Sir Jackal is Not a Soldier of Fortune; He’s  Real

BY TIJAN NIMAGA. Bronx New York

Reading The Gambia Echo’s exclusive interview on Sergeant Alhagie Cham Joof’s (Sir Jackal’s) triumphant and long journey to freedom, the whole situation and the real life struggle he went through, from the very moment of the Military attack at Kartong, quickly reminded me of two classic Hollywood movies .One, is THE GREAT ESCAPE, a 1963 Hollywood classic movie based on a several hundred Allied POWs’ plan on a mass escape from a German POW camp. But the difference between Sir Jackal and those POWs is, his ability to escape successfully while the Great Escape POWs were either executed or recaptured shortly after escaping.

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Suntou Touray Takes Issues with Mathew K.Jallow

Mr Editor,

Allow me space to respond briefly to the backing of Sam's Sarr by veteran writer and journalist Mathew K Jallow. I am a huge fan of Mathew K Jallow that started from the time I started writing in some on-line Gambian forums. I respected the courage and boldness of a man who never minces his words. He is one Gambian writer never afraid to say what his good mind conceives. He does not hide behind any aliases like some other Gambian on-line debaters or writers do.

Suntou Touray, UK

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Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues

Issue No. 23/2008, 25 – 26, 2008

Editorial

Suspect on Bail Re-Arrested

Sending The Wrong Signal

When President Jammeh boasted during the swearing in of Justices of the Supreme Court, recently, that the Executive would not interfere with their work, many raised eyebrows. They did not believe that he meant what he said. Recently, Foroyaa did emphasise in one of its editorials that what is of significance is that words be matched with deeds? Did the executive match words with deeds?

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The Gambia Echo Press Release-Clarification

It has been brought to our attention that some people have made scurrilous allegations to the effect that The Echo’s on the line/off the line appearances last weekend resulted from Bakary Bunja Dabo and Sidi Sanneh’s decision to forfeit their financial support to the paper. Some also alleged, that The Echo was experiencing financial problems and that we were shut down by debt collectors.

Hon. B.B. Dabo

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Is President Jammeh A Criminal or A Fool?

By Momodou Badjie, Western Foni, The Gambia

As a Gambian living in The Gambia, I want to seize this opportunity to remind President Jammeh the dictator that nothing lasts forever except the Kingdom of the Almighty God.  Jammeh's presidency validated our perceptions that he is both a fool and a criminal. Whenever a leader fails to think about the consequences of his actions, something very serious is missing in the puzzle. If anyone doesn’t agree with him then you are fired and remanded in Mile Two Prisons.

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Sir Jackal Breaks Silence Part IV (Final)

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In-Chief

For the past eight weeks we have been chronicling the arresting tale of The Gambia’s most elusive and probably most adventurous soldier, fugitive Sergeant Alhagie Cham Joof (a.k.a Sir Jackal) following a five–hour exclusive telephone interview he granted to The Gambia Echo’s Editor-In-Chief Ebrima G. Sankareh. We have followed Sgt. Joof's story from his first flight to freedom in the wake of the bloody counter-coup of November 11, 1994 to his mysterious visits to The Gambia while still on the country’s most wanted list and to the Kartong military camp attack in which his co-conspirators (three lieutenants) were arrested, tried and now serving life sentences leaving him the lonely escapee to tell their fascinating tale of adventure

Sergeant Alhagie Cham Joof (a.k.a Sir Jackal)

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Reporters Without Borders:

Gambia - Annual Report 2008 
 
Area : 11,300 sq. km. 
Population : 1,663,000. 
Language : English. 
Head of state : Yahya Jammeh.

The Gambian press does its best to survive in a climate in which an authoritarian president believes Aids can be cured with ointments and by reading the Koran, where intelligence services are dreaded for the brutality of their methods, the murder of the doyen of the journalists remains unpunished and there is an absolute intolerance of any form of criticism.

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My Last Nail On Africa’s Tribal Politics

By Lieutenant Colonel Samsudeen Sarr (Rtd.)

 I am afraid I would have to make this paper my last one on the subject of Tribal Politics in Africa. This is also in response to Sulayman  Saidy-Khan’s Part II discourse published about a week ago. I must however, first confess that many of my friends and associates had advised me to stop this debate but hey I think I am enjoying it like any serious challenge I had confronted in the past.

Lieutenant Colonel Samsudeen Sarr (Rtd.)

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British Nobel Laureate Doris Lessing Under The Storm 

AN OPEN LETTER TO DORIS LESSING

 Dear Doris Lessing:

As an American writer who has been, for several decades, consistently critical of the actions of American governments throughout the world and in its perpetuation of atavistic barbarities at home such as capital punishment, the incarceration of whole demographies of African-American youth for petty drug offenses, the disenfranchisement of the poor, and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a miniscule percentile of our population, I feel I have the right to address your recent ex cathedra remarks about the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, to wit, "that he will be assassinated if he's elected," or words to this direct effect.

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The Myth of the “Tribe” and The Beginning of Identity Politics in The Gambia 

Ebou Jallow, Baghdad, Iraq 

First let us clear some serious categorical misunderstandings about “tribes” and ethnicity in The Gambia: Africans in general and Gambians in particular became “tribal” during the first half of the 20^th Century when they learned about themselves and discovered their ethnic identities from European scholars.  Think about it seriously, the concept of “tribe” much more “tribalism” was never a serious cultural characteristic that has any determinate roots in The Gambian past. 

Captain Ebou Jallow with Taiwanese leader

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The Tribal Debate Overkill

    By Mathew K. Jallow

After again reading Sam Sarr’s article on the genesis of tribalism, it became evident that some of the passionate but brutal responses his article elicited, are mostly overkill. The cruel and venomous tones of some of the responses made me go back and read the article once more time, and truth be told, I found nothing to warrant the barrage of insults and irrational confrontation the article has generated.

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Dear Sir:

Rip-Off or Not? A Technical View On Australian Company (Canagie)

In respect of the above, please allow me to explain and clarify to your readership a matter that might be of interest to them. It is about a recent headline (to be specific on the 15^th February 2008) in the Daily Observer and the Point Newspapers of The Gambia. The two papers reported on an extra-ordinary press conference convened by the Foreign Affairs Minister (Mr. Crispon Grey-Johnson) to ‘assure the diplomats, the business community and investors that the government of The Gambia is pro-business and pro-investment’.

Batokungku Drilling Site The Gambia West Africa

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What Happened to The Echo?

Dear Editor:

We your readership wish to express our boredom for not getting our daily dose for the past days. The Gambia Echo has been resourceful and inspirational and surely a Gambian and African Pride. This paper is not only read by the average Gambian but our notorious dictator, President Dr. A.J.J. Jammeh. Can one imagine how it feels waking up in morning without coffee or tea?

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The Gambia Echo is in the process of migrating to a new host and we will be on and off line until when the services are completed. We apologise to our readers for the inconvenience this causes.

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Hello Ebrima:

Over the past years, I have been fascinated by events in Africa and have read books and numerous newspapers about the continent and my profession as a diplomat gave me the opportunity to visit some places. In the past year, I came across The Gambia Echo Newspaper and while I have visited Africa, I have not been to The Gambia yet.

Ivan Simic, Belgrade, Serbia

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Man of The Year Noise: Suwaebou Conateh’s Crime Against  Yahya Jammeh’s Haters

By Bubacarr Sankanu, Cologne, Germany

I was too busy and could not have promptly responded to the myopic hoopla that greeted Suwaebou Conateh’s recognition of President Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh as “Man of the Year 2007.” After a second thought, I decided to belatedly sacrifice some valuable minutes here. One of the reasons why Islam is suffering from negative global publicity is that the petrodollar fundamentalists have hijacked discourse and are busy suppressing innocent women and, destroying life and property in the name of a Great Religion, which teaches love, peace, tolerance and moderation.

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Kebba Gai Passes Away

By Dr. Abdoulaye Saine, Oxford, Ohio

I am saddened to inform the entire global Gambian Community of the untimely death of Mr. Kebba Gai on February 11, 2008 in a Cincinnati hospital in the state of Ohio. Kebba, who was in his late forties was born in Ballanghar, Lower River Division.  He is survived by his wife, Awa Sarr of Brikama and four lovely children. 

The Late Kebba Gai

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SPECIAL REPORT/AFRICA

Ethnicity: Releasing Africa’s “Suppressed Rage”

     By Kofi Akosah-Sarpong

     "We have met the enemy and he is us"~ Pogo

The December, 2007 presidential elections troubles in Kenya that saw over 1,000 people killed reveals the unresolved “rage” of Africa’s ethnicity, as the Polish-born novelist Joseph Conrad will tell you in his famous “suppressed rage” phrase that fits some of Africa’s deadly ethnic conflicts. Despite attracting charges of racism and paternalism in the “Heart of Darkness,” Conrad’s observation of Africa mired in something primal and savage may be as relevant as practicable in certain ways as some African ethnic conflicts and bad governments show.

Rwandise refugees fleeing the Hutu/Tutsi genocide

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PDOIS’ Desk Officer Clarifies Kabiro’s Question

Dear Editor,

I must apologise for my unceremonious absence from your forum even though Mr. Kabiro Janneh's question is still pending. My partner Ousman felt that the reaction of third parties to my opinions were so positive that it was best for me to continue the dialogue with your readers on PDOIS ' policies. I must say that I have been inspired by the numerous compliments. On the other hand I am also inspired by the emergence of other critics and even independent analysts on the way forward for the Gambian economy.

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Alfred Nobel: Controversial Man, Controversial Awards

 By IVAN SIMIC, Belgrade, Serbia

The Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. The Prize was established from Alfred Bernhard Nobel's will on 27 November 1895. Every year, since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for outstanding contributions in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize.

Ivan  Simic Is The Echo's Europe  correspondent

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Breaking News: Senegal & Gambia Conduct Joint Military Exercises

By EBRIMA G. SANKAREH, Editor-In- Chief

According to highly placed diplomatic sources close to the Senegalese Government of President Abdoulaye Wade, Gambian and Senegalese forces have been conducting joint-military exercises in the outskirts of Dakar for the past several days. Reveal our unimpeachable diplomatic sources, The Gambia National Army (GNA) contingent is led by Brigadier General Lang Tombong Tamba and for the past days the two armies have been engaged in intense military manoeuvres raising eyebrows among some keen observers as to what may have led to this diplomatic u-turn between Jammeh and Wade who for the past several years, have been engaged in a cat and mouse game.

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DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM FROM AN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE

BY TIJAN NIMAGA, Bronx New York

Throughout the past month we have been debating socialism from a Gambian perspective and it was a debate that brought us closer to some of our nation’s pundits from all walks of life including politicians, radical economists, bureaucrats, ordinary citizens and, most importantly, some former members of our nation’s Defense Unit.  As I mentioned in my last article, it would surprise many Gambians to learn that socialism is alive and well in America, and is growing despite the fact that the USA is the largest capitalist nation in the world.

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Lamin Darboe of Leicester Taskes Issue With Lt. Col. Sarr 

I will not hesitate to point out the childish and backward mentality manifested in the article of our untill now respected writer Sam Sarr. Believe me, he is no interllectual of the calibre many aforetime assumed him to be. He is full of himself and could pass as a wise and smart guy but inherently otherwise. Because a wise and matured person of his experience and record should not waste his time writing all these frivolities, thick arguments;  flawed and inconsistent rationalisations.

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Sulayman Saidykhan’s Cry For Help

By Lt. Colonel Sheriff Samsudeen Sarr

Dear Editor:

It’s my turn to tell Mr. Saul Saidy-Khan my mind regarding his published article in the Freedom journal captioned: “On Sam Sarr, Ethnic Nationalism And The Quest For A Gambian Nation”. I should have written this a little earlier, but I had to take care of unfinished business with Suntou first. I couldn’t in fact wait to come to Mr. Khan’s material.

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The Belarusian Writer Svetlana Alexievich Received The Oxfam Novib/PEN Award on November 25. In her acceptance speech Alexievich underlined the long road for Belarus to travel before everybody can say what they want.

Svetlana Alexievich, one of the four winners of the Oxfam Novib/PEN award. The Oxfam Novib/PEN Award is an annual prize to honour writers and journalists who were persecuted, arrested or jailed for their work. This year four writers were honoured.

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Area Council Elections Were A Total Failure

By Mathew K. Jallow, Associate Editor

The results of the recently concluded Area Council elections across the country seem to provide the clearest indication of the unraveling and floundering of the Yahya Jammeh enigma. However, rather than look at the elections from a prism of objectivity, The Daily Observer and The Independent Electoral Commission, combined voices in an apparently florid and ephemeral editorializing of the voter apathy that has gripped Gambians over the past several election cycles.

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A Tribal Senate to Save Kenya

   By James Shikwati,

 I can tell from responses to my articles that we are all angry at what is going on in Kenya. The anger does not limit itself to disputed presidential poll results; it touches on the ongoing violence, destruction of property, tribal harassment and a looming economic melt down. The alarming aspect of our anger is the fixation on short-term solution whose long-term implications on business and confidence in government will be difficult to rejuvenate.

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Tackling Ethnic Animosity Through Mature Dialogue

By Lt. Colonel Sheriff Samsudeen Sarr (Rtd.)

Dear Editor:

It looks like Suntou Touray was not quite up to what you were working on. He probably thought he had in his last piece written the final story of my demise. If possible, I suggest you please publish his paper along with mine back to back for the readers to refresh their memories on his earlier position, which seemed to have changed radically.

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Dear Mr. Sankareh:

Re: “Genesis Of Tribal Politics In The Gambia”

Please allow me space to touch on few issues that have been lingering in my mind these days. First and foremost I hope you are not bored by our endless acknowledgements and appreciation for providing a platform for discourse on matters relevant to The Gambia. Don’t be bored that is all we have for now. When I read some of the articles in the online papers, the question, “why did we have such great minds and still ruled by a man with hardly any?” would usually not leave me until I feign the easy answer ‘nothing happens without a reason’ just to keep myself sane.

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Lt. Col. Sarr Privides Evidence of Honourable Discharge 

Dear Editor: For those wondering how I left the Gambia National Army, I thought my retirement letter from the erstwhile Secretary General Tamsir Demba M’bye would be of help to everybody. I was not dishonorably dismissed as alleged, but retired with all my benefits paid. In fact, I was receiving my monthly retirement stipend until Margaret Keita took over the Accountant General’s Department and put a stop to it. That means, I am entitled to be called Lt. Col. Samsudeen Sarr (Rtd). I am however, perfectly fine with Sam Sarr. That’s what I have been going by all along in the USA. Since I was a public official, my retirement letter should be published for all Gambians to know where the truth lies.

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Arrogance & Brutality Are Anathema to Military Ethics

Dear Editor:

Thank you for giving me space in your paper to reflect my thoughts and contribute to the recent debate on the ranks of Colonel Sarr and Captain Ebou Jallow. I am a Gambian in active service in The United States Army but the recent contributions I have come across in The Gambian online papers by Gambians who are allegedly serving in the US Armed Forces made me put my head down in shame.

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Please Mr. Sankareh:

Allow me space in your paper and edit it to meet your editorial standard. Lately, your paper encountered a lot unnecessary arguments from your subscribers. The saga between Solo Saine and Captain Jallow is not necessary at all. What will Mr. Saine get out of it? We Gambians have a lot at stake rather than a fathom menace. Whether Captain Jallow is a Captain in the US army or not, is irrelevant. In the Gambian Army he earned the rank that's enough.

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