Gambia-L,
From all allafrica.com courtsey of the The Point newspaper.

************************************
March 3, 2001
Posted to the web March 3, 2001 Banjul The Gambian community in UK converged
in large numbers at the House of Commons, Westminster, to hear the speakers
who "voiced their anger and disgust at the present state of affairs in their
country." The gathering was organised by the Movement for the Restoration of
Democracy in The Gambia (UK) in collaboration with the Human Rights
Parliamentary Group of the British Parliament.The meeting was chaired by Mr.
John Mcdonnel, Labour Party MP for Hayes and Harlington. The meeting was said
to have been held in response to the numerous demonstrations against the
atrocities perpetrated by the Gambia government on the people. The meeting
was also meant to hear the concerns of the friends of the Gambia and their
involvement in the restoration of Democracy.The chairperson of the movement,
Mr. James Bahoum, outlined the history of the movement and the events leading
to its formation last September 2000. Mr. Bahoum spoke about the massacre of
school children on 10 and 11 April by security forces, the murder and rape of
Ebrima Barry and Binta Manneh respectively by agents of the government. He
said these acts show the extent to which the Jammeh government has gone to
unleash terror in the hearts of Gambians. He said the Gambian community in UK
and Europe are mindful of those dastardly acts of terror, and also are
fearful of the adverse social, economic and political ramifications that they
carry for the country.Mr. Bahoum went on to say that as a result, these
communities have resolved to immediately arrest this dangerous ordeal and
total anarchy, and to fight for the restoration of civil order and
constitutionality under the aegis of a strong and united movement. This
movement is, therefore, committed to advocating and to engaging practically
in efforts for a safe, fair and fully-inclusive democratic process, and also
to agitate for justice, fair play and the supremacy of the people's will, Mr.
Bahoum concluded.Mrs. Jaine Abbot, Labour MP for Hackney North spoke on the
issue of Human Rights abuses and bad governance, and the weight it carries in
modern day international politics. She pointed out that the British
government cannot be selective of Human Rights abuses in her own backyard,
that is, former colonies and members of the commonwealth like The Gambia. She
pledged her support to the Gambian cause and urged that consistency be in
place on the Gambian case as a deterrent rather than remedy.Mr. Femi Peters,
the UDP Campaign Manager, who deputized for party leader Ousainou Darboe
spoke at length about the current situation in the Gambia which, he said, is
punctuated with the most horrendous of actions against the civilian
population by the security forces. He said the Public Service Commission and
the Judiciary were being reduced to rubberstamping agencies of the
government. He went on to say that the regime's survival lies in the
fabrication of coup plots against itself. Mr. Peters called for the support
of the democratic process, which will in turn breed justice and progress.Mr.
Hamat Bah, the NRP Leader, for his part, paid tribute to Sir Dawda for his
leadership qualities and described him as the Father of the Nation. Mr. Bah
took the old man to task by claiming that even though his vision and memories
would be impeccable, but they were not faultless. He, however, said they
cannot be compared to the things happening now in the country. He added what
is happening in the Gambia cannot be ignored by anyone, anywhere. He called
for every support of any process that would bring about genuine democracy to
the people of the Gambia, and the killers of the students to book. Mr. Bah
also called for the scrapping of the many decrees that have no place in a
progressive society. He also called on all banned politicians to unban
themselves.Turning to the old man, he dismissed the claims against Sir Dawda
that he was a hotelier multi-millionaire. "I was moved by the modesty of the
man when I visited him this morning. Many in the Gambia are made to believe
that the old man is super-rich, but I can tell that I even live better than
him," he chipped in.For his part, Mr. Omar Jallow (OJ) former Agriculture
Minister in the Jawara regime said the gathering marks a transformation of
Gambain politics in the UK. He spoke at length on the ordeal he was put
through, but vowed never to give up the struggle, as he owed it to the people
i.e. the voiceless, those who voted him in office as a representative, and
the old man who showered Gambians with dignity and decency.OJ said the
situation in the Gambia had even surpassed slavery, because there is an enemy
involved. Mr. Jallow said his coming to London was to commend the Executive
and members of the movement for not only putting pressure on the British
government, but also the leadership of the opposition parties to be
responsible, to come together because they have one common enemy.Mr. Jallow
urged the audience to bury their individual and group interests, and see the
Gambia as their one and only nation. He commended the British MPs for their
stand and support of the process for the restoration of Democracy. He
appealed to the Gambia's traditional friends not to only use their influence
in parliament, but also over Secretary Robin Cook and Prime Minister Tony
Blair and the UN Security Council. He warned them that Gambia has to change
or they may be about to witness another Sierra Leone in the making which
cannot spare their sons, daughters and resources. He appealed to the audience
to do all in their power to "help because they are still torturing,
arresting, sentencing people illegally."Mr. Jallow vowed to stay in the
Gambia, and speak for the voiceless and the people who voted him into office.
"I also owed it to the old man who showed us what dignity and decency was."
Talking about the forthcoming general elections, Mr. Jallow said "there
cannot be free, fair and transparent elections in the Gambia with the present
setup as the players, referees and linesmen are all from the same team".For
his part, Sir Dawda made some comparative remarks beween his tenure and the
Jammeh government, affirming that "most evidently the latter has reversed the
Gambia's Human Rights record to a shameful all-time high." Sir Dawda said
"under the present regime the country's economy and infrastructure have
deteriorated and the people's standard of living has also plummeted, yet the
dictatorship shows every sign of wanting to cling to power indefinitely by
any means including tinkering with the Constitution."Sir Dawda commended the
Gambia's opposition parties for maintaining an effective opposition to the
AFPRC/APRC regimes in the face of constant harassment, intimidation. He urged
all political parties and pro-democracy movements and their allies to
campaign effectively and actively for the early repeal of Decree 89 as it is
imcompartible with democracy and tramples on the basic rights of Gambians. He
also called for "a common front against the dictator." He said every effort
should be made to ensure that the presidential and parliamentary elections
when held, are closely monitored by international observers and
representatives of opposition parties. He concluded by saying that this is
the only way that the Gambian voter will have a chance to remove the
dictatorship, and replace it with a government of their choice through the
ballot box.Many observers said the meeting created a wave of awareness of the
situation in the Gambia and the Jammeh regime. They opined that today the
Gambia is on the brink of leaving the roster of civilized nations. It cannot
meet the conditions of an independent judiciary, a free press, respect for
rule of law and human rights, concern for the welfare of the citizens, a
professional and honest civil service.Many commentators saw the regime's
acceptance of democracy as a trapping as long as their harmony is not
challenged. Whenever it is, they respond by tightening the screws. Amongst
the many speakers were David Cobyln MP for Islington North and vice
chairperson of the Human Rights Parliamentary Group, who spoke about the
engagement of regimes in the likes of Jammeh's and to make sure that
independent observers are present during elections.Present at the meeting
were former vice president B.B. Darboe, Abdoulie Bojang former High
Commissioner to London, former Army Commander B. Ndow Njie, Foday Jarjassey
former Permanent Secretary Office of the President, former GNA personel,
supporters and sympathizers. Many prominent Gambians and British politicians
and a cross section of the Gambian community in UK attended.

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