Kondeh,
I am afraid that I will have to join Kebba to remind you that it is the military who took over the running of the state in the Gambia. So, for me or anyone to remove it from the political scenario, will be confusing. The army is an institution just like the state and they are part of our political lives as you can see.
Speaking of a highly trained and disciplined army that is what we are all talking about. We are sick and tired of military brutality. I do believe that you will agree with me that the military has very poor record in Africa and their track records speak for themselves. You have all right to feel the way you felt but the reality remains that we are sick and tired of the "Men in Arms" running the government with revolutionary slogans whiles they are just murders.
What one is saying here is that we should start looking into why do our military behave the way they do . Don't forget the Nigerian army has gone the same process and training that the Gambian army has gone through under the British. We share the same colonial thread. I share your frustration but here we are dealing with a national issue as well as trying to find a solution to our home problem. Unfortunately the military is part of the problems and not the solution.
<<<<It was only with a well trained and a discipline Armed Force that we managed to avoid crisis happening during the 22 July take over.>>>.
I just find it difficult to understand the above statement because I did not see any crisis the Armed Forced has save us from. These people took over power when Gambian's are so desperate for change, people were fed up with the PPP regime but that still did not justify the coup. The worse thing was the fact that they kept on reminding us of a bloodless coup which they clearly don't believe in and knows that it is not true. It is like as the saying goes jumping from the frying pan to the fire for us. If the army was as disciplined and trained as you stipulated in your above statement they would have gone back to barracks. I know this is a difficult issue to debate but am afraid we just have to face up to it.
Ebrima Ceesay I believe that one can also check with the Department for International Development since Kondeh believes that British Government resumed military aid after careful study. DFID shoould be able to give us an explaination.
The Struggle Continues!!!!!
Ndey Jobarteh
----- Original Message -----
From: Karamba KONDEH <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2000 4:35 PM
Subject: Re: After 7 years UK RESUMES MILITARY COOPERATION
> G-Lers,e
> Good Evening I wish to disagree totaly with you your standpoint, and I
> hope I will be given the oppportunity to be heard, for once.
> The Military, has nothing to do with the APRC party and I hope this will be
> appreciated. It was after careful study that the British Government resumed
> the Military Aid , and I hope this will be understand by all. We obviously
> need a strong and well trained security force to handle security internal
> and external agression. It was only with a well trained and a discipline
> Armed Force that we managed to avoid crisis happening during the 22 July
> take over. If you recall, the BATT was here and nothing like the coup could
> have happened, it was only the when the Nigerians came that they
> 'instigated' the boys to take over the Government of the day. If te BATT
> were here it would have been different we would have the PPP Regime, to
> fight.
> Governments come and go,but the Executive stays, the Army is a very
> important part of the Executive, and I personnally expect every future
> seeing Gambian to be able to read between the lines, and see the obvious
> reason resuming training to the Officers of our country.
> It was very disappointing to read comments of some Lers, who commented along
> the lines that, this officer is a selfish, drunken murderer. This is
> obviously very unfair, and disappointing for a youngman, patriotic enough to
> choose the Army as his career. If he reads these postings he will surely be
> selfish as he has no reward in recognition of his service. He would rather
> join the other camp and support his family, sometimes we need to understand
> how some people act as we may be responsible whether conciously or not for
> their actions. I can't imagine Ebou Jallow being supported by Ebrima Ceesay,
> afterall he had the same chance being given to this youngman, give him the
> benefit of the doubt, as you do not know him.
> Exercise your right to criticize but do not involve the non political organs
> of the government. Or else you will not be different from those you
> criticize,at least The Gambia has nothing to loose by getting a course for
> our officers to study in Sandhurst. If not to get highly trained, patriots,
> willing to die for the freedom ofthe people of the Gambia.
> Please understand my constraint to make further comment, as I plead for your
> reasoning.
>
>
> >From: Dampha Kebba <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: After 7 years UK RESUMES MILITARY COOPERATION
> >Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 09:25:56 EDT
> >
> >Saul, Ndey and Ebrima, thank you very much for your contributions on this
> >matter. Ebrima, please thank your source for us for also registering the
> >disgust the decent Gambian folks feel about this matter. Ebrima, am sure
> >you
> >and other young and dynamic Gambians in the UK are highly capable of
> >mounting a vigorous campaign against Yaya and his government. We just have
> >to let the authorities know, in no uncertain terms, that we do not
> >appreciate such types of 'aid'. Ebrima, you can complement your contacts
> >with those of other young Gambians we know that have contacts with some
> >British MPs. Yaya's every action must be attacked. As the High Commissioner
> >in Banjul indicated, this scholarship for Mendy is only a beginning. We
> >should campaign for the British to revoke the scholarship and cease all
> >military cooperation with The Gambia. We should remind the British that
> >just
> >five months ago, this same military massacred innocent children in broad
> >daylight. Up to this day, no one has been punished for that heinous crime.
> >Before the British train our military for regional peacekeeping operations,
> >they should try and ensure that our military is not used by Yaya to
> >brutalize ordinary Gambians.
> >KB
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