As most of you are aware by now, I am quite a novice when it comes to the cyber-universe of the Gambian web community. Indeed, since their inception, it was not until now that I start writing feature articles for publishing on the aforementioned websites. Nevertheless, prior to that, I had found the sites quite fascinating for ample reasons the notable of which, being the opportunity to read local news and of course, taking advantage of reading the brilliant and more informative feature articles written by some of the best brains from the country, not to mention the associate editors, critiques marred, with some of the most explosive remarks against writers of the said articles, which is the subject matter of this article.
My observation is that the Gambian websites has been turned into a platform for war drums where, various tribes and contributors vehemently attack each other, the most potent of which, being the responsibility of the Site editors. There is not a single article on the Gambian website each day, that did not turn confrontational between the Gambian tribes, contributors and the editors and I think it is time we discontinue this practice before it metastasizes into something more sinister than the war of words. The hostility between these tribes and editors and its inevitable dreadful derivative on the citizens in the Gambia is lamentable and, it makes one to watch with growing trepidation. Indeed, given the ominous outcome of such hostilities to which we all bare witness to its mayhem on the African continent, one would have thought that this will not be something to entertain. Yet, we have managed to block from our physiques, the inevitable consequences of such hostilities which have oftentimes emerged to destroy many a country. If history is any guide, we are without a doubt heading towards???. Remember Liberia, The Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan among others? The parallels with what is being exhibited between the two tribes and others on the Gambian websites are almost the same.
In the case of Rwanda for example, conventional wisdom holds that the conflict was a civil war between the minority Tutsis and the majority Hutus. But historical records point out that it was a long-term hostility between the two tribes that ignited the war in which over one million people got slaughtered into oblivion. Liberia is no exception, it was tribal differences that triggered that war and, again, over 250,000 perished and 1.4 million became refugees. Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Somalia and many more have fallen prey to this horrible demise all, because of years of undercurrent tribal differences.
The war in western Sudan's Darfur province has been labeled as a clash between Arab herders and African farmers. However, a careful review of the conflict indicates that the combatants on both sides are largely black Africans, and the hostility between them is more of a culture, than skin tone. It is traditional tension between the two groups that, has boiled beneath the surface for several years before escalating to a level of bloodletting in which, an estimated 500,000+ people have died so far.
But in the Gambia we are blessed that the founders of our nation had the foresight to see it fit, to establish an inter-marriage system that will unite us, with the objective to avert any such future conflicts. And, without any denial, the said arrangement has given us solace and escape from the ethnic tensions that have caused many African countries to the havoc of bloody ruins. The more than 12 plus ethnic groups in Gambia have managed to study together since independence, like brothers and sisters without any trouble. And, as expected has helped us grow up, seeing ourselves first and foremost as Gambians, more so than our ethnicity – Mandingo, Fula, Jolla, Sarahule, wolf or Manjago to name but a few. Why then are we trying to destroy the most important ingredient that has kept us united heretofore? By all means it is okay to attack people on individual basis if we feel he/she might have written something to our dislike ness. But for peace sake, do not attack an entire tribe and their leaders for an individual’s political incorrectness. Such a practice is not democratic but an invitation to a silly war of words.
Better yet, we can direct this energy to positive use by establishing press Unions institution, like the Gambia Press Union to monitor governments spending activities and the alleged corruptions, which have been the culprit to most of these hostilities, instead of continuously criticizing government without providing any direction to clampdown on such practices. Mirrored in the framework of the Press Unions ours can equally bring our politicians to book, if there is any miss-appropriation of funds and/or incompetence in the execution of the duties that the people have mandated government to do. Indeed, my next article will be dedicated to this proposal to solicit more ideas from the community as to how the institution can be formed and managed. For, I am persuaded that one doesn’t have to be a president of the Gambia or a National Assembly member to help in the development of our country. There is too much talk but no action. Let us put our energy to positive use and veer away from the dangerous path we are heading.
To those of you who may not be cognizant with the activities of the Gambia Press Union, it is a legal watchdog institution in the Gambia with non-governmental status devoted to defending civil rights and civil liberties in the Gambia. The Gambia Press Union brings lawsuits against the Gambia government if they detect any injustice or any act of infringements that may encroach upon civil liberties of Journalist in the country. Most of the lawsuits brought by the Press Union have been central to several important constitutional law cases; and it has played key roles in the dispensation of good governance and style of policy changes against the young Journalists in the country.
Finally, ever noticed that the ages of the majority of the 2006 presidential hopefuls are under 65? This is an indication that the torch is being passed to us; a new generation who are trained together in unison, tempered by political violence, disciplined by acceptance and tolerance, and proud of an ancient heritage to which, we are now being entrusted to protect. In the course of the struggle of our forefathers to achieve nationhood for us, they gave testimony to their national loyalty by sacrificing their lives for us. Their graves across the country bare witness to their commitment to the peace to which we now enjoy.
Let us therefore, not disappoint them but make it our moral and patriotic duty to guard against anything that will compromise that peace and rise to the occasion to protect it for our children and their children, by making sure that their Gambia is a beautiful, peaceful and, a more united Gambia, for the sake of all our past and present leaders including Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, Sir Farmang Singhateh, Pierre S Njie of Banjul Fa Touray Sanyang of Kombo Faraba, Late Sanjally Bojang of Kembuje, the late Sheikh Ousman Jadama of Kiang Dumbutu and many more and President Yaya A.J.J Jammeh, among others. Long live Gambia and God Bless us all. Thank you.
Editors note:The views of the author does not represents the position of the Freedom Newspaper in anyway. This paper cannot be held liable for the author's content. His views are his views. Period. Thanks for your attention.
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