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After Gambians in the USA humiliated him during his recent
trip to the 68th UN General Assembly, president Jammeh returned home and, in
typical fashion, used the state resources of GRTS to shamefully lie to the
Gambians at home about what happened in New York.
He did not report that a good crowd of Gambians had gathered
at the Gambian Mission in New York to register their displeasure with his
dictatorship. He did not mention that his tyrant-in-the-making of a secretary
general, Momodou Sabally, was almost beaten up by a lady he confronted at the
demonstrations. He did not ention that his chief diplomat to the UN, Momodou
Tangara, was actually beaten up in a fist fight by Falai Baldeh. He did not
mention that he was scared into spending his entire time curled up like a mouse
inside his hotel room, and he certainly did not mention that he was forced to
cut short his trip to run back home without even visiting his ill-gotten
mansion in Maryland purchased with stolen Gambian millions.
Jammeh used the state run propaganda tool of GRTS to lie to
the nation. They shamefully used editing and camera tricks to doctor an
interview he had with one Gambian to try and diminish the impact of the
demonstrations. Unfortunately for Jammeh, the advent of camera phones, Facebook
and other social media made sure Gambians at home and around the world know the
truth. Events in New York were already circulating around the world unedited
and almost in real time. Gambians at home are already talking about how
surprised and disappointed they were to confirm that Jammeh is a lion at home
but a mouse when away from State House and Kanilai. The video of Jammeh’s wife,
Zainab, being smuggled through the hotel kitchen while his husband remained
hidden in the hotel room, is something Gambians are still laughing about.
Freedom Newspaper spoke to the man whose words were twisted
in the GRTS propaganda video and he confirmed that the GRTS video is a total
misrepresentation of his interview with them. Key parts GRTS deliberately
omitted include his questioning Jammeh on the murder of veteran Gambian
journalist, Deyda Hydara, and the recent murder of 30year old Kasim Kanyi by
Jammeh’s thugs. Mr. Jobe has been a supporter of the anti-Jammeh movement and
he reassured our listeners that he remains a strong critic of Jammeh and his
thugs.
Now realizing that his GRTS propaganda attempts to diminish
the events in New York were not working, largely because of the power of the
internet, Jammeh was forced to find alternatives. Unfortunately for him, the
options were limited. He resorted to a blame game. Rather than letting Gambians
and the world see that he was beaten by ordinary Gambians standing up for
justice, Jammeh thought he would be better off letting them think there had to
be a bigger force supporting these Gambians. First was the drastic and sudden
announcement that he was withdrawing the country from the Commonwealth,
branding the institution a “neo-colonial” institution, followed by two
strongly-worded anti-Western statements on GRTS attacking the USA and UK and
accusing them of orchestrating a “smear campaign” against The Gambia. As if
that’s not ridiculous enough, a desperate Jammeh went on to accuse the USA of
forming the country’s main opposition. He also tried to invoke tribal
sentiments to divide the Gambian people. Again, unfortunately for Jammeh, we
live in a different era and Gambians are not buying the distraction tactics
this time. Instead, they’re more determined than ever and hit him with an upper
cut he never dreamt of.
As he was busy bashing the USA and UK, the taking over
of the Gambian embassy in Washington DC must have hit him like a sack of
bricks. Peaceful but determined, Gambians entered the Gambian embassy. The
class and discipline they exercised is nothing short of admirable. No embassy
employee was harassed and no property was destroyed. But the message was loud
and clear – Gambians are ready to take on Jammeh and will stop at nothing to
demand justice. According to DUGA and the other groups of Gambian activities,
the events of New York were not a one-off. They’re part of a strategy and if
anyone had any doubts, you don’t need to look past the taking over of the
embassy in DC to see that they mean business. The activities and results are a
model to be duplicated in cities all over the USA and Europe. Jammeh and his
cronies can expect some “royal treatment” every time they step outside the
cocoon of the guns of the Gambia National Army.
What impact will this have you ask? For starters, it has
shown Gambians that Jammeh is only brave when he is in Gambia and has his guns
around him. This is why he stayed hidden and would not dare step out of his
hotel room in New York. Secondly, it shows how mentally weak he is to be so
shaken by the activities of a few Gambians that he takes drastic actions like
withdrawing from the Commonwealth. It shows that Gambians have had enough and
will stop at nothing to confront the tyranny. Perhaps most importantly,
activities in New York and in DC will be an inspiration for Gambians around the
world, especially those in Gambia. Gradually, they will realize that power lies
in the hands of the people and that it only takes a little courage and
BOOM!!!...like a house of cards…..
Kemo Sanyang
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