ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal, Sept 7 (AFP) - People from the strife-torn province
of Casamance asserted their loyalty Saturday to the "great and single
territory of Senegal", flying in the face of armed separatists.
   The declaration came at a month-long forum which began on September 1 in
Ziguinchor, the chief town in the southern province, for "definitive peace
in Casamance".
   "We, socio-cultural groups living side by side ... are Casamance people,
but we also have and keep the firm conviction of beloning to the great and
single territory of Senegal, where our old clay and thatched huts still
stand proud in their lasting beauty," the text said.
   Members of the Bainounck, Balante, Diakhantze, Diola, Mancagne,
Mandiakou, Mandinka, Pepel, Puular and Soninke ethnic groups were among
those to sign the text, which local observers saw as a slap in the face to
the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC).
   The MFDC has been up in arms for some two decades against what it
believes to be the exploitation and economic neglect of the southern
province by people from different ethnic groups in the north of the west
African country.
   However, the separatist movement has fallen on hard times and split
since its elderly veteran leader, Father Augustin Diamacoune, signed peace
deals in March 2001 with President Abdoulaye Wade's government.
   "We invite the MFDC to reunited as a matter of urgency ... and, ahead of
forthcoming negotiations (with the Dakar government), we adjure all parties
to the conflict to engage in an immediate ceasefire, so that we can call
upon them to speed up preparations for a definitive peace," the text said.

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