Gainako Newspaper

" Some people wonder, how will Bai Peul sustains the grueling task of working and running a website, when his
suspected manic depression is known to have on few occasions led to a near nervous breakdown if not total
meltdown. How with Bai Peul's over inflated ego will he ever allow any meaningful on-line dialogue? How with
his well-documented paranoia will Bai Puel ever overcome his demons or the myriad of conspiracies he
perceives to be lurking at every corner, in every nocks and cranny?
Summer 2006, in the beautiful city of Waleigh there was a barbecue party at
the popular "Yoo-Hooo" Inc complex. A small crowd of Gambians were in
attendance to witness the launching of Bai Peul's website "Gambia Okat".
His recent foray into cyber space, the world wide web generally refers to as
the "Internet". Bai Puel dressed in an expensive white linen shirt, nice khaki
shorts and some brown alligator shoes, was looking good for the occasion.
His large sweaty face beaming with excitement.

This is the latest episode in Bai Peul's series. A website, whose name was meditated on for weeks by
his renowned marabous all the way from Mali and their prognostics, has been very good. He is told
by the soothsayers that "Gambia Okat" will not only bring fame and fortune, but will even bring
immortality. Although a couple of years late in the game and by some accounts a little old for an arena
that is increasingly becoming the domain of generation X, but he is not here to play catch-up. Bai Puel
is here to make "Gambia Okat" the premier website, the CNN of the Gambia.

Amidst the sizzling barbecue grills, toped with prime ribs coated with delicious southern barbecue
sauce, and cold drinks, Bai Puel began his speech. First of all, he began "I am sorry that my good
friends Dr. "Cho-Pan" and Dr. "Am-Faida" could be not here with me today but I wish to thank the
good people of Waleigh for gracing my historic day. I formally announce the launching of "Gambia
Okat". At this moment I have already dispatched Press Releases to all the major papers in the
Gambia alerting them of my Internet presence. I am now putting everyone on notice that from now on
no story will go unpublished; every crime will be investigated and reported. That all those goons who
think they will rule my country with impunity better think again. For at this moment my reporters have
been dispatch to all four corners of my beloved country. Now that Gambia Okat is fully operational, I
will, with my sharp journalistic instincts, my Sherlock Holmes's detective skills, and mastery of the
English language, investigate the half-billion dalasis stolen from the GPMG, the disappearance of over
20,000 Gambians since 1994, the disappearance and reappearance of Gambia's strategic crude oil,
and the alleged secret nuclear weapons program complex buried deep in Njambarat forest. Also
using 3 x 2 matrixes, explain why I think the ignoble Dr. Jissy Jissy, Dr. Zombat, Dr. Kakatarr, should
rule my country.

I would also like to, before I forget; thank the man, the technical guru behind the design and
development of Gambia Okat. For those that do not know he is also my brother. I have appointed
myself "Editor-in-Chief" and from now on wish to be address as such. On the advice of my Public
Relation Firm "Kor Jegnyi" I have commission Felix Panoramic Studio to take me a series of
professional pictures to be posted on "Gambia Okat" every week. This I am told would project
confidence and strength of character and better yet show my critics that Bai Puel means business.
"Boy Melah"! Someone yelled, He paused, a huge smile came across is face and calmly nod his
head.

Throughout the evening, people ate and discussed. Occasionally Bai Peul would yell to some of the
smaller kids present "Sumaraka", "Ndoke" and asked if they are having a good time. While he
pontificates, many of the guests now oblivious to the rest of his speech were talking about mundane
issues. As the evening wind down, a few of the guest would shake his hands to congratulate and wish
him good luck. Others while shaking his hand would whisper cautionary advice in his ears about the
dangers of the Internet. By and large all agreed that Bai Peul's party if not for lack substance is a very
good barbecue. As an expert cook, he prides himself in using the best. Prime rib is his favorite and the
grills were churning enough of these juicy delicious ribs.

After the party many wonder if the recent accolades being showered to the proprietor of the newly
established "Freedom -for-all-Newspaper" have anything to do with Bai Peul sudden hyperventilation.
That like a man awakens from a deep slumber; he is suddenly acting with such fierce urgency. Some
wonders if the recent migraine headache he has been having has anything to do with the presence of
this man who without a doubt has substantially increased the buzz on the Internet and is now receiving
rave reviews amongst Gambians all over the world. How the talk of Freedom this... and Freedom
that...�, has become part of the staple of Gambian internet diet, and how after over a decade of
parading himself as the " Top dog" of Gambian journalism to the people of Waleigh, Bai Peul, is
suddenly exposed, find to be redundant, perhaps a relic of a by gone era. And now thanks to the
ingenuity of his brother, his good brother all this is about to change, he mused!

Others upon learning that Bai Puel has already broken two keyboards while trying to type the simple
words "Editor in Chief", laments what he is about to do rest of the alphabet. While they fell sorry for
the poor keyboards, they fear more for the liberal Gambian Internet community that he is about to
invade. An invasion, the likes that have not been seen since Hannibal's assault on the Roman Empire
centuries ago. But unlike the great Carthaginian general, Bai Peul will not loot and pillage he will
instead serenade his captives with his large repertoire of English language to improve their vocabulary.

After all "What is the use of my knowledge, if I can't share it with the whole of mankind" He asked? In
some twisted way Bai Peul sees himself as a 21st century "Jihadist" out to propagate his infinite
knowledge to the millions of masses hungry for his wisdom. The Internet will be the perfect vehicle to
carry his sermons. Privately he has already told his closest friends to grab the first available dictionary,
preferably (Cambridge advanced learner's dictionary) from the nearest bookstores before it is too
late. For people will definitely have to open a dictionary for every single word he writes.

Still, others wonder, how will Bai Peul sustains the grueling task of working and running a website,
when his suspected "manic depression" is known to have on few occasions led to a near nervous
breakdown if not total meltdown. How with Bai Peul's over inflated ego will he ever allow any
meaningful on-line dialogue? How with his well-documented paranoia will Bai Puel ever overcome his
demons or the myriad of conspiracies he perceives to be lurking at every corner, in every nocks and
cranny?

.Echoes of a Pending Game
...................................By Ebrima Conteh.......................May 13th, 2008
All across the Diaspora
The Scorpions are gearing for a game
Spoke to a learned man name Saine
Found out our thoughts are the same

Far across the Atlantic
Gearing for the same game
PK Jarju is busy beefing about the home game
I said to him are you game
He replied together we in this game

All seeing eyes of Freedom and Echo refuse to sleep
Gainko and Senegambia wants to take this deep
STGDP wakes from a sleep
Karamba said the struggle for the Gambia is a keep

Do you hear echoes of the pending game
The struggle for the Gambia is a big game
My brothers are you game
I know I am game

..................................................................NEWS
THE PRESIDENT'S DIALOGUE WITH THE
.......PEOPLE'S TOUR REVIEWED;
.........Why Is The Tour Cut Short?
...................................By Solo......May 12th, 2008
The President Alhagie Dr. Yahya Jammeh's 8th day of tour in the
provinces was reviewed by the GRTS. According to Mr Kebba Dibba
of the GRTS, who followed the president on his tour said the tour cannot
be separated from politics because the issue is always cropping up during
the tour.

Mr. Dibba said the issue of high food prices is always coming up. He said
president Jammeh said he has put in very good policies and programs but
they have not succeeded as planned or have not been bearing fruits.. This
is why he said the president calls on the people to go back to the land; that
prices continued to go up despite the good policies that are put in place.

Interestingly enough, Mr. Dibba reported that the president has also given subsidies to the farmers but
as he said that too did not bring the food prices down.

What is however clear is that it is against the IMF policies which the Jammeh regime accepts and
signed that bar the Government from giving subsidies to farmers. So as far as the reports are
concerned, the Jammeh regime has neither answers to the food crisis nor any solutions to the plight of
the ordinary people. So to say that the government has given subsidies to the farmers is most
surprising to many an enlightened observer. In fact the president said on the 7th day of the tour that he
does not want anyone to tell him about the rising price of food; that he is tired of hearing that and all he
can say is for people to go back to the land.

The state however needs to come out clear and clarify whether that statement is correct or not.
People are also expecting the opposition to ask for clarification as to whether the state is giving any
subsidy to the farmers or has it defaulted the agreement with the IMF and the World Bank.

According to Kebba Dibba, Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara also addressed a large gathering at Katamina in
Niamina District where a water project has been initiated and praised president Jammeh that no one
should call Jammeh a dictator because he has submitted himself to the Gambian people; that he
Juwara has joined Jammeh for development. GRTS Kebba Dibba also said he has observed during
the mass rally in Soma that one man who followed president Jammeh with ill intentions eventually fell
down ostensibly because of Jammeh's supernatural powers.

If Kebba Dibba's report is anything to go by, then the Jammeh government is very much concerned
about the reports emanating from Gambia's online papers. He said people should not believe in
reports presented by the online papers. Many Gambians see it as a blessing that technology has
availed them with alternative news different from what the Jammeh regime deliberately and forcefully
bombard them with in the national media directly financed by their tax money. Many show it as an
abuse of power.

However the president is said to have cut short his tour because he was to attend the International
Women's Day but the president was nowhere to be seen during the celebrations which was turned
into an APRC gathering in which the state provides Ashobi uniforms in Green color, the color of the
ruling party to the women folk.

.CRY NO MORE FARMERS
...OF MY FATHERLAND
.............By Kebba Sanneh (Nyanchor) Stockholm, Sweden................May 12th, 2008
Farmers of The Gambia, your days are coming and that day no one would dare insult you again. You
deserve the respect of the nation that you feed. You deserve the respect due to men and women of
dignity. The Gambia would remain faithful and loyal to you. Rude and ungrateful people in the skin of
Jammeh could not smear your bright and shining endeavours.

It was meet the farmers tour by the head of state but Jammeh and his criminal cartels are running
around the country in manner suitably called gather the people and insult them tour. I would and may
clearly demonstrate that we as Gambians must be a little more careful when dealing with a man that is
so unstable, half baked literate, full of anger germinated from his own sociologically and
psychologically complexed childhood life. Rejected, forgotten and mattered less than any child with
love of parents, Jammeh believes he could compensate for the lost time and attention due to any child.
Jammeh thinks he could become a parent and father not only to his Nar son but to the entire family of
his and that in his rotten brains is the Gambia. Jammeh would be surprised and he would feel
abandoned and betrayed by the same people whom he dared open his big mouth and insult and scare.

Psychologists and sociologist for a very long time have devoted their lives and carriers to diagnose
men in the nature of Jammeh, dug and dug deeper to substantiate their claims and findings in order to
give correct analyses in the sudden anger and mind change of these deprived people. Jammeh is sick
and he is a pot that indeed has been boiling over for a decade now, and undoubtedly he dirties no one
else but himself and his future. Time will tell and will tell it as it is and that is when Jammeh would be
woken up from his nightmares or dreams and fantasies of curbing and subduing the gallant and proud
people of the Gambia. We would always give fools long ropes knowing very well that they would
ultimately hang themselves at the end. If President Jammeh's father, Junkung Jammeh became a sub
regional play boy by being the Casanova father of a deranged man in the flesh of Jammeh, so let
Jammeh blamed his mother Asombi Bojang who was seduced by the champion wrestler and Jammeh
became the product. The Gambia and the people would not trade insults with Jammeh because they
know that they brought him up and they can bring him down at the time of their choosing.

Those criminals and academic and intellectual prostitutes that are hell bent on keeping this insanity
going on for this long must be reminded that their cheap and easy lifestyles that this wicked and
senseless man introduced them to at the expense of the Gambian people, would come to be tested on
the high seas of the democratic and progressive force that is just behind the current waves of injustice
and total cruelty and lack of mercy in our country. There would be calls for those who in one way or
they other meted and inflicted harm on our people. They would be called to testify against the Pharaoh
of Kanilai who claimed to be the god of our people. This shameless and fatherless child who roamed
around with his accomplices from all ethnic groups in the Gambia, insulting and threatening our
freedom and cherished way of life would be held responsible for the menace and lawlessness in the
country.

It is indeed high time, time of responsibility and selfless struggle to set the people of the Gambia free. It
would take not one to accomplish this heavy duty task but it must be bored in our minds, firm and
strong that our ultimate freedom and way forward could only be realised when we can take political
blows that red our noses but vow to fight back to restore the dignity and widen respect lost under this
decade of misrule and totalitarianism. I have said it before and again I wish to emphasise that, I
NYANCHOR of the offsprings of the great Kabu empire would not rest and would not give up hope,
will not compromise and is dedicated to fighting this evil until it is finally destroyed and contained. The
will of our silent majority, which is the total freedom and liberty of our people, would not be
surrendered to a deranged man of no parental brought up. I have no reason to hide or surrender to
people who have no respect for the poor farmers of the Gambia among whom I began my life and
certainly wish to end it with. I will say as it is and let the bigot come to his defence. Jammeh would
learn the wrath of our people just as he dirtied himself in our sea of hospitality that we granted him in
abundance. This Godless and shameless Billy- goat would kneel down and beg for mercy when we
knock on his door. There would be no place to hide and no place to run. True sons of the Gambia
would liberate The Gambia, not unruly guests from across the southern border. Gambia belongs to the
Gambians and not Jammeh the Psycho pant.

..................................................NEWS
...GAMBIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA
......LAUDED FOR THEIR EFFORT
.........................By Courtesy of the Observer......................May 12th, 2008
The University of The Gambia (UTG), on Monday received 90
cartons of Bio-medical text books worth to 70,000 US Dollars,
from the United State African Development Foundation (USADF),
a charitable organisation in United State.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Dr Gumbo Ali Touray,
Director of International Affairs and Information UTG, said that,
these medical books are extremely valuable for the School of
Medicine and other affiliated bodies.

On behalf of UTG, Dr Touray registered their appreciations and gratitude to USADF and Dr Ahmad
Rufai Abdallah the president of USADF in making this donation possible. He also extended
appreciation to the Gambian community in North Carolina being coordinated by Dr Cherno Jaye for
devoting their time and money to assist their national university. �UTG needs all this support and
assistance to make it a viable university,� he oulined.

For his part, Dr Cherno Jaye, a member of UNADF, said that his organisation�s mission is to narrow
the gap on both side of the Atlantic in terms of partnership in the sectors of health, science and
technology. �I spoke to the president of the need for the medical text book to be sent to the UTG and
we reach to the conclusion of bringing these medical books, here in the Gambia with the help of
Gambians in North Carolina, USA�, he disclosed.

He added that the books are purposely for the students. He urged them to make good use of it and
try to apply what they learn from the book and it will obviously contribute to the quality of the people
and the society.

Bully Camara, president of UniGaMSA thanked the donors and called on others to emulate such an
initiative
....TEMPERATURE TOO
... HIGH FOR COMFORT
............................By Solo, Banjul correspondent....May 10th, 2008
Reports reaching this reporter spoke of very high temperatures in the
provinces mainly the Central River Region (CRR) and the Upper River
Region (URR) of the the Gambia.

According to a concerned residents in Basse and environs, temperatures
on Sunday 4th May, 2008 have exceeded 45oCelsius / 113 o Fahrenheit
in the URR; that people have observed that birds like bats and chameleons
have been seen falling down from trees which they attribute to the
unbearable temperatures.

Asked how he knows that the temperature is up to 45oC, he said an
overseas volunteer who has a thermometer with him told them about it.

It has been observed by the weather forecasters over Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS)
during the period that temperatures have been fluctuating between 20 and 35oC in the Coastal areas
and 26oC and above in the Inland areas of the Gambia.

.........MOTHER'S DAY
........Picnic Excites Gambian In Atlanta
As mother's day weekend approaches, Gambians of all ages in
Atlanta- young and old are filled with excitement, anticipation
and above all, an unprecedented support of the 2008 annual
Mother's Day Picnic scheduled to take place on Sunday, May
1th, 2008 @ The YMCA on Campbellton Road.

Organized on behalf of Gambian Women and Children by the
newly formed Gambia Families Association, there are already
signs and indications from the many donations, pledges and
above all the number of volunteers that the Picnic will be full of
entertainment, and a chance for Gambians to get together once
more just to celebrate with our families and loved ones.

With DJ King Solomon poised to entertain the crowd to the fullest, a package of fun programs for the
children to participate in, mixed with Bai Tama's NDONGKINDONG rhythms, traditional
"Hunting and Fairy" dancing complemented with a performance by Shola Lewis' mesmerizing
reggae vibes, and other possible performances by other artists, it is obvious and certain that this will
be a Mother's Day Picnic like none other before in Atlanta.

We therefore encourage all Gambians in Atlanta to attend this picnic for a chance to win the flat
screen TV GFAA will be giving away with other raffled items. The men are eager to show Gambian
women folk and children their profound appreciation.

All Gambian Men in the area are also strongly encouraged to contribute and participate as GFAA is
geared towards bridging and building our families together.

...................Exclusive Interview
......THE WATCHMAN
.................................By GON.................May 8th, 2008
GON: Many readers at (GON) marvel at your prose. Many admire
the crispness of your insights and the concise language with which you
articulate your thoughts. Many in their mails to us tip their hat to you
for your immense literary prowess.

However the dilemma faced by this paper is how to interview
someone who is using a pen name and without his picture. While, this
is unprecedented in the history of this Paper, however we also
recognized the somber reality that people and their families can and
have been victimized for their opinions as a consequence of using their
real names in matters about the Gambia. (The State VS Fatou Jaw-Manneh)
and this more than anything else is our rationale for conducting such
interviews and our broader understanding on the need for some to resort to such pragmatic
approaches.

Please describe yourself to our readers and why you chose this nom de guerre "The watchman"

The WATCHMAN: Thank you (GON). Allow me to say that your approach to online
Gambian news is highly conducive to respectable interlocution between interested parties. You all
have been very kind and restrained in your dealings with not only me but anyone who's made an
overture. I am a proud Gambian, very shy and averse to publicity but full of passionate opinions about
the fate of our country as you can tell. My interests are soccer, music, improving the intellect, African
delicacies (I love Benachin) and my family. I was born and raised in Banjul, relatively young and
irrepressibly optimistic about the future. I opted for the nom de guerre "The Watchman" because I
observed while practically a toddler, that the watchmen who guarded my residence saw everything,
knew a lot, and protected what was deemed at stake but were literally anonymous and virtually
ignored. Their value was instantly recognized and exponentially increased when they fended off thieves
and other threats to the household. Yahya Jammeh is a thief. I am assiduously making sure he does
not pilfer the life and soul of The Gambia. Hence the name "The Watchman".

GON: In September 23rd, 2007 you wrote your first piece to Gainako entitle "What Sankanu
shows about Gambian democracy" in which you amongst other things stated that, and I quote
" One gets the impression that when Mr. Sankanu "writes" the motive is not one of elucidating
conversation but grandiose attempts to prove EVERYBODY wrong. There is also a thinly veiled
anti-US slant in his rants, which betrays contempt for those Gambians residing stateside.
Why this harsh assessment to a man that some considered not only a brilliant writer but also a very
objective critic, and will it surprise you to know that Mr. Sankanu does have a substantial fan base
on-line.

The WATCHMAN: Fair question. You see, I think Mr. Sankanu has potential to do a lot of
civic good with his obvious talents. What really disturbs my conscience and spurs me to object to his
approach is not the person himself but the flamboyant and careless modus operandi with which his
allegedly objective opined solutions have been effected. I believe that journalists and other
commentators online or elsewhere should be moderate and dignified in espousing views on very
critical issues such as the tools, strategies and productive abstractions that societies with a real hunger
for the fruits of authentic democracy can employ to overthrow tyrants or facilitate the rule of law. This
is necessary because it insulates them from accusations of a lack of credibility and makes it clear they
have no ulterior yearnings. It is one thing to say life in Germany is relatively better than in The Gambia.
It is absolute triviality when Sankanu slyly injects his allegedly new found opulence and supposed
romantic prowess into serious discourse of life and death situations facing the less empowered back
home. It makes him look like the famous bumbler and day dreamer of them all, Don Quixote de La
Mancha who imagined himself a prince and engaged in duels with imaginary monsters. If Sankanu
wants to engage the reading public on matters that are obviously personal or inadvertently silly, he
could consider a weekly column online where he can make us laugh and shake our heads in
appreciation and wonder. Then he wont be taken to task because others like me will realize it is just
comedy. He has yet to totally condemn the nefarious activities of the APRC cabal. This is a glaring
case of hedging his bets.

GON: In all your writings, like a one-man crusade there is always a strong Anti-Yahya Jammeh
theme, matter of fact you've gather quite a large following in the process. Consequently some people,
wonder if you are not just another disgruntle former employee of the very man you now so despised.
For we've witness far too many instances of former Gambian civil servant engaged in this double
standards.

The WATCHMAN: Ha! I've actually cracked up at these musings that have been rumbling for
a while now. I left The Gambia 3 years before Yahya Jammeh lurked into and defiled our State
House. To be honest with you, I miss home dearly and it breaks my heart to see what has been and
continues to be Yahya Jammeh's messy and bloody contravention of universal Human Rights and
common sense rules of decency for 14 tormented years. One trait I have which sometimes gets me
into trouble is that I never mute or suppress my objection to injustice and never would have tarnished
my still intact self respect by jumping onto the Jammeh freak show band wagon. In fact, had I been
around him after he toppled the Jawara regime on July 22nd, Yahya Jammeh would have plotted to
have me executed on July 23rd. My visceral dislike of Yahya Jammeh's antics comes from a deep
belief that this man is so mediocre, so unattractive as an ambassador of Gambian or even African
goodwill and so ugly in his crude machinations to hold on to power that he should be disposed of
forthwith ! You and I can do a better job and garner a lot more well deserved accolades were we to
be entrusted with steering the wheels of Gambia's welfare.

GON: Our editorial team, with the help some behavioral science guys, made this profile of you,
purely based on your writings, that you are;

a) Highly educated Gambian
b) You briefly worked for the APRC
c) You enjoyed access & privileges during the PPP regime
d) You are angry at The APRC because you lost the position in [c]
e) Your criticisms are not motivated by any altruistic reasons for the love of the Gambian
....people but rather by reasons stated [d]
f) Giving similar privileges in [c] by the APRC, the watchman would abandon his post

How wrong is this profile?

The WATCHMAN: If this was a crucial exam to pass with flying colors, you guys would have
failed miserably. You only got supposition A right but flunked the rest. I was a teenager during most of
the PPP regime which rules out any employment history under that administration. I was friends with
all kinds of people however, from those closest to halls of power to the blind beggar at the junction
who asked me for 50 Bututs on cue as I walked to school. Let me let you guys in on a secret: my
family and background consist of extremely moderate and dignified individuals. None of them, myself
included, will ever work for Yahya Jammeh and our pride as a family that has been involved in public
service to The Gambia since the earliest of colonial times, when the Union Jack flew all over the world
to warrant the saying " the sun never sets on the British Empire", wont allow us to join him in his
pathetic misadventures even at gun point. There is an excellent volume on modern Chinese History by
Harrison Salisbury which examines the birth of the republic from its founder Dr. Sun Yat Sen , its
despot Mao Zedong and its great reformer Deng Xiaoping called The New Emperors. In it, Mr.
Salisbury details how Mao Zedong, while not the brightest and smartest among the cadre of China's
leaders, nevertheless used guile, treachery and organized terror to outwit and out maneuver more
charismatic and intelligent rivals. This is what Yahya Jammeh has perfected to high art. This is the
biggest knowledge that has honed my core value: I believe that unto whom much has been given much
is required and serving Jammeh might as well be committing Seppuku, the Japanese art of ritual
suicide by disembowelment.

GON: Your recent criticism of Cherno Baba Jallow's article while within your purview (as well as
many others) raised this Question. Is it fair for you writing as "The Watchman" to criticized people
who not only uses their real name but even attached their picture to their writings, while you on the
other hand shield yourself from similar scrutiny by using a pen name, in essence remain anonymous
thereby limiting your critics only to the wrings you did under this pen and not to the whole body of
work you probably did in the past under your real name?

The WATCHMAN: You will be taken aback to know that prior to my humble contributions to
various online Gambian media, I had never penned a public article or anything else for that matter. My
hand was forced to act when I came upon the riotous behavior of Sankanu, Cherno Baba Jallow and
their ilk. My tact on writing anonymously or via an alias takes from the style that commentators from
political websites such as Daily Kos assume when they add to the views on the condition of these
United States. One of the diarists, as these authors are called, is Poblano. He is very popular,
prescient and accurate when it comes to poll and other electoral minutiae but no one knows who he is.
Unlike the Gambian writers who crave acknowledgement and kudos and exposure for their works,
the diarists at Daily Kos know what matters more is the righting of the ship that is society today, not
who they are. I happen to come from that school of thought so there you have it.

GON: In your views why is there always an endless cadre of Gambian intellectuals, vying for
positions within the APRC government, Men & women who by their training (�higher education)
should know right from wrong, yet chose to served the very government some considered autocratic.

The WATCHMAN: Greed, vanity and pride are 3 of the 7 deadly sins. Greed motivates
intellectuals to compromise their morals for venal gains. Vanity makes these Gambian intellectuals
believe Yahya Jammeh will see them as different and appreciate their efforts to help him build the
psychic and physical infrastructure of The Gambia. Pride is exhibited when they see themselves on
GRTS or other media being paraded around as the newest government appointees. We all know what
comes before a fall. You reminded me that I hate being called an intellectual because Pol Pot the
slaughterer of Cambodia's millions in '79 and the shameless intellectuals in The Gambia's cabinet are
one and the same. All of Gambia's ministers are accomplices to murder, obstruction of justice,
larceny, kidnapping and public indecency. They choose to stay in the Gulag because their master
Jammeh, has effectively manipulated their allegiance by shifting it from the sovereign Gambian people
to himself. He is the master of puppets.

GON: The Gambian opposition parties still reeling from the failure of NADD is yet to regain, its
momentum. While groups such as STGDP (save the Gambia democracy project) have been rekindled
as seen through their recent press release. Do you see any hope in the horizon for the opposition in the
Gambia after the last debacle?

The WATCHMAN: The key to effective opposition success, and I hope NADD and STGDP
heeds this, is not to expect success in one fell swoop. The ANC was about 60 years or more in
existence before it topple Apartheid in 1994. What Gambian opposition groups can do is set up an
aggressive media opposition and shadow government in exile to counter every bit of propaganda that
the Daily Observer and other state controlled orifices spew forth. This is in essence being done by
exile online publications but NADD and STGDP should have media consultants and message gurus to
apply pressure at all times. Next they should be aggressive in building alliances with international
groups vested in the promotion of Human Rights the world over. The international outcry over China's
role in Tibet is proof of strategic networking for publicity. Third they should persevere. No one gave
Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe's MDC opposition any chance to bring Robert Mugabe to his
creaky knees. They are very close at this juncture. It should be brought to the attention of Gambia's
opposition that words wont cut it when it comes to retaking The Gambia from Jammeh's blood stained
paws. Aggressive fund raising to provide material goods to the deprived back home to counter
Jammeh's corrupt practice of enticing loyalty through largesse. Once these measures are embarked on
with gusto, the APRC loons will quake in trepidation and the opposition can squeeze an advantage.

GON: There is this "school of thought" that claims that Gambians by nature are self serving
individuals who never finds anything wrong with any system as longs they are not directly affected That
even if the APRC is replaced tomorrow the behavior will continued unabated into the next regime. Do
you subscribe to this view?

The WATCHMAN: No because the onset of the internet age has disbursed knowledge and
opened the floodgates to political sophistication amongst the proletariat. Remember the APRC regime
is extremely repressive and the reaction of Gambia's people is out of much needed and
understandable self-preservation. The subsistence quality of life in The Gambia is such that as long as
NIA operatives are not hunting for the next "terrorist" or "subversive" amongst Gambia's peace
loving public, most persons will be busy fending for themselves because contrary to his lofty
proclamations, Yahya Jammeh's deeds have not contributed enough food on the table for the average
Gambian family. Instead he has fed them a daily diet of fear. When he is finally shooed away from the
trapping of influence, the jubilation will rival that of Iraqis dancing in the street to celebrate Saddam's
demise. And mark my words, after Jammeh, Gambians cannot and will not tolerate the same
shenanigans to occur again.

GON: While much have been made of Yahya Jammeh lack of higher education. However He has
ruled the Gambia well over a decade now. He has outwitted all his former comrades that were
instrumental in the July 1994 coup. He claimed to found the cure for AIDS amongst other diseases,
even Dr. Mboob a trained medical practitioner validating these claims. To some, people all this is
rather an aberration, an anomaly they say. But to what do you attribute his success and longevity?

The WATCHMAN: In his now notorious political memoir Mein Kampf , Adolf Hitler rightly
professed that only the biggest lies will be accepted as true so if one is going to fabricate castles in the
air, they'd better do it grandiloquently. What desperate, low educated and suffering villager wont like
to believe that finally a cure to his/her wretchedness is here at last. I think I already answered why
Jammeh has been durable in extending his reign but he is master of the cult of personality. Also he is
adept cultivating a sense of unpredictability even amongst his most fervent insiders. Let me give you an
example. Joseph Stalin killed Russian millions in the first half of the last century. His bodyguard walked
back and forth in shoes that made a particular sound and after years of protecting his master, he
decided his shoes were creating a slight commotion that might prevent Stalin from sleeping soundly.
When he finally swapped shoes and walked back and forth without his feet squeaking, Stalin
immediately noticed, became suspicious and had the bodyguard executed. Yahya Jammeh is no
Joseph Stalin but all dictators come from the same source of eternal damnation and venomous evil.
Unfortunately, these traits, unless they are faced with resolve and courage, can be adequate tools at
preserving heft.

GON: What are your prognostics of the future of the Gambia under the APRC?

The WATCHMAN: Life will be nasty, brutish and short but there is hope. I want to extend my
solidarity to the family of Fatou Jaw Manneh, the Athena of African journalists. She is a bona fide
hero and until she is set free, I will do my all to let justice reign. With quality individuals like her, The
Gambia will surely rebound from the Dark Age of Yahya Jammeh's lunatic ravings and decadent
rampages. God bless and protect our beloved homeland..

Copyright, 2006-2008: Gainako On-line Newspaper . Site Maintained by Gamway Computers