Dear Comrades: On behalf on The Democratic Action Group, I am submitting this letter that was delivered to Honorable Brad Miller, NC Democrat, 13th Congressional District of the U.S. House of Representatives. This letter was delivered during our meeting with the Congressman concerning issues of importance to our country, The Gambia. Sincerely, Lamine Jassey-Conteh The Gambia Democratic Action Group The Honorable Brad Miller U.S. Congress Representative District 13th 1300 St. Mary’s Street, Suite 504 Raleigh, NC 27605 December 12, 2005 Dear Honorable Miller, The Gambia is a small West African country that is home to some 700 immigrants now residing in the Raleigh area. A great number of us are concerned and affected by the on-going political development in our motherland under the leadership of President Yahya Jammeh, who came into power in a military coup d’etat in July 1994. Since that year, the country and her people have experienced colossal forms of repression, arbitrary arrests, detentions and torture as well as extra-judicial killings against the civil population (including school children), journalists and political opponents. The attached addendum illustrates President Jammeh’s numerous atrocities against his own people; notwithstanding we are obliged to throw light on a few, such as: I. The execution of an undetermined number of soldiers on November 11, 1994 on alleged rumors of a foiled coup d’etat. II. The massacre of 14 school children demonstrators and a journalist on April 10, and 11, 2000. III. In March 1998, the arrest, detention, torture and eventual imprisonment of Mr. Lamin Waa Juwara, former National Propaganda Secretary of the United Democratic Party. IV. The assassination of Deyda Hydara, an independent journalist on December 16, 2004 V. Most recently on November 15, 2005 government authorities acting on orders from President Jammeh arrested three opposition political leaders i.e. Honorable Halifa Sallah, Mr. Hamat Bah and Mr. Omar Amadou Jallow and falsely charged them with sedition. These and other similar incidents as well as President Jammeh’s own verbal threats underscore the fears of Gambians and international observers that Jammeh will go to all extents to silence legitimate political opposition to his dictatorial rule in the Gambia. More so and especially in anticipation of the forth coming presidential elections slated for October, 2006, he has deployed the entire state machinery to his advantage. Gambians in the United States recognize the dangers their country faces in becoming another failed state in likes of Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone if President Jammeh’s style of leadership is not put in check. We therefore solicit your cogent and worthy intervention so that President Jammeh can unconditionally release the three opposition leaders and other prisoners of conscience. We further count on you to convey the Gambian agenda to all democratic fora and agencies such as (but not limited to) the United States Congress and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Thank you for sparing us your invaluable time. God bless you Yours sincerely The Gambia Democratic Action Group ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ 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] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤