Gainako Newspaper

In this exclusive interview with Gainako on-line Newspaper (GON) former freedom
newspaper co-editor and now founder of the recently lauched senegambianewspaper.com
Mr. Yankuba Jambang speaks about his humble beginning, his new venture, its purpose,
promise and the reasons why he quits the freedom newspaper.

(Below we reproduce the whole exclusive interview.)

GON: Mr. Jambang first of all the staff of Gainako wish to congratulate you on
the launching of Senegambianews.com. For those that do not know you, please
describe yourself?

Jambang: Thanks for welcoming me. Well, I am from Kembujeh village in Kombo Central. I went
to Kuloro Primary School in Kombo East then to Kinderdorf Bottrop Technical High School in
Brikama and later to St. Augustine's in Banjul. Upon completion of my A' levels, started freelancing
for the Daily Observer newspaper and in 1998, I began filing news items with Citizen FM radio in
the Gambia.

GON:: Please tell us about senegambianews.com? Its purpose and promises? In order words, what
will the audience expect from your website?

Jambang: Senegambianews.com, like other existing online papers, is out to give readers multiple
choices. Freedom and democracy are about enlarging people's choice and, I want to offer the online
readership a different taste in my layout, content and presentation. The paper is very young at the
moment but I am planning to make this one of the most resourceful sites on Senegambia and its
people. I am still working on some other things.

GON: Who are your target audience and what difference do you hope to make by this new
venture?

Jambang: All those interested in developments in the Gambia and Senegal and Africa as whole.
You may not believe this but in just seven days I am able to have readers from Ghana,
Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Scandinavia, Europe including Spain, Asia, etc. Thanks to the Gambia
Echo and your paper, Gainako.com for carrying my press release.

GON: You once served as the associate editor of the website Freedom newspaper prior to your
sudden departure last month. In your resignation letter you stated that one of the reasons for leaving
freedom newspaper was and I quote "Journalism is a responsible reporting and maintaining
ethics; informing the public with credible news and not otherwise - this does not obtain at
freedomnewspaper.com any more." Can you please elaborate on the incident in question that was
the final straw that drove you to finally call it quits?

Jambang: Well, you cannot do otherwise but to be truthful in what you do if you want to be
trustworthy. The incident was about a fictitious character called Lamarana Jallow who
malevolently and irrationally wanted to discredit former vice-president Bakary Dabo and former
Gambian military commander, Sam Sarr in commentary that did not have a figment of truth. Let me
make this clear, I do not know BB Dabo in person, nor have known any of his relations here in the
US or back home in the Gambia. The same applies to Sam Sarr and Chongan. But in Lamarana's
story, BB Dabo and Sam Sarr were allegedly trying to restore deposed president Jawara. And in
the same story, BB Dabo was poised to take Yahya Jammeh's place (to be head of state). What
would you have done if Lamarana were to submit this story to Gainako? I will leave that to you and
readers.

Another surprising point was that Lamarana alleged that Sam Sarr held Swaebou Conateh of
Gambia News & Report Magizine at gunpoint to write a "coup statement" for the junta. Sam is an
internationally recognized author. Does it make sense that he was going to put some one's life on the
line only for writing him a statement? The answer is no. I wrote a piece to the publisher of
Freedomnewspaper.com, Pa Ndery, which he published. In it I asked Lamarana to clarify the
contradictions I have just mentioned. He did not. But another freedomnewspaper.com editor in the
person of Mohammed Jawara intervened on Lamarana's behalf asking me to explain what
happened since I disagree with Lamarana's version! I wrote a second piece to Pa Ndery M'bai,
which he published but pulled it down from the site in less than half an hour! Essentially, telling me
"your views would not be tolerated". So, I quit.

GON: Prior to this last incident, was there any other incident(s) in the past? And have you tried in
your capacity as the associate editor of the paper to raise questions about the validity of the stories
being reported, its content or events?

Jambang: Yes. The alleged extra-marital affairs of Kaba Bajo, Gambia's ambassador to Tehran. I
cautioned Mr. M'bai about such wild allegations but to no avail. Such stories are potential
ingredients for breaking up people's marriage and he could be dragged to court for that. But his
argument was 'they are public officials'. I agree that public officials are to be scrutinized by press
especially when it comes to the abuse of office. But no such allegations have been brought against
Mr. Bajo and he has not been named any corruption scandals. So, why mess with his matrimonial
life? What interest do we have in him sleeping with a woman in Norway during his vacation? None.

GON: While many hailed your decision to quit freedom newspaper as " honorable" and a duty for
any reputable journalist to do to keep his/her reputation intact notably Rtd Colonel Sarr, but still
there are others who wondered why it took you so long to come to this conclusion?

Jambang: I joined the paper with the hope of telling Gambians stories that Daily Observer and
other government controlled press would not dare speak of and I know Mr. M'bai way back in the
Gambia. We 've authored stories together at the Daily Observer without running to each other. So, I
stayed with him for this long hoping to effect some changes in his style of reporting. But this
unfortunately, was not possible. Better late than never.

GON: Since your departure from Freedom newspaper there is speculation that you once were
writing under the name "Justice Sam" and "Town crier", a familiar theme at Freedom. Any truth to
this allegation?

Jambang: Ha, ha, Justice Sam? Town Crier! I have only one identity. Yankuba Jambang. Why
would I use a feign name when my name is everywhere? Only Pa Ndery knows who these phony
characters are.

GON: Your press release was carried by Gainako, The Echo but not Freedom. Any reason for
this?

Jambang: I don't know? They know why.

GON: Gainako have known you to be a friend and associate to Freedom's Editor and Publisher
Mr. Mba'i, not recently but it dates back to the Gambia. Will you call him one of these days to mend
the differences and move forward?

Jambang: I will certainly call him when I need to but not to talk about my departure or mend
fences.

GON: Thanks for talking to Gainako.

Jambang: Thanks for having me,

............Interview
BABA GALLEH JALLOW
..AUTHOR OF - � Mandela's Other Children �
........................By GON..................June 17th, 2007

Gainako on-line newspaper (GON) in its effort to engage more intellectuals in various subjects areas caught
up with the author of " Mandela's Other Children: The Diary Of An African Journalist " Mr. Baba Galleh
Jallow, a prolific writer and renowned Gambian Journalist residing in the US. In this exclusive interview, Mr.
Jallow talked about his recent work. A book that dwells on the political events in the Gambia and draws great
parallels to the South African experience. An interesting master piece that has recieved rave reviews from
many political forums, blogs and newspapers.

Mr. Jallow, known for his sparkling Journalistic engagement dwelled on
various topics discussed in his book . This book welcomed by many political
forum and newspaper editors, adds to the list of documentaries of our time,
and a clear testimony of a living struggle under the clutches of tyranny and a
poor administrator.

(Below is the whole interview with Galleh in a humble mood as is his usual nature)

GON: Good Morning Mr. Baba Galleh Jallow. It is said in Mandinka �Ninchi koto buka nyamoh
tinah.� In a sense, the big pen gunners can dribble the pen on paper any how they like. Any
comment?

Galleh: Well, there is certainly some wisdom in this ancient Mandinka saying. I�m just not sure
whether I�m qualified enough to claim its honor. I certainly cannot claim to be a �big pen gunner� as
you put it. I simply try to put down my thoughts, impressions, and opinions as best I can.

GON: Your promised book, �Mandela�s other Children: The Diary of an African Journalist� is
finally here. What�s the target at this point? What�s the reason for its title �Mandela�s Other
children?�

Galleh: Well, the target readership is primarily the Gambian people, both current and future
generations. The secondary target readership is the international community. And I think it�s already
having an impact. Reporters Without Borders, for instance, have it up on the �Things We Like�
section of their website. The idea is to share with readers my sense of the destructive workings of
the current Gambian regime by sharing my personal experiences as well as document some of the
worst human rights violations that have happened in our country since 1994. A significant portion of
the book is dedicated to interrogating just what is going on with our country � identifying, naming,
analyzing, trying to fit events and goings-on in the wider conceptual framework of contemporary
politico-social discourse.

I got the title �Mandela�s Other Children� while taking a course in South African history. One of
our readings was Rian Malan�s �My Traitor�s Heart.� As I studied this book and others, it struck
me that there are very deep similarities between the oppressive apartheid regime in South Africa and
oppressive regimes elsewhere, particularly in The Gambia. I found it strangely ironic that black
Africans in The Gambia and other sub-Saharan African countries are oppressing their own people
even while white racists Afrikaners were oppressing black Africans in South Africa. Why should
black people oppress black people? I was also shocked to learn that during the 1980s, P.W.
Botha�s notorious secret police was called the National Intelligence Agency � NIA. It made me
wonder if Jammeh got the name of his NIA from apartheid South Africa. Also, there is the similarity
between the massacre of school children in Soweto in June 1976 and the massacre of school
children in The Gambia in April 2000. And finally, for the purposes of this interview, there is sense in
which both oppressor and oppressed are victims of violence, and a sense in which Mandela
emerges as a father figure for all lovers of truth and justice in Africa. So I thought it�s a title
that would invoke the concept of a pan-African struggle against oppression, and also provoke some
interrogation of the concept of political oppression itself across time and space.

GON: What is the motivation for publishing this book?

Galleh: I think this question has been partly answered in the preceding sections. In any case, my
motivation is the need to record what�s going on in The Gambia for current and future generations.
To show a wider spectrum of people around the world what�s going on. And ultimately, as a form of
protest and condemnation of the politics of violence that the Jammeh regime is engaged in, and to
loudly declare that it is neither right nor possible to prevent people from expressing their legitimate
opinions.

GON: Your work in the past and present is sparking candle lights in many horizons. Humble Galleh,
what�s the magic behind your writings? Who do you look up to, as in admiration?

Galleh: Well, I feel rather uneasy with those sparking candle lights. Anyway, I derive inspiration first
and foremost from the fact that God is on the side of truth and justice. I admire all who are truthful
and just, and all who refuse to be compromised by the corrupting influences of power, ego, wealth,
selfishness, and greed, among other vices.

GON: �But Mandela�s Other Children is also a story of heroic resistance, stubborn defiance,
and a steely determination to assert and preserve endangered sovereignties by threatened
social entities.� What�s your comment on the above quote?

Galleh: I think this quote aptly captures part of what this small book is trying to do; that is, show
how some people, in spite of their disadvantaged social positions and apparent vulnerability, refuse
to bend down to the bullying tactics of unjust despotism. I think the notion of �endangered
sovereignties� evokes the concept that sovereignty rests in every human being and every social
group. For example, the idea that power resides in the people, that power belongs to the people.
There is a sense in which people and organizations, in this case supposedly powerless journalists,
media houses, and students, insist on violating unjust prohibitions an unjust regime is trying to impose
upon them. In refusing to take injustices lying down, they are asserting and trying to preserve their
individual sovereignties.

GON: Summarize this book in three words?

Galleh: I�m afraid I am unequal to that task. I can say that one of the key messages of this small
book is that injustice never pays. If people in power think that they can trample on truth, justice, and
the inalienable rights of other human beings, then they must realize that those human beings reserve
the right to resist such injustice, and that ultimately, their deeds will be recorded for both current and
future generations. You do what you like, we write what we like, simple.

GON: The recent review of your book by current GPU Secretary General Mr. Pa Samba Jow,
another renowned critic of Jammeh�s administration finally exposed the book out to the public.
Congrats to Mr. Jow for a wonderful review; but many sensed that Mr. Jow might have written it
with �temper�, knowing what his mates like Fatou Jaw Manneh and others are going through
under this callous administration. Did you perceive such in the review?

Galleh: Well, I can understand Pa Samba Jow�s outrage against Jammeh�s despotism. He has all
the right to be outraged and to express his outrage in whatever manner he likes. He did a very good
job of citing some of the issues I discuss in the book. He has a right to his opinions and the right to
express his opinions in whatever language he chooses; and I totally respect that.

GON: Excuse us that we have to go out of the box a little bit here. What are you waiting for to
board the �Independent Newspaper� online, knowing that one of your paper�s editors, Alagi Yoro
is also outside? Do you or your management feel betrayed by Gambians on the weak participation
when the Independent was under attack?

Galleh: Well, I have considered having an online version of The Independent a couple of times, but
I realize that there are certain time and resource constraints as to the feasibility of such a project just
now. One, we might not be able to maintain a good reserve of reporters on the ground; and two, I
personally do not have the kind of time needed to devote to such a project just now.

On whether we feel betrayed by Gambians. Personally I will say No. True, public support has not
been very openly forthcoming, but we think it is there nonetheless. Moreover, it has always been my
belief that one should not embark upon any course of action hoping that people will come to your
aid in case of difficulties. I believe that if you must fall, you must fall with the knowledge that you will
have to pick yourself up.

GON: The external GPU to which you were the Secretary General at a time is now dormant.
Agreeably, this is not wholly emanating from the executive but also member participants. Any efforts
to galvanize people?

Galleh: First, a point of correction: I was never the GPU-USA Secretary General. I merely
coordinated the efforts to establish it. After it was formed, I helped coordinate the election of an
executive and handed over to them. I must say that the Union was dormant from the very beginning.
First of all, most Gambian journalists in the U.S. showed very little or no interest in the organization.
Many did not even bother to register. Secondly, even those who registered have not been
adequately committed to the Union. We tried and continue to try to get people actively involved to
little avail. Apparently, folks have other more important matters to attend to and you really can�t
run an organization if the membership or those who should constitute the membership deliberately
refuse to be proactive. I�m afraid that until people show more interest, the Union cannot but be
dormant.

GON: What message do you have for your wide readership?

Galleh: Well, first of all, I thank everyone for their kind support and encouragement. Secondly, I
would say read on.

GON: Any works in the pipeline?

Galleh: Yes, there are a few works in the pipeline. I am hoping that by next Fall I would have
another small book out. I do not know at this time which of the works in progress I will complete by
then, but definitely one of them, God willing.

GON: Thank you for talking to GON. We look forward to having you soon again.

Galleh: Thank you.

To get your copy of Mandela's Children and other books written by Baba Galleh Jallow click here

.DAILY OBSERVER'S
...........RAMPAGEOUS EDITORIAL
.............................................By Madi Ceesay..................June 15th, 2007

When I read the highly seditious June 11th editorial in the pro-government Daily
Observer newspaper , two things struck my mind: one-this puppet scrap paper
is ignorantly trying to make the case for a senseless war between the
(sister/brother) countries -Gambia and Senegal; two--- this paper is unknowingly
defeating the purpose for which it was clandestinely bought by Yahya Jammeh
by ringing the alarm bell for a destabilized Gambia instead of a stabilized one that
Jammeh can continue to torture( without outsiders' notice) as long as he remains
in power. A Gambia at war with Senegal would loosen Jammeh's hold on power
and speed up his removal. I need no elaboration. Daily Observer needs to get this
fact!

This editorial (or do I call it another State House Memo?), which appears to
be tainted with finger prints of the belligerents in the Gambia's highest public
service office, sounds unprecedented in that it has for the first time voluntarily
made public classified intelligence reports that had never been made available for
public consumption in the past thirteen years of Jammeh's stay in power. It accuses
the democratic Senegalese authorities in Dakar of continuing "to destabilize the
Gambia". Question: wasn't Sud FM Radio in Banjul shut down by Jammeh a year
ago for the same reason of broadcasting information "destabilizing the relations"
between the two countries? And now the Observer could publish the same kind
of "subversive" information and it still remains on the news stands? Is this how
"democracy" functions by Jammeh's standards?

In a dumb comparison, the editorial alleges " whereas Sudan is being condemned for the
atrocities committed by the Janjaweed in the region of Darfur, Senegal has never been taken
to task for sponsoring the Jakai Rebels, a violent group responsible for the worst atrocities
within (the) sub-Saharan Africa." By all standards, this comparison qualifies as the worst sign of
the existence of an immeasurable load of ignorance on the part of a national newspaper headed by a
person said to be a PhD holder. Isn't it smart to suggest that Saja Taal's Ph.D. stands for Pull Him
Down, not Doctor of Philosophy?

Let's be clear. The unspeakable violence in strife-torn Darfur are purely a racial genocide that have
murdered more than 400,000 innocent Black people and the displacement of over 2.5 million, most
of whom are our mothers, sisters and little brothers. The Casamance conflict is a secession war. So,
the atrocities in Darfur and the problem in Casamance must never be parallely compared by any
sane person with sound knowledge of the current unfold of violence across sub-Saharan Africa.

What makes the Observer believe the "Jakai Rebels" are "responsible for the worst atrocities
committed within (the) sub-Saharan Africa?" Certainly, not the facts and figures in the archives! If
the paper had done its research home work, it never would have come up with such fallacious
allegations. Not to mention Darfur again, the wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia claimed the lives of
50,000 and 220,000 respectively. The Casamance conflict has killed a meager 5,000 lives and the
displacement of just 60,000 after 24 years of fighting. With all these figures out there in the open for
everyone to see, Saja Taal and co. still have the audacity to lie, propelled by puppetry motives to
claim "the worst atrocities committed within (the) sub-Saharan Africa" had been in the
Casamance region of Senegal. This is purely indicative of the culture of irresponsible journalism that
prevails in the Daily Observer, today, so long as Jammeh is pleased with the contents. Which is why
independent and sound minded professional journalists in The Gambia have become victims of
Jammeh's anti-independent media campaign brutality since they do not want to be "partners in
development" in this form of professional dishonesty(distort facts, snub figures and cook up
allegations to frame-up enemies).

More disturbingly, the Observer still has the mouthiness to shift the blame to the West by stupidly
asking: "why is the Western world condemning Sudan while leaving Senegal on its whims commits
the same or even worst atrocities in Casamance?...who will take the West seriously when they
condemn one killer and praise another for the same type of atrocities inflicted on mankind?" I think it
is quite amazing to read such an editorial on a newspaper that performs the role of an international
public relations firm for a president who has always been advocating for "an African solution to an
African crisis". Why does Jammeh's Observer have to resort to the "western world" for a solution
"to an African crisis?" What's up with the "African solution?" Does this suggest weakness or
unworkability in Jammeh's slogan for finding an "African solution to an African crisis" to thwart
the so-called tensions precipitated by the alleged efforts by Senegal to help "dissidents to
overthrow the government of President Yahya Jammeh?"

In fact, the atrocities, that had been (and continue to be) committed in the Southern province of
Casamance are the sole responsibility of the rebels in the region that the Senegalese authorities have
been fighting against (for) over two decades. So, for the Daily Observer to allege that Senegal
"continues to destabilize Gambia", just because some "dissidents" had reportedly received
logistics aid (to avoid persecution in the Gambia) from rebels (that Senegal detests most), clearly
manifests the paper's relentless global campaign to weakly blame the innocent authorities in Dakar
for a problem initiated and spread by their undercover proprietor in Banjul: Yahya Jammeh. This
reminds me of the old adage: a bad farmer always blames his tools (even if they are sharp and
shiny)!

I, neither sympathize with rebels nor governments hell bent on the annexation (based on bogus
historical claims) of neighbors, but I am honestly convinced that almost every point made in this
rampageous editorial can be critically challenged by any conscious reader. And, I think it is
important for the folks in Banjul, calling the shots at the Daily Observer, to realize that this particular
editorial does more harm than good to beautiful Gambia's "national security". If the Observer were
a genuine "partner in development" it would not be involved in the imagination and creation of
security threat that seems as fake as a mid-day mirage. It would have been involved in charting out
possible solutions to this so-called political crisis between two neighbors that can't afford to lose
being branded the "oases of peace" in a conflict-infested sub-region.

MADI CEESAY
New York

� Copyright, 2006-2007: Gainako On-line Newspaper . Site Maintained by Gamway Computers