Government’s Reaction to Kumba Yalla’s allegations The Government of The Gambia has learnt with consternation, certain allegations levelled against it by President Kumba Yalla of Guinea Bissau to the effect that The Gambia was allowing the use of its territory by dissident Bissau-Guineans who were plotting to overthrow the democratically elected Government of Guinea-Bissau. The Government of The Gambia categorically refutes the allegations as untrue, unfounded, misconceived, regrettable and totally contrary to the spirit of neighbourliness that The Gambia under President Jammeh has been promoting and nurturing. President Kumba Yalla’s outrage is more surprising and indeed disturbing when taken in the context of a sub-regional perspective and the well-known fact that President Jammeh has over the years consistently and steadfastly given substantial material and other support in total solidarity with the people and Government of Guinea-Bissau. Indeed, President Jammeh, from the time of President Kumba Yalla’s predecessor, President Nino Vieirra, through the civil war and interim government of Guinea-Bissau to date, has been persistent in his benefaction to the Government and people of Guinea Bissau. The Gambia also serves as co-ordinator of the “Friends of Guinea Bissau” Group at the United Nations in New York. The group mobilises international support for the reconstruction of Guinea Bissau. All these efforts are made in good faith to strengthen President Kumba Yalla’s hand at reconciliation and democratisation. It is no secret that the average Bissau-Guinean appreciates the considerable assistance that President Jammeh and his Government have rendered to the Government and people of Guinea Bissau over the past years. The Government of The Gambia wishes therefore to make it abundantly clear particularly to the brotherly people of Guinea Bissau that it will never allow its territory to be used by any foreign national for any subversive or hostile activity against any State, be it in our immediate sub-region or anywhere else in the world. The Government is guided in this by its commitment to adherence to the principles of peaceful co-existence and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. ------ End of Government Release ------- While some Gambians have been dangerously relishing the possibility of there being an iota of truth in the, uncalled for, tirades of an obviously deranged President Kumba Yalla of Guinea Bissau, those closer home have been debating whether he shouldn’t be admitted to Campama, since no such facility exists in his own country. Whilst every Gambian has the right to support or oppose any political party or individual of your choice, it is very dangerous to try to make capital out of some potentially dangerous situations. On many occasions I have read with consternation, how some want us to believe that the government of The Gambia would want to do anything but bring about a lasting settlement to the destructive conflict that has, killed, maimed and displaced a significant number of its citizenry. It has been alleged, on many occasions, that the presence of such officials of the MFDC, such as Alexandra Gibba, their spokesman, as tacit sympathy and support for their cause. A few weeks ago when Alexandra Gibba was arrested and detained for illegally entering Guinea Bissau, many had thought that when handed over to the Senegalese, he would never see the light of day. Well, he was released to the custody of a high-ranking Senegalese General who accompanied him to Dakar from Bissau. Those who do not know where Mr. Gibba is, let me inform you that the Senegalese authorities released him soon after arriving in Dakar and allowed to come and join his family here. I hope this would remind us in future not to easily jump to conclusions. As the Wollofs say, “Two things can be similar and yet different." Have a good day, Gassa. There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see, yet small enough to solve. -Mike- Levitt- _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.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 To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~