Mr. M.L Jassey Conteh,
I have ever been your supporter, but this time i fully disagree with
you, for the accusations you levelled against Sidi Sanneh.You can
disagree with his views on the land issue, but we should say the truth.
I think Sidi deserves a credit in this forum, because with all  his job
pressure he has been making valuable contributions to the L. One can
understand the nature of his job, if he chose to be nonpartisan. We know
how our criminal regime could have treated him in the Gambia, if he was
criticizing them. Many Gambians with international appointments have
never contributed to the L, for reasons best known them.  Let us be fair
with people on our call for democracy. Every Gambian has the right to
support / against / neutral to the regime. We should disagree with
respect, and follow the truth to build up a better Gambia.
Concerning the land issue, i believe shouting in this forum will not
help us solve the land issue. We are dealing with a dictator who has not
only hijacked / robbed the kombo people, but has hijacked / robbed a
whole country. I think we should first try to get back our country,
before arguing for our rights. I believe this land issue can be solved,
if
our dictator is uprooted. If the Brufut people could give land to
Ghanians, then i think it would be more easier for them to give their
fellow Gambians. May God help us get back our hijacked / robbed country
peacefully, so that we can get back our rights.
Thanks
Elhajj.


"[log in to unmask]" skrev:

> Mr. Sanneh:
>
> You have made me to comment on this land issue again.
> But before I do, while you have a right to be
> nonpartisan, you have never discussed problems in The
> Gambia before this land issue.  From the slaughter of
> innocent Gambian kids to every atrocity committed by
> the moron of kaninlai, you avoided these sacred issues,
> but continued to engaged us with developments in other
> African countries.  I am really disturbed by your lack
> of concern for your own country.
>
> On the land issue, you really spoke the opposite of the
> truth.  Your statements indeed contradicted every
> sentiment evoked by the rightful owners of the Brufut
> land.  I want to make it clear that you have a right to
> invest, but your investment should not displace innocent
> Gambian farmers, whose right to own land is being denied.
>
> After talking to a cousin on this land issue, I was left
> with the impression that most Gambians do not want to
> talk about this controversial issue.  Many have said that
> it has tribal context in it.
>
> Well brothers, and sisters, this is just another saying
> that if you come from Kombo, you cannot claim rightful                     land ownership from a traditional sense.  I have
> no problem if the government in The Gambia will make this
> law universal in all the administrative divisions in our
> country.  As long as this law is one-sided, we who come
> from Kombo have a duty to lead in denouncing this unfair
> law.
>
> I hope as an economist, you will endeavor to invest in
> more prudent ventures for the overall economic development
> of Gambia.  Real Estate development will have no bearing
> in decreasing the disparity of income distribution in
> The Gambia.  I advocate that you seek vital economic
> endeavors for the prosperity of The Gambia.  Our vital
> sector in agric devolopment cannot be displaced by
> greedy investors who are about to make the poor farmer
> suffer.  Take for instance that these farmers walk almost
> seven miles to the nearest plot to farm.  What is our
> responsibility in security our cultral traditional.
> Western style economic selfishness at the expense of
> traditional farmers is the issue here.  Will you sit
> around and let Gambia farmers suffer?  I was raised on
> the farm and will continue to be greatful to this noble
> profession.  Without farming I would not have accomplished
> what I have today.  We must be very careful in not standing
> too tall because we think that we are above all.
>
> Finally this kind of behavior will have negative effect
> on all the farmers in The Gambia.  We should be willing
> to discuss issues whether or not they are controversial.
>
> Naphiyo,
>
> Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
> Greensboro, NC/Kombo East Constituency
>
> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: Jabou Joh [log in to unmask]
> Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 23:37:06 EDT
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: State Land?
>
> Dear Sidi,
>
> Thanks for the input on the land issue, and this provides information that i
> was not aware of.
> Please extend my sincere condolences to Mr Grey-Johnson, and may Mrs
> Johnson's soul rest in peace.
> Again, our prayers are with you on the transition.
>
> Regards,
> Jabou Joh
>
> In a message dated 7/20/2001 1:52:15 PM Central Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> > Jabou, Dave Manneh & Others
> >
> > My apologies for coming back on this issue later than usual for reasons
> > beyond my control.  I am in a state of transition with numerous issues
> > pending.  Internet connectivity is an added woe which I hope will be
> > resolved soon.
> >
> > The past week has been particularly difficult for me because a colleague
> > and a big brother James Monty Grey-Johnson lost his dear wife of 29 years
> > Harriet Abioseh Grey-Johnson who was finally laid to rest in Abidjan on
> > Wednesday 18th July.  May her soul rest in perfect peace.  To Jassey-Conteh
> > and all those who lost dear ones recently, my sincere condolences.
> >
> > Concerning the Brufut land controversy and if I am not mistaken, the land
> > in question was declared state land since 1990 or 1991 under the then
> > GTZ/IDA/Urban Management and Development Project.  Unless there has been
> > recent changes, the areas affected include most, if not all, of "Kombo
> > tubab banko"(north, central and eastern Kombo).  It is due to this new
> > classification that one is  required to show proof that the land was
> > acquired from alkalolus/local authorities prior to 1990/91 before it could
> > be leased.  Otherwise, it will revert to the State.  This is currently the
> > law.  One can debate the merits/de-merits of the reclassification exercise
> > but to question the legitimacy of the Brufut allocation ( and Yundum for
> > that matter) based on traditional tenure is weak in the face of the current
> > policy. Taf Construction was allocated the Brufut and Yundum lands under
> > existing law.  As far as I am aware Taf Construction continues to abide by
> > the regulations governing land allocation in Kombo"tubab banko."
> >
> > On a final note, I reiterate my support to the private sector operators and
> > the numerous young Gambian men and women who are willing and ready to
> > invest, despite the odds, for a reasonable return on their investment.
> > Personally, I see nothing wrong with a socially responsible entrepreneur
> > wishing to participate in the process of development in an honest and
> > sincere manner and within the laws of the land.  To realise a reasonable
> > return on one's investment is nothing to be apologetic about or be ashamed
> > of.
> >
> >
> > Sidi Sanneh
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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