>From: "Michael J.G. Cain" <[log in to unmask]> >To: "'Kemo Ceesay'" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: FW: President Yahya Jammeh's visit >Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 13:55:28 -0400 > >The President of the College has invited me to speak with the President of >the Gambia this weekend.  If you have any details on press abuses or know of >others who may know I would appreciate sharing them with the President. > > > >Michael > > > >Political Science Department > >St. Mary's College > >-----Original Message----- >From: Michael J G Cain [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 11:58 AM >To: All Faculty Mail; All Staff Mail >Subject: President Yahya Jammeh's visit > > > >Dear Colleagues: > > > >On the occasion of President Yahya Jammeh visit to St. Mary's College I >wanted to openly discuss with President O' Brien, Provost Larry Vote and the >faculty concerns that have been raised by faculty members as well as >concerns raised by Gambians living in the United States regarding his visit. > > > > >As Larry Vote indicated, St. Mary's College has a special relationship with >the Gambia, now almost ten years old.  It is a relationship that has >provided mutual benefits to the citizens of both countries and has enriched >our small, college community.  I agree with the Provost that our >relationship with The Gambia is very important.  The Provost also points out >the positive contributions President Jammeh has made to education in his >country.  His educational policies in The Gambia are not only intrinsically >important to human thriving, but also instrumentally important for the >promotion of civil society in The Gambia and Western Africa.  For these >contributions the President is to be commended. > > > >Despite our special relationship to The Gambia and the contributions >President Jammeh has made to his country, I feel it is important to say a >few words about the President's visit and emphasize the obligations we have >as a free democratic people to other people who may enjoy less freedom.  The >fact that a government has accomplished good things does not free them of >other political obligations, nor does friendship negate our obligations to >remind governments of their political duties.  It may make our duty to >remind them even stronger. > > > >As you know, the President of The Gambia was elected in 2001 in an election >judged reasonably fair by international standards.  But elections do not >make a country liberal or democratic-for that much more is required, >including an independent judiciary, a strong civil society, protected >constitutional liberties and a free press.  Like other countries attempting >to develop democracy, The Gambia has important deficiencies in key areas >necessary for sustaining democracy, especially freedom of the press. >Serious concerns have been raised by the United States government recently >and international organizations devoted to press freedoms regarding the >government of Gambia's behaviors toward the press.  In this area the >government of The Gambia needs to exercise greater efforts to protect the >press from harassment, government detentions of editors and unfair treatment >of private newspapers.  Given how recent and how frequent these incidents >have been, it is very difficult to overlook them. > > > >I call on President O'Brien and the faculty to use the opportunity of >President Jammeh's visit to St. Mary's College to remind the President of >the importance of a free press to a free people.  Perhaps there are things >we as a community can do to help strengthen press freedoms in The Gambia. >We should use this opportunity to strengthen our ties to The Gambia but also >to engage the President in a discussion of liberal values all of us share. > > > >Sincerely, > >Michael J. G. Cain > > >