Dear Mr. Alieu Keita

Good morning to you sir. First of all, let me say that I believe you are not
one but at least two people writing under Alieu Keita. A close look at the
Alieu Keita postings clearly show that they are not coming from the same
person. I however believe that this particular posting to which I am
responding is written by you, President Yahya Jammeh. So I would address you
as Yahya Jammeh.
First, let me make clear that this posting is not a direct response to the
content of your posting on Ebrima's letter to Collin Powell.

Mr Jammeh, human dignity demands that human beings are honest to themselves
and to their God. When you seized power in 1994, I was one of the first to
heave a sigh of relief. I had been around, watching helplessly as our dear
nation slid into anarchy. Now you had come to stop that slide into anarchy.
I think you have failed.
True, when you struck, I was initialy apprehensive, like the majority of
Gambians. But when you started convincing us that you were soldiers with a
difference, my personal fears of seeing the brutality of military regimes
evident in other African countries subsided. I was further relieved when you
started swearing to Allah that you were not here to stay, that you were here
to wipe out corruption and put in place a system of transparency,
accountability, probity and good governance. Let me ask you one question, Mr
Jammeh: Have you put in place such a system? If you have, I would be
grateful if you could show us.
Mr Jammeh, you recall your days at Gambia High school, when you used to
berate the bourgoises in class and say , "but let them just wait, one day
they will see"? Well, I was right there in class with you. And then when
eventually you realised your long cherished dream of being president of The
Gambia, you accused President Jammeh, members of his government and the
residents of Pipeline and Fajara of living "flamboyant lifestyles." Between
yourself and God, Mr Jammeh, are you not living a flamboyant lifestyle
today? A more flamboyant lifestyle than anybody has ever lived in The
Gambia?
Please give answers to the two questions above.
As you have a very busy shedule, let me stop here for now. I have more
questions for you and want to carry on a healthy debate with you. No hard
feelings, no insults. Just a level headed healthy debate on issues.
Pa Edward Small


>From: Alieu S Keita <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: An Open Letter To General Collin Powell
>Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2001 11:51:13 -0500
>
>Ebrima Jogomai Ceesay,
>                     First of all my best wishes to you "ak sai amdi
>jammayi".Mr.Ceesay taking up two many branches at the same time with an
>intension to bluff and show off may not be useful for a youngster like you.
>Your false impression that you are in touch with Gen.Powell could have been
>in order if the underlying factors were not geared towards justifying a
>general case for assylum seekers in the states and those with you in
>Birmingham.Mr.Ceesay watch out we do also have networks that can defend our
>interests and be rest assured that we will counter attack at any level so
>our private supporters are also sending e-mails on you and your likes to
>the
>same bureau to justify that you are a self-exiled journalist and i do call
>you"join the list" because that is the best way you can take or help others
>take in order to be able  to get your papers in the states.
>
>We are already aware of the fact that your fabrictaed sources helped one of
>your relatives get the assylum status in Atlanta.He is a former DPS in the
>current regime.However,later a lot of such demands from Gambians were
>denied
>because as the wollof saying goes:"ku am kudu du laka".We used our kudu in
>an appropriate way.So we  will no longer be annoyed lets play the game
>TOGETHER. All your allegations we will take very seriously now onwards and
>will use the democratic process you have chosen and deal with it
>intellectually.Please let non of us cry wolf that Yahya this or that if we
>happen to meet Powel and others and expose your strategy based on
>self-inetrest.Please do not imagine that you are victorious in such
>moves,becuase we are not seeing you as child we are now taking things that
>you and Kebba Dampha,Karamba Touray,Makaveli etc write seriously whether it
>has an impact or not.We have began reasoning that way in order to be able
>to
>show the whole world that we are countering your asserions through the
>usual
>channels as identified by a democratic culture and not give you the chance
>of falsifying that   "we are on the NIA LIST".
>
>Our soources exposed some of you especially Karamba Touray and his gang  as
>people who were shouting that they had succeded in sending a letter to
>Xpresident Clinton as typical falseurs! HA!ofcourse going at the church
>where Pre Clinton was every sunday to pray and then meet the "the low
>ladder" of Washingtoners! was a cheap way to get things printed on observer
>in Banjul as a victorious move.This was what those from other countries did
>and are still doing up to date! what effect have those moves brought over
>those countries by you "macdonald-based" freedom fighters? Nothing! and for
>sure the state Dept. will very soon see the difference not only you as
>Gambians but those africans who have chosen to black mail their motherland
>for an imagined eldorado!.
>
>Can't you guys read the writings on the world? The EU was convincedthat the
>gambia is moving on fine thats why the alimenta issue is solved.That is why
>the london home office is nowadays giving a lot of credit to what they hear
>from our network and ofcourse Gvt.
>Your lies during your last meeting in london have already been squashed off
>thanks to ALLAH.Try tomorrow  I AL K. will be ther and will deal with that
>issue through my fellow business men they are more respected at the home
>office than those of you who aren't even allowed in certain decent night
>clubs!
>After 94 some elements inthe former regime maintained links with "political
>friends" and were attending dinners to through "self-made" invitations" in
>order to spread rumours on Yahya's regime. The OMNIPOTENT ALLAH has started
>showing the truth! please do not stop your stories becuase they will help
>us
>get prepared more and more.Challenges are always good because that will
>allow other parties Know the truth.
>AL K.
>
>
>>From: Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: An Open Letter To General Collin Powell
>>Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 15:35:53 -0000
>>
>>Gambia-L:
>>
>>I am forwarding the letter I sent US Secretary of State Collin Powell, for
>>your information.
>>
>>Ebrima Ceeesay
>>
>>________________________________________________________________________
>>
>>
>>AN OPEN LETTER TO US SECRETARY OF STATE, RETIRED GENERAL COLLIN POWELL
>>
>>Retired General Collin Powell,
>>US Secretary of State,
>>Washington, DC
>>20520
>>                              9th February 2001
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Sir,
>>
>>I am a Gambian Journalist who left my country in December 1996, and since
>>then I have been living and working in the UK where I am also undertaking
>>post-graduate research into Third World Politics and the process of
>>"democratisation" in The Gambia since 1994.
>>
>>I am writing to you on behalf of myself and many Gambians both in The
>>Gambia
>>and throughout the world, who are extremely concerned about the
>>deteriorating political, social and economic situation in The Gambia.  We
>>have grave concerns about the nature of governance there, which is
>>typified
>>today by a corrupt and despotic tyrant, Yahya Jammeh.
>>
>>Jammeh seized power in a military coup d’etat on July 22nd 1994, and then
>>"civilianised" himself and his military junta - The Armed Forces
>>Provisional
>>Ruling Council – to "win" both the Presidential and National Assembly
>>elections, in 1996 and 1997 respectively.
>>
>>These elections, especially the former, were internationally recognised as
>>unfair and undemocratic, and the results internationally judged as
>>illegitimate because of government interference in and manipulation of the
>>whole of the electoral process.
>>
>>For the last six years, The Gambia has known increasing repression,
>>increasing massive poverty and malnutrition, increasing harassment and
>>persecution by the government and its National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
>>of
>>a wide range of citizenry, increasing gross violation of human rights
>>(such
>>as arbitrary arrest, illegal detention without charge, torture and even
>>wholesale murder of students in April 2000), increasing economic
>>stagnation
>>and increasing gross corruption of the leadership group.
>>
>>The country is degenerating into chaos, and is increasingly embroiled in
>>illegal activities – for instance, involvement in the Blood Diamonds trade
>>and the hard drug trade.
>>
>>We concerned Gambians call on you through your good offices, to help us in
>>our struggle to return our country to being a genuine and functioning
>>democracy.
>>
>>Firstly, it is fair to say that many black people in the USA, in The
>>Gambia
>>and throughout the world, derived enormous pride when you were honoured
>>with
>>the appointment to the position of US Secretary of State, thus being the
>>first African American to achieve this high office.
>>
>>Your appointment demonstrates that black people have come a long way
>>especially in the USA:  not so long ago, no-one would have thought it
>>possible for blacks to assume positions of immense power and influence
>>such
>>as yours, but your appointment clearly stands as a reminder to all of us
>>that society is in a constant process of change, and that what typifies
>>today will not typify tomorrow.  Needless to say, anything is possible and
>>achievable with hard work, dedication and determination.
>>
>>Indeed, African Americans have undergone tremendous hardship in their
>>exile
>>from their homelands, but they have come a long way, particularly in US
>>society.  Much still remains to be done, but they can go into the future
>>with a lot more confidence and with a spirit of optimism.
>>
>>It is appropriate and fitting that we should be paying homage to the
>>leaders
>>of the African Americans in US Civil Rights movements:  Martin Luther
>>King;
>>Malcolm X; William Du Bois etc.  These people, amongst others, have played
>>a
>>key role in the struggle for black freedom and progress in US society.
>>
>>Sir, your appointment as Secretary of State comes at a good time, when
>>Africa is of little significance to the powers that be in the world.
>>Given
>>your own African roots, we trust that henceforth, you will be taking up an
>>increasingly proactive role in what is going on in the African continent.
>>
>>You, of all people, are well aware of that depth of bond between black
>>people wherever they are in the world today:  it stems from our common
>>ancestry and our blood ties.  These ties that bind us, leave us morally
>>bound to help and support each other, and to raise the profile of black
>>people throughout the world.
>>
>>Whatever the reality is, we are all one people:  slavery may have sent us
>>blacks across the world, but the connections are still there.
>>
>>You will obviously have a keen interest in what is going on in Africa
>>today:
>>  your own ties are there and you have taken up your new role when there
>>are
>>so many intractable problems in Africa, which need your and your
>>government’s interventions.
>>
>>Apart from a few countries in Africa, the whole of the African continent
>>is
>>in crisis, not just countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo or
>>regions such as the Great Lakes Area, but also countries like The Gambia,
>>Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire etc.
>>
>>Since our world is becoming smaller, and increasingly we are becoming much
>>more interdependent on each other, it is therefore incumbent on you to
>>assist Africans in harnessing their potential so that we can play a more
>>proactive role in the world.  The truth is that Africa has untold and
>>massive potential, and vast, untapped resources, not least its people.
>>
>>Unfortunately however, from Independence and Post-Independence, African
>>leaders have in the main, failed to "deliver the goods".  Many of them
>>have
>>let their people down and failed to take their countries forward.  Africa
>>is
>>largely what it is today, because of its corrupt leaders, and to some
>>extent
>>because of the role of the west in Africa.
>>
>>However, it is vital that Africa should not be ostracised:  the potential
>>is
>>there, and right-minded people are there.  With the support of the outside
>>world, we can look to a better and brighter future.  Africans are aware
>>that
>>they have to take up the challenges for themselves, but in a mutually
>>dependent world, we would certainly appreciate and need the support and
>>encouragement of others.
>>
>>To realise our dreams of a better Africa, we need the cooperation and help
>>of democracies around the world.  In fact, a new breed of African leader
>>is
>>already emerging:  leaders who will be more than capable to defend
>>Africa’s
>>image, interests, borders, economies and political structures.  These
>>emerging new leaders will play their part in international relations, and
>>show how much Africa and Africans have to offer on a world stage and at
>>world-class level.
>>
>>Contrary to some opinion, Africa is NOT a lost continent.  It has huge
>>potential, and with good and effective leadership, this potential will be
>>accessed and fulfilled. There is so much for us to look forward to in this
>>twenty-first century. In commerce, in sport, in education, in agriculture,
>>in responsible utilisation of natural resources, in art and culture and in
>>the very best of human resources, Africa has so much to give to the world.
>>
>>It is a question of good, effective and forward-thinking leadership which
>>will set us on the road to recovery and delivery.  We are looking forward
>>to
>>effective partnerships with countries throughout the world, which will be
>>of
>>mutual and equal benefit.
>>
>>We are confident that you will be leaving your mark on the United States,
>>on
>>Africa and on world politics.  We also trust that you will be committed to
>>helping to consolidate good governance in Africa.
>>
>>US Foreign Policy has not thus far been as proactive in Africa as it might
>>have been (compared say, with the Middle East or Arab world).
>>Strategically, Africa may not be as important to western states, but given
>>that our world IS shrinking and that we continue to grow in
>>interdependence,
>>we look forward to closer ties with the outside world.
>>
>>It is in the interests of countries like the USA to help to harness the
>>potential of Africa, and to play a part in ensuring political stability,
>>economic recovery, social justice and good governance there.
>>
>>The purpose of this open letter is therefore, to draw your attention to
>>the
>>current situation in one of Africa’s smallest nations, The Gambia, and to
>>enlist your support in helping to return this country to true democratic
>>statehood. This is presidential election year in The Gambia, with
>>elections
>>slated for October 2001.
>>
>>We Gambians urge you and the USA to send representatives and observers to
>>monitor the whole of the electoral process in The Gambia.  Please follow
>>events in our tiny nation keenly, and involve yourselves in our struggle
>>to
>>see a restoration of true democracy.
>>
>>As I stated earlier in this letter, since 1994 The Gambia has deteriorated
>>from being a relatively stable West African Democracy, to a country led by
>>a
>>corrupt despot who seized power at the point of a gun in 1994, and who
>>claimed to have restored a functional democracy following unfair
>>presidential and National Assembly elections in 1996 and 1997.
>>
>>There is overwhelming evidence that these elections were skewed by
>>government manipulation and malpractice.  There is no way in which The
>>Gambia can be described as a functioning Democracy in today’s world.
>>
>>May I please draw your attention, Sir, to the US State Department’s
>>Country
>>Reports for The Gambia since 1994?
>>
>>I also urge you to study the country reports on The Gambia of
>>international
>>Human Rights Organisations such as Amnesty International.
>>
>>These reports give a true picture of what has happened in this small West
>>African State since 1994.  They give hard, unequivocal evidence of the
>>scale
>>of corruption, of mismanagement, of human rights violations, of
>>interference
>>in the Judiciary, of electoral interference, of intimidation, harassment
>>and
>>persecution of Gambian citizens, of illegal practices at the highest
>>levels
>>of government, and even of murder.
>>
>>The current regime in The Gambia is overseeing the ruin of our nation in
>>every sphere of life.
>>
>>Sir, please take note also that The Gambia’s foreign policy under Yahya
>>Jammeh, is unethical, erratic and based on his personal material gain.  In
>>an attempt to appease the USA, Jammeh was sending congratulations to
>>George
>>Bush even before the results of the election had been announced.
>>Interestingly, he is courting the USA whilst at the same time flirting
>>with
>>the Cuban regime and announcing that he will open a Gambian Embassy in
>>Cuba.
>>
>>Furthermore, he is playing Iraq and Iran against each other and,
>>simultaneously, planning to open new Embassies in both of these nations.
>>Clearly, Jammeh’s foreign policy is incoherent and inconsistent, and is
>>only
>>based on chequebook diplomacy for his personal gains at the expense of the
>>sovereignty and dignity of The Gambia.
>>
>>In religious matters, Jammeh is putting the secular nature of The Gambia
>>at
>>great risk by his announcements of his intentions to introduce Shariah
>>law.
>>He is setting religious group against religious group, and striking at the
>>very heart of Gambian tolerance and mutual respect for religious
>>difference.
>>
>>Domestically, our country is verging on ruin:  there is massive
>>unemployment; agriculture is in a perilous state with our farmers
>>remaining
>>largely unpaid for the crops they "sold" onto the government; the health
>>sector is struggling to maintain even the most basic level of care to the
>>community (and this is especially problematic in the rural areas); the
>>education sector is facing huge problems with lack of manpower, equipment
>>and resources and with underpaid teachers being forced to teach a double
>>shift of children each day.
>>
>>Infrastructural development is also at a virtual standstill (electricity
>>in
>>the urban areas is increasingly unavailable and expensive, and in the
>>rural
>>areas, completely unavailable:  the roads are in a terrible state of
>>disrepair;  our communications systems are in chaos;  the national media
>>services are in the hands of the government and subject to manipulation,
>>interference and bias.
>>
>>The Judiciary in The Gambia is struggling to retain any semblance of
>>impartiality and fairness.  We have seen a steady flow of Attorney
>>Generals
>>since 1994; Judges are dismissed at Yahya Jammeh’s whim; magistrates are
>>faced with constant threats of dismissal; at times, court decisions are
>>deliberately ignored or worse still, flouted by the government.
>>
>>Human rights are constantly violated:  men like Dumo Saho, Lt. Lalo
>>Jaiteh,
>>Ebrima Yarboe, Momodou Mareneh and many others have been held
>>incommunicado
>>and illegally for months, in gross violation of the Constitution.
>>Journalists are also harassed and persecuted:  independent radio stations
>>have been closed down illegally, or subject to arson. Genuine refugees in
>>The Gambia are deported without good reason.
>>
>>The Gambia’s Constitution which on paper, guarantees freedom from
>>arbitrary
>>arrest, freedom of speech, freedom of association etc. is constantly
>>flouted
>>by Jammeh and his government.  Jammeh has in fact amended the Constitution
>>so that presidential term is no longer limited to two terms of five years
>>each.
>>
>>He has set himself up for perpetual rule, and to ensure this as a
>>certainty,
>>he has recently and wrongfully dismissed the Chairman of the Independent
>>Electoral Commission (IEC) and has put a man of his own choice in the
>>position.
>>
>>The IEC is facing untold threats and manipulative practice by the
>>incumbent
>>regime, and we have grave concerns about the legitimacy of the forthcoming
>>presidential and National Assembly elections of 2001 / 2002.  Even at this
>>early stage, the government has ensured that the electoral playing fields
>>are slanted in favour of the APRC and Jammeh.
>>
>>Most Gambians, like myself, are committed to seeking political change in
>>The
>>Gambia through the ballot box:  we want a peaceful solution to our
>>nation’s
>>problems and we want to ensure and protect the rule of law.
>>
>>We urgently need your help to ensure that the forthcoming elections are
>>free
>>and fair, and contested lawfully and without malpractice by any sector.
>>
>>We urge the US State Department and other representatives of the USA to
>>take
>>a keen and impartial interest in forthcoming events in The Gambia.
>>
>>You personally should play a crucial role.  We beg you to use your office
>>to
>>make sure that the elections are held on time, that the entire process is
>>above board and impartial, that opposition members and groups are free
>>from
>>harassment and persecution, that opposition parties are unhampered, that
>>the
>>Independent Electoral Commission is neutral and free from government
>>interference, that the poll is fairly undertaken and the votes counted
>>transparently and openly.
>>
>>Please help us NOW:  liase with the IEC, the Gambian people and opposition
>>groups in The Gambia to ensure free elections.  Make strong protests
>>whenever you find illegal practices or government interference.  Keep the
>>world fully informed of events in The Gambia.
>>
>>Secretary of State Powell, on behalf of Gambians at home and abroad, I
>>urge
>>you to:
>>
>>1) Acquaint yourself with the current situation in The Gambia.
>>
>>2) Put pressure on the Gambian government to ensure free and fair
>>elections
>>in 2001 and 2002.
>>
>>3) Put pressure on the Gambian government to respect human rights.
>>
>>4) Put pressure on the Gambian government to stop illegal harassment,
>>persecution, torture, kidnapping, illegal detention.
>>
>>5) Put pressure on the Gambian government to stop the harassment of the
>>press and the independent media, of former politicians, of former security
>>forces personnel, of ordinary citizens.
>>
>>6) Put pressure on the Gambian government to release forthwith all those
>>people who are held illegally, in particular Ebrima Yarboe, Dumo Saho, Lt
>>Lalo Jaiteh, Momodou Mareneh and others.
>>
>>7) Do all in your power to bring this illegal and corrupt regime to a
>>peaceful end.
>>
>>8) Do all in your power to help us to restore a genuine and functional
>>democracy in The Gambia.
>>
>>9) Urge your representatives in The Gambia and throughout Africa to
>>provide
>>you with honest and up-to-date information in order that you can make
>>sound
>>judgements based on facts rather than on opinions.
>>
>>10) Assure Gambians at home and throughout the world of the support which
>>the US government will give to all those who are struggling for justice,
>>peace and democracy.
>>
>>11) Seek meetings with Gambian groups in the USA (such as The Movement for
>>the Restoration of Democracy in The Gambia).
>>
>>12) Familiarise yourself in whatever way you can with events as they
>>unfold
>>in The Gambia.
>>
>>Ours is a small country with big problems:  we are looking for assistance
>>in
>>finding peaceful solutions to ease the current awful regime.
>>
>>You have a reputation in the UK, of being a man who listens, who has sound
>>judgements and who is mindful of the need to protect democracy and
>>democratic ideals.
>>
>>We trust that you will listen to our concerns, and from now on, note down
>>The Gambia in your diary.  Give us whatever help and support you can to
>>help
>>restore our nation to good democratic governance.
>>
>>With your help, we can make The Gambia a key player and a key contributor
>>to
>>the wealth, stability and well being of the African continent.
>>
>>Thank you.
>>
>>Yours truly,
>>
>>
>>Ebrima Ceesay
>>Birmingham, UK.
>>
>>
>>Cc. Gambia-L Mailing List
>>    Office of the UN Secretary General
>>
>>_________________________________________________________________________
>>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
>>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>>You may also send subscription requests to
>>[log in to unmask]
>>if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write
>>your
>>full name and e-mail address.
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>You may also send subscription requests to
>[log in to unmask]
>if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your
>full name and e-mail address.
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------