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Dear Mr. Jasseh –Conteh,

Thanks. for refreshing my memory. I’m also glad to reconnect with my former mentor. You may also wish to note that I now have Senegalese affinities through marriage ( I believe that I did indicate this in my self- introductory post when I discovered and joined this group early this year.

I support Darboe because I sincerely believe that he is right for the Gambia . To my mind he is the only one who has been a formidable opponent to Jammeh . Given the fact that you’re very politically savvy and have a good grasp of Gambia’s past and present political environment, I trust that you will concur with me that Darboe is one of the very few of our politicians who has all his life fought relentlessly to defend and protect the rights of the vulnerable and victimized. I also know that you will agree that if given a chance, Darboe will continue to fight hard to improve the lot of all Gambians regardless of their political affinity or ethnic background.

It is unfortunate that you’ve taken my posts about Dibba personally. I have no axe to grind against this man. In fact I must confess that I don’t even know him that well. Dibba may be a wonderful and charismatic leader to some , I just feel strongly that his decision to resurface after about a decade of political dormancy, and to try to steal the show from well -deserving actors on the eve of the presidential elections may be unfair and counterproductive to the struggle and to Gambia’s future. I’m know that numerous Gambians and friends of the Gambia have frowned on his move and questioned his motives and this has been echoed by many in this forum.

We all aspire for a democratic system in Gambia where every body can feel free to express his or her views without fear of being attacked. I would therefore appeal to you to bear with me while I exercise my right to free speech. Also we must not forget that October will come and go and this forum will still have its role to play in generating ideas which could help guide our governors. It’s only by being tolerant with one another that we can contribute meaningfully to attaining the ultimate goal of this forum. Rest assured that I’m definitely putting my money where my heart is. You just have to remember that there are 1001 ways of doing this .

All the best

mariama

>From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>

>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]

>To: [log in to unmask]

>Subject: Mariama Darboe: RE: Re: WHY WE GAVE UP ON SM DIBBA FOR lAWYER DARBOE

>Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 06:14:13 -0400

>Ms. Darboe:

>This is nepotism at worst. Though you have a right to

>support Ousainou, you must be careful of nepotism. We

>are building The Gambia. Family favoritism has no

>place in our struggle.

>I also suggest that you send in your contribution to

>brother Sambou on the fund drive. I will take each of

>you seriously if you put your money where your hearts are.

>In another note, you seem to forget me. I was the one who

>trained you at foreign exchange unit at the Commercial Bank. I was shocked to hear of your implication in the Air Dabby

>illegal transaction in Miami. Since when did you leave

>your mansa?

>Naphiyo,

>Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh

>Original Message:

>-----------------

>From: Mariama Diop [log in to unmask]

>Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 18:01:30 -0400

>To: [log in to unmask]

>Subject: Re: WHY WE GAVE UP ON SM DIBBA FOR lAWYER DARBOE

Thanks. Bakary for your illuminating piece. I hope that the likes of Jasseh- Conteh will take note and think seriously about convincing Dibba to put the Gambia's interest before his craving for power and the presidency. I do hope that come October, the Gambian electorate will remember those leaders who stood up to Jammeh while Dibba and others were basking away underground .

mariama

>From: Bakary Kanteh <[log in to unmask]>

>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]>

>To: [log in to unmask]

>Subject: Re: WHY WE GAVE UP ON SM DIBBA FOR lAWYER DARBOE

>Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 20:57:35 +0100

>Dear Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh,

>The priority of all truly patriotic Gambians at this crucial point

>in our

>nation's history is to unite towards getting rid of the Jammeh

>Dictatorship

>rather than to rip open wounds of the pre-1994 era. Indeed, the

>bloody 1981

>attempted revolution and its immediate aftermath was a very sad and

>regretable episode in our history during which human rights

>violations were

>committed by all sides of the conflict.However, should one place the

>ordeal

>and sufferation faced by Gambians as a result of those fateful

>events in its

>true perspective; it would be evident that the bloodshed,lawlessness

>and

>chaos that ensued prior to the intervention of the Senegalese forces

>was

>first perpetrated by Kukoi and other anti-PPP elements, either

>deliberately

>or through default of proper planning and execution of the attempted

>1981

>revolution.It was an armed civil conflict brought upon the Gambia by

>Kukoi

>Samba Sanyang: an ex-NCP parliamentary candidate and therefore when

>the

>attempted dictatorship failed,some members of the come-back PPP

>regime

>orchestrasted unjustifiable acts of atrocities against some NCP

>militants

>and others who were percieved as supporters of the attemtpted

>revolution.But

>for the direct intervention of Sir Dawda, (of whom i am no admirer

>but even

>the devil deserves his due)the politics of retribution that some

>members of

>the PPP wanted to bear upon their political opponents would have

>been

>worst.Sir Dawda always advocated for the due process of law to

>brought upon

>all such people which unfortunately was not always heeded by his

>supporters.

>Had Yahya been in a similar situation, he would have ordered

>extra-judicial

>killings and secret night burials as he did during November 11, 1994

>or even

>ordered a broad daylght massacre as happen to the students on April

>10 & 11,

>2000.

>As a member of the NCP pre-1994, i fervently belief that Jawara

>failed the

>Gambian masses but also held the view that so did SM Dibba in July

>1994 when he embark upon his self-imposed exile from politics and

>abandon

>the masses to the 'unknown' during those days when he was needed

>most. At

>least when members of Foroyya stood up for their rights and in

>effect for

>the genaral right to expression of opinion, he should not have

>labelled them

>as 'agent provocateurs'.However, when he did, many others like

>myself gave

>up on SM as a person capable of providing the leadership that the

>Gambia

>craves for.We want leaders like Mandela, who would not let down the

>people

>but SM did! for whatever flimsy reasons and i am of the opinion that

>he just

>lacks the

>courage to take on Jammeh and his gun-tottling hoodlums.

>On the other hand, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe and members of the UDP

>leadership

>has demonstrated that even at the expense of their lives, they are

>ready to

>moblise Gambians against the dictatorship.They have faced unlawful

>incacerations, torture, assasination attempts,and all sorts of

>trials and

>tribulations but have not relented to injustice.

>I thought this was also like SM but how wrong he proved himself to

>be.

>Therefore compatriots, let us all rally behind the genuine

>opposition

>coalition to free the Gambia from tyranny.We should all learn from

>the

>past but always remember that the Gambia should come first.

>THE YOKE OF OPPPRESSION MUST BE SHATTERED! come October.

>BMK

>>From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>

>>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]

>>To: [log in to unmask]

>>Subject: WHY I WILL NOT ENDORSE THE ALLIANCE!

>>Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 22:53:08 -0400

>>Comrades:

>>I am very appreciative in engaging numerous comrades in

>>this strugle. I am fortunate to meet many Gambians, and I

>>must admit that I am indebted to many who have provided

>>valuable information in knowledge and attitude. One should

>>not feel above anyone in their assertion for equity,

>>fair-dealing and truth in the pursuit of a free Gambia.

>>Many of us must understand that the quality of life and our

>>own idealistic sentiments must provide guidance in an

>>endeavor so vital in searching for truth. The Gambia is our

>>country and as such, we must provide reasonable assurance in

>>how we threat each other in this struggle. The voices of

>>those who fought dearly, especially Hamat Bah and Halifah

>>must not be burried under a rug. I cannot as a Gambian

>>join the alliance of PPP/UDP/Assan Musa Camara at the

>>expense of Hamat and Halifa.

>>I have to reach out to Illiasa Gibba, a jola and a trusted

>>friend, who was unjustly imprisoned by Sir Dawda after the

>>failed takeover by Kukoi Samba Sanyang. Within the same

>>district of Kombo East, Mba Debo Sanneh was arrested and

>>remanded for no just cause. Her sin was that she was a

>>member of the National Convention Party. I cried for the

>>deaths of Momodou Modibo Conteh and Saikou Fatty, who were

>>shot to death because they were suspected of being Kukoi

>>Samba Sanyang's sympathizers. In Perang, at the urging and

>>approval of Lamin Kitty Jabang, Famara Sanyang and Tombong

>>Jabang were beaten so severely that the latter was left

>>almost crippled. Momodou Binta Sanyang was unjustly

>>imprisoned for ten years. Momodou's late grandfather,

>>Seyfo Fa Touray Sanyang made Sir Dawda of who he was. I

>>cannot join a group that has Sir Dawda's blessings. It

>>will be suicidal for me to trust the PPP. I know the late

>>chief, Fa Touray Sayang is looking down on meeting with

>>approval.

>>During Sir Dawda's witch-hunt numerous Gambians were arrested

>>and imprisoned. Any Gambian with a Sanyang last name, who

>>happened to innocently danced during Kukoi's brief tenure, was

>>arrested and detained. The late Essa Barajo Jarju, who was

>>heard saying "jola massa kunda" was dismissed as an executive

>>of the area council. The late Hon. Famara Wassa Touray,

>>who fearlessly campaigned for Sir Dawda by riding his

>>bicycle from Gunjur to Brikama and other villages in the

>>Kombos, died pennyless because he fell out with Sir Dawda.

>>The late Seyfo Fa Sanjally Bojang was fired. Before that,

>>Sir Dawda unjustly fired the late Seyfo Jereba Bojang. I

>>just cannot trust the PPP. I must also add that Fa Hali

>>Jammeh of Bakau, a founding member of the PPP was unjustly

>>detained. Fa Hali died in custody.

>>When Sir Dawda was restored to power, he continued on his

>>witch-hunt by dismissing and detaining Gambians. The

>>selected few who have now surrounded the leader of the

>>UDP, enabled Sir Dawda in his payback strategy. I cannot

>>consciously endorse a group that violated the rights of

>>Gambians. The PPP has a regrettable history.

>>The PPP in my view cannot be trusted. If the UDP wins,

>>those same individuals who were part of the payback

>>strategy will embark on the worst kind of arrogance. The

>>Gambia should know better. We do not need any repetitive

>>arrogance. We need equity, fair-dealing and truth.

>>As we revisit history, we must have compelling reasons

>>to narrate and vividly illustrate with certainty why

>>the PPP will never change. As a Gambian, who was raised

>>with Jolas, I cannot endorse an alliance whose members

>>had exhibited tribal sentiments on the Jolas after Sir

>>Dawda was restored to power.

>>I wished Ousainou had not given the selected few leadership

>>roles. I wished Ousainou had reached out to the rest of

>>the opposition. I wished Ousainou had done what he promised

>>me. I wished Ousainou was open. I wished Ousainou had not

>>engaged the UDP in a suicidal marriage with the PPP.

>>While I remain loyal to this struggle, I want to reiterate

>>that I cannot endorse the PPP/UDP/Assan Musa Camara alliance.

>>I hope Allah guides me in this pursuit. With Allah's

>>blessings, the truth will prevail.

>>Naphiyo,

>>Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh

>>Greensboro, NC/Kombo East Constituency

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