Sidi:
Thanks for the update on Prague from Prague. It gives the
demonstrations a special touch. I applaud the demonstrators for their
stance and like you, hope they do not go the violent. "From Abidjan and
now Prague", you have covered the events well. Do you have a career
change in mind? Be safe.
Regards
Abdoulaye
sidi sanneh wrote:
>
> While we sit it out at the Conference Centre in the middle of Prague with
> the police busy with the demonstrators outside the perimeteres of the site,
> I thought of whiling away the time with this piece , which is an excerpt
> from Trevor Manuel's Opening statement this morning.
> Quote
> There is a story that Vaclac Havel tells of this beautiful city (Prague),
> long before he was president. A stone window ledge had fallen from a
> building and killed a woman. A local writer commented that the public
> outrage that ensured was too parochial and failed to recognise humanity's
> enoumous progress. The next week, when another window ledge fell, the
> public wisely ignored the writer. To quote Vaclav Havel, the people "had
> understoood that the so-called prospects of mankind are nothing but an empty
> platitude if they distract us from our particular worry about who might be
> killed by a third window ledge..."
>
> Window ledges in Prague in the 1960s may be another space from, say, a
> health clinic in Mozambique that is washed away by the floods, but the
> lessons are the same. The lessons then, as now, is that unless we take
> account of our reality and are prepared to do something about it, nothing
> changes. End quote.
>
> There are lessons in Trevor Manuel's statement for all of us and I hope hope
> that the demonstartions currently going on outside the Conference Center
> will leave the rest of the window ledges in this beautiful city in tack and,
> of course, that there is no bloodshed as those opposed to the workings, and
> indeed, the existense of the IMF and the World Bank, exercise their
> constitutional right to free expression.
>
> Hamjatta, I received your note and I could not agree more with the view that
> the left is extremely organised which is being amply demonstrated literally
> and figuratively in the streets of Prague as I write this note.
>
> Sidi Sanneh
> Prague
>
> >From: "Jeng, Beran" <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: FWD:United Democratic Party Leadership Threatened With Death
> >Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 10:01:25 -0400
> >
> >United Democratic Party Leadership Threatened With Death
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >The Independent (Banjul)
> >
> >September 25, 2000
> >
> >Banjul
> >
> >Unimpeachable sources have intimated to The Independent that members of the
> >APRC
> >Youth Wing have threatened to attack and kill United Democratic Party top
> >brass
> >including Ousainou Darboe, Lamin Waa Juwara and Lamin Shyngle Nyassi to
> >avenge
> >the death of Alieu Njie an APRC supporter who allegedly died following
> >clashes
> >between opposition and ruling party supporters in Basse earlier this year.
> >
> >According to the sources, members of the ruling party's youth wing have
> >threatened to 'attack, disrupt and kill' members of the UDP leadership and
> >their
> >supporters anytime they hold rallies outside the Greater Banjul Area. The
> >sources also added that APRC militants have planned to attack UDP convoys
> >going
> >to or returning from rallies. They further suggested that those making the
> >threat are 'determined to kill at least 50 UDP supporters.' The alleged
> >threat
> >to assassinate UDP leaders, the sources emphasised, came as some
> >undisclosed
> >members of the APRC youth wing reportedly incensed over the death of one of
> >their supporters, wanted to 'get even'.
> >
> >Meanwhile, a letter dated 18th September from the UDP addressed to two
> >state
> >authorities suggested that its leadership has got wind of the alleged
> >threat.
> >The letter sent to the Secretary of State for the Interior and the
> >Inspector
> >General of Police, the UDP notified them of the alleged threat to carry out
> >'the
> >carnage'. Not only did the letter mention the alleged determination by some
> >members of the APRC youth movement to assassinate UDP leaders and their
> >supporters, but it also alleged a systematic programme of extermination
> >starting
> >with Ousainou Darboe's personal bodyguards.
> >
> >The letter, which was copied to the chairman of the Independent Electoral
> >Commission also claimed that the reported presence of the movement's
> >members at
> >a rally in Farato 'was part of their scheme to cause trouble, which was
> >only
> >averted by the presence of the Police Intervention Unit'.
> >
> >The letter had also notified state authorities of a planned UDP rally in
> >Brikama
> >on September 23, requesting for necessary action and precaution from state
> >security agencies to avoid what the party's leadership called a 'national
> >catastrophe'. It also reiterated the party's commitment to the laws of the
> >land
> >and its readiness to co-operate with law enforcers in ensuring peace and
> >stability in the country.
> >
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