New York -June 4th the secretary general of the United Democratic party {UDP}Lawyer Ousainou Darboe,the party Administrative secretary-Ebou Manneh and the party Campaign manager-Femmi peters were given a warm welcome by gambians living in New York city last sunday at the gambian society headquarters. The gambian society is headed by Mamudou Jaiteh and is a mutual aid organization whose mission is to promote a common understanding and unity among gambians in the New York metropolitan area.The society assist new arrivals with the transition to life in the United States,serves as a means of communication between the community and other communities and organizations in New York City.The organization provides funeral assistance to bereaved families in the community. The society is governed by an executive board and is supported by monthly dues. Before the beginning of the meeting Mr Darboe and his delegation were given full memberships to the Organization for his stand for democracy and human rights in the gambia. The meeting started at 4.30pm and ended at 10.18pm. Mr Sheriff Ceesay a member of the organization chaired the meeting and he began by welcoming delegation and read Darboe's profile as a human rights lawyer who represented an ex-opposition leader of the National Convention Party [NCP] sheriff Mustapha Dibba after the abortive coup of July 1981. Ceesay went on Mr Darboe represented the dismissed ex-secretary of state for justice-cheick yassin Secka during his alleged involvement in 1981 coup trial. Mr Darboe defended some ex-ministers and senior civil servants of the Jawara PPP Government after the military take over in July 1994. Mr Darboe has been defending poor people who cannot afford the services of a legal practitioner. Mr Darboe thank the president of the society Mamudou Jaiteh and all the members for a job well done to buy a place in New York without renting it in an hourly basic.He said that Gambians are hard working people and this hall is a clear manifestation of that. Mr Darboe went on "i am a wear that this society has transported up to 9 Gambians dead bodies from the US to The Gambia, therefore,i have nothing to say but to thank you and tell you to keep up the good work." Gambians abroad are equally important as Gambians at home.There are many development projects happening back home is because of you people, he said. "i am appealing you to support the UDP financially and morally to bring about a better Gambia in October 2001 elections where every Gambian will live without fear of being arrested,tortured and rob of his/her rights,where Gambian farmers will sell their ground nuts produce and receive their money without delay and where Gambian farmers would have a better farming inputs", he said. "I will promise you when a UDP Government is voted in,religion will be free from politics,Gambian children will never be kill for peacefully demonstrating for their rights and the killers be indemnify,a UDP Government would make sure that every Gambian is given the rights to vote and be voted in for a periodical elections regardless of which country you live," he said. Each Gambian abroad has a family or two in the country and by calling them to vote for the UDP will make a different,he said. Mr Darboe told the gathering that UDP is a party for every patriotic Gambian and we are not opposing Jammeh because he is a Jola nor, we are opposing Jammeh because he is out to loot and rob the gambians,we oppose Jammeh because he is out to harass and intimidate the Gambian people. Looking at the composition of the UDP leadship,you can see that we hate tribalism.You can find all the Gambian tribes in the party'leadership.And when we remove Jammeh,he is not the only person to be remove but Yankuba Touray who is a mandingka and Edward Singhateh who is also a mandinka would all be remove,he said. The meeting was attended by over 400 Gambians,including prominent individuals respected by the UN,Human rights organizations,Alh.Abdou Touray,Alh.Bangally Dukureh,Alh.Bunja Sillah,Haja Mama Marong,Alh.Buyageh Camara,Momodou Ceesay,Wassa Janneh,Pa Saikou Kujabi and the UDP branch secretary Manding. The video cassettee is available with Alhagie Dukureh on this number:718 716 5075. Thank you. saihou __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------