. As training intensifies Gambian rebels in Batala Gov't official acknowledges report It was recently confirmed that Gambians are among West African nationals training as rebels in Liberia, with an agenda to destabilise The Gambia and other neighbouring countries. Gambian surnames have been identified among bearers who are part of a rebel training camp in the Liberian town of Batala, which is housing prospective combatants poised to launch full-scale war in the sub-region. Trainee surnames identified as Colley, Samateh, Gibba and Sanyang are said to be connected with The Gambia. This is not the first time Gambians have been linked to rebel activities in Liberia. In 1996 Gambian rebels who attacked the Farafenni army barracks were believed to have surfaced from Libya and Liberian as fully trained operatives. There are also reports, suggesting that some among President Charles Taylor's bodyguards are Gambians trained as rebel commandos. Akene Philips, the chairman of the West African Policy Institute, a Liberian organisation based in the United States corroborated the story claiming that his institution recently uncovered that Gambians among other West African nationals are being trained as rebels in a training camp in Liberia. Mr. Philips who was speaking to the BBC from the institute's headquarters in New Jersey, said his organisation discovered details about rebel training camps in Batala. He said those rebel trainees include Gambians, Burkinabes, Sierra Leoneans, and Guineans. He noted that Batala town has a reputation as a rebel-training base, accommodating close to 1,500 prospective combatants. Mr. Phillips revealed that those under training are being groomed for ground assaults, different guerrilla tactics and how to launch attacks against military garrisons. According to him rebels from Ivory Coast and Mali are joining them in the camps. Mr. Philips who emphasised that the information was "true and accurate" said that the Batala rebels were given specific instructions to invade neighbouring countries or infiltrate the governments of their own home territories with a view to destabilising them. He maintained that this is meant to start launching destabilising campaigns against governments within West Africa. Mr. Philips, gave the recent rebel incursion in Guinea as an example caused by such Batala rebel activities, which he believed is a serious concern for the whole region. He suggested that the situation be addressed quickly and decisively. " Our organisation met some people trained at Batala... infact we met with several of them over the past several months" he intimated. Mr. Philips further claimed that certain individuals are charged with recruiting West African nationals as potential rebel trainees who are later sent to Batala for training. He also reiterated that the rebels' main aim is to stir up trouble in the sub-region. When The Independent contacted the Gambian Foreign Office to react to the Gambian involvement an insider at the department said that he was aware of such reports but added that the department has not received them officially and as a result they could not make any leading comments. There were also unsuccessful attempts to reach Ansumana Ceesay the department's spokesperson. As principal receives ultimatum to quit Students threaten to b ----- Original Message ----- From: I K M'BOOB <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 2:46 PM Subject: Re: OBITUARY ANNOUNCEMENTS > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------