WHERE IS UDP UK.... - DAFFEH, SUNTU, KARIM ETC... WHY YOU DID NOT INFORM US OF THIS IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT.... YOU HAVE BEEN RUNNING YOUR INK HERE... BASHING PDOIS. HERE IS THE BEGINNING OF THE UDP END..... JUST LIKE THE U.S. REJECTED HIM. COME NOVEMBER GAMBIANS WILL EQUALLY REJECT HIM, UNLESS HE JOINS A COALITION. NO MORE MOBILE PHONES AND DONATIONS FOR THE LEADERSHIP..... Gambia: Breaking News: UDP DEPUTY LEADER, DAUGHTER, AND OTHERS DENIED US VISA! *UDP DEPUTY LEADER, DAUGHTER, AND OTHERS DENIED US VISA!* The Deputy Leader of Gambia’s main opposition UnitedDemocratic Party (UDP’S) Yaya Jallow, his daughter Fatoumata Jallow, and other unnamed party members have been denied a United States Visa, the Freedom Newspaper has gathered from unimpeachable sources close to the UDP Secretariat. The Visa denials, followed concerns raised by the US Consular in Banjul, over the non return of UDP visitors to the US over the years, some of whom had chosen to stay in America—claiming persecution from the administration of President Yahya Jammeh, said a source familiar with the story. Out of the lot, it was only Syngle Nyassi, the party’s national mobilizer, who was issued a Visa—who happens to be a first time visitor to the United States in his life time, sources added. Mr. Nyassi is due to arrive in the US on Thursday. He is expected to hold series of meetings with UDP supporters across the country. Part of his trip also include fund-raising for the party, as the elections gets closer. New York would be his first port of call, sources said. Mr. Yaya Jallow, has been a frequent visitor to the United States. His recent attempt to fly to the US with his family was turned down by the US State Department appointed Consular, who cites a wide range of reasons for the visa denial, a UDP source intimated. The UDP insider said Mr. Jallow himself confirmed being refused Visa, but Jallow would not elaborate further what might have warranted the Consular’s move to deny him Visa. Inside the UDP official command, the story is being treated as a private affair. They don’t want to discuss the matter in the open—citing the implications of their opponents—most importantly the ruling APRC using the visa denial scandal as a campaign theme for the coming elections. A senior top official of the party merely said that the US trip had been cancelled, but would not explain what necessitated the cancelation. The official talked about a pending UDP European tour to be led by Ousainanou Darboe, the leader of the party. Among the countries to be visited by Darboe, and his delegation include: Spain, France, England, and Austria. The Freedom Newspaper had numerous phone conversations with the party’s officials for the past couple of days—many of whom abstained from commenting on the Visa denials. One UDP official remarked that he is aware of the fact that Mr. Syngle Nyassi, had been issued a United States Visa, but had no information about the other visa denials. According to well placed sources knowledgeable about the recent UDP Visa denials, Mr. Yahya Jallow, made numerous unsuccessful attempts—in trying to convince the US Consular about the legitimacy of his application. He was told that there was no evidence about the return of the people his party had sent to the US in the past to The Gambia. His application was denied! When contacted for his own side of the story, Mr. Yahya Jallow expresses dismay about who must have brought the story to the attention of the Freedom Newspaper. “ Where did you get the story from? Not in The Gambia… Somebody in the US must have informed you. Oh this must be an inside job. An insider within the party who is not well informed must have informed you,” a rather distressed, and confused Mr. Jallow told Freedom Newspaper’s Pa Nderry M’Bai on Tuesday. “ Pa Nderry, listen: This is a sensitive story. We don’t want our enemies (opponents) to use it against us. You know that this is an electioneering year. Some people would use any scandal against the UDP to destroy our party. We are all in one struggle. The person who must have informed you about the visa story is an insider. I’m going to call Ousiananou right now and discuss the issue with him. I cannot be part of a system that’s exposing its own dirty lean in the public,” Jallow added. Mr. Jallow confirms that his Visa application was not honored. He said the Consular cites the non return of UDP supporters who visited the United States and never returned home. He wondered why he should be punished for other people’s decision not to return to The Gambia. He also made reference to the recent war of words between the UDP supporters on Freedom Radio, and the online media over visa related issues involving the party as a potential reason for the denial. “ Pa Nderry, you know for a fact that people are leaving The Gambia for various reasons including your very self. My question is: Does people not reserve the right to apply for political asylum if they feel that their safety, and security is not guaranteed? I just want to know,” Jallow remarked. Regarding his daughter’s Visa denial, Mr. Jallow said Fatoumatta’s visa refusal has nothing do with politics. He said Fatoumatta had an I 20, and was supposed to study in the US, but the Consular refused her Visa. Mr. Jallow also said there were other UDP officials who were supposed to apply for Visa, but had rescinded their decision. He would not comment further as to what might have warranted such a visa application cancelation. Mr. Ousainanou Darboe, and his party’s Administrative Secretary Ebou Manneh are expected to meet with the United States Ambassador to The Gambia Ann Pamela White on Wednesday to discuss the Visa denials, said a UDP insider. But Mr. Jallow wondered when such an appointment was reached by the UDP—since the party is currently busy trying to figure out how to how to overcome the problem. “ Again, I think there is an insider rushing to the press with information. If there should be such moves, I should be in the picture. I’m the party’s Deputy leader. I will talk to Ousainanou about this,” he said. UDP’s Femi Peters denied having applied for a US Visa. He said he never applied for a Visa. Although, he said he intends to travel to the US in the short term to meet with Amnesty International officials. Peters could not comment on the other UDP Visa denials. For news tips, or rejoinders, please email the Editor at: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] We can also be reached by phone at: 919-749-6319 -- * ***************************************************************************** GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA. LET US JOIN HANDS AND SUPPORT SHEIKH PROFESSOR DR. ALH YAHYA JAMMEH (NASIRU DEEN) TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY. * ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤