Mr. Ceesay, Some of the issues you raised in your letter are quite pertinent. However, I would like to draw your attention to a few points, which in my opinion should have been carefully examined before mentioned in your letter. You said: "For almost 30 years the country enjoyed continued peace and tranquility, respect for the rule of law and human rights. We enjoyed extremely good neighborliness and friendship unsurpassed anywhere in Africa." I beg to differ. Let's look back briefly at the Jawara era. I know most of us on this forum would remember the frequent arrests and detention of journalists, Dixon Colley, D.A. Jawo, Sana Manneh, etc. for expressing views critical of the PPP government or the torture and summary execution of some 1981 putschists and innocent civilians. I hope we will not forget the arrest and torture of MOJA-G members and the summary and humiliating transfers of government employees who supported opposition parties especially the NCP. I just hope we will not forget the students who were denied a government scholarship in favor of those whose parents were PPP big wigs and other government cronies. Let's not forget also the countless number of rural women who died from labor pangs on a donkey cart while on their way to a hospital, maybe some fifty miles away, etc., etc., etc. You also said: "Unfortunately, the escalation of the conflict in Casamance is a direct results of Yayas blanket support for the rebels in Casamance.Unless your government ignores Yayas action in Casamance, there is ample evidence to show his personal involvement in fanning that conflict. Some independent journalists and reputable papers have proven the fact that some wounded Casamance rebels are being treated at local Gambian hospitals and clinics. Yaya is training the MFDC rebels at Dobong and Kanilai, not only for the Casamance insurgency but also for his personal protection in the event of an attack. We had furnished detailed information about Yayas arms supply to Casamance rebels to your predecessor. Unfortunately, He did not seem to care much, which has actually prolonged the conflict." Is this an attempt to pit Wade's government against that of Yahya Jammeh? I don't think it is wise to incite Wade's anger in this way against the APRC-led government as any subsequent armed conflict between the brotherly nations will have devastating consequences. Remember, The Gambia has for a long time been considered a thorn in Senegal's flesh. Observers would tell you that The Gambia's existence as a separate political entity within Senegal's has always been a major headache for our Francophone brothers. The crude attempt to confederate the two countries in the aftermath of the 1981 abortive coup drove a wider wedge between their respective political classes. When Abdou Diouf, on a morning of 1989? said "doyna sėk" and unilaterally declared an end to the Senegambia Confederation, those of us who were living in Senegal at the time bowed our heads in shame. Is this the way that a marriage should end, "doyna sėk"? The trans-border trade was immediately suspended by Senegal. Travelers from both sides of the border were subjected to humiliating searches and sometimes brief detention by Senegalese border guards and customs officials. The Senegalese "duane"/custom officials have seized even Chinese Green Tea and bedroom slippers from travelers. My new leather coat was stripped from my back because, as the Senegalese custom officials said, "I bought it in The Gambia?" That's funny! Many other Senegalese and Gambians have had their "yobal"/gifts seized at Senegalese customs posts. I know Gambian custom officials have treated Senegalese in a similar fashion. Is this the type of unity that our people were promised at the ECOWAS and OAU? Mr. Ceesay, in our strive to remove Yayha from power, I think we should avoid juxtaposing two equally corrupt and irresponsible governments: PPP and APRC. Even if we do, we should do so with sincerity. It is my opinion that we should call international attention to our plight without necessarily putting the lives of Gambians at risk by inviting the wrath and possible military intervention of a foreign government. Just a thought. Hamadi. ________________________________________________________________________ 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------