Dear All,
I just wanted to congratulate you all for the initiave and for a beautifully
edited letter to the US Ambassador designate to The Gambia. However, I would
like to suggest that we solicit in the same letter the support of America to
ensure  smooth and peaceful conduct of the forthcoming elections in October.
I have the gut feeling that Yaya Jammeh might want to put up a resistance
should his tactics to cling on to power eternally fail . I'm sure none of us
would want to relive 1981....

Mariama D. Diop.


>From: "Katim S. Touray" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Draft Petition To New US Ambassador
>Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2001 23:26:44 -0700
>
>Hi folks,
>
>I have reviewed Ebrima's draft petition to the US-ambassador designate, Mr.
>Jack
>McDonald, and have made some modifications.  I am attaching my revised
>draft to this
>e-mail, and I encourage all to send their comments, and suggestions about
>improving
>it.
>
>For your information, here are some of the modifications I made:
>
>1.  Changing the salutation and opening a bit to congratulate Mr. McDonald
>on his
>nomination as US ambassador.
>
>2. Inclusion of the Nigerian crude oil deal, and the UN resolution about
>Baba Jobe
>and Co.
>
>3. Mention of the neglect of injured Gambian students, even though
>President Jammeh
>has squandered about $1 million dollars on public relations
>
>4. Changed reference to Jammeh to "President Jammeh."  Let's give the devil
>his due;
>the guy is, for better, or for worse, our President, and should be
>addressed as such
>in a letter addressed to an ambassador-designate
>
>5. Re-organized the listing of issues of concern to us, and suggestions
>about how Mr.
>McDonald can help
>
>6. A toning down of the manner in which our concerns are expressed.  Rather
>than
>asking him to "ensure" that this and that happens, I thought it more
>diplomatic to
>ask him to help ...
>
>7. Spelling of some names, e.g. Ebrima Yarbo, rather than Yarboe.  Please
>take a
>close look at the names and let's make sure that the spellings are correct.
>
>With regards submitting it, I suggest we liase with James Gomez, Jr. to
>find out from
>the State Dept. where we should address it.  Also, we need to know when Mr.
>McDonald
>will appear before the Senate for his confirmation hearing.  I could not
>find his
>nomination hearing on the schedule of the Senate Foreign Relations
>Committee Web site
>(http://foreign.senate.gov/briefing/hearingschedule.html), or on the
>Senate's Web
>site (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/legis_legis_committees.html).  The
>only
>reason we need such information is to make sure that the final petition
>addresses Mr.
>McDonald appropriately (either as Mr. Ambassador, or a "Dear Sir"), and
>give us an
>idea about what kind of time frame we are working with.  By the way, we can
>even send
>the petition after he has been appointed, so I don't think a delay of a few
>days
>would be the end of the world.
>
>I suggest we consider the logistics of collecting signatures for the
>petition.  In
>this regard, I suggest we setup a signature tree (similar to a phone tree)
>whereby
>people responsible for collecting the signatures will be organized in a
>tree.  Each
>collector will vouch for the authenticity of signatures (s)he collects.  In
>addition,
>each collector can identify other collectors who can collect signatures on
>his or her
>behalf.  This way, we will ensure that all signatures are authentic, thus
>preventing
>faked signatures, and/or impersonations.  We can start with a a handful of
>volunteers
>who will serve as the first level of signature collectors.  Ebrima, would
>you like to
>serve as the coordinator of the signature collectors?
>
>I guess that's about it for now.  Following is the revised petition.
>Please review
>it, and let us know what you think.
>
>Katim
>
>----------------  Start of Draft Petition  --------------------------
>DRAFT PETITION
>
>Jackson McDonald
>
>Dear Sir,
>
>Congratulations on your recent nomination by President Bush to serve as the
>United
>States Ambassador to the Republic of The Gambia. The nomination is
>testimony of your
>stellar career with the US Foreign Service, and we wish you an expedited
>confirmation
>by the US Senate.
>
>We are writing as Gambians and friends of The Gambia to express our
>concerns about
>the present political atmosphere in the Gambia, and to seek your help in
>improving
>it. Since President Jammeh came to power in a military coup in 1994, he has
>presided
>over governments that have no regards for human rights, democracy, and the
>rule of
>law. Both the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) government
>(1994 -
>1997), and it's successor, the present civilian APRC government have abused
>their
>powers, been corrupt, and incompetent.
>
>The human rights situation in The Gambia continues to be of serious concern
>to
>Gambians and to the international community. President Jammeh has stated
>publicly
>that "anyone bent on disturbing the peace and stability of the nation will
>be buried
>six feet deep." Ordinary citizens, ex-security personnel, journalists and
>politicians
>have all been targeted by the Gambian authorities and remain today subject
>to human
>rights violation, including arbitrary detention, harassment, torture and
>ill-treatment. Indeed, annual reports from the US State Department, and
>Amnesty
>International, to name a few, have consistently pointed out gross, and
>continuing
>violations of human rights by the Jammeh government.
>
>It is thus not surprising that political tension in the country is also
>reported to
>be high, and the Jammeh government have become increasingly paranoid about
>any form
>of criticism and opposition. In consequence, the government has resorted to
>alleging
>coup attempts, and used the excuse to arrest people at will, and at random.
>As of
>now, President Jammeh's government has many Gambians detained
>incommunicado, for long
>periods, without charge, and in gross violation of the Constitution.
>
>Another example of this government's disrespect for human rights is the
>killing of at
>least fourteen young students (and a journalist) by Gambian security forces
>when they
>opened on a peaceful student demonstration over the killing of their fellow
>student,
>Ebrima Barry, by agents of the government. While the Jammeh government
>defaulted on
>paying for some of the injured student's medical treatment in Egypt
>(resulting in
>their return to The Gambia), they paid a total of about $1 million for the
>services
>of a public relations firm in Washington, DC.
>
>The judiciary continues to suffer from government interference. Some months
>ago,
>President Jammeh wrongfully dismissed two Magistrates and the Master of the
>Supreme
>Court, leading the Chief Justice to resign in solidarity with his
>colleagues.
>Following diplomatic and local pressures, the sacked magistrates and the
>Chief
>Justice were reinstated.
>
>As the Presidential, and National Assembly elections approach, President
>Jammeh and
>the APRC are using every trick in the book to stay in power. Already, there
>are press
>reports that they are issuing Gambian Identity Cards to non-Gambians,
>mainly refugees
>from neighbouring Senegal, to enable them to get a Gambian voter's card. In
>December
>2000, President Jammeh dismissed the Chairman of the Independent Electoral
>Commission, in total violation of the Constitution, and in a bid to make
>the
>Commission more favourable to him, and the APRC.
>
>President Jammeh and his cronies are also corrupt, and blatantly so. In
>April, 1999,
>Chantrils SA successfully sued the Gambian government in London's High
>Court for
>breach of contract. According to court documents, Chantrils contracted to
>sell 20,000
>(twenty thousand) barrels of Nigerian crude oil a day on behalf of The
>Gambia, and
>deposit the initial payment, and proceeds in a Swiss bank account. The
>trial in
>London concluded with a fine against the Gambia government, even though
>from all
>indications, it never received any proceeds from the sale of the crude oil.
>
>President Jammeh has consistently brushed off questions about the oil deal,
>and any
>talk about where the money went. Furthermore, the Gambian national assembly
>rejected
>a motion to investigate President Jammeh's role in oil deal.  According to
>newspaper
>reports, the Majority Leader and APRC member said that the motion was
>rejected
>because it was inspired by "ulterior political motives", lacked credible
>supporting
>documents, and was not in the national interest.
>
>Just last month, the United Nations included Baba Jobe, Assistant Secretary
>at the
>President's Office was named in their list of persons affected by
>Resolution 1343
>(2001) on Liberia. The UN Resolution called for Mr. Jobe and others in the
>list to be
>banned from entering and/or transiting through UN member states.  Mr. Jobe,
>an
>adviser to President Jammeh, was listed by the UN as an arms trafficker,
>and Director
>of the Gambia NewMillenium Air company. Although the Gambian government has
>written
>to protest Mr. Jobe's inclusion in the UN list, it is obvious that
>President Jammeh
>has, in Mr. Jobe, an international pariah, and criminal as his adviser.
>
>Sir, in the light of the above, we urge you to:
>
>1. Strengthen democracy in The Gambia by:
>
>i) helping ensure that the electoral process in The Gambia is above board
>and
>transparent as we approach the Presidential elections in October, and the
>National
>Assembly elections early next year.
>
>ii) Putting pressure on President Jammeh and his government so they do not
>interfere
>with the activities of the Independent Electoral Commission.
>
>iii) Pressuring President Jammeh and his government to ensure that
>publicly-owned
>media outlets provide equal access to all political parties, and are fair
>in their
>election coverage.
>
>iv) Encouraging your government, other western governments, and
>non-government
>organizations to send observers not only to monitor the campaign, and
>upcoming
>elections.
>
>2. Help restore human rights and the rule of law
>
>i) We urge you to call on President Jammeh and his regime to immediately
>release or
>bring to trial Momodou "Dumo" Saho, Ebrima Yarbo, Lt. Lalo Jaitteh, Lt.
>Omar Darboe,
>Momodou Marenah, Abdoulie Sanyang and Ebrima Barrow, who have been detained
>illegally
>for over one year now, and in total disregard of the provisions of the
>Gambian
>Constitution.
>
>ii) We urge you to help end the persecution of independent media in The
>Gambia,
>arbitrary arrests, and wrongful dismissal of hardworking civil servants
>(including
>members of the Bench and the Judiciary) by the Jammeh government.
>
>Sir, we trust that you will take our concerns into consideration in
>discharging your
>duties as the US ambassador to The Gambia. In this regard, we sincerely
>hope that
>when and if the Jammeh government seeks economic assistance from the US
>government,
>you consider the request in light of the fact that President Jammeh and his
>cronies
>have swindled millions of dollars of Gambian public funds, and continue to
>deny many
>Gambians their basic human rights and freedoms.
>
>We wish you a successful tenure as US ambassador to The Gambia, and a
>pleasant stay,
>for both you and your family, in the country.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>(signed)
>---------------- End of Draft Petition  ----------------------------
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2001 2:35 PM
>Subject: Draft Petition To New US Ambassador
>
>
> > Katim:
> >
> > Any posting that I have sent to the L is no longer mine. People can do
> > whatever they want with it, without my prior permission. I have no
>problem
> > at all, for the open letter to be reviewed and then used as a petition.
>In
> > fact, next time, just go-ahead! Do not bother to ask for my permission.
> > Anyway, below you will find a Draft Petition which you can edit and we
>can
> > then use it, if there is consensus.
> >
> > Mod Ceesay: Thanks for the correction vis-a-vis the Ambassador's proper
> > name. It is appreciated, and needless to say, I am glad that your
>surname is
> > Ceesay and not Camara/Touray!
> >
> > Lansana: Thanks for your kind sentiments!
> >
> > Ansumana: Thanks for the kind comments, but I'll appreciate it if you
>could
> > dilute them next time. Some of us find it difficult to deal with
>explicit
> > compliments.
> >
> > The Movement in New York (Saul Mbenga and Co): Keep it up! The struggle
> > continues as my sister would often say.
> >
> > Ebrima Ceesay
> >
> > ____________________________________________________________________
> >
> >
> > DRAFT PETITION
> >
> >
> > Dear Ambassador Mcdonald:
> >
> >
> > Since the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) seized power
>in a
> > military coup in 1994 and Colonel Yahya Jammeh was "elected President"
>in
> > controversial elections in September 1996, human rights in The Gambia
>have
> > been violated with impunity.
> >
> > Ordinary citizens, ex-security personnel, journalists and politicians
>have
> > all been targeted by the Gambian authorities and remain today subject to
> > human rights violation, including arbitrary detention, harassment,
>torture
> > and ill-treatment.
> >
> > Indeed, the human rights situation in The Gambia continues to be of
>serious
> > concern to Gambians and to the international community.
> >
> > Political tension in the country is also reported to be high.  The
> > government claimed to have foiled two alleged coup plots in January and
>June
> > 2000.  Harassment and repression of political opponents continues
>unabated.
> > In July 2000, Colonel Jammeh was quoted in the press  as having said
>that
> > "anyone bent on disturbing the peace and stability of the nation will be
> > buried six feet deep".
> >
> > As of now, citizens are still being held incommunicado for long periods
>and
> > without charge in gross violation of the Constitution.  At least
>fourteen
> > young students (including a three year old child) were killed and dozens
> > injured in April 2000 when security forces used excessive and
>indiscriminate
> > force to break up a peaceful student demonstration over the killing of
>their
> > fellow student, Ebrima Barry, by agents of the government.
> >
> > The judiciary continues to suffer from government interference.  Jammeh
>some
> > months ago, wrongfully dismissed two Magistrates and the Master of the
> > Supreme Court, leading the Chief Justice to resign in solidarity with
>his
> > colleagues. Following diplomatic and local pressures, the sacked
>magistrates
> > and the Chief Justice were reinstated. In December 2000, Jammeh also
> > dismissed the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Bishop
> > Johnson, in total violation of the Constitution.
> >
> > As the Presidential elections approach, Jammeh is using every trick in
>the
> > book to consolidate himself in power. Already, there are press reports
>that
> > Jammeh and his APRC are issuing Gambian Identity Cards to Non-Gambians,
> > mainly refugees from neighbouring Senegal, to enable them to get a
>Gambian
> > voter's card.
> >
> > The Gambia today, Mr Ambassador, is characterised by repression,
>corruption,
> > poverty, mismanagement of public funds at the highest levels and
>economic
> > stagnation.
> >
> > We urge you to study the current status of The Gambia by reading the US
> > State Department Country Reports from 1995 to the present, and to read
>the
> > reports of Human Rights organisations such as Amnesty International,
>Article
> > 19 and Interrights for the same period. All these reports clearly
> > demonstrate the undemocratic nature of the regime in The Gambia and
>point to
> > severe and regular harassment and persecution of the country's
>citizenry.
> >
> >
> > In the light of the above, Mr Ambassador, we concerned Gambians and
>friends
> > of The Gambia urge you to:
> >
> >
> > 1. Ensure that the electoral process in The Gambia is above board and
> > transparent as we approach the Presidential elections in October.
> >
> > 2. Put pressure on Jammeh and his regime not to interfere with the role
>and
> > activities of the Independent Electoral Commission.
> >
> > 3. Insist that the national media treats all political parties equally
>in
> > terms of access and reporting.
> >
> > 4. Encourage your government and other western governments to send
>observers
> > not only to monitor the actual elections, but also to observe and
>monitor
> > the whole process, in particular the current period of voter
>registration
> > (already shrouded with malpractice on the part of the APRC).
> >
> > 5. Ensure that human rights protection becomes the norm in The Gambia.
> >
> > 6. In particular, call on Jammeh and his regime to release forthwith
>Messrs.
> > Momodou Dumo Saho, Ebrima Yarboe, Lt. Lalo Jaitteh, Lt. Omar Darboe,
>Momodou
> > Mareneh, Abdoulie Sanyang and Ebrima Barrow.  These men have been
>detained
> > illegally for over one year now, in total disregard of the Gambian
> > Constitution.
> >
> > 7. Put an end to the harassment of the independent media/press in The
> > Gambia, arbitrary arrests and the wrongful dismissal of hardworking
>civil
> > servants (including members of the Bench and the Judiciary).
> >
> >
> > We trust that you will take our concerns seriously, and act accordingly.
> >
> >
> > Yours truly,
> > CONCERNED GAMBIANS
> >
> >
>_________________________________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at
>http://www.hotmail.com.
> >
> >
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