to list managers, please unsubscribe me.. I no longer wish to be a member of the list thanks Jainaba Sissoho >From: Saikou Samateh <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Coming in from the cold ... >Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 00:05:18 -0000 > >Dear Katim, > >Too cold here too !!!!! >Lastly I have been reading here about the DR decoration of President A JJ >Jammeh and one thing I have been thinking of was that, we need to get in >touch with this university in Canada and the human rights organisations >there to parcel to them some of the records of the president and see what >the possible reaction might be from them,your self and Dr Saine might be a >very good force to lead such a champagne.And I have no doubt that if there >is the need to invade them with protest letters from Gambians,members of >the >GL will do a good job.No stone must be left unturned on the way to >victory,Or any other better idea ? > >For Freedom >Saiks >----- Original Message ----- >From: Katim S. Touray <[log in to unmask]> >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2001 1:06 AM >Subject: Coming in from the cold ... > > > > Hi folks, > > > > It's been so long since I've said anything much about goings on in The >Gambia > > that I thought I should title this one after Bob Marley's song "Coming >in >from > > the cold." It's been indeed very cold in Wisconsin, given that it's >Winter, and > > we are now paying the price for having rather warm ones for the past few >years. > > The snow really came down hard in December, causing all manner of >problems, and > > making me as why in the world they just don't shut the whole place down >... > > > > My relatively long silence, and reduced participation in the debates and > > campaigns on Gambia-L has been deliberate, and caused by the combination >of a > > busy schedule, and a need to put things in perspective. I am no more >busy >than > > many of you are, but I felt it important to disengage for a while, to >prove that > > the affairs of Gambia-L, talk less of The Gambia, do not, and should not >depend > > on the efforts and activities of no one person. > > > > It's fairly common in our national psyche for one to be tempted into >believing > > that he or she is indispensable to a cause or our nation. For me, the >long > > break from sending postings was a delight; it proved to all that the >opposition > > to the dictatorial President Jammeh is very deep, and wide. It is not >based on > > the effort of just one person, or a few people. For this reason, a >successful > > campaign was waged to expose Mr. Collins for what he is, and also to >bring >Rust > > College to cancel an invitation extended to Yankuba Touray and Tombong >Saidy to > > attend a conference there. > > > > My break has also enabled me to ponder and turn a number of issues in my >head, > > for whatever it's worth. In particular, I have been making a mental >tally >of the > > increasing cost of the Jammeh government to the Gambian nation. We are >paying > > an incredible price, and an increasing one at that because of the >continuation > > of the incompetent, corrupt, and bloody rule of President Jammeh. This >heavy > > price is manifested in a number of ways, and illustrated by a variety of > > examples of the terribly inadequate capacity of Jammeh and his group to >lead our > > nation. I'll try to point out a couple of these examples now. > > > > 1. A lorry load of missed opportunities > > Last October, 34 sub-Saharan African countries were designated to >benefit >from > > the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of the United States > > (http://www.agoa.gov/About_AGOA/about_agoa.html). This act is aimed at > > strengthening US-Africa relations through trade, and provides incentives >for > > African countries that have achieved political and economic reforms. >Countries > > benefiting from AGOA will also be able to export virtually all products >duty- > > and quota free to the US market. > > > > In particular, AGOA lifts all existing quota on textiles and apparel >(clothing) > > products from Sub-Saharan Africa, to a maximum ranging from 1.5% to 3.5% >of the > > US apparel import market, which totaled about $18 billion in 1999 (see > > http://www.ita.doc.gov/industry/otea/usfth/tabcom.html). This means >that >the > > value ($250 million) of current imports of African apparel made with >African > > fabric/yarns is less than the 1.5% lower limit of the quota above. >Furthermore, > > at 1999 trade levels, African textile imports into the US can reach >$630 > > million (3.5%) of $18 billion before being subject to tariffs. > > > > Despite the problems some people have with AGOA, there is no doubt that >it >at > > least represents an opportunity for African countries to increase their >access > > to the US market, thereby reducing their dependence on traditional >export > > markets such as Europe. Sadly, the Gambia is not one of the 34 >countries > > designated to benefit from AGOA. Although the Gambia is eligible to >benefit > > from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, we will only > > participate in the program if certified by the US Trade Representative. > > > > The fact that the Gambia is not a beneficiary of the AGOA bill is not >only >sad > > because of the lost opportunities, but also because of the reasons why >we >are > > not, in the first place, eligible to benefit from the Act. There is no >doubt > > that the development of a textile industry geared toward the US market >(and > > indeed the rest of the world) would have meant a employment for a lot of > > Gambians. This would have also reduced our dependence on industries >like > > tourism that are yet to deliver all their promises to our people. > > > > The 34 sub-Saharan countries designated to benefit from AGOA include >Senegal, > > Guinea, Cape Verde, Ghana, Mali, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania. In >short, > > almost all countries in our sub-region, with the exception of Sierra >Leone > > (because they are at war), as well as Liberia, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, >and > > Cote d'Ivoire. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out why we >are > > grouped with the likes of Liberia, because we all have dictatorial >regimes. I'm > > pretty sure Cote d'Ivoire will soon be eligible for participation in >AGOA, >given > > the recent transition, despite the problems, to civilian rule. > > > > Criteria for participating in AGOA include making progress toward a >market-based > > economy, the rule of law, and elimination of barriers to US trade and > > investment. Additional criteria are listed in the AGOA factsheet >available at > > http://www.state.gov/www/issues/economic/001002_fsustr_agoa.html From >all > > indications, it will be a while before President Jammeh puts the >national > > interest before his own, and starts effecting a leadership that >positions >The > > Gambia to benefit from programs like AGOA. > > > > 2. Greed that knows no bounds > > Please allow me to bring the issue of the Nigerian crude oil deal to the >fore. > > It was last July or so that the Gambian parliament turned down a motion >to >set > > up a commission of inquiry into the Nigerian crude oil deal in which >20,000 > > (twenty thousand) barrels of Nigerian crude oil were lifted, sold for >$0.20 > > (twenty cents) per barrel, and the proceeds deposited in a Swiss bank >account. > > In a judgment in the London High Court, the Gambia government was fined >half a > > million pounds sterling for breaching the contract that was entered into >with > > Chantrils SA, the company that sold the oil on behalf of Jammeh. >Despite >the > > fact that the facts of the case are now a matter of public record, >President > > Jammeh's cronies in parliament have refused to further investigate the >matter > > because, they say, this would not be in the national interest. > > > > The facts are that this is a government that has gone to great lengths >to > > disgrace and humiliate people who have been alleged to embezzle public >funds. > > Somehow, President Jammeh and his cronies continue to think that they >are >above > > the law, and can indulge in all manner of corrupt practices more serious >than > > they have jailed people for. > > > > But it seems that Jammeh's lust for money cannot be satisfied with >Gambian >funds > > and Nigerian crude oil proceeds alone. Recently, the Gambian government >has > > been denying UN reports of it's (namely Jammeh's) involvement in the >trade >of > > conflict diamonds from Sierra Leone. This would be a logical step for >President > > Jammeh to take, in the aftermath of the loss of his Nigerian crude oil >deal. > > What he fails to realize is that the world is changing fast, and the >thin >ground > > his is standing on is shrinking fast under him. It was just yesterday >that the > > BBC reported that Liberia is cutting off support for the RUF rebels of >Sierra > > Leone, in the face of increasing pressure from the international >community. > > President Jammeh, despite his delusions of grandeur is really a small >fry >in the > > global scheme of things that will, and in good time, catch up with him. > > > > 3. Our pariah nation > > It is sad to observe that The Gambia has slowly evolved into a pariah >nation > > because of nothing other than the leadership of President Jammeh. The >last I > > checked, Gambians have essentially remained the same, and the only major >change > > in their relationship with the world is in the fact that we now have >President > > Jammeh at the helm of our national affairs. > > > > Without a doubt, Gambian foreign policy under Jammeh has been a >disaster, >and > > self-serving. As I pointed out on this list a few months back, >President >Jammeh > > used his opportunity to address the world at last years' Millennium >Summit >at > > the United Nations to speak on behalf of Cuba and the Republic of China > > (Taiwan). Not once did he bother to mention The Gambia by name as if >we, >as a > > nation, really have nothing to say to the world. > > > > Our relationship with Taiwan is just one example of the way President >Jammeh has > > forged a foreign policy centered on his own personal agenda, rather than >the > > best interests of our country. Thus, rather than working to foster >peace >in the > > sub-region, President Jammeh identified himself strongly with the late >Gen. Mane > > of Guinea Bissau. So much so that his Vice President thought it fit to >pay > > official condolences to the Mane family in Sukuta, and presented them >with > > 50,000 dalasis when Gen. Mane was recently killed in a gun battle in >Guinea > > Bissau. Never mind that there are Gambian students lying down in >hospital >after > > being returned from Egypt because there were no more funds to pay for >their > > medical treatment for injuries sustained in last Aprils student >demonstrations, > > when Jammeh's troops killed 12 or so of them. > > > > Jammeh's closeness with the late Gen. Mane no doubt contributed to the >suspicion > > with which he was viewed in the sub-region as being a destabilizing >force. >For > > this reason, we have now become a pariah nation, and this, in addition >to > > President Jammeh's inferiority complex (well-founded, I might add) has >resulted > > in a foreign and domestic policy based more on whim, than on serious >thought > > about what's best for our nation. > > > > For example, a recent announcement that the Gambia would go Sharia was >followed > > by an almost apologetic speech about tolerance and such. Furthermore, >the > > refusal to allow the bodies of two members of parliament to lie in state > > following a tragic accident was followed by an attempt to appease their >families > > with money. I wonder whose money it was that was given away to >compensate >for > > the short-comings and short-sightedness of President Jammeh? >Fortunately, >I am > > proud to say that the families of the deceased had the pride and courage >to > > refuse the money offered them by Jammeh's cronies. > > > > 4. We are still waiting ... > > Finally, I would like to point out that we are still waiting the >official >report > > about the student demonstrations of last April, and the resulting death >of >a 12 > > or so people. Furthermore, we are yet to hear the final word on the >"case" > > against Ebrima Yarbo, Dumo Saho and Co. who it seems were jailed purely >on >the > > basis of someone's fertile imagination and paranoia. Also, we are yet >to >hear > > any response whatsoever to calls from the late Ousman "Koro" Ceesay's >family for > > a full investigation of the circumstances surrounding his death. > > > > You might recall a posting > > >(http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind0001&L=gambia-l&F=P&S=&P=8445 >8) > > from one Ebou Colly about the death of soldiers accused of involvement >in >a coup > > plot against the Jammeh government. I think it would be in the interest >of > > these people accused of being responsible for death of Koro and these >soldiers, > > as well as in the interest of justice for the victims, their families, >and >our > > nation that the matter be put to rest. After all, Koro for example, was >a > > Minister at the time of his death, and if he swore to serve our nation, >we > > should endeavor to give him the justice he deserves. > > > > As you know, there are other unsolved killings and/or disappearances >that > > continue to plague our national conscience. These are issues that also > > contribute to the increasing cost of the leadership of President Jammeh >and his > > cronies, and reasons for asking when we will begin to put our national >interests > > before President Jammehs'. > > > > Let's not forget that President Jammeh is in power precisely because >President > > Jawara got to the point where no one was willing to put his or her life >on >the > > line to defend his regime. The point that every Gambian should bear in >mind is > > that we are now under the leadership of a person, and his cronies, who >has > > turned into someone who treats the nation as his personal property, and >thinks > > nothing of wasting our resources in the name of his own personal >aggrandizement. > > > > Fortunately, this is a terrible time to be a dictator, as I always say. >For > > this reason, it's only a matter of time before history catches up with >the >likes > > of President Jammeh. You only have to listen to what's happening in the >world > > around you to see what I'm talking about. From Chile to Cote d'Ivoire >to >the > > Philippines, people all the over the world are rising to say "enough" to > > dictators who never thought they would never come down. > > > > I will end this with an excerpt from a recent publication "Global Trends >2015: A > > dialogue about the future with nongovernment experts" from the United >States > > National Intelligence Council. I strongly recommend you download and >read >the > > publication because it is not only eye-opening, it is also provides free >access > > to the thoughts and thinking some of the best minds in the US. Get it >at: > > http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/globaltrends2015/index.html > > > > And here's the excerpt for President Jammeh and all of us to consider: > > > > "National and International Governance > > States will continue to be the dominant players on the world stage, but > > governments will have less and less control over flows of information, > > technology, diseases, migrants, arms, and financial transactions, >whether >licit > > or illicit, across their borders. Nonstate actors ranging from business >firms to > > nonprofit organizations will play increasingly larger roles in both >national and > > international affairs. The quality of governance, both nationally and > > internationally, will substantially determine how well states and >societies cope > > with these global forces. > > · States with competent governance, including the United States, will >adapt > > government structures to a dramatically changed global >environment-making >them > > better able to engage with a more interconnected world. The >responsibilities of > > once "semiautonomous" government agencies increasingly will intersect >because of > > the transnational nature of national security priorities and because of >the > > clear requirement for interdisciplinary policy responses. Shaping the >complex, > > fast-moving world of 2015 will require reshaping traditional government > > structures. > > · Effective governance will increasingly be determined by the ability >and > > agility to form partnerships to exploit increased information flows, new > > technologies, migration, and the influence of nonstate actors. Most but >not all > > countries that succeed will be representative democracies. > > · States with ineffective and incompetent governance not only will fail >to > > benefit from globalization, but in some instances will spawn conflicts >at >home > > and abroad, ensuring an even wider gap between regional winners and >losers >than > > exists today. > > Globalization will increase the transparency of government >decision-making, > > complicating the ability of authoritarian regimes to maintain control, >but >also > > complicating the traditional deliberative processes of democracies. >Increasing > > migration will create influential diasporas, affecting policies, >politics >and > > even national identity in many countries. Globalization also will create > > increasing demands for international cooperation on transnational >issues, >but > > the response of both states and international organizations will fall >short in > > 2015." > > > > Please pardon this rather long posting. Have a great week, and best >wishes in > > your endeavors. > > > > Katim > > > > >-------------------------------------------------------------------------- >-- > > > > 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. > > >-------------------------------------------------------------------------- >-- > > > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------