Dida Halake Fights Back!!!

Hey, Let Watchman be! Says Halake!!!

Editor,

I must say that I differ with my “defender” below in that I do not think that Watchman’s comment re: “Halake intellectual prostitute” are out of order! Seriously, I do think that the comment is admissible as a “charge”. Nevertheless, the charge is not factually correct as I have been steadfast in my views since 2004 when FREEDOM v. Halake round-one first took place. I say it is factually incorrect to charge me with “prostitution” because I have always remained steadfast to the cause I championed: That Jammeh is a committed and visionary leader as far as INFRASTRUCTRE DEVELOPMENT of the country is concerned. I said that in the full-page BANTABA Interview conducted by Sheriff Bojang Snr in 2002. When Sheriff said “You sound as if you have fallen in love with Jammeh”, I replied “Love is not the correct word”. The correct word is admiration for the commitment to the development of the country – which is STILL ongoing.

 Now, there has been slight discord in our “marriage” because there have come to the fore issues concerning Human Rights – no doubt recently amplified by my own first hand experience which heightened the way in which I now see it all. But then you have to remember that now I have seen people like SAMSUDEEN JAMMEH in jail – who told me that he had been there without charge or trial for two years (while he made this Old Pa a drink on the charcoal). The experiences of people like Pap Saine who has become a personal friend because of his generosity during my time as MD Observer. Or Halifa Sallah who I normally suspect as an anti-Jammeh zealot with a political agenda – BUT WHOSE STANCE AND COURAGE OVER THE WITCH-CRAFT ISSUE I ADMIRE TOTALLY.

 Nevertheless, I remain STEADFAST in maintaining that only the APRC has a well-conceived and executed DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. And that is still why I think they can win the next election. So I haven’t switched to supporting NADD, NDAM, PDOIS, etc. So certainly the charge of being an “Intellectual Prostitute” must fail – though I must defend Watchman’s right to make the charge.

Having said that, I think the APRC government should improve its Human Rights records with regard to Freedom of Speech and Due Process of Law (certainly no detention beyond 72 hours without appearance before a magistrate to be charged). I think if the APRC government improved in these area, it would become even more popular. There was a time when Lamin Wa Juwara and I were pictured arguing and wagging fingers at each other in the pages of my Daily Observer. Why can’t we do that even with people like Watchman and Pa Mbai on GRTS itself? Why should the APRC be afraid of putting its case in public when they have “intellectuals” like Dr. Taal and myself for whom the combination of Pa Mbai and Watchman would be no more than a mid-morning snack? (respect gentlemen – spare me the “ICBMs”!).

 Finally Watchman, I was NOT “fired” from the Daily Observer. I was “re-designated” as Editor-in-Chief on the 12th of June 2008 and I REFUSED – the letter is on my desk as I write. When the President returned from Bissau the very next day, he referred to me pointedly, on GRTS Airport interview, as “Editor-in-Chief” and I let the remark pass. The next morning, 14th, the IGP and Co. came to my MD's office and asked that I agree to become Editor-in-Chief. I refused again and wrote my resignation letter infront of them – there and then. That night I was arrested on those concocted charges of Amadou Samba’s. But even in my 3rd day in detention the Daily Observer carried a story on page one describing me as “Editor-in-Chief”. Would I do it again? Run the Daily Observer as MD that is? Yep! But I must have a written guarantee that I can publish articles from ANYONE I want – including Watchman and Pa Mbai – PROVIDED I do an excellent demolition job on their anti-APRC arguments. I must also be able to publish matters such as the “Witch-hunting” saga and also be able to highlight detainee issues and miscarriages of justice. All these are in my view good for the APRC. Will I be offered my old job at the Daily Observer on these conditions? INSHALLAH! Would Pa Mbai welcome me back at Daily Observer? Certainly not because he used to have sleepless nights - attacking me! - while I was there!

Now listen Watchman and Pa Mbai. I am not as young as you, so I must take a bit of a rest from you both! In addition, I am planning to leave lovely London soon for beloved Africa – to teach English. So I have to spend time gathering lots of my learning resources materials in the next two weeks.

God Bless All and Keep Up the “Jaw Jaw” – it is better than “War War”!

God Bless The Gambia.

PS. Watchman: You may not be knowledgeable enough to know this but most prostitutes are actually very nice people – sometimes even nicer than pretentious “normal” people. One of Jesus Christ’s (SAW) best friends was a prostitute. I am always happy to sit and have a nice discussion with an intelligent and elegant prostitute – though anything else is out of the question as I am a) old and b) happily married to lovely Gambian woman.