Soffie, Karamba and Alpha: You are doing a Great Job! Keep it up.
Ebrima Ceesay: Thanks for all the valuable information you are
forwarding from your source(s). I also commend your source(s)for their
bravery.
Ndey Jobarteh: Thanks for the update!
Abdoulaye
No justice, no peace!
Jammeh Must Go!
Alpha Robinson wrote:
>
> Progress report
> Gambia-L,
>
> Soffie Ceesay, Karamba Touray and Alpha Robinson have been co-ordinating efforts
> towards the Fund which resulted from the discussion around the action plan
> initiated on the List after the April massacre in The Gambia. To recapitulate
> briefly and for the benefit of those who joined the List afterwards, it was
> proposed and endorsed on the List, that a Fund should be established. Two main
> aims were set for the Fund:
> 1. To assist the Families of the massacre victims
> 2. To assist in paying the legal bills of victims of human rights abuse
>
> The purpose of this mail is to give you an update of what has so far transpired,
> the plan for action and the thoughts and ideas so far developed by our joined
> efforts as the co-ordinating team to that effect. Even though Soffie and Alpha
> were selected as coordinators in the U.S. and Europe respectively, Karamba, who
> played an important role in the whole process continued to play an active role in
> all efforts following the establishment of the co-ordinating committee. First
> we'll give you an update on the amount thus collected before proceeding to deal
> with what has so far transpired towards the achievement of the aims stated above.
>
> The State of The accounts
>
> Two separate accounts have been opened in The U.S. and in Europe respectively.
> The state of the account in the U.S. can be accessed by anyone at
> http://www.gambian.com/. Up to the time of compiling this report $4,033.00 (four
> thousand and thirty three U.S. Dollars) have been collected in the U.S. and
> Canada. The account in Europe has so far 1,000.00 Dkr. (one thousand danish
> kroners. A service charge of 165 kroners was also paid from the total amount
> collected, making a total of 1,165.00 Dkr) from Denmark; more is expected from
> Denmark after a planed meeting on the 20th of May 2000. In Sweden, 5, 419.50
> Swedish Kronors have so far been collected and more is expected from further
> fundraising activities in the very near future. Gambians resident in Finland and
> Norway have indicated that their contributions will be forthcoming soon. In the
> U.K. and Germany too, contributions are being collected. The amount collected in
> Germany so far stands at 200.00DM. Further contributions are expected after a
> planed meeting in May 2000. One problem hampering transfer of money to the
> designated account within Europe is the high service charge involved. Efforts are
> under way to adjoin the List of Contributors from Europe to that of the U.S. on
> the same Web site. These lists shall also be made available to Yankuba for the
> site designed on behalf of the list and to Kartim and team mates for the “Free
> Gambia Web site” they are working on. By the way, contributions are not only
> restricted to Gambians. So, friends of The Gambia, here is one way in which you
> can pay tribute to the victims of the massacre and human rights abuse.
> Contributors who wish to remain anonymous will be treated accordingly.
>
> Progress made so far
>
> It was recognised that efforts from abroad can only be effective with the help of
> someone or a group of people co-ordinating things in The Gambia. Some progress
> has been made to that effect, but certainly any assistance from people on the
> ground will be very highly appreciated.
>
> 1. Financial Assistance to victims’ families:
> A letter of condolence was sent to the victims’ families and some newspapers in
> The Gambia, expressing our condolences and informing them that some financial
> assistance will be forthcoming in the near future.
>
> In the meantime, Ancha Bala Gaye has accepted to play a role in co-ordinating
> activities relating to our relief efforts. Ancha was contacted following the
> announcement on the List of the establishment of a Memorial Foundation in support
> of victims’ families through her collective efforts with other people (Ancha was
> a member of the GESO team on the List). Sam Sarr of FOROYAA was also suggested,
> as reported by Buharry before. He will also be contacted to see how he can work
> together with the Memorial Foundation or assist in any other way, if he so
> agrees.
>
> For now, we thought it prudent to concentrate efforts on the families of the
> dead. We found it particularly necessary to act rapidly in order to ensure that
> the financial assistance to these families reach them before the fortieth day.
> After assessing the financial situation an amount of 200$ (two hundred U.S.
> Dollars) was proposed per family. This amount can be covered from the account in
> the U.S. (see State of the accounts above). Taking the number of deaths to be 14,
> will bring the total sum required to 2800$ plus 50$ to cover transport etc. Among
> the 14 identified so far one body remains unidentified. It was thought that part
> of the 200$ due to his yet unknown family can be used to arrange for a fitting
> burial and the rest kept until further progress has been made in identifying his
> family. Subscribers to the List in The Gambia can play a part in assisting to
> identify the contact persons and urging them to contact the co-ordinators on the
> ground as soon as possible and indeed in any other way they may deem helpful.
>
> The unresolved question is what to do with the injured. It seems that some of the
> students sustained injuries which may result to some form of physical handicap.
> How can we help them? Who needs urgent help? Can we assist them to claim damages
> from the Government? Some may require further treatment abroad. Are there
> organisations which can be contacted for help (Medcine sans Frontier?..) Again,
> we will require the help of subscribers on the ground to properly asses the needs
> of such people.
>
> 2. Legal assistance:
> Having received the news that some lawyers have volunteered to represent the
> students who were kept in custody illegally, we thought it encouraging to find
> out from these lawyers how we can assist them. Ancha intimated to us that the
> lawyers rendered voluntary representation, but perhaps we can take over part of
> their traveling and material costs incurred in the process. We are trying to
> asses with their help, how we can make some contribution to that end.
>
> We are of the opinion that a Fund should be established which will initially
> contribute to financing partly or wholly legal assistance required by students
> who may be charged for whatever crimes relating to the April massacre
> (indications are that no charges have been brought forth yet. However, the
> possibility that charges will be made against some of the student leaders cannot
> be ruled out, as far as we are informed).
>
> The Fund, however, should be extended to cover cases of human rights abuse in
> future, where the victims may encounter difficulties in finding money to pay for
> a good lawyer. It was thought that this will be a fitting tribute to the students
> who fell while defending their rights.
> If we are to go by the present trend, you will appreciate that a lot of money
> will be required, but this will be a noble battle to fight. We should therefore
> intensify our fundraising efforts. Also, there should be some organisations out
> there, which may be in a position to provide some form of assistance. If you know
> of any, please contact them or put them in touch with us. Are there any
> suggestions of a name for the Fund (if we agree to go ahead)?
>
> Since no person has been charged so far and since the Coroner’s inquest is still
> on, we could not come up with any estimates for legal representations. The
> outcome of the Inquest and its aftermath and whether student leaders will be
> charged or not will determine our course of action in this area. There was
> mention of challenging the draconian Codes of Conduct which have reportedly been
> drawn by "the Gambia Conferences of Principals of Junior and Senior Secondary
> Schools and the Gambia Teachers' Union Executive" for schools in The Gambia
> Gambia. We will need some legal advice on this. Are there any initiatives in The
> Gambia concerning this matter?
>
> In any case, we need to have someone or a group of people on the ground to
> co-ordinate the activities of the Fund. Such persons need to be carefully chosen.
> Here, we will be looking for someone who will not be easily intimidated and whose
> interest will not conflict with the duties he or she will shoulder. In a
> nutshell, by providing legal assistance for victims of human rights abuse, one
> will be challenging, the legal authority of those whose decisions and actions
> lead to such abuses. Which undemocratic government will endorse the activities of
> such persons? One may end up being unemployed or subjected to constant harassment
> by the NIA or both; at least the possibility cannot be ruled out. Are there any
> suggestions or volunteers?
>
> That was the latest update. We look forward to your comments, suggestions and
> criticisms. Your participation will help us to be effective, we therefore welcome
> questions and suggestions from you.
> Thanks.
>
> Soffie Ceesay, Karamba Touray and Alpha Robinson
>
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