Ebrima, We thank God that you are back. The rumour in Banjul was that you were threatened/paid/bribed etc into silence by agents of the regime. Those of us who defended you are indeed not dissappointed. We wish you the best in your studies. >From: Mori Kebba Jammeh <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Where is Ebrima Ceesay? >Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 21:27:59 -0500 > >Ebrima, it's great to hear from you. Looking forward to hearing from you >soon >Good luck in your academic pursuits. > >Mori >----- Original Message ----- >From: Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]> >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2001 12:37 PM >Subject: Re: Where is Ebrima Ceesay? > > > > Gambia-L: > > > > > > I should like to thank all those who have written privately to me, as >well > > as those on the List who have been asking about my whereabouts of late. > > Thank you for your concerns about my absence from Gambia-L. > > > > I have to reassure you that I am well, but that the pressures of my >academic > > work have meant that I have been unable to follow the Gambia L for over >six > > weeks now. > > > > It would be my dear wish to follow the List on a daily basis, but the > > realities of being a full time research student and needing to keep up >with > > my family life have made it almost impossible. > > > > This Easter vacation has given me some free time and the opportunity to > > check my E-mails - more than 500 of them, and I am still in the process >of > > reading them and catching up on Gambia-related issues. > > > > My mind is always on the Gambian struggle, and I have to express my deep > > appreciation to the indefatigable Kebba Dampha, to Hamjatta Kanteh, to >Ebou > > Colley, to Ansumana Kujabi, to Jabou Joh, to Lameen Barrow, to Prof. >Assan > > and to Saul Khan for keeping the struggle alive and kicking. I should >also > > like to thank Joe Sambou and Dr Saine for their contributions, direction >and > > guidance. > > > > As for myself: well, I should like to be contributing on a regular >basis > > to the Gambia L, as well as passing on information from my many sources > > close to the heart of the Gambia government. However, given my current >work > > commitments and tight academic schedule, this is not yet feasible. >Those > > who are engaged in full time, post-graduate research will confirm the > > pressures !! > > > > As for my sources, I am happy to say that they are all fine, and that >they > > understand that I have had time constraints recently. We have spoken > > together and have now decided that because this is such a crucial period >in > > the history of The Gambia, I shall resume forwarding their messages to >the > > List, not on a daily basis as in the past, but at least regularly once >each > > week (unless dramatic events unfold at home). > > > > Apart from my sources, there are also many concerned Gambians and >friends >of > > The Gambia who have, in the past, sent me invaluable information and >news > > on the regime at home. My doors are always open to these people, and >they > > are always welcome to send messages for me to forward to the Gambia L. > > > > Could I ask these people to copy messages both to my Hotmail Account and >to > > my e-mail address at school ( [log in to unmask]) so that I do not >overlook > > them. > > > > Now that elections in The Gambia are fast approaching, we need to be > > focusing on the pragmatics of change in our country. We need to be >looking > > at how we can work to unseat Jammeh from the presidency, and what >practical > > steps need to be taken to ensure our success. > > > > To this end, I have decided to work directly with The Gambia's >Development > > Partners, with Political Parties directly on the ground, and with other > > concerned Gambian groups in the Diaspora in order to expedite the >necessary > > changes in our dear country. > > > > All our debates (no matter how important it is to engage in discussion >and > > debate) have now got to be followed through with direct action. > > > > I spoke recently with a member of one of the Opposition parties in The > > Gambia, and he says that although the idea of a United Opposition (or > > Coalition) has been talked about, so far the practicalities of making it > > happen have not arisen. The modalities have not been thrashed out. It >seems > > to me to be acutely critical to start work on these at the first > > opportunity. > > > > In Senegal, the Opposition alliance that was formed in the second round >of > > the elections, proved initially successful, but in recent weeks, Prime > > Minister Niasse has been dismissed by President Wade and the alliance is > > under some strain. > > > > Similarly, in Ghana, the Opposition alliance again formed in the second > > electoral rounds, proved successful. However, there are already some > > accusations that the new Ghanaian government is pro-Ashanti, or >pro-Akan, > > and cracks in the alliance are becoming discernible. I do have to say > > however, that Elizabeth Ohene, the former Deputy Editor in Chief of the > > BBC's Focus on Africa programme, who is now the Minister for Media >Relations > > in Ghana, is neither Ashanti nor Fanti, but from the Ebe tribe. > > > > The idea of a United Opposition in The Gambia is an excellent one, but >it > > does have to be well thought through, well documented and agreed. It is > > crucial that those of us calling for Coalition in order to unseat Jammeh >and > > the APRC, should spend time thinking and planning for the HOWs of making >a > > workable and strong alliance. We need to be able to quell the fears of > > those who are suspicious of alliance in order to persuade them to join >one > > wholeheartedly. > > > > I feel it to be my bounden duty as a concerned Gambian, to contribute as > > fully as possible to the struggle for democracy in The Gambia. >Therefore, > > over the next bit of time, I shall be working on a document - a >manifesto - > > a blue print for a United Opposition, which will spell out the >modalities, > > both pre AND post election. > > > > My aim will be to have a draft document prepared by the end of this >month, > > which I shall submit to Opposition Parties in The Gambia, as well as to >the > > Gambia L. I shall welcome constructive comments and suggestions before > > submitting a final version. > > > > I am absolutely convinced that we have to initiate alliance in the very >near > > future, if we are to have success in our aim of overthrowing Jammeh and >his > > regime through the ballot boxes. > > > > Reading through postings on the Gambia-L, as well as private mails, I >have > > > been amazed at some of the messages I have read, which raise doubts >about > > the reasons for my recent silence on the Gambia-List. I have to assure >all > > those who have written to me, or contacted me by telephone, thinking >that >I > > had been scared off the List by pro-Jammeh elements, that nothing could >be > > further from the truth !! > > > > Those who know me well, will know that this would NEVER be the case. > > > > > > I am sending my best greetings to all my friends and colleagues on >Gambia-L. > > > > > > Ebrima Ceesay > > Birmingham, UK > > > > > > PS: Brother George Sarr: > > > > In going through my e-mails, I read that you had been hospitalised some >time > > ago. I send you belated get well greetings, and am pleased to know that >you > > are making a good recovery. I hope to see you in person in your neck of >the > > woods before the end of the year ! > > > > > > Brother Buharry: > > > > I send you my belated and heart-felt condolences on the sudden death of >Anna > > Secka in London, UK. Please convey my sympathies to her husband Adama > > Crooks and son, small Yusupha. > > > > >_________________________________________________________________________ > > 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. > > >-------------------------------------------------------------------------- >-- > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------