Mamau, Sorry for forwarding this article to the L. At the time - I thought that since the above subject was in most of the tabloids back home, so why not send this one to the L. Once again I'm really sorry. >From: Mamau Tage <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: BLOOD DIAMOND MONEY AND THE GREEDY MARAKAS (SARAHOLEHS) >Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 10:41:57 -0000 > >MIne your words, >It is very irresponsible to label the maraka's( saraholes) as greedy at >this time around. They are comparatively better if one look at the more >corrup Lebanes who shared most of the blame with the Westz for the tourbles >in Senegal. The Lebanese are on record for hijacking the Government of >Mommoh with their "brown evelopes" and corrupt practices. >The Lebane contributed some 6 billion Dollars drained from bloody Sierral >Leone Diamond to finace reconstruction of Lebanon. >The Marakas are Africans who have been involved in Sierra Leone since the >1960s and did not only sought diamonds but also integrated into the Siera >Leonean society: the inermarried with many Sierra leoneans. The evidences >can be seen in Gambia and else where to day. >Furthermore, they accommodated many Sierra leoneans in distresse who came >to >The Gambia for refuge. The latest example involves Former Sierra Leone >President Valentine Strasser, who after being played like a football by >British and Gambian authorities, was rescued by Bassirou Jawara, a Prominet >Maraka hotelier and Bussinessman, who made his money in Sierra Leone. >So it is very unfair to label the Marakas as "greedy" without properly >researching into their activities. >Their philosophy for record purposes reads "respect for others, hospitality >and Solidarity" >Regards > >Messers Mamau Tage >Bubacarr Sankanu > > >>From: awa joeque <[log in to unmask]> >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list >><[log in to unmask]> >>To: [log in to unmask] >>Subject: BLOOD DIAMOND MONEY AND THE GREEDY MARAKAS (SARAHOLEHS) >>Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 17:33:25 -0000 >> >>Concord Times (Freetown) >>January 17, 2001 >> >>By Joseph Dumbuya >>Freetown >> >>The row over the discovery and purchase of a 28-carat diamond by a certain >>Maraka led to the expulsion of some 42 of them from Kono by the rebels, a >>civilian from Koidu speaking from a position of anonymity told Concord >>Times. >> >>He revealed that when news of the diamond broke out, the rebels mounted an >>investigation. Junior Sankoh, Blood Master and Col. Blood were ordered to >>retrieve the diamond. >> >>Failure to achieve this saw the rebels directing their anger at the >>Marakas >>accusing them of complicity. They detained 42 Marakas mostly Malians in a >>container at Motema to force them into disclosing the buyer of the >>diamond. >> >>'When this failed they took the Marakas to Makali in the Tonkolili >>District >>and ordered them to leave their territory' the source said. >> >>'The rebels accused the Marakas of being agents of President Kabbah, who >>has >>sent them into their territory to spy on them'. >> >>Meanwhile, Kono is said to have a large population of foreigners >>especially >>Marakas from Mali, Senegal and Gambia. They are said to be >>doing brisk business with rebels and their agents in Guinea and their home >>country. >> >>_________________________________________________________________________ >>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 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 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------