Good Morning Mr. Spokesman The Point (Banjul) EDITORIAL January 2, 2001 Banjul In a statement read to the press last Saturday, the Chairman Government Spokespersons' Committee, Mr. M. Sarjo Jallow attacked The Point as being bias in its opinion. For of all we know, an opinion is an opinion. In the statement dubbed "Good Afternoon Mr. Editor, the Healing Process Revisited", Mr. Jallow claimed that our assertion that nothing was healed from either side is unfounded. Our reply is simple: Omar Joof still at large? Where is the official report of the enquiry? Why were the wounded students thrown out of Egypt in pain? Why is GAMSU appealing directly to the public for help? Although we could go on and on, these few issues suffice to demonstrate that any meaningful healing process must resolve them. As for our foreign policy, we maintain our opinion, as we told them in their last press conference if Mane was of Senegalese origin, Bissau would not have attempted on his life. All indications are that the Bissau murderers didn't have any regard for Gambians and their Government in dealing with Mane. If they had a little bit of respect for this country and its government, they wouldn't have killed Mane. What credit is the Spokespersons' Chairman talking about? At least one has to hail the finality of a diplomatic action and not attempts that have failed to change a crisis situation. Guinea-Bissau: the death of Mane points to a failure. Casamance: the reluctance of Abdoulie Wade "not to associate any foreign country" as well as the prevailing stalemate cannot be described as a success for Gambia's diplomacy. So, what credit can we give? Maybe as we have already done (in fact in the editorial in question) we can recognise that attempts were made but they were not conclusive as the problems are still with us. Talking about fairness, we have in our last issue revealed that the MFDC was to meet here this Wednesday. So, Mr. Chairman, be fair to us, don't only look at your bad side in our paper. As to the accusations that we are being used by conservative forces, we invite the Chairman to revisit the pages of The Point from 1991 to July 22 1994. This editor was the only journalist interrogated by both the NSS and the NIA. So, he had then nothing and has nothing today to be shy about as far as his journalistic integrity is concerned. That is our reply to that unfounded accusation. As for jobs creation, give us figures- what were last year's figures? What progress has been made in the job market in 2000? And what are the projections for 2001? On groundnut buying, did you hear of reports of credit buying at seccos? This paper has been fair to the regime since it came to power and was the first to praise the developments in the agricultural, health, air transport and educational achievements. But if things are not right, we point it out. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------