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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Aug 2006 : 18:15:57
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The piece below, authored by Bubacarr Ceesay, of the Allgambian, in all cost reflects the true Sintet i have known in my whole life. I congratulate my brother for being brave with the matter. This indeed consoles all his brothers and sisters from Sintet. If you are reading this thread here, thank you for your usual kind heart, and being steadfast to fight injustice. Being a junior one to Bubacarr, this steadfastness, and representation of the truth when the need arises is the respect we have for him. This is the strongest bond that can exist between brothers from the same place.
Long Live Sintet !
Long live the Gambia!
And long live co-existence !
Yours in the Struggle,
Gainako
http://www.allgambian.net/editorial_0814.htm
EDITORIAL
For The Gambia Our Homeland: For Sintet Where We Strive and Work and Pray
By: Bubacarr Ceesay
Son of Sintet
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August 14, 2006
I was born and cradled in the village of Sintet in the Foni Jarrol district of Western Division. The village is known throughout the region and perhaps most of the country as a community of striving but hardworking people that nurtured peace and harmony among its diverse people. Until 1994, despite generally modest village standards, the people of Sintet were among the happiest in The Gambia. I also know of former agricultural and Action Aid field officers and now colleagues like Dr. Sidat Yaffa and Sarjo Bayang respectively who worked in the community and has the kindest things to say about the hospitality of the people of Sintet. Over the years, while away from home, I've met many others who expressed similar sentiments on our humble village. Of recent, I've come to learn of negative overtones being attributed to our good old town Sintet.
I am speechless and literarily holding my breath as I scribe to defend the integrity of my dear hometown that now finds itself embroiled at the center of a messy national affair. This is unusual for me as I brood over what might constitute an appropriate response to a write-up authored by a certain "Bulfaaleh" (Don't bother) that supposedly ran on Pa Nderry M'bai's website, Freedom Newspaper. Bulfaaleh and Freedom apparently needed more attention. Well you got it, I must admit. This must be special, too close to home, and this is about hometown integrity and pride. This is in defense of the voiceless. That is my turf and that is what I live for.
After having been silent on national issues for sometime -- as far as the political debate is concerned, how I wish I would rather be writing about more pressing issues at hand than having to respond to writers literarily gone wild. Buy hey, the good sons and daughters of a good old town will always rise to its defense when the town is under attack.
Like every other concerned Gambian, I've heard about atrocities against Gambians committed by certain individuals in proximity to Jammeh. These are people from every corner of the country, including Sintet that continue to aid and abet Jammeh and his APRC's reign of tyranny in our homeland. Equally, there are others from Sintet in the forefront of the fight to oust Jammeh from power. However, just because certain names from Sintet feature prominent in Jammeh's inner circle, do not in anyway demonize the whole town. Otherwise, if that is the case, Kanilai itself would have been renamed Demontown by now.
On the issue of citizenship, I personally consider Jammeh a Gambian. I think we are better off focusing on how to end his misrule than questioning whether he and his accomplices are real Gambian citizens or not. Speaking of citizenships, I also have deep roots in both Senegal and Guinea Bissau. Who doesn't?
I agree with my brother Yero Jallow that Binneh's editorial on AllGamabian.net referencing Bulfaaleh's piece added "flames to fire." Personally, I had a busy summer and I came to learn of the "Sintet group", "Sintet killers", Sintet Boys" or what have you headlines by this Bulfaaleh through my colleague Binneh Minteh's August 11th editorial reference which stated: "The country's national army and other security apparatus have also been infiltrated by people who do not speak English and any other language other than JOLA. It is also widely belief that most of the torture and atrocities committed against Gambian citizens are done so by this very foreign people in collaboration with the "SINTET BOYS" as rightly claimed by the freedom newspaper editor. The "SINTET BOYS" also do so, because of their ties, with Cassamance. Most of them are either from the Cassamance or have their parents migrated from the Cassamance."
After this episode, I hope Binneh will refrain from sourcing his articles to fake writers or publishers who can't take full responsibly for what they write or publish. What has Reporters Without Borders mentioning a faceless Bulfaaleh and so called high profile lawsuits against The Gambia government to do with irresponsible journalism and portraying a negative image of a peaceful village? Again, should one be proud of suing a government that will undoubtedly scrape what's left of our national coffers to cover legal expenses in America? What happened to your case against Yahya Jammeh, Ebou Jallow, Dudou Bammy Jagne; and his staff at the Gambian embassy in DC? Lest I forget these are folks who change their stories as fast as they breathe. I am appalled by the sheer egoistic behavior of Pa Nderry and his cohorts.
Don't give me excuses about Bulfaaleh being an ordinary contributor to Freedom Newspaper, I know who is behind that name and I also know who is behind the name Justice Sam. Don't forget I edited most of you before and could easily read between the lines to gauge your motives for such outrageous stories. I know about people who would cook up stories just to attract reactions from certain quarters. Deny this and I'll reveal who is who on that site.
License to Write?
I got some words of advice for cyber writers on the rampage running silly headlines and calling it independent or professional journalism. To begin with, professional journalism has no place in people's bedrooms, including that of the devil himself. Remember if you claim to know everything about what the devil does or do not do in his bedroom, you can be equally accused of sleeping with the devil himself.
Let Pa Nderry M'bai and the rest of his faceless writers be informed that there is no such thing as a carte de blank to write. Know your limits and always think about accountability for your write-ups. If you insist on writing about whatever crosses your minds, make no mistake about it that there will always be other writers to keep you in check.
Let "Bulfaaleh," Pa Nderry M'bai and the rest of Freedom Newspaper be informed that Sintet is not voiceless. Sintet has voices, oh yes, and a lot of strong voices -- more than you realize. And you'll hear us loud and clear in a language you understand. All you see is not what you get. Clean up your acts and take it elsewhere, I would suggest to Kanilai where it might fly. Sintet is the wrong place at the wrong time.
Let justice guide our actions;
Let writers show restrain in their write-ups;
Let peace and harmony prevail in every corner of our homeland;
For the Gambia ever true.
The author is the publisher of AllGambian.net and can be reached at bceesay@allgambian.net.
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2006 : 18:57:38
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WHY IT WORRIED ME, AND WHY I AM CONSOLED !
-The piece written by Binneh Minteh, one of the Editors of Allgambian.
-The piece appears under the editorial opinion, which is supposed to be the mouth piece of any paper.
-Former Lt. Binneh Minteh, was also a camp commander at fajara Barracks, and one of the trainers at the Gambian military school. So if Binneh should come out this way, then it stands to convince a lot people nationally & internationally.
The same piece is now countered on the same editorial opinion column, and by the Edior in chief of the paper. This in all respect shows disagreements with two editors in opinion. The later is a clear clarification, and will serve the records for any research that Gambians will embark on when looking for people who harmed them. With due respect to Binneh Minteh, it will more manly that he comes up with a rejoinder clarifying that such was not seen while he serves as a camp commander, also as a trainer. Because the question will be what was he doing there to see it happen.
I stand to be rectified and criticised on my stance. I am with the records for having supported Binneh's activism in this forum, and the later in any way does not rub him the nichee of any credit and respect i had/have for him. This in all respect is called "accountability and transparency." |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Edited by - Dalton1 on 14 Aug 2006 19:20:59 |
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