Gambia-L: I came to read my e-mails and found two private e-mails in my inbox where I was being attacked for views expressed by one of my sources. Therefore it is imperative that I make this clarification: the views contained in my sources' e-mails are those of my sources and not necessarily mine. I have my views on political events in The Gambia and outside The Gambia and would never hesitate to express them in this forum or any other. I should not be castigated for views expressed by my sources. Again, I am the messenger and not the message. As usual, the unedited e-mail below came from a source in The Gambia. Ebrima Ceesay ___________________________________________________________________ >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: "Civil servants in 'Asobi' >Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 > >Coach, > >We thank Jabou for expressing her appreciation of the insights that your >sources bring to the debate. We have been providing information to the >Gambia-L for the past two years or so with the sole intention of providing >the forum the other side of the story; granted with the biased inherent in >being in the Opposition. Had it not been for the insights, many subscribers >would have gone to bed a long while back thinking that the APRC had the >entire elections wrapped-up. We may be wrong, but we believe that this is >the first time that Jabou expressed concern about statements attributed to >Ousainou Darboe and she has every right to do so. Jabou can refer to the >archives as far back as she cares to, to ascertain that your sources are >usually a step ahead of the papers. For instance, the Local Government and >Tourism fires are yet to be reported in the Radio and Television, much less >the newspapers which appear twice or thrice weekly, with the exception of >the Observer which everyboby knows is now the mouth piece of the ruling >party. We live and practice democracy. Now to the specific questions >raised concerning Ousainou's statement on civil servants who are not only >wearing "asobis" and attending APRC rallies - well, those cited in >Ousainou's statement are those who are unashamedly using 'state resources' >to campaign openly for the APRC not because they believe in the policies of >the Jammeh regime but to save their own positions. Some of these Managing >Directors and a few Permanent Secretaries are using government vehicles, >fuelled with tax-payers' petrol, absenting themselves from their officials >duties for which tax payers are paying, providing other logistical support >to a political party, denying public services to legitimate Opposition >parties by claiming that ferries are dys-functional to ferry Hamat Bah and >Ousainou to Sandu. > >The due process referred to in our report specifically deals with the >provisions of the General Orders and the Service Rules governing the >behavior of civil servants and Managing Directors respectively. As a >former civil servant, albeit briefly, Jabou should know these rules; at >least those governing civil servants. The rules allow every Gambian civil >servant or otherwise to support any party of his or her own choosing >without the fear of being victimized. That is the right of every Gambian. >The rules are almost exactly the same as those that obtain in the United >States and every civilized country. The civil servants that Ousainou is >referring to, are those that have contravened every rule in the book. For >Jabou to equate Ousainou's statement with what Yahya would say is really >pushing the envelop a bit too far. Ousainou has never been and will never >be a vindictive person. > >The Public Service Commission reduced to zero under Jammeh will be >revitalized under Ousainou's Government and any one found wanting for >whatever reason will be considered by the PSC. Under Ousainou's >administration, the post of the Secretary General and Head of the Civil >Service will be 're-activated' together with the associated terms of >reference to effectively guide the civil service. Under Jammeh, this >position exists only on paper. > >While we assure Jabou and all and saundry that Ousainou Darboe and his new >team will not be out on a witch-hunt, they will not also tolerate or >encourage civil servants to act as party militants, organizing, financing >political campaigns, speaking in political platforms (be it the Alliance, >APRC or any other political party for that matter) or actively campaigning >on company time for the party of their choice. > >The UDP/PPP/GPP Alliance is a democratic party with democratic values with >the strong conviction that the civil service should be insulated from the >partisan politics that is currently being displayed by the most senior of >civil servants. > >I hope that the above elaboration has shed more light on the issue and also >allay the fears of Jabou in the process. > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>