"I think that at this very moment, one has to know what to write, when to
write it, as far as the press is concerned in this country. My Lawyer has
just ask me to stop writing for the time being. And obviously,  I have to
heed to his advise. Really, what I can tell you is that I'm living in fear.
I'm living in fear and my family are not stable. They are very worried."
These were the exact words of Journalist Lamin Fatty a former Senior
Reporter with the Defunct Independent Newspaper. Mr. Fatty in an exclusive
interview with the Freedom Newspaper, said the current hostile media
situation in the Gambia, calls for absolute caution. Fatty who was recently
convicted on Libel and sedition charges said he had drop his journalistic
pen for now in fear for his life and personal safety. His Lawyer Lamin
Camara has advised him to refrain from writing stories in local papers,
until his appeal case against the state is exhausted. Fatty is contesting
the legality of the Magistrate's  judgment, which imposed one year prison
jail term against him in default of a court fine. In a telephone  interview,
Fatty commented about lack of funds to support his family, government's
relationship with the private press, his detention and a host of other
issues. Below is the full text of the interview. Please read on..
......................................................................
Freedom Newspaper: How do you feel  when the Gambian press bail you out from
going to jail by paying your fine?

Lamin Fatty: Well, I was extremely happy. Extremely happy, for the fact they
have saved me from going to jail. That's very commendable. And I'm thanking
them for rescuing me from going jail.

Freedom Newspaper: On the subject of jail, how was jail like at the Mile Two
Prison? You spent several months in jail. How would you describe the
conditions at the Mile Two Prison?

Lamin Fatty: I was taken to the Prisons reception. I was waiting at the
reception for them to pay the fine,  so that I can be released and that was
exactly what had transpired. Nothing happened to me. They have not done
anything wrong to me.

Freedom Newspaper: No, what I'm saying is that during your three months
detention, before you were granted bail by the court, how  was life in Mile
Two?

Lamin Fatty: I was not detained at Mile Two. I was detained at the National
Intelligence Agency, the (NIA). I spent 63 days in detention altogether and
appeared in court on June 12TH, 2006.

Freedom Newspaper: And how was life at the NIA? Was it bad?

Lamin Fatty: Well, I  don't want to discuss these issues. Really, I don't
want to discuss these issues at the moment. That was why it was not
mentioned at court. I don't want to discuss these issues at all.

Freedom Newspaper: So you mean that you cannot talk about  your experiences
at the NIA? Was it bad?

Lamin Fatty: Well, anyway  I can say it was very horrible. It was very, very
horrible, but I don't want to discuss on these issues at all.

Freedom Newspaper: Where your threatened that if you talk about your ordeal
you would be killed or what?

Lamin Fatty: Pardon? I don't understand.

Freedom Newspaper: I said,  were you threatened by the Agency that if you
should narrate your ordeal, you would be killed?

Lamin Fatty: Nobody so far has relate that message to me so far,.  Honestly
speaking.

Freedom Newspaper: But why is it that you are not comfortable talking about
your conditions at the NIA?

Lamin Fatty: Well, Pa Nderry, I don't want to discuss on those issues,
dilate on those issues. I think we should discuss on other issues and leave
the NIA detention aside. What I'm saying now is that we should all forge
ahead and reflect on issues affecting the Gambian media and how to help the
situation. I think that is the part I would want us to center our discussion
on rather than my detention.

Freedom Newspaper: Was the Independent Management supportive to you during
your detention?

Lamin Fatty: Candidly speaking, when I was detained for 63 days and
released, I received a phone call from Alagi Yoro Jallow, our Managing
Editor. We discussed a lot of issues. He called me again on the 26TH of June
2006 and said he had  wired an amount of four thousand dalasis. I think I
have the receipt with me here. I can show you the receipt. Let me be very
precise. He sent  me something  like four thousand dalasis. Four thousand
and something dalasis. I received that from Yoro Jallow. Honestly speaking
Pa Nderry, Yoro Jallow has sent me four thousand dalasis, which he said he
gave it  to me from his pocket.

Yoro called me again on the 29TH of June, 2006 last year,  and said he wired
D24,900 to me at the Trust Bank, which is equivalent to $800 dollars. Yoro
has been very supportive to me during the period. He stood by me throughout
my detention.

I have not been in touch with Baba Galleh Jallow. He doesn't have my phone
number. I read his pieces on my arrest on the online papers. The solidarity
on the online papers  was there and not financial support. I receive no
financial support from him. I'm definitely in need of financial support as I
speak to you.

Freedom Newspaper: You mean you are in desperate need of  financial help?

Lamin Fatty: Of course, I need financial support. My Lawyer has just ask me
to stop writing for the time being. And obviously,  I have to heed to his
advise. Really, what I can tell you is that I'm living in fear. I'm living
in fear and my family are not stable. They are very worried.

Freedom Newspaper: Does this means that you are going to leave journalism
for good or what?

Lamin Fatty: You saying I'm going to live journalism?

Freedom Newspaper: Yes.

Lamin Fatty: That I'm a journalist. I'm a journalist and shall remain to be
a journalist. I don't see anything that can stop me from practicing my
profession. That's the profession I'm using for the time being for my
survival. Journalism is not only about news journalism. You can cover other
areas in journalism.

Freedom Newspaper: Are you implying  that you are going to be avoiding
political stories that might land you into trouble?

Lamin Fatty: I think that at this very moment, one has to know what to
write, when to write it, as far as the press is concerned in this country.

Freedom Newspaper: That sounds interesting. But on other people might argue
that if all the journalists should apply self-censorship, it means that
there is no need to have press in The Gambia?

Lamin Fatty: Pardon? Can I hear the question again?

Freedom Newspaper: You said people should think about what to write and what
not to write before they would run into trouble. I said, is that the type of
Gambia you want?

Lamin Fatty: That is not the type of Gambia, I want. I want a Gambia, where
there would be freedom, journalists to practice their profession in a
professional manner. Press and the government should be partners  and should
not see each other as enemies.

Freedom Newspaper: Thanks Mr.Fatty for granting us this interview.

Lamin Fatty: It's my pleasure. Thanks for the good job.

All rights reserved. Copying or re-writing our pieces without the expressed
permission of  this leading paper is prohibited. News Organizations and
Research institutions interested in using our pieces are free to contact the
editor before culling our stories. Such organizations must also give credit
to Freedom before using our materials. We thank you for your attention.

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Posted on Thursday, June 21, 2007 (Archive on Monday, July 23, 2007)
Posted by PNMBAI  Contributed by PNMBAI
Return <http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/Homepage/tabid/36/Default.aspx>

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