> Mr Nyang.
> A man in your position should not use the word TRIBALISM on this platform
> yet the tribalist for whom it may concern is Jammeh's government,and i see no
> reason why i should surport your view.Infact your explaination on tribalism in
> this case is remote you better put your case in a better prospective while i side
> with Kutubo et al and the Manneh Kunda Kabilo in Brufut.
>
> Respect
> FYE.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Manneh" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 9:41 PM
Subject: Re: Mr. Nyang: TAF has got the BUG too!!!!!
> Mr Nyang,
> Could you please be kind enough to produce an iota of evidence to that effect. How can our right to a
> dwelling be tribalistic. I think you are a very dishonest fellow, if am to be frank with you. How can you
> ignore wholeheartedly the genuine heart wrenching plea of poor helpless people, and rubbish it as tribalistic.
> Below is the email I had ready for you earlier, I didn't sent it for I thought others have responded
> eloquently to your nonsense earlier.
>
> Please read it carefully.
> ********************************************************************************************************
> Take a breather my uncle, and read my commentary at the top of the forwarded article. No need to get all wound
> up!
> I do not know about the examples of developments in Ghana or Senegal, for I have never been to any of those
> countries. I do not know who Taf Njie is or what tribe he is from, for last names are not the most definitive
> way of defining ones tribe in The Gambia.
>
> You asked how may years has the land been left un-utilised, this is a genuine question and I shall break the
> answer down for you and in the event show the futility of that question.
>
> Point one: Manneh Kunda is the the biggest family/clan in Brufut. Now let's do some simple mathematics; big
> clan => big families => less space for houses (expansion), Result young men move out and build houses for their
> young families on clan land. (This has always been the tradition).
>
> Point Two: These folks are not complaining that they need the land for sustainable farming, but most
> importantly due to the fast and explosive growth Brufut is experiencing, the land has already been divided
> amongst the young men of the clan.
> The clan gives/used to give out plots of land to people for free (all they needed to bring was kola nuts.
> There are countless people in Brufut who have their homes/compounds through this traditional way). This is
> definitely not the case here, instead one man wants to enrich himself even more.
>
> Point Three: Less than 0.1% of these affected young men can afford to buy the houses Taf is building. So the
> the question now begs, does Taf's entrepreneurship override their need for housing their young families?
>
> Point Four: Since when do clans have to pay rates for lands belonging to them (Actually these lands have
> belonged to this clan for over 10 generations. Maybe you are right that rates have to be paid, but please show
> me. And if that is the case all efforts shall be made to make sure that it is paid (even the overdue ones). Am
> confident that I can speak for my cousins and uncles on and off this distro!!
>
> Point Five: Why should Taf compensate people, who do not want to get rid of their land and who most
> importantly, need the land more than he does?
>
> Point Six: Where is this WOLLOF disease nonsense coming from? Where is that stated either in my commentary or
> in the forwarded article.
>
> If there is any objectivity needed it is needed most from your side. This illegal land seizure, affects me
> personally but I think I am being objective here.
>
> NB. In the UK, am seen as another Black person, not Wollof or Mandinka, so the tribal bias you are insinuating
> should be withdrawn forthwith.
>
> All the best
> Manneh
>
> Sheikh Tejan Nyang wrote:
>
> > Haruna, Bandy. Dave , karamba , Kutubo and others,
> >
> > Folks ,
> > >From the statements ive had made here in The Gambia i am convince beyond reasonable doubt and came to the
> > conclusion that tribilism is the main issue behind the seen on the TAF
> > saga. For those who know me and my
> > background, I will be the last person to be call a tribalist or an
> > advocate of tribalism I have always been
> > and continue to be a strong believer of speaking the truth come what
> > may. Kutubo, I have also sisters and
> > brothers who a mandika in the real sense .Thanks for your understanding.
> >
> > Chi Jamma,
> >
> > Kutubo Manneh wrot
> > e:
> >
> > > Mr Nyang,
> > > With all due respect,i think your comments are uncall for and to
> > > say the least very distasteful!Like any community,one does not fold your
> > > arms when your inheritantance is being taken away from you without due
> > > compensation.This particular place has been transformed into its present
> > > state through the back breaking labour of our grand fathers,fathers and
> > > ourselves and i must say no power,be it individual or government has the
> > > right to take it away from us!! JUST PUT YOURSELVE IN OUR POSITION FOR A
> > > MINUTE!
> > > And to bring in that TRIBAL COMMENT,is the most distasteful of your
> > > piece,being a member of that KABILO,i have cousins who are WOLLOFS AND
> > > FULLAS and anybody who knows BRUFUT wll tell you that it is the most
> > > "tribally blind" town in the kombos!My brother please we are in the twenty
> > > first century and let us take this TRIBAL NONSENSE from our lives.
> > > But fight we will for OUR LAND,EVEN IF IT WILL TAKE A 100 YEARS!!
> > > Kind regards.
> > > KUTS
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Lamin Manneh PF <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 10:53 AM
> > > Subject: Re: Mr. Nyang: TAF has got the BUG too!!!!!
> > >
> > > > Mr. Nyang, i think Taf is not a smart businessman. I will not make a multi
> > > > million Dallasi housing project in somebody's bonafide property. If he
> > > > succeeded against the will of the legitimate owners in Brufut(because
> > > > government backed him), be assured that another government can avert the
> > > > executive order of this government and Taf will be the big looser at the
> > > > end. Remember, what the government is saying is not a law but a cabinet
> > > > decision which is unfair to the coastline Kombokas.
> > > > Being a son of Manneh Kunda Kabilo in Brufut, i support any kind of
> > > > development efforts in Brufut whether it is government or private sector
> > > > investments but such development initiatives must follow certain protocols
> > > > and traditional regiments. I think Taf and government are overlooking
> > > these
> > > > realities. Mr. Nyang, this is a very simple matter- Taf can simply go to
> > > > Manneh Kunda, asked the size of land he want and buy it from them. He
> > > could
> > > > have put in the millions of Dallasis allegedly used to bribe government
> > > > officials to purchase atleast some part of the land by now. Businesses
> > > don't
> > > > prosper or last longer in Africa mainly because of the corrupt way they
> > > > started.
> > > > Finally, i think your idea of tribalism is very misleading and unfair to
> > > the
> > > > Manneh Kunda Kabilo. Taf is not rejected because he is a Wollof but mainly
> > > > his unscrupulous and dubious manner of acquiring the land of poor farmers.
> > > > Hey, we host Ghanaians in Ghana Town and give a vast area of land to them
> > > > free. How would you describe that? We have Wollofs, Karoninkas, Jolas,
> > > > Fullas, Lebou(from Senegal), Ghanaians Shriffs etc in our Kabilou and they
> > > > are all united in this struggle.
> > > >
> > > > Please withdraw your ugly comments
> > > > See you all in Atlanta
> > > > Lamin PF Manneh
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >From: Dave Manneh <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> > > > ><[log in to unmask]>
> > > > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > > > >Subject: TAF has got the BUG too!!!!!
> > > > >Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 05:50:12 +0100
> > > > >
> > > > >Culled from the Observer.
> > > > >
> > > > >Makes an interesting reading as it seems that TAF Njie too has got the "
> > > > >BUG". That disease of greed that unfortunately seems to be gripping the
> > > > >Gambian Business community.
> > > > >Just because The Gambia is unfortunate to be lumbered with a bunch of
> > > > >idiots as a government should not warranty the few Gambian Businesses we
> > > > >all look up to, to become self-obsessed with making millions whilst
> > > > >trampling on the rights of poor innocent citizens.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Tuesday, July 3, 2001
> > > > > BRUFUT ELDERS PETITION
> > > > > JAMMEH OVER TAF LAND
> > > > > ALLOCATION
> > > > >
> > > > > The elders and people of Brufut, Manneh Kunda Kabilo,
> > > > >last week
> > > > > petitioned President Jammeh over the allocation of a
> > > > >swathe of
> > > > > land which they claimed belonged to the community of
> > > > >Manneh
> > > > > Kunda Kabilo in Brufut to Taf Construction by the
> > > > >Department of
> > > > > State for Local Government and Lands. The petition
> > > > >which was
> > > > > signed and thumbprinted by Kajali Manneh, Kijera
> > > > >Manneh,
> > > > > Amadou Manneh, Kebba Musa Manneh, Omar Manneh and
> > > > > Kebba Jatta was also sent to all secretaries of state,
> > > > >commissioner,
> > > > > Western Division, director of lands and surveys, seyfo
> > > > >of Kombo
> > > > > North and the alkalo of Brufut.
> > > > >
> > > > > Below is the full text of the petition: Your
> > > > >Excellency, We feel
> > > > > deeply honoured to bring to your attention a serious
> > > > >land problem
> > > > > currently taking place between the Manneh Kunda Kabilo
> > > > >of
> > > > > Brufut and the local government authorities. The past
> > > > >few weeks
> > > > > have witnessed serious confrontations between the
> > > > >people of
> > > > > Manneh Kunda Kabilo, local government authorities and
> > > > > Mustapha Njie of Taf Construction. After the
> > > > >controversial
> > > > > housing scheme called Operation House the Nation at
> > > > >Bakau
> > > > > failed, Taf Construction has again been allocated a
> > > > >vast stretch of
> > > > > our land in Brufut by the local government authorities.
> > > > >We learnt
> > > > > of this allocation by demarcation pegs without any
> > > > >prior
> > > > > consultation between the relevant authorities and
> > > > >traditional
> > > > > landowners.
> > > > >
> > > > > On seeing the pegs, we made appointments and met first
> > > > >with the
> > > > > director of lands and surveys and then with the
> > > > >secretary of state
> > > > > for local government and lands on February 26, 2001. At
> > > > >both
> > > > > meetings, we were informed that the area was allocated
> > > > >to Taf
> > > > > Construction and on each occasion, we expressed our
> > > > >concerns
> > > > > about the allocation and appealed for a reconsideration
> > > > >of the
> > > > > decision as we had already allocated the land area to
> > > > >some 300
> > > > > youths of the Kabilo who are still in family compounds
> > > > >and are
> > > > > without land to build houses for their families.
> > > > >
> > > > > The meeting with local government and lands secretary
> > > > >concluded
> > > > > with an agreement that a technical team would be sent
> > > > >within the
> > > > > shortest possible time to further discuss the issue
> > > > >with us. What
> > > > > we saw the following day (February 27, 2001) and indeed
> > > > >to our
> > > > > dismay, was a team from Taf Construction putting up
> > > > >more
> > > > > demarcation pegs in the area. This was baffling and
> > > > >irritating to us,
> > > > > as it was inconsistent with the agreement we had
> > > > >previously with
> > > > > the secretary of state for local government and lands.
> > > > >After all
> > > > > these, we were invited to a meeting at the tribunal of
> > > > >the district
> > > > > Seyfo on Sunday March 11, 2001. In attendance at this
> > > > >meeting
> > > > > were the commissioner of Western Division, the district
> > > > >seyfo, the
> > > > > National Assembly member for Kombo North, Brufut
> > > > >village alkalo,
> > > > > elders of Manneh Kunda Kabilo, representatives of
> > > > >Brufut Village
> > > > > Development Committee and a representative from Taf
> > > > > Construction amongst others.
> > > > >
> > > > > At this meeting, we were told that government has
> > > > >allocated our
> > > > > land to Mustapha Njie as compensation for the land that
> > > > >was
> > > > > previously allocated to him in connection with
> > > > >Operation House
> > > > > the Nation but subsequently withdrawn. We expressed our
> > > > >
> > > > > concerns and total rejection of the project because we
> > > > >believed it
> > > > > was unacceptable for a single man to benefit at the
> > > > >expense of
> > > > > thousands of underprivileged people of Brufut. The
> > > > >meeting ended
> > > > > in a stalemate.
> > > > >
> > > > > On March 18, 2001, we were invited to another meeting
> > > > >at the
> > > > > tribunal of the district Seyfo. This meeting was
> > > > >attended by the
> > > > > commissioner of Western Division, the district seyfo,
> > > > >the National
> > > > > Assembly member for Kombo North, an officer from the
> > > > > Department of Physical Planning, alkalo of Brufut,
> > > > >Manneh Kunda
> > > > > Kabilo representatives and a representative from Taf
> > > > >Construction.
> > > > > At the meeting, we again emphasised and reaffirmed our
> > > > >concerns
> > > > > over the landlessness of our youths and the negative
> > > > >impact the
> > > > > project would have on the livelihood of over 400
> > > > >households in
> > > > > Manneh Kunda.
> > > > >
> > > > > Here at stake is the enrichment of one person and the
> > > > >future
> > > > > livelihood of over 2000 persons who cannot afford a
> > > > >house in the
> > > > > scheme. This meeting too ended in a stalemate. On hand,
> > > > >Your
> > > > > Excellency, we wish to inform you that vast areas of
> > > > >Brufut land
> > > > > have already been allocated; instances of such
> > > > >allocations are the
> > > > > Brusubi Housing Scheme on the East, TDA on the North
> > > > >and the
> > > > > Wildlife Reserve Area on the West of Brufut. In
> > > > >essence, we are
> > > > > left with very little land to accommodate our coming
> > > > >generations
> > > > > and it is unbearably difficult for us to create a
> > > > >gloomy future of our
> > > > > children and enrich a single person. We have the
> > > > >confidence that
> > > > > your government is by the people and for the people and
> > > > >the
> > > > > livelihood of a people is more paramount to you than an
> > > > >individual
> > > > > economic interest.
> > > > >
> > > > > Your Excellency, we are bringing this crisis to your
> > > > >attention for
> > > > > your quick intervention in the light of the concern you
> > > > >have for the
> > > > > poor and downtrodden. If the government were to have
> > > > > educational or other development projects that would go
> > > > >directly
> > > > > to benefit the people, definitely we would not have had
> > > > >any
> > > > > objection but giving our land to a single rich man just
> > > > >to make him
> > > > > richer is disheartening and intolerable. Finally, while
> > > > >we await your
> > > > > intervention, we wish to assure you that we will remain
> > > > >peaceful
> > > > > and law-abiding until justice takes its course. We
> > > > >thank you in
> > > > > advance for your due consideration of this matter.
> > > > >
> > > >
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