Gambia-L,
Below is a letter PDOIS wrote to the delegates at the Casamance Peace talks:
27 December 1999.
Head of the delegation of the Government of the Republic of Guinea Bissau,
Head of the delegation of the Government of the Republic of Senegal,
Head of the delegation of the Government of the Republic of The Gambia,
Head of the delegation of the Movement Of Democratic Forces of Casamance
(MFDC).
Delegates and Observers,
ON THE WAY FORWARD - THE TALKS ON CASAMANCE
The input the Government of the Republic of The Gambia, the Government of
the Republic of Guinea Bissau, the Government of the Republic of Senegal and
the leaders of the MFDC have made so far to pave a way for the resolution of
the Casamance crisis has won our approval and admiration.
This is precisely the reason why we have been mere observers of the process.
Honour is due to all those who have facilitated this process of dialogue.
There must be constructive engagement before we can be the architects of our
own destiny.
The object of this letter is to respond to some of the concerns which are
currently being aired in the national and international media. Newspaper
reports in Senegal had indicated that MFDC is still promoting the
pro-independence agenda. This gave rise to responses which indicated that
the independence agenda is not part of the talks. This has been mentioned
over and over again in the international media. Clearly, what is or is not
on the agenda should be determined by MFDC and the Senegalese authorities
and not by anyone else.
Suffice it to say, such comments have the tendency to distract the attention
of people from the essence of the dialogue in Banjul. It can give the
impression to those who stand for the independence of Casamance that what is
taking place in Banjul is a compromise of their aspirations. This can drive
a wedge between those who are for independence and those who are ready for
autonomy and thus make L'Abbe Diamacoune ineffective in the negotiation
process. It is important to clarify issues so that those who are engaged in
the negotiations will not be deterred from the noble objectives of restoring
peace to Casamance and dignity to the people.
We must begin by asserting that life is the most precious possession of the
human being. However, without freedom even the most precious possession can
become undesirable to own. Life becomes worthless without freedom and
freedom becomes void without life. Life and freedom are, therefore,
irretrievably linked. The fundamental desire of every worthy human being is
to live life in liberty, dignity and prosperity. This is the cornerstone for
peaceful co-existence. It is our understanding that all of you are committed
to such a climate of peace which has given birth to this historic meeting.
However, while the meeting is historic, it may pass on as a mere event if it
does not lead to historic conclusions. It is ultimately the conclusions
which will make the meeting a history making gathering.
The reason for this is simple. It is human beings who make history. It is
also human beings who record history. However, there can be no history
without historic circumstances. There can be no historic circumstances
without historic deeds. There can be no historic deeds without men and women
of conscience, vision, perseverance and valour. It is such men and women who
can engrave on the human mind and heart memories that no just person would
want to forget.
Human beings treasure not acts of calumny perpetrated by those whose hearts
are ruled by injustice, conceitedness and deceit. On the other hand, when
justice springs forth from the heart, mind and hands of the just, history
dips its hand in their blood, swept and tears to write its records for
posterity to be informed of the cause for which the just committed their
energies and sometimes their liberty and life.
Delegates, history has imposed on you an exceptionally complicated mission.
It is a mission which requires a vision to be fulfilled. You will agree with
us that a mission, figuratively, arises from the heart. It arises when the
heart beats in unison with the heart beat of those who are yearning for
liberty, dignity, peace and prosperity. It arises out of the desire to
overcome human bondage.
A vision, however, arises when the mind broadens its horizon to see hope
where only hopelessness seems justifiable+ADs- see light where only gloom seems
appropriate+ADs- see a future where none appears promising+ADs- see a solution where
there are only signs of dim prospects.
Without a vision, the heart is left unguided and the mission is bound to be
ship wrecked. A vision must, therefore, guide the mission if we are not to
make many heroic deeds only to achieve unheroic ends.
Delegates, your objective for meeting in Banjul is to discuss about
Casamance. You have decided to select 26 December 1999 as a day to start
these talks. It is true that it was on 26 December 1982 that MFDC took up
weapons. Many have died on both sides. Many have been maimed. Many have been
displaced. You may all look at these with bitterness. However, you may also
look at these developments with cautious optimism in your hearts, for today
you are sitting down under a climate characterised by serenity, respect and
dignity to discuss the future of the children of those who died and those
who are still alive. Of course dead comes to us all. However, the desire of
every father and mother is to bequeath to their son or daughter a future
worth living.
You are here in Banjul to negotiate that future. Humility behoves on you to
recognise that it is not for you alone who are gathered to determine that
future. It is for all the people to determine that future. However, what
should concern you in this meeting is to pave the way for that future to be
created through dialogue instead of through confrontation by those very
people themselves.
The major fact to be recognised by your august gathering is that Casamance
has been a battle field. Much blood has soaked its earth. All sides are
tired of the blood letting. This fact is incontrovertible.
War is a continuation of politics. It is the registration of a will which a
contending party desires its adversary to acknowledge. The fact that the
MFDC and the Senegalese delegations are facing each other is an indication
of mutual acknowledgement that war is not the solution+ADs- that negotiations
should now be a continuation of politics.
Politics is about people. It is about rulers and the ruled. It is about the
exercise of power, its limits and ends. Democracy presupposes that the
people have a voice+ADs- that they are consulted+ADs- that power is exercised by
them in their interest. What the people want should be uppermost in your
minds as you engage in these negotiations.
Negotiation is a diplomatic instrument. It requires delegates to be bound by
the principle of equity. Negotiation should never be preconditioned. It
should always be characterised by openness and good faith. Negotiation
should not be artificial. It must be based on acknowledgement of concrete
reality. It requires frankness, tolerance and objectivity. It calls for
putting on the table what could be agreed upon and leaving what could not be
agreed upon for future discussion. This is what we call the tactic of
progressive rapprochement in diplomacy.
There are some who have said that the talks are not about the independence
of Casamance, but about development. We hope that you will not put the issue
in that way when you face each other. It is important to know how you should
frame issues that are to be discussed.
There is absolutely no doubt that MFDC has been talking about independence
since its inception. It has not made secret of this. There is no doubt that
the Senegalese Government sees Casamance as a part and parcel of Senegal,
and that it is opposed to independence on the basis that its territorial
integrity is inviolable. These positions do not dissipate into thin air by a
face to face discussion. What should be acknowledged is that if the
negotiations start with these two contentious platforms, there could be no
break-through. On the contrary, rigidities could be created, sentiments
evoked and a break down in the talks effected. In our view, it is such
rigidities that must be avoided when a negotiation is at its embryonic
stage.
Gambia's position should be very clear. Gambia is a facilitator and not a
judge. Gambia cannot tell Senegal to accept the independence of Casamance,
and cannot tell MFDC to accept Casamance as part of the territory of
Senegal. It is for MFDC and the Senegalese G government to talk and come to
a conclusion on this matter. Gambia's role should be one of positive
neutrality. Gambia should do everything to ensure that the contending
parties narrow down their differences, shelf for a while what could lead to
strain and put to the fore what would create greater confidence and trust.
All comments that may be deemed as patronising or establishing the agenda by
Gambia must be avoided.
In our view, the beginning of the talks on 26 December 1999 marks the
beginning, the architectural sketch of a new platform to ensure a resolution
of the Casamance crisis. The fundamental thing which has been achieved is
that the ice is broken. It must, therefore, never be allowed to solidify
again. What must, therefore, be done is to adopt the policy of progressive
rapprochement so as to lead from one successful negotiation to another until
full trust and confidence is restored.
In our view, the principal task is to ensure that the war ends and the guns
become silent. This could be achieved. It is already on the agenda. It
should be prosecuted until victory.
We have said that politics is about people. When the voices of the canons
are silent, the voices of the people should rise. The end to the war should
necessarily lead to the expansion of freedom of association, of expression
where all forces, irrespective of their political opinions, will be free to
express what they want. It is, therefore, necessary for the ceasefire to
lead to an open society in Casamance where respect for fundamental rights
and freedom would be guaranteed.
In schools, at squares, during symposia, over the media, a great debate of
the people should take place on the future for Casamance. The Senegalese
Government should take part in this debate. It should not shield itself
from the debate. Opposition parties should not shield themselves from the
debate. Ultimately, there is a principal way to bring about the Casamance
crisis on the basis of principle.
In short, where there is no fear to debate issues with sincerity on the
basis of principle, a principled solution will always be found. When there
is confidence and trust those who support independence and those who prefer
autonomy can sit face to face and discuss issues on the basis of the
principles established by the OAU, that is, the recognition of the old
colonial borders as the boundaries of post colonial African States.. Jurists
could be involved in the debate and ultimately a principled decision taken
which could legitimise regional autonomy as an option or create a basis for
the establishment of a Confederal or a Federal Republic. All of us know that
this era is the era for African unity. What is important is to create the
basis for trust where distrust had prevailed. Once this basis is
established, the old antagonistic contradictions will dissipate and harmony
effected.
We, therefore, hope that the right agenda will be drawn to ensure a
ceasefire and the creation of an open society which will allow the widest
freedom of association and expression so that a great debate on the future
of Casamance will begin without hindrance and thus ensure the building of
mutual trust and the creation of the condition for further negotiations
until final solution is found.
We must, therefore, conclude with the hope that you will keep alive the
policy of progressive rapprochement and continue to create the basis for
mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence. In the name of history,
which is ready to record what is happening here today+ADs- in the name of
humanity, which is crying for the dictate of conscience+ADs- in the name of
reason, which calls for dispassionate judgment+ADs- in the name of truth, which
calls for the dispensation of impartial justice+ADs- in the name of Africa,
which is crying for a new image, please consider it as a historical
imperative to transform this meeting into a foundation for lasting peace in
Casamance.
It is your duty to ensure that you move progressively to take the right step
which will facilitate the basis for further negotiation until a new relation
comes into being, a relation that will ultimately bring, without break, the
fullest realisation of peace in Casamance. This is the demand of history and
the obligation you owe to posterity. History will treasure you if you honour
such a demand with utmost regard.
Salutation+ACE-
..............................................
Halifa Sallah
For: The Central Committee of PDOIS.
cc: Foreign and Diplomatic Missions
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