Daily Observer
</publishers.html?passed_name=Daily%20Observer&passed_location=Banjul>  (Banjul)
November 21, 2000
Pa Kalifa Sanyang
Banjul
The head of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group(CMAG) delegation to the
country, Alhaji Sule Lamido, told newsmen yesterday that his delegation received
assurances from President Yahya Jammeh that the 1997 Constitution is undergoing
some amendments.
Alhaji Sule whose delegation held a closed-door meeting with President Jammeh at
State House yesterday, said the constitutional amendment is aimed at repealing
some laws that are inconsistent with the Constitution. The Nigerian foreign
affairs minister said President Jammeh had quoted a section of the Constitution
which says "any law which is inconsistent with the constitution will remain null
and void to the level of that inconsistency", describing it as a "very
encouraging" remark by the President.
Asked whether specific reference was made to decree 89 which has been a subject
of widespread controversy, the Nigerian foreign minister said, "The President
talked about a process of constitutional amendment based on a certain
constitutional provision and if my conclusions from what he had said are right,
that particular decree is obviously on its way out." He said President Jammeh
had indicated to the delegation that all obnoxious and exclusive decrees that
were passed during the transition period would be brought in line with the
Constitution according to the aspirations of the Gambian people. Alhaji Sule
explained that his delegation's mission is to assist The Gambia in effecting
internal reconciliation so that the entire country can forge ahead as a family.
During their 3-day assessment mission, the Commonwealth delegation will hold
talks with secretaries of state, leaders of political parties, Non Governmental
Organisations and the media. At their last meeting in September this year, the
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) agreed on an early dispatch of a
mission to The Gambia at the invitation of President Jammeh.
The group also expressed the desire to see The Gambia government foster a more
inclusive political environment, and in particular, repeal decree 89 which
proscribed certain political parties and banned certain individuals from
partisan politics. The group also expressed concern at other restrictions
imposed on political parties and the media. The delegation included Hon Tan Sri
Dato'Musa Bin Hitam, a special envoy of the Malaysian president, and some
Commonwealth Secretariat staff.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------