12 June, 2000. Secretary, Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, National Assembly Building, Independence Drive, BANJUL. THE STATE OF GAMBIA, SENEGAL, GUINEA BISSAU RELATION Governments make policies. The people shoulder the consequences of their implementation. This is precisely the reason why the people should be consulted before policies governing the relation between countries are established. The vast majority of people in The Gambia want peace. The vast majority of people in Senegal want peace. The vast majority of people in Guinea Bissau want peace. However, in these past months it is becoming increasingly clear that war mongering is becoming the order of the day. Accusations that Guinea Bissau is rearming its military, threats from Senegal that it has to build up its military might to confront threats to her territorial integrity, the death of a member of the Guinea Bissau Armed Forces in Polodi while allegedly giving training to Gambian soldiers, the deployment of Senegalese troops close to the Guinea Bissau border, the claim by Alexandre Djiba of MFDC that President Wade's Government appears to have the aim to wage a full war in Casamance and that the MFDC forces would resist, all indicate that subregional peace and security are under going gravest test since the military confrontation during the attempt to unseat Nino Vierra. It is not enough for us to sit down and twaddle our thumbs while the threat to peaceful coexistence of our people is threatened. It is our duty to acknowledge the aspirations of our people and come up with such policies that are likely to foster the realisation of those very aspirations. In our view, it is the people and not the elites who often pay the greatest price for war. Leaders are often sheltered while the people become the cannon fodders who are maimed and killed with impunity. Finally, it is the leaders who negotiate to end wars and then drink to each other's good health as they sign peace agreements. We must not allow the people to continue to perish for nothing. In our view, foreign policy has mainly been conducted by members of the executive without the fullest scrutiny by the legislators. It is important to change the trend. The Republican Constitution envisages the active participation of the National Assembly in safeguarding the vital interest of the Gambian people in conducting foreign policy. Gambian foreign policy should be a very transparent affair. The National Assembly should ensure that all international agreements entered into by The Gambia should not undermine the interest of the people or derogate from its sovereignty. Section 79, subsection (1) (c) and (d) states categorically that: "The President shall be responsible for- "the negotiation and, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, the conclusion of treaties and other international agreements; "(d) subject to the prior approval of the National Assembly, the declaration of war and the making of peace." Since war or peace cannot be concluded without the approval of the National Assembly, it is absolutely essential for the National Assembly to be fully informed of the foreign policy ingredients and initiatives marshalled by the government. A proper scrutiny by the National Assembly may bar the country from entering into any engagement which is likely to threaten the peace of the country. It is to this effect that the Constitution has accorded to the National Assembly the power of scrutiny. Section 77, subsection (2) asserts that "The National Assembly may request the President to attend a sitting of the National Assembly for the discussion of a matter of national importance." Subsection (4) adds: "The Vice President or a Secretary of State shall, when requested by the National Assembly, report to the National Assembly on any matter concerning a department or other business of Government committed to his or her charge, and shall be entitled to attend and speak in the National Assembly whenever any Bill or other matter concerning such department or business is being debated." The National Assembly is empowered under Section 109 of the Constitution to establish a standing committee on defence and security and other committees such as the Committee on Foreign Affairs with the view to investigate or inquire into the activities or administration of departments of the Government. It is absolutely necessary for such committees to be active. This is precisely the reason why we have decided to forward the proposal for your committee to investigate the relation between The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea Bissau and the developments regarding the Casamance crisis with the view to making recommendations regarding the measures the government should take in ensuring that The Gambia remains a catalyst for the resolution of crisis in the subregion rather than being absorbed into the crisis. Your Foreign Affairs Committee could provide an example for other National Assemblies in the subregion to scrutinise the policies of their own governments with the view to making recommendations that may influence their governments to take the right steps to ensure a peaceful coexistence of our various peoples. We hope that urgent attention will be given to this proposal. While anticipating your maximum cooperation, we remain. ............................................ Halifa Sallah For: The Editorial Board. cc: Secretary General, Office of the President. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------