The following is culled from Burning Issues (FOROYAA) Publication

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London Meeting And The Treason Threat; Sundays News Hour Need to Clarify

The Secretary of State for Justice did indicate that if it was another
country. Those who attended the London meeting would be charged for treason
for allegedly calling for sanctions to be imposed on the Gambia.

According to the point newspaper PDOIS was praised for not attending. The
fact of the matter is that the Secretary of State started to criticise the
opposition in general for attending the meeting in London. It is Mr. D.A.
Jawo who questioned whether PDOIS was there. At this point Sam Sarr
indicated that that was not the case. The secretary of state took the
opportunity to apologise and then proceeded to assert that PDOIS would not
attend such a meeting.

The fact of the matter however is that PDOIS did not attend because of the
reason the Secretary of state insinuated.
In fact the NCP also did not have a representative at the meeting. Femi
Peters also claimed to be representing UDP and not GPP. Only Hamat Bah and
Ex-President Jawara were present and could be referred to as either present
or past leaders of political parties. The meeting was not designed to call
for sanction.

The participants were under the notion that the meeting could lead to the
intervention of the British government in convincing the Gambia Government
to allow the participation of all political parties, past and present in the
electoral process. The meeting was certainly not a secret affair. The Gambia
High Commissioner in Britian should have made representation and ask to even
speak at the meeting in defence of his government.

FOROYAA was aware that a letter was addressed to Sidia jatta by Mr. John
McDonnal member of parliament for Hayes and Harlington inviting him to be
PDOIS representative at the meeting . The heading of the letter reads
"Briefing meeting to be held on Wednesday 28th February at 7:30 pm Committee
Room 10 at the House of Commons.
The purpose of the meeting was stated as follows:
"In order to draw attention to the plight of the Gambian people I have
convened this meeting to receive briefings from the opposition
representatives.

Hence it is clear that an MP who was concerned with the plight of Gambian
refugees in his constituency felt the need to receive briefing on the
situation in the Gambia so as to know what to say in Parliament.
PDOIS is aware that the British High Commissioner is the envoy of the
British government in the Gambia. Such envoys are fully aware of the
situation in the Gambia and had made their position known in the Gambian
press. Every issue of FOROYAA is read by the International Secretary of the
Labour Party.

Needless to say, the British government is a part of the commonwealth. A
ministerial delegation from the commonwealth came on a fact finding tour.
PDOIS representatives and those of other parties had met the delegations
from UN and commonwealth. All the issues that were discussed at the London
meeting with an MP were discussed with such influential delegations. In fact
the commonwealth secretary general had met the government representatives of
the opposition parties. He had made pronouncements on the issue that concern
past and present political groupings.

PDOIS did not see any rationale in a member of the national Assembly of the
Gambia who can denounce the government in the strongest terms in the
National Assembly for any issue to go all the way to Britain just to give a
briefing to a British MP who will only do in parliament what the PDOIS
representative does in the national Assembly.

The banned political parties do not need a British MP to fight for them.
PDOIS has said that they need to start the battle at home. PDOIS suggested
Dibba to pick up nomination papers for the Central Baddibou seat; that if he
is denied nomination papers he could then go to the supreme court for a
declaration as to whether Decree 89 does not violate the right to stand for
election as guaranteed by section 26 of the constitution. Such struggles are
more honourable than to appear to be crying babies abroad. PDOIS considers
Decree 89 to be a dragonian provision. We  would not hesitate to attend any
meeting to denounce all malpractices. PDOIS makes statements or takes
position irrespective of praise or adverse comments. this would earn it.
PDOIS however prefers reactions to its statements or position to be
objective.
Instead we would respect the APRC to change its ways and leave the Gambian
people to decide to make their representation.

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