Culled from The Point Newspaper 05/03/00 The leading opposition party in the Gambia, the United Democratic Party, UDP last week presented a strongly worded letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during his one-day working visit to this country. The letter signed by the leader and Secretary General Lawyer Ousainou Darboe complained amongst many things ''the conspicuous silence of the world body on events in the Gambia '' despite international condemnation.'' The UDP letter said that in the recent past ''we noted with regret the position of the UN in the Gambia Vis-a-vis Human rights and other excesses that have been the hallmark of the former AFPRC military junta and its present civilian offspring the APRC regime. '' The Gambia is presently going through a crisis internally and internationally and it is often that we see a country embroiled in conflict just because they are abandoned to their own fate by the international community, who ignored the looming crisis from the beginning'', the letter said. Full text of the UDP letter reads: 28 April 2000 H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan UN Secretary-General UN Headquarters New York Your Excellency, I have the greatest honour and pleasure to welcome you to the Gambia on behalf of the United Democratic Party and indeed on behalf of the entire Gambian people. Regrettably your official progrmme has not provided for a meeting with the leaders of opposition parties in the country. Nevertheless your visit albeit short, is a special occasion and inspiration to us all. Your visit to our country is important, in that the Secretary General is one of the most illustrious sons of Africa from our own West African Sub-Region. The whole world is a witness to the glaring successes you have accomplished since you assumed the high office of Secretary General of the United Nations and we convinced that the rest of your term will be crowned with further achievements. Africa has had a lot of success stories to tell in its pursuit for good governance and your personal contribution in this endeavour speaks for itself. Under your able leadership, conflicts have been averted in the Middle East, the Balkans and the Great Lakes Area. In the last six years, this country has gone through some incredible, nightmarish experiences that have affected every citizen the reality of which is still dawning on the average Gambian. In the grueling journey of incertitude and utter despondency that we have embarked upon since the military coup of 1994, we have experienced all sorts of vicissitudes-oppression of political opponents, human rights violations, devastation of our once fine civil service flawed elections, harassment of the private press- the list is legion. History has shown us that it is this insensitive, constant and systematic harassment of political opponents that sow the seeds of discord and generate, and degenerates into, conflict and turmoil. We cannot lose sight of the bitter examples in Africa particularly in the Great Lakes Region. This is the more reason why we look up to the United Nations Organisations for leadership and guidance. In the recent past, we noted with great regret that the position of UN in Gambia vis a vis Human Rights abuses and other excesses that have been the hallmark of the former AFPRC military junta and its present civilian offspring the APRC regime, has been less than forthright. Despite open condemnation by other international bodies and the opposition, the UN has been conspicuously silent. It is our sincere hope therefore, that the UN would play a more proactive role in the promotion of democracy and good governance in The Gambia. We would have like to see The Gambia resume its rightful place in the community of democratic nations, but this can only happen if the genuine will for democratic change is present. It is clear that the last elections, especially the Presidential, in this country have been exceptionally flawed and were not free and fair. A smooth democratic election would necessitate equitable arrangements acceptable to all stakeholders. To this effect, we election process to cover arrangements made by the Independent Electoral Commission from voter registration to counting of votes and declaration of results. The win of democracy is blowing across Africa particularly our Sub Region and cannot bypass The Gambia whose people are crying out for good governance and all it entails. The Gambia should not be and cannot be left out of this process. With the installation of mechanisms that will facilitate free and fair elections, we are convinced The Gambia will not miss the train of democratic change. The United Nations, more than any other international body has a people expect this. The Gambia is presently going through a crisis internally and internationally and it is often that we see a country embroiled in conflict just because they are abandoned to their own fate by the international community who ignore the looming crisis from the beginning. In a few months the Local Government Elections will take place and we want to make sure that all the sacrifices that the Gambian people have made do not dissipate like a mirage because of irregularities in the election process. These are some preoccupations, in a large part dealing with the electoral process, which we have taken the occasion of your visit to bring to your kind attention. They are by no means exhaustive immediate solution for the sake of stability and well being of the country. We have no doubt that they will be given due consideration by your goodself. We would have wished to fete you in the tradition of "taranga" (hospitality) that this country is renown for and make your visit a more auspicious one. However we have just ended seven days of mourning occasioned by members of the security forces shooting at innocent unarmed and defenceless school children killing at least twelve of them who were exercising their constitutional and civic rights to demonstrate. We appreciate, of course, that as UN Secretary General and as a parent yourself, these kids are also yours and naturally you share in our grief and devastation. We pray that the Almighty grant you good health, strength and wisdom to complete your noble assignment satisfactorily. Please accept Mr. Secretary General the assurances of my highest consideration and personal esteem. Yours faithfully, Ousainou Darboe (SECRETARY-GENERAL AND PARTY LEADER) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------