TEEH BITE:WESTERN DIPLOMATS IN GAMBIA SHOULD TELL JAMMEH THE TRUTH!!!
We are inline with what our brother Baba Galleh Jallow said. The diplomatic silence in Banjul is unbelievable. Dictator Jammeh is tearing our country apart and yet there is no word of caution or condemnation from Western diplomats. The other day the US Ambassador in Nigeria was loud and clear about US’s disapproval to Nigeria’s attempts to amend its constitution in a bid to allow President Obasanjo to run for a third term. The US envoy never minced his feelings and therefore urges Nigerian authorities to respect the two term limit that was endorsed by Nigerians.
WESTERN DIPLOMATS SHOULD TELL JAMMEH
THE TRUTH. HE IS UNDERMINING FREEDOM IN GAMBIA.
If the US Ambassador in Nigeria can speak out against such undemocratic moves, why not diplomats in Banjul? These foreign diplomats need to tell Jammeh the unpleasant truth. In the absence of the rule of the law and democracy, nothing will work. Our dear country is today reduced to juggle society. Yahya Jammeh decides the fate of accused persons. He detained them at his own free will without following the due process of the law.
Sending a warning to Jammeh, to observe the dictates of the constitution will send some sign of hope to the oppressed Gambians. Britain our former colonial masters should not stand by watching Yahya Jammeh undermining the liberties and Freedoms of our citizens. The Gambia is at cross roads and this culture of silence on the side of the Western diplomats will only give Jammeh the impression that he is playing by the democratic game when in actual fact this is far from what obtains on the ground. There is need for the West to come to Gambia’s plight. Our people are dying.
There is this talk that since the expulsion of the former Deputy British High Commissioner to The Gambia, some of the diplomats are playing it safe with The Gambian authorities. That they don’t want to run into problem with the government of the day. Yes, no one wants to lose his or her job, if kicked out by Jammeh or recalled by his government, but the truth should be told no matter what. The Gambia is not the only place where these diplomats can be assigned if Jammeh is not comfortable about their truthful statements.
The same government forcefully broke into the residence of the former US Deputy Chief of Mission Bruce Nutts. They assaulted the guard who was on duty and proceeded into Mr.Nutts house at the middle of the night. The guard’s perceived crime was that he failed to comply with an order to open the gate. They said they were searching for Baba Jobe’s house. That they suspected that arms were kept there. Imagine the country’s main intelligence branch said they mistaken Ambassador Nutt’s house with that of Baba Jobe. This is outrageous. Their action was not only malicious, but intended to scare the diplomat, who was in good terms with government perceived opponents in the country. Ambassador Nutts was very open to the press, religious leaders and the civil society. This writer interviewed Bruce Nutt shortly after the said incident, which attracted a swift reaction from the US Embassy. Later on, we learned that Bruce Nutt was recalled. This government is desperate and will try
every means to silence foreign diplomats.
I witnessed the former sacked Foreign Minister Baboucarr Blaize Jagne threatening Western diplomats in The Gambia. This was during the Media Commission impasse, in which other journalists and I refused to register with the said anti press commission. The press is essential in any true democracy. This government is hell bent on muzzling the press. These were the words of Minister Jagne when he threatened western diplomats in The Gambia ” You are all here today, we want you to report correct information to your governments about this country. We do not want any misreporting about our country. I hope I’m clear. This government will not accept any misinformation.”
Ranting Minister Jagne tried to imply that their were some Western diplomats who were in the habit of providing critical reports about this undemocratic government.
Diplomats from the US, Britain, Germany, and other Western countries were in attendance at this meeting. Whether admitted or not this government is trying to dictate as to what these diplomats should report and what not. Blaize Jagne appeared very uncompromising when he issued the said threats. I remembered the late Deyda Hydara telling me that such charges were serious and the diplomats in attendance should come up with their side of the story. But there was no counter reaction to Jagne’s wild accusations.
We know that once a diplomat is expelled from The Gambia, he or she must wait to be assigned to another country. But this should not stop diplomats from speaking out. We expect them to emulate the American Ambassador in Nigeria. We are appealing to these diplomats to come to Gambia’s aid and condemn the Jammeh madness.
Charles Taylor and Mugabe of Zimbabwe never escaped diplomat’s criticism for lack of respect for the rule of law. We still cannot fathom why dictator Yahya Jammeh is being spared. The culture of silence should ceased in the interest of democracy, good governance and justice. The Gambian people don’t deserved such mistreatment from Jammeh. Western diplomat should stand up to be counted. Our country is in total crisis.
Posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 (Archive on Tuesday, May 30, 2006)
Posted by PANDERRYMBAI Contributed by PANDERRYMBAI
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Rating: [input] 1 [input] 2 [input] 3 [input] 4 [input] 5 Comments: Save
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Current Rating: 3.00 Rating: 3 Rating: 3 MAY ALLAH CONTINUE TO BLESS JAMMEH AND THE HUMBLE GAMBIANS, AND MAY ALL THOSE EVIL WHO DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THAT PERISH Rating: 3 MAY ALLAH CONTINUE TO BLESS JAMMEH AND THE HUMBLE GAMBIANS, AND MAY ALL THOSE EVIL WHO DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THAT PERISH Rating: 3 When Jammeh breaks war as he intends, diplomats will suffer too. Rating: 3 Very good piece. Rating: 1 Go get your own story. Once again, it's the "freedom" zone. Not a surprise. Rating: 5
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