As Media Stand-Off Reaches New High, Press Union Expels Director of Relations The Independent (Banjul) August 10, 2001 Posted to the web August 10, 2001 Cherno Jallow Secretary General Banjul, the Gambia Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay the director of press and public relations at State House has been expelled from The Gambia Press Union after what the union called her calculated attempt to spoil relations between the government and the press. In a move unprecedented in its history, the union expelled Mrs. Jahumpa-Ceesay in apparent contempt for her abrasive remarks against the private press whom she labeled as destabilising factors of the regime. A press release from the union to that effect is reproduced below. "Your recent unwarranted attack on the private media, to the extent of describing them as troublemakers bent on destablishing this regime deserves the Union's highest condemnation. It is seen by the union as a calculated attempt on your part to further destroy any rapprochement between government and the press. Your task should be to bring these two parties closer in the interest of fostering better understanding for the benefit of the electorate. Yours is never to divide but unite. Furthermore, this attack on the private press and staged at a public rally and coming from no less a person than you, the former treasurer of The Gambia Press Union makes it all the more tragic in that a person of your standing and caliber could yet stoop so low shows how power can corrupt. Also, the Union's records indicate that as treasurer of the Union, you have failed in the past four years to render accounts of the finances of the Union. You have also failed, as required by the Union's constitution, to offer an excuse or explanation. These same records further indicate that during this period you equally failed to pay your dues and subscription to the Union. All these commissions and omissions on your part constitute enough grounds for the highest disciplinary sanction to be taken against you. Under these circumstances therefore, the Union has no other option but to expel you from its membership with immediate effect. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------