LERS,

I am in total agreement with the manner and way that Dr. Katim has managed
to review and improve the draft petition to the New Us Ambassador by Ebrima.

I want to urge members of the L to quickly adopt it for the purpose without
delay. It is a great material from two great minds that think very much
alike and has in totality captured the spirit of everyone of us . I have
gone through it over and over and I am convince it has the appeal to make
the New Ambassador designate realise that there are many genuine Gambians
interested and committed to building, consolidating and enlarging our
democratic space. The material has spot on all the issues that are of
concern to the Gambians and friends of the Gambia and has the tendency to
galvanise the New Ambassador designate to take the necessary actions needed
to promote, preserve and protect the democratic gains and wishes of the
Gambian people.

I can't wait to endorse it on paper.

Once again Thank You Coach( Ebrima) and Dr. Katim Touray for a job well
done. You have added a whole new meaning to our democratic struggle .

Assalamu Alaikum,

Sallah


>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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