Gambia-l: PLEASE READ the notice at the bottom of each message you receive from Gambia-l about joining or leaving the List. Amadou Scattred Janneh >From: jainaba sissoho <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: please unsubscribe me >Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 03:51:48 -0500 > >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. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------