Joe,the cassamance conflict have a geo-political
implication to the peace and stability in our
sub-region.I belief that Jammeh's government is not
neutral in the conflict.Our country is use as a safe
heaven to the rebels.The rebels are using our
territory to raise finance to sponsor the conflict.The
economic of the conflict is the forest resources (
timber and fuel wood) and cannabis sativa, the market
of which is Gambia.Having work in Foni I also know
that there is monthly contribution from the Jolas to
the rebels in Cassamance.
I know that our border is porous but with effect
policing from the national army, the movement of the
rebels will be control.Who are the intermediaries of
the cannabis trade in Cassamance?I know is the
civilians and the soldiers of Gambia National
Army.Reports in Gambia media have proof the
involvement of army personnel in drug trafficking in
cassamance.
Joe If Jammeh's government is neutral in the conflict
why should the rebel use our territory as a base or
propaganda ground.MFDC spokesman Alexandra Djibba is
the most powerful within rank and file of the
movement.He is not only the spokesman but also control
the rebel finance.Is he a refuge in Gambia? If so then
let the Government use the Geneva convention to
control his activities.But we have seen that after his
arrest in Bissau another rebel activist is performing
his rule or function in our country.
I cannot comment much on the arms trade but everyone
knows that our country was used and is still use as a
ground for shipping arms to the rebels.It is about
time our government stay away from this conflict.
Another factor is that giving Gambian ID cards and
voters card to rebels as a so-called political gain
for APRC is a form of involvement in the conflict.
Abdou Karim Sanneh
Manchester UK
--- Joe Sambou <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Looks like we are playing both sides.  Like Weyeh et
> al, we may not benefit
> from what we're trying to reach.  You form your own
> opinion.
>
> Email This Page
>
> Print This Page
>
>
>
> The Independent (Banjul)
>
> May 24, 2002
> Posted to the web May 24, 2002
>
> Makalo
> Banjul
>
> The Gambia Government's has come under strong
> criticism over the Casamance
> conflict after fresh reports that MFDC rebel
> fighters had found it easy to
> beat a retreat into Gambian territory as they avoid
> an offensive from
> Senegalese troops.
>
> Sources claimed that the ease with which MFDC
> fighters sought refuge in The
> Gambia could 'add salt to injury' over allegations
> that the separatists were
> benefiting from covert support from outside their
> theatre of operations.
>
> Want to help this site win one of the "Oscars of the
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>
> This concern comes against the backdrop of
> suggestions by a popular
> Senegalese newspaper Wal Fajr that The Gambia was
> giving covert support to
> the separatist campaign in Casamance. Jammeh's
> government had wasted no time
> in denying the accusation, describing them as
> baseless, unfounded and
> malicious.
>
> However, sources said recent rebel encroachment on
> Gambian territory could
> provide genuine ground for suspicion. They added
> that the free movement of
> the MFDC rebels in and out of the Gambian side of
> the border, and rebel
> captives found with Gambian documents could be
> interpreted to mean that
> double standard was being played.
>
> A senior official at the Department of Foreign
> Affairs told The Independent
> that the stay in The Gambia of the former
> MFDCspokesman Alexandra Djibba who
> is currently in custody in Guinea Bissau and the
> presence of the new MFDC
> spokesman in The Gambia Ablaye Jarju had never gone
> down well with the
> Senegalese government, who have not hesitated to
> communicate their
> displeasure to the authorities here.
>
> Meanwhile in an interview recently, the
> Army-Chief-of Staff Colonel
> Baboucarr Jatta has pointed out that any
> encroachment on Gambian territory
> by protagonists to the conflict would be interpreted
> as an incursion of The
> Gambia. However, he steered clear of committing
> himself to saying whether,
> this would trigger an outright offensive from the
> country's defense force.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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