Dear Editor,

I write to express my disappointment at your story captioned “MATHEW K. JALLOW'S OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF ECOWAS COMMISSION” authored by Mathew K. Jallow on June 25, 2009. My name “Cherno Kebbeh” is listed as one the Gambian journalists exiled by the Jammeh government between 1994 and 2009. This is absolutely wrong. I was a reporter for The Point Newspaper between 1993 and 1996 and at the same time attending Nusrat high School. I resigned from the Point to come to the US at my own will. I was neither exiled nor did I have any trouble with the Jammeh regime. I am a citizen of both The Gambia and the US and have visited The Gambia on numerous occasions – as recently as 2008.

Please publish this e-mail ASAP so as to clarify this issue.

Best Regards

Cherno Kebbeh

Dear Editor,
 
I read Mattew Jallow’s letter to the ECOWAS boss exposing human right violations in The Gambia with interest. I must say he should be commended for it. However I was shocked to see the usual style of putting other people’s names in the web and stating that they are all on 'exile.'
 
In his lists I saw my name and few others I know who even though worked 100% as journalist, but they are not on 'exile' as stated. Also Mattew must understand that there is a well respected principle in Europe especially in England that people whose application for asylum are in progress cannot have their names publicise. As a person who wants to run for the highest office of the land, Matthew must understand such rules.
 
Sadly it is not only Mattew who is doing these kinds of unnecessary revelation and irresponsible writings but others as well have been doing this for too long. Believe me this will achieve nothing and must be stopped.
 
I hope next time people be consulted and their names and status confirmed and verified by them prior to publication in the web.  As far as i am concerned, I am a journalist 100% but not on exile. Now I couldn’t say much because Sheriff Bojang already hit the nail on the head.
 
Gambian Journalist..