Fatou, thanks for you clarification.  All things equal, your comparison
between Jammeh's statement and the State Department's is valid and
reasonable.  However, when you take Jammeh's statement and backtrack to the
six feet deep threats, the student massacre, the summary killings with no
explanations to date, the arrests and kidnappings with no trace of the
victims for weeks and sometimes months, you cannot help but wonder what he
might or might not do when he is uncomfortable for whatever reason.  Had
Gambians not experienced killings with Jammeh, I don't think any would loose
sleep with his utterances.  He may not kill 20,000 in his staged coup
attempts, but two here, five there, adds up over time.  Is it normal for any
responsible leader to talk in terms of killing 20,000 if he had to do it?
As both of know, there is no security threat in The Gambia, but Jammeh and
Secret Service thugs.  In the example you gave of the State Department, we
all can link the cause and effect.  However, in the case of Yaya, Gambians
only see the effect with no reasonable explanations for the cause.  I hope
you do not take it that I'm jumping all over you.  My comments are made in
the spirit of a healthy dialogue.  Let me know your thoughts.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: fatou camara <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: The Gambian Chap/President at his threat again
>Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 15:39:00 -0500
>
>I hate writing on Gambia L especially when it comes to politics and about
>President Jammeh.The reason is a lot of people on this Forum jump into
>conclusion too soon and start judging people when they don't even know what
>they trying to say.This is one thing we all should try to avoid and
>communicate as matured people.
>
>When the president says that if he has to kill 20,000 people to make sure
>that 1million people stay safe he will happily  do it,does not mean that he
>is going to kill 20,000 people.This is the same statement the American
>government made about terrorists hijacking their planes.That they will
>rather shoot at the plane and kill all the passengers  than let it hit a
>place where it can kill Thousands.
>Am just trying to make this clear and thats it.
>Fatu Rone.
>
>
>>From: "Movement for restoration of democracy in Gambia [NY]"
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: The Gambian Chap/President at his threat again
>>Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 20:31:28 EST
>>
>>Culled from the Point:
>>
>>. President! Do Not Kill Anybody
>>
>>“Remember if I have to kill 20,000 Gambians to make sure that 1 million
>>live
>>in peace, I will happily do it. Because that is my responsibility; to make
>>sure the majority of Gambians live in peace.” The above statement is
>>attributed to President Jammeh. When we read it, shivers ran through our
>>spine because the statement is a dangerous one. What? Kill 20,000
>>Gambians?
>>No! This is unbelievable! Is this your intention, Mr. President or were
>>you
>>just ‘Open Calling’? If it was an ‘Open Call’, it was an expensive
>>one.
>>
>>Why didn’t GRTS show us the video recording of your intervention to
>>allow
>>us
>>read in your face whether you were making a firm promise or ‘Open
>>Calling’?
>>Even if we saw your face we wouldn’t have been able to clearly read your
>>intention anyway. Now, let’s assume that you were really serious. Mr.
>>President, how can someone who brags that he took over the country without
>>a
>>chicken being slaughtered tell us now that he is ready to take the lives
>>of
>>20,000 people? Your argument is that you want the others to live in peace.
>>But how can 20,000 die and the others live in peace.
>>
>>That figure cannot be correct when checked against the extended family
>>system
>>we have here. The 20,000 will have to be multiplied by 10 and that gives
>>you
>>200,000 people and in some cases that figure should be multiplied by 12 or
>>14. So, is this an ‘Open Call’? Mr. President, your government should
>>ensure
>>that peace prevails by leading the country towards the path of development
>>taking full cognisance of both the diversity of the people and our quest
>>for
>>the common good. Differences are great because they stimulate us to reach
>>new
>>frontiers in our resolve to bring out the best in our humanity. Mr.
>>President! Do not kill any Gambian! “Thou Shall Not Kill” The Bible
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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