Mo, thanks for your forward.  The Government can tyrannize the citizens of
The Gambia but cannot deceive the rest of the world.  Conscientious world
citizens will expose their bestiality to the rest of the world.  This is a
clear example of the misinformation these criminals are engaged in.  They
tell us everyday that more tourists are coming to the country; they
anticipate a 50% increase in visits from the previous year, etc., etc.  The
reality is just the opposite.  Senegal is benefiting from the little we were
earning from this sector.  Even our African American brothers and sisters
that go on tour to the Gambia to see historical sites, now spend one day in
the Gambia and the rest of their visit in Senegal.  Why, because the
Senegalese government is serious in expanding that sector of their economy.
With direct flights to London, the British are going to start doing like
other tourists, just spend a day or two in The Gambia and the rest of their
two week stay in Senegal.  Leadership with a vision is the difference.  Even
our customers are telling us that the Bumsters are not the reason why they
are not coming to the Gambia like they use to.  But being the poor
salespersons these criminals are, they embark on cracking heads on the beach
as the solution to their very very poor performance in this sector.  Please
read on.






>From: Momodou Camara <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Mail from a concerned visitor
>Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 08:43:44 -0500
>
>The following mail was sent to me with a request to send it to the L.
>
>-----------------------------
>Anyone who has traveled in a third world country knows that hustlers (young
>men selling souvenirs, offering tours, ...) can be a problem sometimes. In
>an attempt to eliminate such nuisances, the Gambian government has given
>the army a free hand to 'clean' tourist zones. This happens in such a
>brutal way that I see myself obliged to react against it.
>
>Every morning soldiers pick up dozens of young men found in and around the
>tourist areas. The soldiers take the young men to their barracks, shave
>their hair and beat them with sticks. At nighttime they throw them back on
>the street. I have been travelling a lot in Africa, but never have I been
>confronted with such systematic use of violence on every day people.
>
>Last December I spent 2 weeks with friends in Serrekunda. One of them,
>Musa, works in tourism. Everyday he goes out fishing on the beach, hoping
>tourists will hire one of his fishing lines. One day he came home with his
>entire body swollen and full of open wounds. Soldiers had picked him up and
>beaten him all day with metal sticks. A few days later he introduced me to
>a friend who had received the same treatment and was left unable to use his
>arm.
>
>These razzias are very random and any youth who happens to be near a hotel
>at the time of a razzia can be a victim. Another friend, who has no
>connection with tourism, was picked up while waiting in front of the post
>office (which happens to be in front of a hotel). Fortunately he has a cell
>phone and his family could free him before the beating started.
>
>This mail is being spread in Belgium, Holland, Germany and the US. Copies
>have been sent to tour operators, media and the Gambian Government. Please
>pass it on to as many people as you can. The Gambian government depends
>heavily on tourism. Any effect on tourism may put an end to this systematic
>use of random violence.
>
>[log in to unmask]
>
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>
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>[log in to unmask]
>
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