To Jeggan James Bahoum & all the members
-----------------------------------------
of the MRDG-UK
--------------
I would like to take this oppotunity to express the
great pride of your movement for Restoration of
Democracy UK for the good initiatives which the
movement took and brought representatives of the
opposition parties from the Gambia to UK to discuss a
theme whose topicality and importantance are quite
obvious.
I feel i must congratulate you on the excellent job
done.
Please, do not have time or desire for those who throw
stones from the sidelines while you seek to build a
lasting institution in the community.
Thank you all.
saihou
--- "MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE
GAMBIA (UK)" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
<HR>
<html><DIV>
<P>OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE BRIEFING SESSION HELD AT THE
BRITISH HOUSE OF </P>
<P>COMMONS ON 28 FEBRUARY 2001 </P>
<P>************************* </P>
<P>Last Wednesday Committee Room ten at the British
House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster in
London, played host to a historic gathering of
Gambians from all walks of life, who answered to the
call, jointly made by the <B>Movement for the
Restoration of Democracy in The Gambia (UK)</B> and
Mr. John McDonnell member of Parliament for the London
constituency of Hayes and Harlington who chaired the
session. </P>
<P>As was noted by one of the speakers, the British
Houses of Parliament has never in its venerable
history, entertained such a large gathering of
Gambians, nor has it, as far as I know, been the venue
for the extensive discussion of any issue relating to
the Gambia. To the extent that this is true, is itself
the stuff of history. </P>
<P>However, I believe that what was of greatest
significance, was the sheer size of the gathering. Not
in the recent past, have so many Gambians come
together, in the United Kingdom at least, to hear
addresses on the state of the Gambian polity. To my
mind, this is clear evidence of the Gambian peoples
heightened concerns about the continuing decline of
the social, political and economic conditions of the
state, as well as the general governance crises that
has beset the Gambian nation. </P>
<P>Equally significant, is the fact that members of
the Gambian opposition parties took time off their
very busy campaign schedules and other engagements, to
join us on this most auspicious occasion. </P>
<P>It was encouraging to us as a young Movement, to
have the presence of Hon. Ahmat Bah MP (NRP), Mr. Femi
Peters (UDP) who is also a special envoy of Mr. Assan
Musa Camara (GPP), Mr. Omar Amadou Jallow, OJ (PPP)
and of course Sir Dawda k. Jawara the former
president. These men in their turn gave us insights
into their personal as well as their political
experiences which will no doubt, helped guide the
Movement in the right direction. </P>
<P>Also present in this gathering was a host of well
wishers, friends and supporters of the legitimate
cause of the Gambian people, to free ourselves from
the oppressive regime that presides over the affairs
of our Country today. They came to show their
solidarity and to pledge their support for our
campaign to restore legitimacy, rule of law,
constitutional order and democracy in the Gambia. </P>
<P>The gathering included members of the British
Parliament, representatives of international
organisations and human rights NGOs working in Africa.
Representatives from the Centre for Democracy and
Development, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the
International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human
Rights were among our guests at the meeting. </P>
<P>Also present at the meeting was the special
representative of the Commonwealth Secretary General
the Rt. Hon. Don McKinnon, the deputy British High
Commissioner to the Gambia Mr. Bharat Joshi, Mr. Chris
Stalker Campaign Director Amnesty International, Ms.
Rachael Noranha resource person at the Human Rights
Watch and Dr Jon Lunn of Article 19. </P>
<P>Also in the gathering were representatives of both
the international and local Gambian press. Mr. Patrick
Smith of "Africa Confidential", Ms. Kaye Whiteman,
media consultant and former editor of "Africa Now",
Mr. Alieu Badara Sowe and Mr. Daffeh both of the
"Independent", and also Mr. Bala Musa Ceesay reporter
for "The Point" Newspaper. On Friday 2nd February
2001, Mr Ahmat Bah (NRP) had a studio interview at the
BBC Focus on Africa at Bush House, with Hassan Arouni,
which was aired the same evening. Mr Bah talked about
the briefing session at his interview. We have also
been given coverage on the highly influential daily
broad sheets, namely the Financial Times and the
Guardian Newspapers, which will in due course be doing
a features article on the Gambia. </P>
<P>As Chair of the MRDGUK, I was given the onerous but
equally honourable task of opening the proceedings.
After an introduction of the Movement, I dilated
briefly on the British government foreign policy
towards the Gambia. Dealing directly with the troubled
and to my mind, misguided resumption of military
assistance to the Jammeh government, especially
following the cold blooded massacre of our country's
brightest young minds last April. </P>
<P>I also questioned the sanity of restoring technical
and economic assistance to a government, which
currently has the worst record for corruption and
economic plunder in the whole of the African
Continent. I alluded to the objective evidence that is
widely and readily available from independent sources,
all of which contradicts the British government's
highly controversial contention that the Gambia is and
remains a "functional democracy". </P>
<P>I spelt out our proposed approach to facing-down
this "unethical" foreign policy stance, adopted by the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), as well as the
Department for International Development (DFID),
against overwhelming objective evidence of government
repression and brutality that is currently in the
public domain and also of the reality of what is
happening on the ground in the Gambia. </P>
<P>In closing, I called upon the Gambian community in
the Uk and Europe as well as other individuals, to
join with us in our endeavours to forge links with all
he progressive opposition parties, and also with our
sister Movements in the USA (MRDGNY), in order to form
an international partnership for democratic change in
the Gambia. </P>
<P>The Labour member of parliament for Hackney North
and Stoke Newington Ms. Diane Abbot, spoke of the need
to rationalise and reconcile the British government's
foreign policy towards countries with deplorable human
rights records in general and towards the Gambia in
particular. She posits, that foreign policy should not
be determined by national economic or other strategic
interests, but rather should be founded on the genuine
interest of our common humanity. </P>
<P>Recalling the fight against apartheid and her own
personal contribution towards that cause, Diane
pledged her services to this campaign with equal
vigour and a steadfast determination to fight against
the injustices and human rights violations in he
Gambia. She said, "the plight of a black person
anywhere in the world, should be regarded as the
plight of the black person everywhere". In that
regard, she is prepared to fight to defend the
legitimate rights of every black person whether in the
Gambia or anywhere else. </P>
<P>Diane who is a member of the House of Commons
Foreign Affairs Select committee, also informed the
meeting, that together with John McDonnell MP, Jeremy
Corbyn MP and other members of parliament, she is
poised to take the Gambian case to the highest level
of the British government, the European Union and the
Commonwealth. </P>
<P>The other Member of Parliament who spoke was Jeremy
Corbyn MP for Islington North. Jeremy is the vice
chairperson of the highly influential House of Common
select committee on Human rights, a position from
which he has successfully campaigned and championed
the cause of human rights both nationally and in the
international arena. He was one of the driving forces
behind the Pinochet indictment and advocated for his
trial for human rights violation in the UK. </P>
<P>In his speech he recalled the early years of
African emancipation and independence as a young man,
but laments the erosion of the basic and fundamental
rights of those same people whose emancipation, should
have consolidated those basic right and freedoms.</P>
<P>Jeremy who is the main facilitator of the
Cross-party Gambia interest group, has pledged his
total support for the cause of democratic restoration
in the Gambia, undertaking to work tirelessly with us
to achieve the Movement's main objectives. </P>
<P>The members of the Gambian political opposition
then took the stage to brief the gathering on the
current state of the nation. First to speak was Mr
Femi Peters of the United Democratic Party (UDP). Mr.
Peters in a prepared statement, first paid tribute to
his two colleagues and National Assembly members Buba
Samura and Abu Karamba Kassama, who both sadly lost
their lives in an automobile accident earlier this
year. He said that both men were principled
politicians and dedicated servants of their
constituents and of the Gambian people as a whole.
They served their party, their constituency and their
nation to the best of their ability he said and that
the party will honour their memory by continuing their
good works. </P>
<P>In his briefing, Mr. Peters gave the audience an
insight into the level of harassment and intimidation
that his party suffered during the run up to the last
elections and continues to suffer in the hands of the
government and its thugs. He described the Basse
incident in which a convoy carrying the leadership of
the UDP was attacked by members of the July 22nd
Movement under the direction of Baba Jobe and the
subsequent arrest, detention and indictment of the
party leader Ousainou Darbo and others on murder
charges. Mr. Peters castigated the APRC government's
record on human rights, referring to it as appalling
and barbaric. </P>
<P>In closing, Mr Peters called on the Gambian people
both at home and abroad, to put aside their
differences and to work for the interest of the
country. He mentioned that the UDP and the NRP are in
negotiations to find a way of working together that is
acceptable to both parties. Mr Peters, who also
represented Mr. Assan Musa Camara of GPP extended a
message of solidarity and goodwill to the Gambian
people in the Uk and to the Movement from the former
vice president. </P>
<P>The Hon. Ahmat Bah MP leader of the National
Reconciliation Party (NRP) and National Assembly
member for Saloum was the next to speak. In his usual
captivating and enthusiastic fashion, he roused and
fired the passions of the audience. Mr. Bah called the
present government a corrupt group of people who are
not there for the interest of the nation but for their
own individual interests. Recalling the crude oil saga
and numerous other episodes of corrupt dealings, Mr.
Bah painted a picture of greed and dishonesty of the
APRC government. </P>
<P>Mr. Bah also expressed concern about the proposed
constitutional amendments and about the implications
they will have for good governance and democracy. He
warned that these proposed amendments are likely to
become law considering the governments' numerical
superiority in the National Assembly but that he will
fight against them with staunch determination. He
urged the Movement and the International Community to
make their voice head on the issue and to campaign
vigorously to make sure that they do not become part
of our national law. </P>
<P>The NRP leader also called on the opposition
parties in the Gambia to unite under an alliance to
ensure that the government is ousted in the coming
elections. He said that only in this way can the
progressive democratic parties make absolutely
certain, that the Jammeh government is defeated. Mr.
Bah received rapturous applauds from the audience at
the end of his delivery. </P>
<P>The next speaker to brief the audience was Omar
Amadou Jallow (OJ) former cabinet minister of
agriculture in the ousted government. Mr Jallow
started off by issuing a warning about the dire
consequences for the Gambia and the sub-region as a
whole, if the international community fails to
adequately address the Gambian crisis. He urged the
community of civilise nations to treat Jammeh and his
government as they treated other African despots such
as Mobutu and Bokasa and to isolate him from their
community. </P>
<P>Omar Jallow called on the Movement and its friends
to use our influence on Robin Cook and Tony Blair and
to exert pressure in all the major World bodies in
order to properly focus attention on the Gambian
issue. He advised, that we solicit support from all
the relevant organisations and institutions for the
restoration of the rule of law and democracy in the
Gambia. He said that we should direct all our energies
towards making sure that the Gambian case is heard
loud and clear in all these institutions. </P>
<P>Mr. Jallow narrated the ordeal he and others
suffered in the hands of the military junta whilst
detained in a disused hanger at the Fajara army
barracks following the July 1994 coup. He described in
graphic detail the inhumane and degrading treatment to
which they were subjected and the abuse to their
persons and their dignity.</P>
<P>Omar also talked about his battles to have decree
89 repealed. He gave an insight into his court battles
and of the courts failure to decisively rule on the
matter. He poured scorn on the courts ruling of
non-jurisdiction, and vowed to continue the fight for
his constitutional right to participate in the
political life of his country. </P>
<P>In closing, OJ warned, that the writing was on the
wall for all to see and failure to collectively
address the deteriorating social and political
conditions that prevails in the Gambia today could
very well lead to the Sierra Leone or Liberia
scenario. He said that the implication of this
eventuality in social and human terms is unimaginable
and should be prevented at all cost.</P>
<P>The final word was given to Sir Dawda Jawara, whose
contribution was aimed at reaching out to all the
different parties. He dwelled on the Gambia's
international standing as a champion of human rights,
in the period prior to the 1994 coup. He said it was
in recognition of the role that the Gambia played in
the advancement of the ideals of human rights and
democracy, that the Organisation of African Unity
(OAU) decided to base the headquarters of the Centre
for Democracy and Human Rights Studies in the Gambia.
Sir Dawda however reminded the audience of the
deterioration of the human rights conditions in the
Gambia since 1994, under the Jammeh dictatorship.</P>
<P>Sir Dawda also talked about the coming elections
and the need to have all aspects of the election
monitored by the international community so as to
ensure that they are fair and free from malpractice.
He called on all the opposition parties to remain
vigilant and to ensure that the elections are
conducted according to the constitution of the
state.</P>
<P>He insists that in order for the elections to be
seen to be free and fair, decree 89 must be repealed.
He maintained, that it should be a prerequisite to any
elections, that the restrictions placed on political
parties and individual be removed. </P>
<P>Finally, he called upon the democratic opposition
parties to consider favourably the possibility of
uniting in order to maximise their chances of
defeating the dictatorship. </P>
<P>The last half-hour of the briefing was devoted to
questions and answers, in which members of the
audience were allowed to pose questions to the panel.
During this session, questions relating to the coming
elections, the prospect for an opposition alliance and
the proposed constitutional amendments were asked. The
panel in turn was able to provide answers to these
questions. Some members of the audience were also able
to make short contributions relating to some of the
issues raised during the briefing session proper.
</P><B>
<P>CONCLUSIONS</P></B>
<P>The first and most important conclusion that could
be made of the meeting is that there appears to be
agreement among all the parties represented at the
briefing, on the central issue of the democratic
deficit. There is unanimity among all the parties,
that the current governance situation in the Gambia is
undemocratic and dictatorial. There is also agreement
on the need to seek an urgent remedy to this problem.
</P>
<P>The requirement to repeal all existing decrees
especially decrees 89; 70/71 in order to create a more
open and inclusive democratic process appears to have
wide support among the parties. These decrees are
considered inimical to the enjoyment of full
democratic freedoms and the meeting highlighted the
need to create a level playing field so as to foster
fair and unrestricted participation in the coming
elections. </P>
<P>The government recently promised the Commonwealth
Secretary General that the repeal of these decrees
will be undertaken soon. However the timing of the
promised repeal is as crucial as the repeal itself.
The parties have made known their desire to see the
repeal carried out as soon as possible so as to give
them sufficient time to campaign in preparation for
the election. Central to this requirement is the
question of access to the State media and other public
institutions. </P>
<P>It is clear, that the role of the Independent
Electoral Commission (IEC) will have to be revisited
with a view to reaffirming and reinforcing its
independence, especially following the recent debacle
surrounding the sacking of its last Chairman Bishop
Johnson by the President. The IEC and its officials
including its Chairman crucially must command the
respect and confidence of all the parties in order to
avoid the perception of bias. For this reason, the
case currently pending in the courts seeking a
declaration on the Constitutionality or otherwise of
Johnson is very important to and must be expedited to
help remove the uncertainty surrounding the whole
affair.</P>
<P>All the party representatives talked about the need
to form an alliance among the progressive opposition,
the reasons for this is obvious. In order to avoid the
fragmentation of the opposition support, this idea
seems to be a highly engaging one. There appears to be
the nucleus of just such an alliance. The UDP and NRP
have confirmed that they are in talks to see how far
this is feasible. This idea as you are aware has the
total support of the Movement. </P>
<P> </P><B>
<P>THE WAY FORWARD</P></B>
<P>Following the meeting, the British members of
Parliament decided to form a cross-party working group
of parliamentarians with special interest in the
Gambia. Diane Abbot MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP and John
McDonnell MP have also decided to engage the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office with a view to help
rationalise their foreign policy stance so far as it
applies to the Gambia. The group will then advance the
Gambian case to the level of the European Union and at
the Commonwealth.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>The parliamentary group, currently have a planned
scheduled of activities which includes the following:
-</P>
<OL>
<LI>The Members of Parliament will be tabling five (5)
parliamentary questions in the coming weeks. It is
hoped that the answers to these questions will form
the basis for an application for an Adjournment Debate
on the Gambia in the House. The Secretary of State for
the FCO or one of his Ministers will then be compelled
to answer questions on the floor of the House relating
to specific issues on the Gambia. This is regarded as
a more direct means of getting political involvement
on the matter. It will also afford us the opportunity
to present the objective evidence that will contradict
the contention that Gambia is a functional democracy.
</LI>
<P>Some of us who have sent petitions to the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will </P>
<P>understand the frustrations of receiving a standard
letter from one of the desk officer at the </P>
<P>FCO which continues to describe the Gambia as a
functional democracy. The </P>
<P>Parliamentarians working together with the Movement
are hoping to be able to engage </P>
<P>constructively with both the FCO and the Department
for International Development (DFID), </P>
<P>with a view to influencing the policies. The next
approach to be adopted will depend on the </P>
<P>outcome of these measures and the response that
will be received from the relevant </P>
<P>authorities.</P>
<P></P>
<LI>There are plans to also engage both the European
Union and the Commonwealth, who </LI></OL>
<P>through the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
(CMAG) and the Commonwealth </P>
<P>Heads of Government (CHOG) have been involved in
trying to find a resolution to the </P>
<P>Gambian problem. The modalities of these proposed
measures have not been finalised as </P>
<P>yet. </P>
<P>The outcome of all or any of the above measures
will be communicated to you in due course. </P>
<P>On Wednesday 28<SUP>th</SUP> February 2001, the
Gambian people served notice on Yahya Jammeh and his
government that the era of oppression, of economic
plunder and of wanton disregard for the rule of law in
the Gambia is coming to its final and logical
conclusion. Gambians both at home and in the Diaspora
have spoken and the message is clear, concise and
unambiguous. It says quite simply, that we will not
tolerate, neither will we countenance the continued
violation of our basic civil and political rights and
of our democratic freedoms. It is the Gambian people
themselves and no one else, who will be the sole
arbiter of their individual as well as their
collective aspirations. We the Sovereign people of
this great nation will determine our own destiny. </P>
<P>On behalf of the MRDGUK and the Gambian people, I
extend a big thank you all our friends who came to
support us.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Goodnight!</P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P>
<P>Jeggan james Bahoum</P>
<P>Chairperson</P>
<P>MRDGUK</P>
<P>3<SUP>rd</SUP> March 2001 </P></DIV><br
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