Sad Ending Of Brave Gambian Journalist

It’s difficult to accept the fact that young Gambian journalist who risked his life to cover the April 14th 2016 pro-electoral reform protest led by the late Ebrima Solo Sandeng is no more. Ebrima Janko Ceesay has become another victim of the Jammeh dictatorship who could not survive long. He died today at Manjai Kunda. Ebrima’s death comes at a time Gambians are still celebrating an election victory of his father, Madi M.K. Ceesay. The veteran journalist won the crowded Serekunda West parliamentary seat on April 6. Ebrima’s death is a huge loss to a country struggling to rebuild its future.

Details of Ebrima’s death are not yet known to Kairo News. He will be buried at Manjai Kunda cemetery.

We reproduce an article Kairo News published on Ebrima Janko Ceesay’s bravery on May 20th 2016.

Brave Gambian Journalist Who Lost 2 Teeth To Torture

All men in physical nature are seen with the same lenses but some are more manly than others. These are the few who selflessly put their lives at stake for everyone to enjoy freedom, equality, human rights, etc. Such men — one in every thousand — believe they are created purposely to fight and conquer evil and injustice.

Unfortunately, most of these rare breeds die in cold-blood or mysterious circumstances before they accomplish their self-assigned mission. As the fight against Jammeh dictatorship contnues, many of these God-sent humans will emerge in the Gambia, a clear sign that there will be bright light at the end of the tunnel.

The likes of Deyda Hydara [assassinated Doyen Editor of The Point newspaper], Ebrima Solo Sandeng [opposition activist tortured to death] and the leadership of the United Democratic Party all belong to this rare breed group. The list, which includes the elderly men and women giving fire to the Kalama or Mbaatu Revolution [Calabash], is growing rapidly. We deem it is more than necessary profile these extraordinary Gambians.

We are starting with a young journalist languishing in Mile II jails. Ebrima Janko Ceesay knew the dangers of being a messenger of true journalism in Yahya Jammeh’s Gambia where only the Dictator’s voice and opinion matters. But he was brave enough to cover the April 14th peaceful protest led by Solo Sandeng. He didn’t want any of his family members — not even his mother and wife — to know he was about to embark on a risky mission. All his mind conceived and believed was that Gambians deserve the right to know this very important story concerning Electoral Reforms in an unleveled political playing field.

Ceesay was arrested along with peaceful protesters. The young man too was not spared brutal physical torture by Jammeh’s heartless security forces. The cowards in uniform who pledge to protect Ebrima put all their energy on him until he lost two of his teeth. The brave man remained strong as if nothing happened to him. And to avoid causing despair and frustration among family members, Ebrima hid the loss of his body part. His belief is that “real men are created to shield women from being sad.” Ebrima is wary of the devastating impact his awful ordeal will have on his family. He decides to bury the story until the dust settles.

Throughout out his unlawful detention at Mile II, Ebrima Ceesay refused to be eaten up by fear. He leaves his fate in the hands of a Creator who created all humans to become equal.

This is not the time for emotion or self-pity, it is a revolution time during which some will get hurt in their quest to give freedom to others. All we can do at this point is to salute the bravery of a young man whose father was also a victim of the Gambia government’s brutal late night torture. Madi Ceesay, the former President of Gambia Press Union, has been at the forefront of the fight to give Gambians their lost freedom. He must be proud to see his son carry the father’s baton. The young man has proven that age is only a number. Ebrima, whose bravery is worth envying, is a real man who must be supported by the whole Gambia for being part of history makers.

Ends