Dear Editor Sankareh,

First, allow me to present my best wishes to you and the editorial board of your vibrant paper and your dearest family. Like I do everyday when I wake up or reach my desk at work, I read the news religiously. Indeed your paper is one of those whose contents I read verbatim. Although, this is my first piece to your newsroom, that does not mean I do not share some of your views. You and I knew each other well before coming to USA. Therefore, your line of thought is not new to mine. The nature and contents of most your analytical pieces represent a similar line of thinking from me my brother. You know that!

Ambasador Essa Bokarr Sey and President Yahya Jammeh

During the past three days I was privileged to read through one of those thought-provoking pieces, therefore saw my name therein. The said piece was presented with all the values of professional ethics that I must admit. While I was reading through it, I was reminded of days before today. It also has proven to me what I have been yearning to rediscover from an independent source for a long time. Indeed, a source like your paper serves this purpose in the best way possible knowing very well that you did your journalistic findings before penning the contents in it. Like they say in Wolof "Yagga Baayiwut Darra"-meaning however long a story is hidden, one Day it will fly up in the sky like a pigeon or like a vulture. I believe my case would choose to be a pigeon instead of a vulture (smile). As a literature 'guru' you very well know where I am coming from here. There is also another proverb derived from Futa Fula the one spoken in Guinea. Which says:"Soh jooti laamat"-which is synonymous to the old saying in English: “Time is the best partner of truth"(I like using the latter very often).

As far as the Washington DC's Embassy is concerned, I chose to deliberately avoid mentioning their names in my pieces all through out these years because like they say in Wolof again:"Saabu du fott bopam"-meaning a bar of soap cannot wash itself, it can only wash other things. Indeed, your analyses have served as that soap so far. I strongly believe that anyone who thought elbowing Essa Bokarr Sey was a mission accomplished has today seen the realities of life. Indeed Ebrima, I will say it loud and clear here. I blame Yahya Jammeh not those who sent anything to him. Why do I blame him? I blame him because he has victimized many more for the same reasons. The Embassy once polluted the air accusing me of sending the names of Gambians to the State Department. I have always been smiling to my self when I saw such garbage. One brother Saihou Mballow went too far and too deep to find out the truth on that one too. He came back with a warning to those who started spreading the word. Saying he has done his findings and knows those were crude fabrications. You know I pity those who think they succeeded in "destroying" Essa Bokarr Sey within the four walls of that diplomatic mission. I will never wish anyone of them anything evil. I swear to Allah even if I were angry before I have forgiven all of them for having wronged me. I also ask for their forgiveness if I wronged them without knowing it.

Continue reporting and continue sharing.  Never also compromise with anyone who wants to jeopardize relations between you and your comrades. I salute all of you especially, the brave Gambian journalists who are leading the struggle. You have read a lot of revolutionary literature and I know you have. Therefore, remember the impact writers can have on dictatorial regimes.

That is why I will ask you and other journals online or those being sold in the streets to keep the flames burning. Even if people are not praising you for your selfless efforts Allah is bearing witness of what you the journalists/writers are doing for our nation today.

Whenever our kids grow I am pretty sure they will not ask what has Daddy or Uncle Sankareh been doing as a journalist? The archives of the Internet are here to stay till the end of time.

BRAVO DEAR BROTHER!!!

DU COURAGE MON CHERE FRERE!!!!

Essa Bokarr Sey.

Editor Note: We thank you for the kind words expressed and will surely seize your encouraging lines in our undiminished determination to rattle the dictator’s nest. While we have never supported Jammeh’s government, we were flabbergasted that diplomats could sit down and orchestrate such serious allegations against their own and still feel good about it.