quote:

---

Originally posted by kayjatta

MY DISSENT TO SAMSUDEEN SARR’S THEORY OF ‘SABARRY’:

KAYJATTA


I have to say upfront that a good part of Mr. Sarr’s paper is irrelevant to the issue of the trial and incarceration of the GPU-6. Nonetheless, I will try to address only what broadly concerns the trial and incarceration of the journalists and the implications of that injustice:
Sam’s theory that Gambians who are being (unjustly) persecuted by their government should, instead of organized democratic resistance, scuttle on their knees and beg for mercy and forgiveness is the ultimate insult to all freedom-loving people around the world. It amounts to a great insult to the likes of Mandela, Lumumba, Aung San Suu Kyi , and others around the world who willingly have and continue to endure enormous hardship in defense of their legitimate convictions so others can enjoy freedom and liberty.
Sam’s believe that the six journalists would be found guilty by the Fagbenle Court was shared by many Gambians. But that itself is the problem in the Gambia. The fact that a lay person (in the law) can accurately predict the outcome of a (complicated) sedition and defamation case underscored the lack of rule of law in the Gambia.
Sam suggests that after fifteen years, all Gambians should know that Jammeh is the “Alpha and the Omega” with a popularity that rivals Obama’s. I am particularly stunned by this undemocratic language. After serving in the military for so long, being in and out of jail, and having narrowly escaped from the claws of the Leviathan with his life intact, I am stunned that Sam did not realize that Jammeh’s power rests in the hands of a few military officers who are fattened at the expense of the ordinary Gambians. Jammeh is no “Alpha and Omega”, and he is no modern Prometheus. Jammeh simply stole power from the Gambian people and placed it straight in the hands of a few army officers and civilian cronies whose loyalty he buys with cash, outrageous promotions, and other favors. I would challenge Sam to provide evidence of “Jammeh’s popularity that surges exponentially” in numbers… Jammeh’s rule, if anything has witnessed growing unpopularity and voter apathy in the Gambia. Recently Jammeh was at the risk of not able to maintain a decisive lead in the polls, therefore prompting him to change the criterion of winning persidential elections from majority to plurality of votes…
I think Sam is also talking about the recent demonstration by some “Gambians from the Diaspora” led by the fellow from U.K., as well as the prayer that was led by the Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) shortly before the 15th July 22 anniversary. Those are not signs of solidarity and political support. Those can instead be the hallmarks of dictatorships. Dictators of all shades and colors have often orchestrated such gatherings of people. Also no diplomat sees those ‘politics of patronage’ as genuine support. The genuine support of the people is measured in a free and fair election where people enjoy unfettered freedoms and liberties.
Jammeh’s claim that he has the cure for HIV AIDS is unsubstantiated. His treatment regimen is a disaster-of deaths and expulsions. Okay that is probably too harsh. Let’s put it this way. It is a mixed bag of some proclaimed cures, deaths and expulsions. Dr. Mbowe who shed off all his medical credentials and ethics to become a snake oil salesman for Jammeh is an epitome of absolute sycophancy in the Gambia. But understandably, Dr. Mbowe and many others in the Gambia have come to decide that there job and their salary is more important than any professional principles or ethics. Thay are simply flowing with the system...
The decision of the Obama administration not to release certain information about the Bush era national security policies and actions is not an analogy to the case of the incarcerated journalists in the Gambia. What the GPU- 6 is facing in the Gambia is not a national security matter; rather it is a matter of free speech or censorship; liberty or repression. Sedition and defamation laws as applied in the Gambia, albeit erroneously, are archaic and have no place in a modern democracy. Criminalizing speech is what threatens national security; free speech improves dialogue and the maintenance of peace and stability.
Sam also said that jammeh realized “…that his control of the judiciary was slipping away”. You see this is what distinguishes a dictatorship from a democracy. Jammeh was not supposed to control the judiciary in the first place. The judiciary is supposed to be an independent branch of government, and its independence is guaranteed by the Gambia’s constitution. It appears clear to me that Sam is thinking more like Jammeh, and the theory of “sabarry” he espouses is an attempt to perpetrate a dictatorship in the Gambia.
The appointment of Neneh M. Gaye that Sam linked to the initial prosecution of Pape Saine cannot be considered a national security matter either. What has that got to do with national security? Of course “once a soldier, always a soldier”, it is often said. Sam, like Jammeh, is thinking like a soldier without political education operating in a garrison state where everything is a sensitive national security matter.
Jammeh’s purging of the judiciary and the legislature (the National Assembly) without cause (that Sam mentioned), and appointing mercenary judges from Nigeria is the ultimate showcase of his blatant abuse of executive power. That act is a further testimony to the lack of rule of law in the Gambia. Sam argued that Jammeh is justified in appointing Nigerian mercenary judges because “it was exactly like that during the PPP era”. This is a fallacy. It is a fallacy of straight line thinking; that if something exist in the past, then it should or can continue today.
Jammeh’s decoration of Pape Saine with a ‘National Honor Award’ cannot be considered a show of love and appreciation of Mr. Saine and his work. It was simply an attempt at silencing him, after the murder of his more critical colleague. I guess it is called “the carrot and the stick”. Kill Deyda, and decorate Pape to silence dissent; and everybody will be happy…
Samsudeen Sarr , argued that “…commenting on the remarks made by Jammeh on Deyda’s death was analogous to swallowing the bait…”. This sounds ridiculous to me. As far as I know Pape Saine and the rest of the GPU-6 were not prosecuted for “commenting” on Jammeh’s remarks about Deyda’s death. Pape Saine was prosecuted because his paper, The Point, published the GPU president’s response to Jammeh’s remarks about the murder of Mr. Hydara (Deyda). Besides what’s wrong about commenting?
Sam, by his argument, implied that the attorneys for the six journalists should have dismissed them by telling them that their cases were “unwinnable”. I think it would be legitimate for the attorneys of the defendants to enter into any settlement negotiations with the prosecution, but to dismiss their clients on the pretext that the case is “unwinnable” even though the law is on their (the defendants’) side is prejudicial and unethical. No serious attorney will do that. The Nigerian judges may not be neutral (they are actually in favor of the prosecution) but the law was in favor of the defense. The motion for the removal of Justice Wowo who initially presided over the case was made in recognition of this.
Sam also took issue with the defendants’ plea for mercy after their conviction. The plea for mitigation is a part of the court procedure. It is a plea to the court and the judge, not to the President. Even after conviction, defendants and their attorneys are expected to show respect to the court and the judge. A plea for mercy is part of that respect also.
But Sam Sarr , the editor of FORYAA and one of the convicted journalists told the judge/court to do whatever it deems necessary…
To conclude, Samsudeen Sarr’s theory of “sabarry” to Jammeh underlies the definition of a coward. Mandela, Lumumba, Aung San Suu Kyi, and many others around the world will be greatly insulted and trivialized by Sarr’s argument.
I personally think Gambians should all match to prison with these journalists and see if Jammeh and his military henchmen can rule the country by themselves. Maybe samsudeen Sarr is ready to take up a job with the Leviathan again. Gambians should be willing to go to jail in defense of their freedoms. Going to jail for noble and internationally recognized principles and convictions is righteous and heroic…
The Gambia’s central prison, Mile Two, may succeed in breaking the will of Samsudeen Sarr, but it will never succeed in breaking the will of the just and the righteous. Mile Two will never succeed in breaking the will power, determination, and the resolve of the FOROYAA editor, Samuel Ossey Sarr. Robyn Island, for a quarter century, could not break Nelson Mandela…
If anybody will mediate the release of the jailed journalists, it must be done in recognition that the Jammeh government is wrong and there is no point in what they are doing to freedom of speech and of the press. Failure to do that will only result in the temporary release of the jailed, because as journalists, as Gambian people; we refuse to beg Jammeh to “sabarry”. To call for “sabarry” at this time amounts to declaring victory for evil and wrong over righteousness…
Thank you.

---