Malanding, thanks for relaying your observations about the APRC reception in
New York.  Like you, I am also disappointed that not many of those who
oppose his government and live in the area did not show up.  I hope they
would give their reason why.  It is sad that we the people, are aiding these
thieves to continue to steal from us.  An African president coming to the US
and donating $20,000 for a victory celebration, and the people took it and
found nothing wrong with that act.  Right thinking folk should have voiced
their rejection of that criminal gesture.  We all know that Yaya's earnings,
per diem and all, should not be able to come to New York and even donate
$100, much more $20,000.  This act confirms his opinion about us - that
every Gambian could be bought and sold anytime or any place.  It worked for
him in The Gambia, New York, D.C., and pretty soon Atlanta.

We just heard Bekai Manneh's experience; Ngorr forwarded to us the saga of
the fifty students in the newspapers who cannot afford the fees to sit for
their exams; We recently heard that the farmers are owed millions of Dalasis
for their crops, etc.  And we in New York did not see anything wrong with
Yaya bribing folk.  This is really pathetic.  Those of us that are very
impressed with Jammeh and all the good stuff he is doing, are you also
satisfied that this government that you are so happy about have not done
anything about the April Massacre?  Are you also satisfied that Gambians are
getting poorer and our farmers are owed millions of Dalaisi, but expected to
feed their families, school their kids, and pay taxes on top of that?  Are
you satisfied that our health system is poorly equipped and manned as
experienced by Bekai Manneh and thousands of people?  Are you satisfied with
the soon to be signed media bill to silence the people?  Are you also
satisfied that our people are victimized and illegally detained?  APRC can
have branches all over the US.  However, the fact remains that they are a
corrupt, brutal and inept government.  That $20,000 donation is nothing but
a bribe my friends and it seems to me that both the donor and the recepients
have no shame in the act.  It is normal patron/client exchange, while our
people are living in abject poverty.  Finally, it your and my people back
home that are still suffering, while we shamelessly aid in their
victimization.  They are going to be the many Bekai Mannehs, the unemployed,
the unpaid, and the marginalized.  I'm sure it does not bother you, just
another day in your life.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: "Malanding S. Jaiteh" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: President Jammeh's New York Reception
>Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 11:57:18 -0400
>
>Last Friday evening, I had the opportunity to attend the reception
>organized by supporters of Preseident Yahya in mid-town, Manhattan. I
>thought I should share with you my impressions.
>
>The President's team included H.E. as they call him, Honorable SOSs, Joseph
>Joof, Blaise Jagne, Susan Wafa-Ogoo (my apologies if get the spelling
>wrong), Terese Ndong and Speaker S.M. Dibba and many other aides and
>securities.
>
>The gathering reminded me of former President Jawara's
>meet-the-farmers-tour rallies. Atendance was between 2 to 3 hundred (my
>estimate), including many women and children, Jalibaas( professional and
>amateur praise singers), die-hard partisans and on-lookers.
>
>List of speakers included Yai-Compins, Bai-Compins, representatives of
>several Yahya Jammeh support groups across the eastern seaboard to welcome
>the President to New York and the US as well as share regrets that many of
>their supporters could not attend. All expressed how wonderful it was to
>meet him and pledged their undivided support.
>
>The Secreatry of States' expressed their appreciation to the kind of
>reception. More importantly a few remarked how different it was from the
>reception they received a couple of years. They informed the crowd about
>all the good things that happened since their last visit. The the
>infrastructure, the free and fair elections (and H.E.'s) landslide victory,
>and the lifting of the sanctions by the US.
>
>Speaker Dibba felt it necessary to confess once again on why he decided to
>be part of the government. Familiar to those who follow events.
>
>The H.E. gave a long lecture on democracy, patriotism, tolerance, hardwork
>and investing in the future. He highliged that all patriotic Gambians
>should work hard for a better Gambia. That Gambia's democracy is alive and
>well. That every Gambian has the right to do whatever they want, support
>whoever they want but criminals and those who want to cause trouble have NO
>rights (enphasis mine). He asked all those in diaspora to work hard, cut
>the waste and save for their kids future.
>
>My impression:
>Visitors relieved that there were no demostrations. It is eveident that the
>demonstrations of 2000 were not forgotten. H.E. said he forgive all those
>who wronged him, called him terrorist and murderer then. He admitted that
>he may have wronged some people but fall short of asking for forgiveness or
>apologizing . According to him those he wronged should understand that his
>actions were in the best interest of the Gambia. Unfortunately he was not
>specific about what those wrongs might be.
>
>Suprised that the SOS failed to address key issues as to what the
>government is doing in areas of Gambia-US relations eapecially in areas
>that really matter to those in the diaspora. Issues such as how to protect
>Gambians in light of Sept 11 and the after, issues of US visa, or enabling
>Gambians overseas to vote or ways to encourage investment.
>
>Disappointed that organizers did not give time for questions and answers.
>This would have given Jammeh the opportunity to here from some of the
>opposition.
>
>Stunned to hear that he has donated twenty thousand ($20,000) to Gambians
>to celebrate his victory. I find this totally unacceptable for a number of
>reasons. I can think of 101 uses for Four hundred thousand dalasis that do
>not include organizing a Jammeh victory celebration in hte US.
>
>Disappointed that those who yelled their heads off (or should I say burn
>their fingers on the keyboard) on the L as anti-Jammeh did not show up at
>the gathering to voice out their case. Shows that we are yet to learn to
>walk the walk.
>
>Was very much facinated by the number of language groups that were present
>in that little room. We had Sahahullehs, Fullas, Mandinkas, wollof,
>Manjakos, Akus, Jolas and Seres just to name a few. We had people from
>Banjul to Sandu. Hardly can you differentiate who was who. Most of the
>speakers spoke, more than one language. Infact on many occasions speakers
>rectify translators. I must say that was the most fascinating moment for
>me.
>
>Malanding Jaiteh
>
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