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Amadou Scattred Janneh



>From: jainaba sissoho <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: please unsubscribe me
>Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 03:51:48 -0500
>
>to list managers,
>please unsubscribe me.. I no longer wish to be a member of the list
>
>thanks
>Jainaba Sissoho
>
>>From: Saikou Samateh <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Coming in from the cold ...
>>Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 00:05:18 -0000
>>
>>Dear Katim,
>>
>>Too cold here too !!!!!
>>Lastly I have been reading here about the DR decoration of President A JJ
>>Jammeh and one thing I have been thinking of was that, we need to get in
>>touch with this university in Canada and  the human rights organisations
>>there to parcel to them some of the records of the president  and see what
>>the possible reaction might be from them,your self and Dr Saine might be a
>>very good force to lead such a champagne.And I have no doubt that if there
>>is the need to invade them with protest letters from Gambians,members of
>>the
>>GL will  do a good job.No stone must be left unturned on the way to
>>victory,Or any other better idea ?
>>
>>For Freedom
>>Saiks
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: Katim S. Touray <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2001 1:06 AM
>>Subject: Coming in from the cold ...
>>
>>
>> > Hi folks,
>> >
>> > It's been so long since I've said anything much about goings on in The
>>Gambia
>> > that I thought I should title this one after Bob Marley's song "Coming
>>in
>>from
>> > the cold."  It's been indeed very cold in Wisconsin, given that it's
>>Winter, and
>> > we are now paying the price for having rather warm ones for the past
>>few
>>years.
>> > The snow really came down hard in December, causing all manner of
>>problems, and
>> > making me as why in the world they just don't shut the whole place down
>>...
>> >
>> > My relatively long silence, and reduced participation in the debates
>>and
>> > campaigns on Gambia-L has been deliberate, and caused by the
>>combination
>>of a
>> > busy schedule, and a need to put things in perspective.  I am no more
>>busy
>>than
>> > many of you are, but I felt it important to disengage for a while, to
>>prove that
>> > the affairs of Gambia-L, talk less of The Gambia, do not, and should
>>not
>>depend
>> > on the efforts and activities of no one person.
>> >
>> > It's fairly common in our national psyche for one to be tempted into
>>believing
>> > that he or she is indispensable to a cause or our nation.  For me, the
>>long
>> > break from sending postings was a delight; it proved to all that the
>>opposition
>> > to the dictatorial President Jammeh is very deep, and wide.  It is not
>>based on
>> > the effort of just one person, or a few people.  For this reason, a
>>successful
>> > campaign was waged to expose Mr. Collins for what he is, and also to
>>bring
>>Rust
>> > College to cancel an invitation extended to Yankuba Touray and Tombong
>>Saidy to
>> > attend a conference there.
>> >
>> > My break has also enabled me to ponder and turn a number of issues in
>>my
>>head,
>> > for whatever it's worth. In particular, I have been making a mental
>>tally
>>of the
>> > increasing cost of the Jammeh government to the Gambian nation.  We are
>>paying
>> > an incredible price, and an increasing one at that because of the
>>continuation
>> > of the incompetent, corrupt, and bloody rule of President Jammeh.  This
>>heavy
>> > price is manifested in a number of ways, and illustrated by a variety
>>of
>> > examples of the terribly inadequate capacity of Jammeh and his group to
>>lead our
>> > nation.  I'll try to point out a couple of these examples now.
>> >
>> > 1.  A lorry load of missed opportunities
>> > Last October, 34 sub-Saharan African countries were designated to
>>benefit
>>from
>> > the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of the United States
>> > (http://www.agoa.gov/About_AGOA/about_agoa.html).  This act is aimed at
>> > strengthening US-Africa relations through trade, and provides
>>incentives
>>for
>> > African countries that have achieved political and economic reforms.
>>Countries
>> > benefiting from AGOA will also be able to export virtually all products
>>duty-
>> > and quota free to the US market.
>> >
>> > In particular, AGOA lifts all existing quota on textiles and apparel
>>(clothing)
>> > products from Sub-Saharan Africa, to a maximum ranging from 1.5% to
>>3.5%
>>of the
>> > US apparel import market, which totaled about $18 billion in 1999 (see
>> > http://www.ita.doc.gov/industry/otea/usfth/tabcom.html).  This means
>>that
>>the
>> > value ($250 million) of current imports of African apparel made with
>>African
>> > fabric/yarns is less than the 1.5% lower limit of the quota above.
>>Furthermore,
>> > at 1999 trade levels, African textile imports into the US can reach
>>$630
>> > million (3.5%) of $18 billion before being subject to tariffs.
>> >
>> > Despite the problems some people have with AGOA, there is no doubt that
>>it
>>at
>> > least represents an opportunity for African countries to increase their
>>access
>> > to the US market, thereby reducing their dependence on traditional
>>export
>> > markets such as Europe.  Sadly, the Gambia is not one of the 34
>>countries
>> > designated to benefit from AGOA.  Although the Gambia is eligible to
>>benefit
>> > from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, we will only
>> > participate in the program if certified by the US Trade Representative.
>> >
>> > The fact that the Gambia is not a beneficiary of the AGOA bill is not
>>only
>>sad
>> > because of the lost opportunities, but also because of the reasons why
>>we
>>are
>> > not, in the first place, eligible to benefit from the Act.  There is no
>>doubt
>> > that the development of a textile industry  geared toward the US market
>>(and
>> > indeed the rest of the world) would have meant a employment for a lot
>>of
>> > Gambians.  This would have also reduced our dependence on industries
>>like
>> > tourism that are yet to deliver all their promises to our people.
>> >
>> > The 34 sub-Saharan countries designated to benefit from AGOA include
>>Senegal,
>> > Guinea, Cape Verde, Ghana, Mali, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania.  In
>>short,
>> > almost all countries in our sub-region, with the exception of Sierra
>>Leone
>> > (because they are at war), as well as Liberia, Burkina Faso, The
>>Gambia,
>>and
>> > Cote d'Ivoire.  It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out why
>>we
>>are
>> > grouped with the likes of Liberia, because we all have dictatorial
>>regimes.  I'm
>> > pretty sure Cote d'Ivoire will soon be eligible for participation in
>>AGOA,
>>given
>> > the recent transition, despite the problems, to civilian rule.
>> >
>> > Criteria for participating in AGOA include making progress toward a
>>market-based
>> > economy, the rule of law, and elimination of barriers to US trade and
>> > investment.  Additional criteria are listed in the AGOA factsheet
>>available at
>> > http://www.state.gov/www/issues/economic/001002_fsustr_agoa.html  From
>>all
>> > indications, it will be a while before President Jammeh puts the
>>national
>> > interest before his own, and starts effecting a leadership that
>>positions
>>The
>> > Gambia to benefit from programs like AGOA.
>> >
>> > 2. Greed that knows no bounds
>> > Please allow me to bring the issue of the Nigerian crude oil deal to
>>the
>>fore.
>> > It was last July or so that the Gambian parliament turned down a motion
>>to
>>set
>> > up a commission of inquiry into the Nigerian crude oil deal in which
>>20,000
>> > (twenty thousand) barrels of Nigerian crude oil were lifted, sold for
>>$0.20
>> > (twenty cents) per barrel, and the proceeds deposited in a Swiss bank
>>account.
>> > In a judgment in the London High Court, the Gambia government was fined
>>half a
>> > million pounds sterling for breaching the contract that was entered
>>into
>>with
>> > Chantrils SA, the company that sold the oil on behalf of Jammeh.
>>Despite
>>the
>> > fact that the facts of the case are now a matter of public record,
>>President
>> > Jammeh's cronies in parliament have refused to further investigate the
>>matter
>> > because, they say, this would not be in the national interest.
>> >
>> > The facts are that this is a government that has gone to great lengths
>>to
>> > disgrace and humiliate people who have been alleged to embezzle public
>>funds.
>> > Somehow, President Jammeh and his cronies continue to think that they
>>are
>>above
>> > the law, and can indulge in all manner of corrupt practices more
>>serious
>>than
>> > they have jailed people for.
>> >
>> > But it seems that Jammeh's lust for money cannot be satisfied with
>>Gambian
>>funds
>> > and Nigerian crude oil proceeds alone.  Recently, the Gambian
>>government
>>has
>> > been denying UN reports of it's (namely Jammeh's) involvement in the
>>trade
>>of
>> > conflict diamonds from Sierra Leone.  This would be a logical step for
>>President
>> > Jammeh to take, in the aftermath of the loss of his Nigerian crude oil
>>deal.
>> > What he fails to realize is that the world is changing fast, and the
>>thin
>>ground
>> > his is standing on is shrinking fast under him.  It was just yesterday
>>that the
>> > BBC reported that Liberia is cutting off support for the RUF rebels of
>>Sierra
>> > Leone, in the face of increasing pressure from the international
>>community.
>> > President Jammeh, despite his delusions of grandeur is really a small
>>fry
>>in the
>> > global scheme of things that will, and in good time, catch up with him.
>> >
>> > 3.  Our pariah nation
>> > It is sad to observe that The Gambia has slowly evolved into a pariah
>>nation
>> > because of nothing other than the leadership of President Jammeh.  The
>>last I
>> > checked, Gambians have essentially remained the same, and the only
>>major
>>change
>> > in their relationship with the world is in the fact that we now have
>>President
>> > Jammeh at the helm of our national affairs.
>> >
>> > Without a doubt, Gambian foreign policy under Jammeh has been a
>>disaster,
>>and
>> > self-serving.  As I pointed out on this list a few months back,
>>President
>>Jammeh
>> > used his opportunity to address the world at last years' Millennium
>>Summit
>>at
>> > the United Nations to speak on behalf of Cuba and the Republic of China
>> > (Taiwan).  Not once did he bother to mention The Gambia by name as if
>>we,
>>as a
>> > nation, really have nothing to say to the world.
>> >
>> > Our relationship with Taiwan is just one example of the way President
>>Jammeh has
>> > forged a foreign policy centered on his own personal agenda, rather
>>than
>>the
>> > best interests of our country.  Thus, rather than working to foster
>>peace
>>in the
>> > sub-region, President Jammeh identified himself strongly with the late
>>Gen. Mane
>> > of Guinea Bissau.  So much so that his Vice President thought it fit to
>>pay
>> > official condolences to the Mane family in Sukuta, and presented them
>>with
>> > 50,000 dalasis when Gen. Mane was recently killed in a gun battle in
>>Guinea
>> > Bissau.  Never mind that there are Gambian students lying down in
>>hospital
>>after
>> > being returned from Egypt because there were no more funds to pay for
>>their
>> > medical treatment for injuries sustained in last Aprils student
>>demonstrations,
>> > when Jammeh's troops killed 12 or so of them.
>> >
>> > Jammeh's closeness with the late Gen. Mane no doubt contributed to the
>>suspicion
>> > with which he was viewed in the sub-region as being a destabilizing
>>force.
>>For
>> > this reason, we have now become a pariah nation, and this, in addition
>>to
>> > President Jammeh's inferiority complex (well-founded, I might add) has
>>resulted
>> > in a foreign and domestic policy based more on whim, than on serious
>>thought
>> > about what's best for our nation.
>> >
>> > For example, a recent announcement that the Gambia would go Sharia was
>>followed
>> > by an almost apologetic speech about tolerance and such.  Furthermore,
>>the
>> > refusal to allow the bodies of two members of parliament to lie in
>>state
>> > following a tragic accident was followed by an attempt to appease their
>>families
>> > with money.  I wonder whose money it was that was given away to
>>compensate
>>for
>> > the short-comings and short-sightedness of President Jammeh?
>>Fortunately,
>>I am
>> > proud to say that the families of the deceased had the pride and
>>courage
>>to
>> > refuse the money offered them by Jammeh's cronies.
>> >
>> > 4.  We are still waiting ...
>> > Finally, I would like to point out that we are still waiting the
>>official
>>report
>> > about the student demonstrations of last April, and the resulting death
>>of
>>a 12
>> > or so people.  Furthermore, we are yet to hear the final word on the
>>"case"
>> > against Ebrima Yarbo, Dumo Saho and Co. who it seems were jailed purely
>>on
>>the
>> > basis of someone's fertile imagination and paranoia.  Also, we are yet
>>to
>>hear
>> > any response whatsoever to calls from the late Ousman "Koro" Ceesay's
>>family for
>> > a full investigation of the circumstances surrounding his death.
>> >
>> > You might recall a posting
>> >
>>(http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind0001&L=gambia-l&F=P&S=&P=8445
>>8)
>> > from one Ebou Colly about the death of soldiers accused of involvement
>>in
>>a coup
>> > plot against the Jammeh government.  I think it would be in the
>>interest
>>of
>> > these people accused of being responsible for death of Koro and these
>>soldiers,
>> > as well as in the interest of justice for the victims, their families,
>>and
>>our
>> > nation that the matter be put to rest.  After all, Koro for example,
>>was
>>a
>> > Minister at the time of his death, and if he swore to serve our nation,
>>we
>> > should endeavor to give him the justice he deserves.
>> >
>> > As you know, there are other unsolved killings and/or disappearances
>>that
>> > continue to plague our national conscience.  These are issues that also
>> > contribute to the increasing cost of the leadership of President Jammeh
>>and his
>> > cronies, and reasons for asking when we will begin to put our national
>>interests
>> > before President Jammehs'.
>> >
>> > Let's not forget that President Jammeh is in power precisely because
>>President
>> > Jawara got to the point where no one was willing to put his or her life
>>on
>>the
>> > line to defend his regime. The point that every Gambian should bear in
>>mind is
>> > that we are now under the leadership of a person, and his cronies, who
>>has
>> > turned into someone who treats the nation as his personal property, and
>>thinks
>> > nothing of wasting our resources in the name of his own personal
>>aggrandizement.
>> >
>> > Fortunately, this is a terrible time to be a dictator, as I always say.
>>For
>> > this reason, it's only a matter of time before history catches up with
>>the
>>likes
>> > of President Jammeh.  You only have to listen to what's happening in
>>the
>>world
>> > around you to see what I'm talking about.  From Chile to Cote d'Ivoire
>>to
>>the
>> > Philippines, people all the over the world are rising to say "enough"
>>to
>> > dictators who never thought they would never come down.
>> >
>> > I will end this with an excerpt from a recent publication "Global
>>Trends
>>2015: A
>> > dialogue about the future with nongovernment experts" from the United
>>States
>> > National Intelligence Council.  I strongly recommend you download and
>>read
>>the
>> > publication because it is not only eye-opening, it is also provides
>>free
>>access
>> > to the thoughts and thinking some of the best minds in the US.  Get it
>>at:
>> > http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/globaltrends2015/index.html
>> >
>> > And here's the excerpt for President Jammeh and all of us to consider:
>> >
>> > "National and International Governance
>> > States will continue to be the dominant players on the world stage, but
>> > governments will have less and less control over flows of information,
>> > technology, diseases, migrants, arms, and financial transactions,
>>whether
>>licit
>> > or illicit, across their borders. Nonstate actors ranging from business
>>firms to
>> > nonprofit organizations will play increasingly larger roles in both
>>national and
>> > international affairs. The quality of governance, both nationally and
>> > internationally, will substantially determine how well states and
>>societies cope
>> > with these global forces.
>> > · States with competent governance, including the United States, will
>>adapt
>> > government structures to a dramatically changed global
>>environment-making
>>them
>> > better able to engage with a more interconnected world. The
>>responsibilities of
>> > once "semiautonomous" government agencies increasingly will intersect
>>because of
>> > the transnational nature of national security priorities and because of
>>the
>> > clear requirement for interdisciplinary policy responses. Shaping the
>>complex,
>> > fast-moving world of 2015 will require reshaping traditional government
>> > structures.
>> > · Effective governance will increasingly be determined by the ability
>>and
>> > agility to form partnerships to exploit increased information flows,
>>new
>> > technologies, migration, and the influence of nonstate actors. Most but
>>not all
>> > countries that succeed will be representative democracies.
>> > · States with ineffective and incompetent governance not only will fail
>>to
>> > benefit from globalization, but in some instances will spawn conflicts
>>at
>>home
>> > and abroad, ensuring an even wider gap between regional winners and
>>losers
>>than
>> > exists today.
>> > Globalization will increase the transparency of government
>>decision-making,
>> > complicating the ability of authoritarian regimes to maintain control,
>>but
>>also
>> > complicating the traditional deliberative processes of democracies.
>>Increasing
>> > migration will create influential diasporas, affecting policies,
>>politics
>>and
>> > even national identity in many countries. Globalization also will
>>create
>> > increasing demands for international cooperation on transnational
>>issues,
>>but
>> > the response of both states and international organizations will fall
>>short in
>> > 2015."
>> >
>> > Please pardon this rather long posting.  Have a great week, and best
>>wishes in
>> > your endeavors.
>> >
>> > Katim
>> >
>> >
>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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