all
turned you down. Why? Because you are blinding yourself to the truth."

If this is true, then shame on those online papers and blogs! Having read Drammeh's piece, I must say
that there was nothing unpublishable there-in. So why wasn't he published? Was it because Mathew
came under fire? Why would any publisher deny anyone the opportunity to simply voice out his
concerns and opinions on (any) issue as germane to the national question as tribalism especially is?
Those online papers and blogs were punitive in their denial of outlet for Drammeh to express himself.
And that is tantamount to a flagrant assault on his right of free speech. It is wrong. Painful.

In our inordinate enthusiasm to assail Jammeh and register our unwavering opposition to his
monumental failures, we should only do so with the full understanding that not all of us think alike; that
in the marketplace of ideas, contrarian viewpoints are necessary concomittants of national debates,
most importantly those geared towards rebuilding battered political entities like ours; and that you
don't facilitate mass enlightenment by curtailing speech. Newspapers should feel unbounded to publish
(anything), short of libel and any other information deemed unfit for public consumption by national
consensus.

If Mathew, whom my admiration bursts at the seams, was gloating over the decision of the other
online papers and blogs to reject Drammeh's write-up, he should rethink his glee. It is unbecoming of
any writer, more so an inspirational and veteran one of Mathew's standing, to be unconcerned,
complicit actually, as one of his readers is being muzzled from expressing himself. That is
disappointing. Mathew should worry less about what his readers think of him. He is huge. He has a
platform. He has a large audience. That is too much concentrated power compared to some guy in
North Carolina, struggling hard to be heard. I wish that some day, some of us in the writing business in
The Gambia will come to the full realization that readers are consumers, too. They have to be treated
with class and dignity. They should be given the last word. Always.

Until now, I had disagreed with the decision of the Gainako editors to publish Drammeh's piece
because it was not the appropriate medium. Mathew doesn't write for Gainako. And Mathew's
articles that have brought this tribalism debate were all published elsewhere, which is where the
dialogue rightly belongs. But given the rejection slips Drammeh received from the other online
publications, it is now my understanding that Gainako had no other recourse but to publish Drammeh.
That was the right thing to do.

Cherno Baba Jallow
Southfield, Michigan.

.......Mathew K. Jallow Reacts
......to Momodou L. Drammeh's Dispute on Jammeh's Tribal Appointments.

..................................................................................April 22nd, 2007
Editor,

Please allow me space to respond to Mr. Drammeh. First of all, I appreciate Michael Ndure's attempt
to put some sense into Mr. Drammeh's head. I will go further to inform Mr. Drammeh that none of the
people he named viz: Samba Bah, Fasainey Dumbuya, Churchill Baldeh, Sheriff Dibba, Fatou
Jahumpa-Ceesay, Isatou Njie-Saidy and Blenda Bidwell is a civil servant. These are all political
appointees and they come and go like the wind.

Civil Servants are the career bureaucrats who run the country on a daily basis, and there is a big
difference. Civil Servants are for life, but political appointees are only until the next round of elections.
Do you see the difference, Mr. Drammeh? I am aware you have tried to get this letter published with
all the online papers and blogs and they all turned you down. Why? Because you are blinding yourself
to the truth.

Mathew K. Jallow
United States

Editor's note: Gainako wish to set the records straight that we do not turn down publishing articles
submitted to us because they are of the opposing view. Every Gambian or friends of the Gambia have
equal opportunity to be heard on this paper regardless of their view or political affiliation. We don't
belief in censorship.

......NDURE AND MATHEW; YOUR VIEWS ARE BIAS AND UNREALISTIC

Welcome to the discussion Mr. Ndure. Your views, or should I call them opinions, or are they facts?
What ever you call them, fall in similar criteria as those of Mathew K. Jallow's, i.e. bias and unrealistic.

You cited two organs of the entire government, the security services and the media as your good
example of Jammeh's tribalism practices. I'll also stick to those two organs in my response.

SECURITY:

ARMY: In the last years, Col. Babucarr Jatta (rtd) has been the longest serving chief but don't be
misled by his last name, he is not from the Jola tribe. Added to that, Col. Lang Tombong Tamba is
Chief of Defence Staff of the armed forces, but have you done your research on the backgrounds of
the chiefs of the various branches? i.e. Army, Navy, and National Guard? Please do so.

NIA: First and foremost, I have to correct you on the fact that there was only one Kujabi that headed
the NIA as director, and that is Abdoulie Kujabi, I don't know where you got "previous directors
especially the Kujabis," from. Furthermore, were Ngorr Secka and/or Foday Barry replaced by
Jammeh's tribesmen? Finally, are the firings of any or all non-Jola civil servants tantamount to
tribalism? Please tell me.

POLICE: Again, don't be fooled by the last names, neither Col. Baboucarr Jatta (rtd) nor Major
Ousman Sonko is from the Jola tribe as far as I know.

MEDIA: Why didn't you mention the fact that all previous GRTS directors were non-Jola? Are you
being bias by simply ignoring facts that contradict your claims?

I commend you for such an objective article Mr. Ndure, and please allow me to give my keyboard a
break until all or most of the above questions are answered.

Momodou Lamin Drammeh
Raleigh, North Carolina
.

....WHO IS THE REAL TRIBALIST? JAMMEH OR THOSE ACUSING HIM?

I have a short note to furnish to readers and Gambians in particular. Why always try to hold back a
fellow citizen and human being? Whenever the President do something, or promote someone who
happens to have a last name of his tribe, you always bring up tribalism.

As a concern Gambian, I see you people as the real tribalist Gambians. In other for us to go forward
with developing the Gambia, we need to stop blaming everything on tribe or religion. For God sake,
let us criticize each other towards enriching our nation than worrying about which tribe or religion
holds a post in the Gambia government. So please my fellow Gambians, let us come together to fight
this disease of tribalism that follows us in the diaspora. We should tolerate each other as human beings
rather than ethnic groups.

Thank you and God bless the Gambia.....

Omar Jallow
Raleigh, North Carolina

Editor's Note: Gainako editorial challenges the contributors to this sensitive subject to give us more
substance to the consequences of Jammeh's tribal appointments as they see them. What impact has his
appointments have on our economy, social harmony and co-existence all tribes in Gambia used to
enjoy? How could people be more educated on the danger of tribal appointments? Why a last name is
always affiliated with tribe considering Gambia's tribal intermarriages etc? Swaying the debate in these
directions might be more interesting and educative to our readership. What do you say ???

......AT THE COURT MARTIAL
......4 SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
...........................By Fabakary B. Ceesay Courtesy of Foroyaa ...............April 21st, 2007

The protracted criminal trial of ten officers of The Gambia Armed Forces, who are standing at the
Court Martial at the Yundum Barracks for allegedly trying to overthrow the Government of The
Gambia on 21st March 2006 has come to an end. On Thursday the 19 April 2007 they were all
convicted on different charges and sentenced to different jail terms to run concurrently.

Captain Bunja Darboe, Captain Yaya Darboe, Captain Wassa Camara and Second Lieutenant
Pharing Sanyang were all convicted on five counts; namely counseling or procuring persons to commit
mutiny; causing or conspiring with others to cause mutiny; mutiny, treason and; conspiracy to commit
treason. They were all found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

However, Captain Yaya Darboe was acquitted on count two, that is causing or conspiring with others
to cause mutiny contrary to section 47 (b), of The Gambia Armed Forces Act..

Captain Pierre J. Mendy, Captain Adboukarim Jah, Lieutenant Momodou Alieu Bah, Corporal
Samba Bah, Lance Corporal Babou Janha and Private Alagie Nying were each convicted on three
counts: failure to report mutiny, of treason and concealment of treason.

Captain Abdoukarim Jah was sentenced to 25 years in jail in respect of each of the three charges to
run concurrently. Captain Pierre Mendy, Lieutenant Momodou Alieu Bah, Corporal Samba Bah,
Lance Corporal Babou Janha and Private Alagie Nying were given ten (10) years in respect of each
of the three charges to run concurrently.

As the president of the court was reading the verdict, by the relatives and loved ones of the convicts
became emotional and wailed. Some even fainted and had to be rushed to the military clinic at the
Yundum Barracks. An old woman, who is said to be the mother of Corporal Samba Bah, was
shouting at the top of her voice, saying “I have no other son, all are dead. Please God help me!” The
court room was filled to capacity with heavy security presence.

Before the court commenced sitting, all the family members were told that they would not be allowed
to enter. The security at the gate could not advance any reason for the decision. But with the
intervention of the defence counsels the press and family members were allowed in. The trial was
presided over by five military officers as panelists and a judge advocate. The panelists were Captain
Lamin Famara Jammeh, Captain Bubacarr Sanyang, Captain Sillah Kujabi, Captain Gibril Bojang and
Commander Sarjo Fofana (as the President of the Court). Justice Akimoyae Agim was the Judge
Advocate
.
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