Compatriots and Friends of The Gambia: As we commemorate for the fifth year the massacre of peacefully demonstrating Gambian students, I most respectfully beg you to render prayers for the souls of our fallen comrades, and make efforts towards the betterment of the conditions of victims of the episode living amongst us. Our fallen comrades deserve prayers in all churches amd mosques in The Gambia because they rank among the most selfless advocates of Truth and Justice that our motherland has ever seen. Truth and Justice are indeed virtues to be found in the principle teachings of all world religions. On the other hand, the traditional values embedded in our indigeneous cultures are emphatic about " Telling The Truth at all times and acting in fairness". Truth is fundamental to the dispensation of justice in any society. A people who lack the ability to tell the truth will soon find themselves at odds with natural justice, and there will follow a disintergration of the moral fabric of society. Those who lay down their lives in a selfless struggle for Truth and Justice therefore deserve our prayers. It is pathetic to note that the victims of April 10th/11th 2000 are deprived of critical state assistance by the authorities in Banjul. I avail myself of this solemn occasion to condemn this callous behaviour of a government that pretends to represent the interests of all Gambians without distinction. Those in authority should be reminded that they are paid servants of the people, and Gambians have the right to benefit from national resources notwithstanding whatever opinion they may have manifested. The Gambia goverment has turned a blind eye to the sufferings of victims of April 10th/11th 2000, and yet its agents talk about reconciliation. I hereby appeal to all Gambians at home and abroad to come forward and assist these gallant advocates of Truth and Justice. Indeed mention should be made of the case of Yusupha Mbaye who languishes in a hospital bed in Banjul, denied of the critical medical attention he urgently needs. Yusupha simply requires reference from a medical doctor in Banjul in order to be treated in the United States. For five years, the government of the Gambia under the leadership of president Yaya Jammeh has refused to embrace the truth about April 10th/11th 2000. Instead, they have indulged in scandalous misinformation to tarnish the image of the student leadership of the day. With all the resources at their disposal, they have miserably failed to convinced even some of their own friends, that the student leadership should in anyway be blamed for the mayhem. It is obvious to all that in his capacity as commander-in-chief of The Gambia's Armed Forces, president Jammeh is the depository of the order which led the security forces to shoot at us with their lethal weapons five years ago. Thus, I avail myself of this solemn occasion to publicly blame him for the killing and maiming of our comrades, the gallant advocates of Truth and Justice. President Jammeh has his hands stained with blood of the innocent, and like all persons under such circumstansces, he urgently needs to show remorse and publicly render apology to the nation. We are persons of faith, and we believe it is never too late for any person to redeem him or herself. It is now obvious to all that contrary to what the government of The Gambia has been spreading around, April 10th/11th 2000 was an action designed to put pressure on the police so that they could expedite the dispensation of justice with regard one of our colleagues. Ebrima Barry, was turtured by officers at the fire and ambulance service offices in Brikama and he died the following day. Inview of the officers involved, and after a series of interactions with police headquarters in Banjul, we had no doubts that some senior officers were extending solidarity to the culprits. In this light, and after having exhausted all available means of resolving the police inaction, we determined to put pressure on them through a peaceful demonstration. However, our action to redress the death of one of us, resulted in the deaths of more than ten of us. I have no doubts that the number of fatalities as published by even Amnesty international, was very likely on the low side.There has not been vigorous follow-ups to ensure that those hospitalized actually recovered from their injuries and returned home. It is therefore possible that the number of persons who died during the two days and thereafter, exceeded fourteen. Most regretably, the current student leadership in The Gambia has in a very inappropriate manner, embraced the Government of President Yaya Jammeh in what they call a reconciliation. The student leadership has further declared the APRC government "a partner in development". The very substance of their accommodation defies the meaning of the word reconciliation. A reconcliation connotes parties in a dispute abandoning previously held positions to generate a less confrontational and belicose posture towards each other. The spirit of give and take is fundamental in this regard. A student leadership that is conscious of its duties would have, without doubts, taken into cognisance the realities that obtained at the commencement of the dispute. In this connection, the welfare of the victims of April 10th/11th 2000 should have been central to any meaningful reconciliation. A reconciliation process which fails to recognise even the presence of these victims, is a sham! Indeed what now obtains between the current leadership of GAMSU and the government of president Jammeh, can best be discribed as a sell-out! In the past, while at the helm of the national student movement(GAMSU),we had argued that we cannot always be friends or enemies with any government. This emanates from the fact that while parties that form governments in democracies indulge in partisan politics, our business as student activists is non-partisan politics. It is only natural that we should be in step with them sometimes, and otherwise at others. This is good for good governance and protecting the special interests of students and the national student movement. But a partnership with government connotes a proximity which can only lead to manipulation, and without doubt it will undermind the intergrity of the student movement. It could also lead to politicization of the student movement which would be characterized by fragmentation of the movement into factions representing the various political formations in the country. This would tremendously deminish the strength of the union. And more importantly, a partnership with a government which presided over the massacre of our own brothers; rejected the recommendations of the Commission of Enquiries into the April 10th/11th 2000 demonstrations; and made deliberate and elaborate efforts to indemnify the culprits who pulled the trigger on us, is to say the least, disgraceful! The current student leadership has amply manifested its lack of conviction to adhere to the mantra of the student movement. President Jammeh and the administration he leads on the other hand, have publicly demonstrated their tacit support for the banditry, brutality and criminality meeted out against us five years ago. It is now time to move ahead! In this connection, I have this message for the more than fifty thousand students who demonstrated throughout The Gambia on the 10th and 11th of April 2000: My dear brothers and sisters, I urge you all not to give up the struggle for Truth and Justice. This are indeed opportune moments to have our greviances redressed. Presently, the vast majority of us have attained the age of eighteen. I urge you all to take the vote and vote as a block to determind the outcomes of the 2006 Presidential and Parliamentary elections in The Gambia. President Jammeh and his government has hurt and abused us. It is about time we teach them a lesson that would also serve as a clear warning to other politicians. Let us all resolve to vote them out in 2006. In this connection, I give you our battle cry, which shall be, " VOTE THEM OUT!" Towards this end, I most respectfully invite all Gambians and friends of The Gambia. To you dearest mothers and fathers who have loved ones maimed for life or callously taken away from you forever, I beg for your patience. I shall never turn my back on you ; and shall never betray my comrades. I remain forever in the struggle for Truth and Justice, Your brother, Omar Joof. Exiled ex-prexy, Gambia Students' Union(GAMSU) いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい 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 Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] いいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい