Ndey, i agree with you totally. Infact, my choice of words in my response makes it look like I believe that this Regime infact does empower women, but i wrote that quick response in a hurry, trust me, so my apologies if it appeared even for an instant that I believe that this oppressive regime empowers any Gambian, period. One has to be daft infact to even think that this charade you mention is not recognized, but there seems to be no shortage of that where these PR schemes originate. It is just another chapter in the continuing saga of this regime's persistance in trying to delude people the World over. Needless to say, they fool only themselves. Not only are they wasting tax payer money in sending this large delegation that, unfortunately for our sisters, is meant only as another window dressing, but this infantile declaration by Tombong is an insult to the intelligence of Gambian women and to Gambians. It falls in par with the "crocodile tears" address to the nation by Jammeh after the April Massacre, as well as all the other "pitiful" attempts to cover up all sorts of things that have become a daily trademark of this regime. There is a Wollof saying that when one uses the carcass of one wolf to bury another, the last carcass is still exposed. They do keep trying, though? However, we understand that Tombong is just playing his role in the desperate drama.Hey, maybe the so-called "Million Woman" march by my sister was the kick-off for this new campaign to show the World that "we empower women" huh? That is very sad for us as a nation and as women, but most of all, one cannot help but to feel embarassed for them. It is a very tragic thing when the running of a nation is dependent on embecillic whims and a very clear demonstration of the severest lack of understanding as to just how to govern. Jabou Joh In a message dated 6/7/00 8:31:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: < Jabou & co. The Gambia government's so called women's empowernment gesture is mere tokenism because the neccesity of empowering women is the new international agenda. For this reason, the Jammeh government cannot afford to plot this grand deception. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------