Ebrima, Kebba Dampha's advice to you regarding "Bajen" Fatou's denial Is the way forward.Your postings from your sources has always been accurate as far as I know.Your track record is a go and you need not clarify it. Beran -----Original Message----- From: ebrima ceesay [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 1:31 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Ebrima, Fatou Jahumpa denies the truth to your story! Mr Jassey: To tell you the truth, I did not - initially - want to answer your question for reasons I'll keep to myself; but I thought I should nonetheless give you a short reply. Besides, I am also tired, having just posted a long article to the Gambia L. Anyway, this is my response to you: First of all, what did one of my sources say the other day? He had said that "Yaya Jammeh is CONTEMPLATING taking or granting himself an 18 month long medical leave". And he, the source, had also indicated that he had seen a confidential Cabinet memo to that effect. Now, the first point to note is that he, the source, did not say that Yaya Jammeh WILL take a medical leave. Rather, he, the source, said that Mr Jammeh was CONTEMPLATING granting himself a medical leave. In other words, Jammeh is or was CONSIDERING taking a medical leave. And in fact that is still the truth, according to my source. However, when the Independent newspaper reported the rumours of Yaya Jammeh's intention to take such a long medical leave, the Government, as it were, was obliged to react or issue statement, given the huge public concerns/interests in the matter. Now, if you understand the dynamics of politics as I do, then you wouldn't be surprised if Fatou Jahumpa-Ceesay had denied the story. By the way, Mr Jassey, always remember that Fatou's job is to do a good Public Relations (PR) for Mr Jammeh and his regime. And don't underrate her ability.... Anyway, having read the minds of the Gambian public, in the wake of the publication of the story in the Gambia, but, more importantly, having also realised that Yaya Jammeh taking an 18 month long medical leave would be an unwise move, she, or the government, was obliged to deny the story, at least, for now. Fatou is simply doing a PR job, if you will, for Yaya Jammeh and the government. For instance, she said that the Independent newspaper went and published the said story without even trying to confirm it with the relevant government officials. Do you really believe her? I am not in the Gambia, but knowing how the media operates, be rest assured that the Independent newspaper would have made several attempts to get confirmation, or denial, of the story from the government, before going to press. However, contrary to what Fatou is insinuating, I am convinced that no one in government would have been willing, or availed himself or herself, to talk to the Independent newspaper about the issue. Anyway, I did check with my source once again, and he said that despite Fatou Jahumpa's denial, Yaya Jammeh is still contemplating taking medical leave. By the way, publicly, Fatou Jahumpa will try to discredit my sources in the Gambia, but, privately, she and the government are, of course, convinced that someone in their midst, is definitely telling me somethings about the regime. And, believe me, they are indeed worried! Interestingly, Alan Mboge, who is also on Gambia L, is presently visiting Birmingham. And when he came to my house the other day, and saw some confidential Cabinet documents, he was shocked and thus remarked: "Ebrima, you know I had thought that you were cooking these stories about the Government on the L. But with these Cabinet documents in your flat, I am now convinced that indeed someone in the Government is feeding you with information about the regime".... Now, Mr Jassey, let me tell you the latest in the country which would also confirm that Yaya Jammeh is indeed feeling the pressure. Do you know what happened? Well, Yaya Jammeh invited George Christenson of Radio 1 F.M, and begged him to let off, or edit, some of the criticisms of him (Jammeh), his regime and supporters, on Radio 1 FM. Believe me, he was begging George of Radio 1 FM on his knees. But true to his democratic principles, George listened to him patiently, and then went about with his very good radio programmes. I wish you and I could listen to George's programmes, because they are superb, I am told. Meanwhile, Fatou Jahumpa is busy, I am told, trying to coax the women of Foni and Kombo North to her "million mum match" on Thursday. Good luck to her! Ebrima Ceesay Birmingham, UK >From: Muhammad Lamine Jassey-Conteh <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Ebrima Ceesay, Fatou Jahumpa denies the truth to your story! >Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 17:05:10 EDT > >Mr. Ceesay: >Please help us in clarifying the truth to your revelation that the dictator >is contemplating an 18th month sick leave. We at the Gambia-L deserve a >quick response from you. > >Comrade, > >Muhammad Lamine Jassey-Conteh > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------