OPINION
EXPOSING YAHYA JAMMEH AND HIS NEWSPAPER OBSERVER -PART FOUR
BY AN OBSERVER INSIDER



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


October 17, 2005
Observer journalists have fought tooth and nail to defend their editorial
policy following the sale of the paper. But their attempts to prevent
editorial invasion or interference failed, as the new owner was bent on
curtailing free reporting. Buba Baldeh, a hired MD will walked into the
news room and openly tell editors that this paper was not bought to oppose
the Jammeh government. As an editorial insider, Buba will call me in his
office and briefed me about assignments he had lined up for reporters. He
will try to give money to such reporters in a bid to motivate them to
report in favour of the government.

Buba was a journalist cum politician. Believe it or not, he was using his
office to campaign for the ruling government. For some reasons best known
to his employer Yahya Jammeh, he decided to sack Baldeh. At the hills of
his sacking, he Baldeh was engaged in war of words with some observer
reporters, whom he accused of unprofessional conduct and misinformation. A
charge Observer reporters strongly denied. They resigned in protest, which
later led to Baldeh's firing.

Buba was repeatedly reprimanded by Jammeh for his inability to control the
Observer reporters, some of whom were perceived to be critical of the APRC
administration. He will stay over night to ensure that stories lined up
for publication were vetted by him before publication. Buba did everything
humanely possible to impress Jammeh. For some reasons, the state house
kanilai man was not satisfied with his performance.

The observer has an editorial desk at the State House in Banjul, thanks to
the initiatives of Baldeh. Other private newspapers are denied access to
the State House. They are not even allowed to cover Jammeh functions. Buba
used to take two or three reporters to the President's home village
Kanilai to cover Jammeh's functions. Observer journalist posted to the
Sate House must pass some back ground checks, before they could be
accredited to work in such high office. Jammeh was concerned about the
party affiliations of such reporters and their level of patriotism.

Whether Amadou Samba is aware of the past moves by Baba Jobe and Buba to
effect the change of ownership, we have evidence to that effect. The
observer was briefly transferred in the name of Baba, but later voided by
Jammeh. This was the time, he Baba jobe was charged with economic crimes.
Observer was likely to be among Jobe's assets to be forfeited to the
state. Knowing about the legal ramifications of such embarrassing
revelations, Jammeh quickly instructed some of his relatives, whom we do
not not want to name at this hour to void the transfer of the Observer
ownership.

Baba Jobe can claim that he was a victim of betrayal. He was asked by
Jammeh to over see the paper on his behalf and proceeds realise from the
paper be used to sponsor APRC party activities. Baba was also used by
Jammeh to operate his new millennium airline. Baba and Amadou were
Jammeh's errand boys. The said aircraft, according to a findings released
by the United Nations was being used by Baba Jobe to smuggle guns to war
torn countries, such as Liberia and Sierra Leone in exchange for blood
diamonds. Baba who was indicted by the UN, is awaiting to be extradited to
the UN war crime court in Sierra Leone.

It is reported that the current administration is not keen at handing over
Jobe, to the UN courts, for some reasons. Close aides to Jobe said Baba
will likely spill the beans if ever handed to such courts. It is reported
that he threatens to name some of his conspirators if taken to Freetown to
face justice.

To those of you who do not know, the secret behind Baba's involvement in
Observer management, this is just a tip of the ice berg. He was used by
the President to control his business interests and was often acting as co
President during his absence. The Observer was one of Jammeh's properties
under Jobe's control. The ALLGAMBIAN, is your major source of news. We are
here to serve you.



Go To Top

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2004 AllGambian.Net. All Rights Reserved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
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 Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤