Haruna
You too have failed in your mission. I categorically call for your
mediation, but you took it lightly. Read the statement below: (Sam
Sarr will say: “go to Halifa”.)
Fabakary Ceesay: "From what you have said, we all know that formally
you may not be the managing editor, but you are part of those people
who formed this establishment. We know that Sam Sarr is the managing
editor, but for the past two years we all know that you acted as the
editor-in-chief. Most of the articles, you have the final say whether
the article should be published or not. Sometimes we go to Sam Sarr
and  ask that this article has not been published, and Sam Sarr will
say: “go to Halifa”. So, all of us believe that you are the
editor-in-chief, and you have the final say. "

At this point, "Halifa Sallah came in and said: “Fabakary, don’t make
remarks that are derogatory. What I am saying is Sam Sarr is your
managing editor. What we do there has nothing to do with you people as
employees."

"Abubacarr Saidykahn: Faks, allow him to flow in.."

Hence it seems all my assertions are correct to the fact that,
Halifa's fingerprints are all over Foroyaa's editorials passing off as
by the 'publisher'.
In any case, the dialog is revealing and telling. 'Faks, allow him to
flow in', flow in Halifa did.

It was interesting to see Seedy Ceesay of Jamano trying to give
alternative angle to the exchanges. This matters goes beyond political
idolisation or holding someone in respect, it is a matter of young
journalist wanting to be free of interferance and disturbance whilst
carrying out their job accordingly.
I hope Foroyaa elders see that as a foundamental condition of proper
employee entitlement.
Suntou



On 1/31/12, Haruna <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> I have mentioned to somebody that the day you know how to write your reports
> without legal implications, and do it with fairness, I have no reason to be
> here, you will not see me here. So, your grievances may be legitimate
> grievances. It is how you put it, and to whom that matters.
> This time you perform an abrupt folly. Some of you are just like robots,
> signing something without even questioning what you are signing; without
> even verifying what you are signing is a fact. Essentially, this is the
> situation. I believe that simply going and signing things without actually
> interrogating every detail you shown, I will even wonder then your reports
> whether they will not be checked again; because if a journalist writes
> something, he is writing facts. If you are writing petitioning is facts, and
> none of you can say that what I do here is making your work worse. The only
> thing we are telling me what other people are interfering. What that has got
> to do with me? Who am I to tell people who should come, and who shouldn’t
> come here? In that sense, that is my concerns that I want to discuss with
> you, that I have been gravely wrong…To put it in writing which can be
> utilized maliciously. In fact, you are putting my reputation into danger,
> because what you put on paper, anybody can send anywhere. The immediate
> thing they will say: this is what we are saying; Halifa is in fact
> influencing these journalists to write things in favor of PDOIS. So, these
> are my concerns, and I felt I did not want to hold a meeting. I called some
> of you to have a discussion, and you guys said it was signed by everybody,
> and that you will prefer for us to handle generally whereby everybody will
> be present. What I would have expected from anyone of you, if you have
> anything to tell me, is you come and tell me what is in you and we settle
> it. That is the good faith I thought that people are embodied in this
> institution.
> I want to make my last comment: I don’t want any of you sitting here, if I
> were to stand for any office, to cast a vote for me. Anybody who does or
> signs that document, and you go and cast a vote for me, you are a hypocrite.
> Even if I die, any of you who signed that document, don’t come there and say
> anything! Because you don’t believe what I believe, and therefore do your
> journalistic work. Not that I have any grievance against you, you know that
> people who consider me as their enemy, when they are in trouble, that is
> when I stand to put myself that trouble. I will forever work, if I can do
> anything that you can earn so that you can earn it. The reasons why I am
> saying this, I want to prove to you that I am not interested in being
> anybody’s leader. Whether National Assembly, whether President, I am just
> serving a national duty. So, that is what I want to say.
> Abubacarr Saidykhan: Thank you very much uncle Halifa.
> REACTIONS TO HALIFA SALLAH’S STATEMENT
> Fabakary Ceesay: I think everyone of us heard what you said.
> At this juncture Momodou Sambou wanted to come in, and there was a unanimous
> agreement that he (Momodou Sambou) should go out from the meeting. He was
> told that he is interfering, and he was not in fact invited…Halifa Sallah
> intervened and said to Sambou: “Based on what we want to achieve, just allow
> us to achieve that”.
> Fabakary Ceesay: From what you have said, we all know that formally you may
> not be the managing editor, but you are part of those people who formed this
> establishment. We know that Sam Sarr is the managing editor, but for the
> past two years we all know that you acted as the editor-in-chief. Most of
> the articles, you have the final say whether the article should be published
> or not. Sometimes we go to Sam Sarr and  ask that this article has not been
> published, and Sam Sarr will say: “go to Halifa”. So, all of us believe that
> you are the editor-in-chief, and you have the final say.
> At this point, Halifa Sallah came in and said: “Fabakary, don’t make remarks
> that are derogatory. What I am saying is Sam Sarr is your managing editor.
> What we do there has nothing to do with you people as employees.
> Abubacarr Saidykahn: Faks, allow him to flow in..
> Halifa Sallah: Just state the facts as you know them. I am saying that what
> we do there, you don’t know, and none of you knows! It can be privilege
> information, but what is important is Sam Sarr is your managing editor. If
> you want accept in food faith that I am an editorial adviser, I am not the
> one to see. If you are protesting is your managing editor that you should
> see. The rest is between us, not between you people. If you have a
> particular article, and you see that something is not published, that is
> when you should protest. If you protest, and see that yes want that
> published, it has to be published. That is your grievances with your
> managing editor. People have a right to do that in this institution. I have
> seen many people who came to uncle Sam Sarr and said  that my article has
> not been published, let it come. Then it is published in the next instance.
> That relation is there, is a privilege relation. It was not happening in all
> media houses.
> In some media houses, if you don’t bribe people, your article will not be
> published. If you are a woman, if you don’t sleep with a person, , you don’t
> get your article published. We know what is happening in many media houses.
> If Sam Sarr kenw that you are that type of a person, anyway I am sure you
> will not get any information from him. People are getting privilege
> information because one believes that this is an open institution, and all
> of us have the same interest. The day that Sam Sarr know this has become a
> different institution (…), some even ready for destruction, I am sure Sam
> Sarr will be a type of managing editor that you people think that he is
> efficient. For me, I disagree with him tremendously, and if anybody is close
> there, you will know what I am saying. That all these institutions are
> managed in such a way, that is what we call laissez-faire.
> Fabakary Ceesay: We are not saying that you are interfering with our work.
> We did not say that. What we said is that political activities, during the
> political campaign, we all know this place has been turned into a bureau of
> the United Front. Most of their articles are in the office. We are all
> politicians; most of us join this institution because of our political
> interest, and our political affiliation; because of the objectives that we
> believe, and the ideas of PDOIS. That is why we joined.
> Halifa Sallah: Stop incriminating the journalists. What I am saying
> separate, you said separation of powers. I have put a case before you, and I
> can leave you to say what you want to say. The other that you are
> mentioning, those are things you should mention among yourselves.
> Fabakary Ceesay: What we said is that Halifa Sallah of PDOIS established the
> institution.
> Lamin Sanyang: Point of correction; it is not PDOIS, it is People’s Center.
>  Fabakary Ceesay: We said both; People’s center and PDOIS.
> Yaya Bajo came in and attempted to read the petition. Abubacarr Saidykahn
> reacted, and said that there was an adjusted version of the petition, and
> further urged Fabakary Ceesay to finish his reaction.
> Fabakary Ceesay: What we are saying is that we are not discriminating
> anybody coming to this place. We like that. People have been coming to this
> institution before we come here. What we are saying is that activities of
> political parties are all done here. People come here before they go to the
> rallies. Sometimes you will walk into the office, and you will see all kinds
> of people. As far as Foroyaa is concerned, we don’t have any problem with
> that. We know that people come to you for counseling, and we also know that
> Daily Observer is the mouthpiece of the government. This institution is more
> of a political bureau than a newspaper bureau. APRC supporters do not go to
> Daily Observer and converge there. This is our concern. You come here; you
> don’t even have a seat. People entered into rooms until Ousman Sillah have
> to write a note on a chair to ask people to stop removing chairs from the
> office. If I am practicing my job, I will do it impartially, separated from
> politics. If I am into politics, I will be into politics…I will not allow my
> professional bureau to be turned into a political party. People working
> under that institution raised that concern. I think you should have take it
> in good faith as far as democracy is concerned. We all know that halifa
> Sallah comes to Foroyaa, and thee establishment is formed by him. We cannot
> distance Halifa Sallah from Foroyaa. Even though you are at People’s center,
> you did edit our articles. We do not have a problem in that.
> You see, Hamat Bah comes here; Henry Gomez comes here; all kinds of people
> with different affiliations come here. We know that Foroyaa is a place where
> people come and lodge their complains. We are not saying that Halifa Sallah
> should leave Foroyaa completely. The sacrifice you have taken on behalf of
> some of us, we know that. You specifically mentioned my name when Sam Sarr,
> Saidykhan and others were arrested. I was in the court room when Sarata
> Jabbie was granted bail, but she was taken away. I called Sarata’s family
> and they told that until 6 am Sarata did not join them. So, if you said that
> I did not do my investigation correctly, I will disagree. I don’t think any
> of us have a grievance. There are opinions that are contained in the
> document.
> Halifa Sallah: Confine yourself!
> Abubacarr Saidykhan: Article 15 of the petition that is what touches Halifa.
> Fabakary Ceesay: You said you will take the recommendations as hostility. 99
> per cent of us here are your own making. For how many years, I have been
> listening to your lectures. I started reading Foroyaa in 1994 when I was in
> form 3 in my High School. I started associating myself, and I am because of
> Foroyaa. I learnt a lot from Foroyaa. You are a man of divergent views.
> Foroyaa has been established to create a kind of society where people can
> express themselves freely without fair or favour. We know other people from
> other media houses the way they talk about their managing editors, the
> system going on. We stand straight to defend Foroyaa at anywhere.
> Abubacarr Saidykhan: We have 22 main articles on our petition here, and the
> only that touches Halifa Sallah  is article 14 which one our main concern. I
> was very interested that you are only concerned with this one. Just to
> reiterate what Fabakaray Ceesay said, so many things have been raised before
> us here. Out of my observation, you were peeved annoyed as to why we should
> do these recommendations, and putting your name on a lose paper that might
> fall into any hands as you said. Factually, I can assure that this paper has
> not gone anywhere. In fact, it is only two copies that we have circulated so
> far. The only signed copies that were distributed were given to you, and
> uncle Sam Sarr. To be honest with you, and uncle Halifa there is nobody who
> sat with us to connive or conspire something against you. In fact, the
> meeting was held here openly; people were passing in; people were going out.
> It was one of the concerns deem necessary that we should put it before the
> management, that is why we put it there! I was thinking that you will tackle
> this issue with understanding, and not to think that people are going into
> another stage.
> During the presidential elections, there were many accusations that were
> running in and out here, and it is because of the coming of the people into
> this office. That is why we feel that guiding this office to entirely be a
> place of journalistic work will allow us or will save us to run away from
> all those accusations. I have mentioned one of these accusations in one of
> the meetings at the NADD bureau, and those were people in the party. You
> know what I mean…
> Nobody is saying that you are interfering with our journalistic work.
> According to your own explanation, you’ve made proofs in some of citations
> that in my case that is a journalistic case. In the case of Sanyang, that is
> journalistic. In the case of Fabakary Ceesay, that is also journalistic.
> That shows to me that you are getting into things that you don’t people to
> see as the managing editor. So, we feel, even if you are not here, you can
> still be doing that, but not for people to accuse us outside that Foroyaa is
> mixing politics with journalism. We want to completely defend ourselves, and
> put this institution to be respected by people so that they will it is
> purely journalistic. It is only journalistic work that is going in out of
> this place. This institution is yours; I have known that since before I
> started working here. In fact, you told me in one of our discussions that
> you own this institution. But from your attitude uncle Halifa if a new
> person or a stranger comes here, he or she will not even know that you own
> this paper. Because you have relegated yourself; you don’t show people that
> you want property. I can testify. You taught me how to know myself uncle
> Halifa. Section 25 of the Constitution, I learnt it from you, from your
> editorials that give us power to petition the President. It is the same
> thing that we are applying here. We are not petitioning the President. But
> that section, that is in the Constitution, and you taught me to know, that
> is what we are doing here. We were thinking that when put this before you,
> you would have been laughing. In fact, being inspired by our activity that
> even you are far away from here, you will believe that these people can do
> something in my absence.
> If you should say to us that even if you die we should not go there sand say
> anything. Then that means, you have taken this issue to a level that we
> never expected. I have never, ever expected that you will say this to us. I
> was so electrified when you mentioned that.
> You advised us that journalist must be independent, neutral and must not
> take side. It is your responsibility to tell us, even if it is an
> accusation, that what we are saying is not the case. To tell us that it is
> frivolous conspiring, that was not what we have expected.The only area that
> concerns you Uncle Halifa is on article 15 of this recommendation, and there
> is nobody who can clarify this issue for us more than you. Uncle Sam cannot
> elaborate on this issue and you have succinctly elucidated during your
> statement that you are not interfering with our work. I think that is the
> area that you should have drawn the cotton. And among us here no one is
> interested in conspiring against you whether in public or private. But we
> cannot also be use like tools by anybody as well.
> Lamin Sanyang…This meeting is to engage the management about the issue which
> I feel is very necessary. Like you always said that uncle Halifa is like a
> conscience to the nation you have been engaging the president and other
> people. So I feel if we as reporters of Foroyaa should make the same thing
> why thinking that is hostility or frivolous. I don’t think that is it. This
> is our opinion and we all have the right to our opinions. About the Tax
> Commission, I was the one who was at the tax commission. Mr. Fafa Mbye was
> at the commission and was asked about his tax payments for 2011, and was
> further told by the state counsel that he has defaulted which he has
> accepted. So that is why I put that headline that he has defaulted.
> Pateh Beldeh… I want to start with as Uncle Halifa has said. Definitely we
> are proud of Halifa and I think each and every one of us is proud of what
> PDOIS generally not even foroyaa. Foroyaa is an organ of PDOIS. I think we
> discuss this, we believe in this and most of us know this. We are not saying
> anybody who is at PDOIS should not be attached to Foroyaa we are not saying
> that. We are saying anything of political issues should be address at
> people’s center. Once you are here you are putting on Foroyaa Uniform this
> we are saying. Once going for political issues you should put on political
> uniform and then we go to people’s center and address it there. As far as my
> understanding is concern, I am a journalist and a politician. And I believe
> that uncle Halifa should be proud of us. Halifa some of us as he said that
> we were in the dustbin. He has help us to be part of the society then we
> should be proud of that and then he should never repeat this because he has
> done it for the sake of Allah and people have recognize his job. The whole
> world respected Halifa and the whole world respected PDOIS no matter you are
> from which party in this country. And no matters from which media house, if
> you meet with a Foroyaa reporter you have to give regard to the person. No
> matter the challenges we face, we respect the editorial board of Foroyaa but
> it does not mean that we should not have the sake to complain to them and if
> that is case then what we learn here is meaningless. Some of us can sit here
> and look at halifa for the whole day without realizing it. I remember
> sitting with him while fasting but I cannot even remember that I was fasting
> just because of the love I have for him. We also come here and encounter
> lots of difficulties but we are taking it in good faith.
> Musa Barrow… We describe this as a sanctuary for liberty and a bastion of
> freedom. So essentially the spirit behind this letter I don’t it meant to
> offend anyone because as we all know we are all been here working. Is just a
> suggestion that we are making because so often especially during the
> campaigns some of my colleagues will complain that the office is washed with
> so many people using the chairs. So it was out of that concern that this
> recommendation was made. There is no element of hostility in this. Here we
> are brothers and sisters and I do think being hostile to one another will
> not in anyway help our course.
> Yaya Bajo.. What I want to say with the reaction of Halifa to this
> particular point. I think you should explain to us the answer of the first
> question you pose to us in the beginning. But to tell people that you do not
> want people to vote for you and stuffs like that has taken me by surprise
> definitely speaking. Because I think you are a leader and you should accept
> constructive criticism.
> Mamadou Dem... I think my colleagues have said it all. We don know the
> person Sam Sarr is answerable to because this is the third time we are
> having such kind of a meeting and all that use to say is “Yes I will look
> into it.” This is all he says and at the end of the day nothing will be
> implemented. We do not who is answerable to.
> Ania Gaye.. I wan to talk on the political issue. Most of the time you will
> fine people sitting here and all they discuss is politics which is reducing
> our character. We cannot do our journalistic work the way we should it. They
> will all converge here talking about politics and nothing else and I feel
> that is not going to secure us as journalist and some of them could be NIAs.
> Lamin Njie/ Accountant…For me my concern is that you people misunderstood
> uncle halifa. In any society there must be a chain work and commandments. If
> you have any problem you go the editors first and to the managing editor and
> from the managing editor to uncle halifa he should be the last person you
> should see. If these people cannot solve your problem, among yourself you
> select one person to go to them. For me I am very much disappointed. There
> should be a chain of command and you don’t have to by past your boss. You
> know writing is very dangerous, you don’t know that?  At this juncture the
> strikers could not control laughing and Mr. Sallah intervenes by saying “You
> guys are not serious he is talking and you are laughing.” The accountant..
> There are lots of problems happening here without you people knowing it.
> Sulayman Bah… We exhausted all options before calling this meeting by
> writing to the management it self. You see, Uncle Sam would agree but at the
> end of the day he will do nothing absolutely. i some time fine it difficult
> to write my article and when I told uncle Sam he will show me disinterest.
> When the petition was served the way you approach me uncle halifa I would
> describe that as an attack because the whole thing is jointly written and
> every reporter agree to it. You went to the point saying that you will not
> tolerate none science. And you always talk about democracy and democracy is
> all about divergent views and people must express their opinions and there
> is no where were people will have the same opinions on matters.
> Awa Bah… The difficulty we faced outside is that the moments you introduce
> yourself as a Foroyaa reporter people see you as an opposition journalist
> directly linked with politics. This is what is affecting us as journalist of
> this paper. Some people fine it difficult to send their kids to come to
> Fororyaa just because of the too much political ideology mixed with
> journalism.  This is not done out of anger. That is what I have to say.
> Sarjo Camara… Uncle Halifa, I think this move is a very progressive move to
> me.
> And if at all it was a reactionary move I think it would have not come in
> this way. You are a roll model to all of us and the reason is to bring a
> breach between our work and politics. This is the only point we feel you
> should come in and clarify. We have been calling meetings in your absence
> and is the same thing we discuss. You know people better than all of us and
> you can even read the mines of others.  None of have the interest of living
> this office for another place. I personally I know what foroyaa did for me
> so I will not exchange foroyaa for any other institution. Please, take every
> thing in good faith and give us your own opinion the way we should work
> positively to achieve our aims and objectives of this organization.
> Halifa Sallah.. Thank you very much.
> Mamadou Sambou… Wanted to come in to say something but unfortunately was not
> allowed by the strikers to utter a word and was further by Halifa to calm
> down.
> Reporters’ Recommendation
> 1. General meeting for staff and other office sections on regular basis.
> 2.  Inconsistency with food provision.
> 3. Salary increment: increment for payment for articles. Provision of books,
> pens, and other working materials.
> 3. Provision of standard and workable computers.
> 4. Refurbishion of the reporters’ place of work.
> 5. Increment of salary status of freelance journalists according to the
> Gambia Press Union’s recommendations.
> 6. Late payment of salaries.
> 8. Reaching a contract agreement before commencement of work.
> 9. Handing of appointment letters including employment packages i.e.:
> entitlement. Social security membership cards and payment of social security
> dues.
> 10. Adjustment of press cards. Eg the Gambia before institution name and
> emboldening of the ‘Foroyaa’ name.
> 11. Approval of fares and late coming of approving editors.
> 12. Transport allowances to reporters.
> 13. Quality of editing of the articles with presentable but captivating
> captions
> 14. We need sub-editors on courts, sports and other sectors: news editors
> and proof-readers from our midst.
> 15. We recommend that Halifa Sallah of people’s Center move to the NADD
> office to create enough room for reporters. The besieging of the office
> premises by politicians is of a great concern. We recommend that there be a
> clear separation of politics from journalism.
> 16. We have noticed that food is not provided since the appointed cook has
> been bed-ridden by an ailment and we recommend that a substitute cook be
> hired in case such circumstance occurs.
> 17. We call for an immediate but speedy staffing of reporters who have
> served for more than two years.
> 18. We recommend that reporters be upgraded PROFESSIONALLY.
> 19. Increment of Columns pay/ informing of staff over issues of delay
> payment of salaries IF there is any such problem. We demand reporters be
> giving reasonable explanation supposedly if the management is facing
> financial hiccups.
> 20. We are calling for a general meeting with the entire management by
> FRIDAY 16th, after the Friday prayers.
> 21. The printing of the newspapers ranging from pictures, should be given
> due consideration.
> 22. Since the paper is the oldest in the country, we recommend that it comes
> on a daily basis.
> IF THESE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT GIVEN DUE AND URGENT CONSIDERATION BY
> 15th JANUARY 2012, WE WILL EMBARK ON A SIT-DOWN STRIKE.
> Sign:
> Abubacarr Saidykhan……………………………………
> Sulayman Bah……………………………..
> Fabakary B. Ceesay………………………………………..
> Musa Barrow
> Pateh Baldeh……………………………………………….
> Mamadou Dem…………………………………………………
> Sarjo Camara ……………………………………………..
> Lamin Sanyang …………………………………………
> Annia Gaye……………………………………………
> Amie Sanneh…………………………………..
> Kebba Camara …………………………..
> Awa B Bah ………………………………….
> Abdoulie Dibba …………………………….
> Madiba Singhateh ……………………….
> Mariama Ceesay………………………
> Lamin Fatty…………………………..
> Yaya Bajo……………………………..
>
>
> ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
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