Dear Comrades:

On behalf on The Democratic Action Group, I am submitting this letter 
that was delivered to Honorable Brad Miller, NC Democrat, 13th Congressional
District of the U.S. House of Representatives.  This letter was delivered during
our meeting with the Congressman concerning issues of importance to our 
country, The Gambia.

Sincerely,
Lamine Jassey-Conteh

The Gambia Democratic Action Group

The Honorable Brad Miller
U.S. Congress Representative
District 13th
1300 St. Mary’s Street, Suite 504
Raleigh, NC 27605
December 12, 2005

Dear Honorable Miller,
The Gambia is a small West African country that is home to some 700 immigrants 
now residing in the Raleigh area. A great number of us are concerned and affected 
by the on-going political development in our motherland under the leadership of 
President Yahya Jammeh, who came into power in a military coup d’etat in July 1994. 

Since that year, the country and her people have experienced colossal forms of
repression, arbitrary arrests, detentions and torture as well as extra-judicial killings 
against the civil population (including school children), journalists and political opponents.

The attached addendum illustrates President Jammeh’s numerous atrocities against his
own people; notwithstanding we are obliged to throw light on a few, such as:

I.	The execution of an undetermined number of soldiers on November 11,
                1994 on alleged rumors of a foiled coup d’etat.
II.	The massacre of 14 school children demonstrators and a journalist on 
                April 10, and 11, 2000. 
III.	In March 1998, the arrest, detention, torture and eventual imprisonment 
                of Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara, former National Propaganda Secretary of the 
                United Democratic Party.
IV.	The assassination of Deyda Hydara, an independent journalist on
                December 16, 2004
V.	Most recently on November 15, 2005 government authorities acting
                on orders from President Jammeh arrested three opposition political 
                leaders i.e. Honorable Halifa Sallah, Mr. Hamat Bah and 
                Mr. Omar Amadou Jallow and falsely charged them with sedition.

These and other similar incidents as well as President Jammeh’s own verbal threats
underscore the fears of Gambians and international observers that Jammeh will go 
to all extents to silence legitimate political opposition to his dictatorial rule in the
Gambia. More so and especially in anticipation of the forth coming presidential 
elections slated for October, 2006, he has deployed the entire state machinery
to his advantage. Gambians in the United States recognize the dangers their country
faces in becoming another failed state in likes of Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone 
if President Jammeh’s style of leadership is not put in check.

We therefore solicit your cogent and worthy intervention so that President Jammeh
can unconditionally release the three opposition leaders and other prisoners of 
conscience. We further count on you to convey the Gambian agenda to all 
democratic fora and agencies such as (but not limited to) the United States
Congress and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Thank you for sparing us your invaluable time. God bless you

Yours sincerely

The Gambia Democratic Action Group
 

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