Freedom Newspaper (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Justice Sam
25 March 2008
Banjul — Following his refusal to heed to an official instruction from his boss Dida Halake to resign from the newly constituted Gambia Press Union Executive, a Daily Observer Staff Reporter Buya Jammeh is paying for the price of being defiant. Buya Jammeh's services with the Daily Observer has been terminated with immediate effect, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. Dida Halake had earlier asked the journalist to resign for the new GPU Executive if he wants to keep his employment with the Daily Observer. But Jammeh refuses to heed to his boss's advise, as he tells Dida right into his face that the days of slavery were over and that he was not obliged to give up his GPU Executive Membership.
Consequently, Buya Jammeh was denied entry into the Observer premises, when he showed up for work Tuesday. Observer staffers were taken aback by Dida Halake's rude and crude conduct, as he forcefully ejected the poor reporter from Observer facility. " No , go home. We do not want to see you here again. You have been sacked. This is the price of being stubborn. We told you to give up your position at the GPU, but you are not listening. Go home. Never come to the Daily Observer again." Halake told Buya Jammeh.
Buya Jammeh had earlier accuses Halake of trying to divide Gambian journalists. " I will never resign from the GPU. If this means firing me, then so be it. I am not resigning my membership." He told Halake.
Drama erupted at the Observer, as staffers could be seen helplessly watching their boss exchanging words with Dida Halake. Buya said he will not allow Halake to enslave him in his own country. " I refused to be enslaved. We are not in slavery time." He said.
The move followed ongoing plans to set up a rival media group called " The Gambia Media Association." GMA. The said group was spearheaded by Halaki and some GRTS staffers. The goal for this new media organization was to undermine the activities of the GPU. A piece published by the Daily Observer about the said organization reads" Reports have it that following the weekend's disastrous General Congress, when the old-guard of the GPU engineered an in-house change of the guard leaving the same people in control of the GPU, disappointed members of the GPU are canvassing media houses with the aim of setting up a rival Gambia Media Association (GMA).Interested colleagues working in the media, be it newspapers, television or radio are asked to contact the GMA Steering Committee on:"
As the situation appears, Buya Jammeh, is no longer having a job at the Observer. His services with the paper has been terminated.
Observer insiders who spoke to the Freedom Newspaper reporter described Halake's action as a gross violation of press freedom. " Gambians are watching this foreigner to enslave our people in our own country. Buya's sacking is unjustifiable. Halake should be sacked. He is creating hostility not only here at the Observer, but the entire country. Whether he likes or not, GPU is here to stay." Said an editor at the Daily Observer.
The main journalist body GPU, is yet to issue a statement on Halake's latest move to persecute Observer reporters. Halake is widely feared at the Observer. This reporter witnesses the whole drama, which unfolded between Halake and Buya Jammeh. Halake warns Observer reporters to give support to GMA or to face the sack.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Freedom Newspaper. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
